Abstract:
“A tool and method to assist a user with leveling, plumbing, squaring and a frame to a structure during its attachment.”

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This Application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application USPTO 60/792678 filed Apr. 18, 2006. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally related to products and methods for leveling, plumbing and squaring a frame during its attachment to a building. Specifically, the product of the present invention allows one to easily level, plumb and square a door. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Building construction involves precise measurements and calculations in order for a structure to be properly built. One mistake or miscalculation can be magnified many times over and can result in the redoing and recalculation of substandard work. No construction feature requires more precision and accuracy than setting door flames. Typically a door frame is inserted into a rough of a structure being developed. A rough may be defined as a frame opening in a structure including metal or wood studs. Problems associated with the placement of a door frame is the ability of an operator to accurately level, plumb, and square the flame within the rough as it is being attached to the metal or wooden studs. The operator often finds it difficult to hold a frame in place, while making sure the frame is level, plumb and square with one hand, and attaching the frame to the rough with the other hand. Often the frame moves before attachment so that after attachment it is no longer level, plumb or square. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to meet the foregoing needs by providing products and methods for leveling, plumbing and squaring a frame during its attachment to a structure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, explain the advantages, and principles, of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an alternative perspective view of the invention in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is another alternative perspective view of the invention in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a partial view of the bottom of the invention of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a view of the invention of  FIG. 1  as applied to a work surface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments of this invention, examples of which will be obvious from the description of the invention. The current invention relates to methods and products for leveling, plumbing, and squaring frames within a structure, specifically during construction of a building, home or office. In order to better understand the invention, the following terms have been defined. 
         [0012]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , tool  1  includes three arms designated first arm  2 , second arm  3 , and third arm  4 . The first arm  2  is attached at one of its ends to an end of a second arm  3  to form a right angle. A third arm  4  intersects the first arm  2  and second arm  3  to form a hypotenuse. 
         [0013]    On the first arm  2  are two fastening slots, a first fastening slot  5  and a third fastening slot  7 , and a first level means  15 . The first fastening slot  5  starts at and inward from a first edge  9  located on the first arm  2 . The third fastening slot  7  starts at and inward from a third edge  11  of the first arm  2 . A first level means  15  is located inward from the first edge  9  of the first arm  2  and located along the length of the first arm  2 . 
         [0014]    On the second arm  3  are two fastening slots, a second fastening slot  6  and a fourth fastening slot  8 , and a second level means  16 . The second fastening slot  6  starts at and inward from a second edge  10  of the second arm  2 . The fourth fastening slot  8  starts at and inward from a fourth edge  12  of the second arm  2 . A second level means  16  is located inward from said second edge  10  of the second arm  3  and located along the length of the second arm  3 . 
         [0015]    It is preferred that the tool of the present invention include a grip  14  on the third arm  4  so that the tool can be easily held by an operator. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the grip is molded into the tool as slots  18  over which an operator may place his or her hands to hold the tool. It is also preferred that the tool contain a dimensional cross member  17  for purposes of adding strength and support to the tool. The design of the tool as shown in  FIG. 1  is preferred because it allows operators, which are right handed or left handed, to easily use the tool. Tool  1  is an ambidextrous version of a tool of the present invention. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 2  is another version of the tool  1  of the present invention. Tool  1  includes three arms designated first arm  2 , second arm  3 , and third arm  4 . The first arm  2  is attached at one of its ends to an end of a second arm  3  to form a right angle. A third arm  4  intersects the first arm  2  and second arm  3  to form a hypotenuse. On the first arm  2 , is a first level means  15  located inward from said first edge  9  and located along the length of the first arm  2 . On the second arm  3  is a second fastening slot  6  that starts at and inward from the second edge  10 . A dimensional cross member  17  is present for purposes of adding strength and support to the tool. This tool described in  FIG. 2  is able to level, plumb and square a door when the tool  1  is placed in a top corner of a frame and the first arm  2  is pressed against and adjacent to a top side of a frame and the second arm  3  is pressed adjacent to the long side of the frame. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 3  is another version of the tool  1  of the present invention. Tool  1  includes three arms designated first arm  2 , second arm  3 , and third arm  4 . The first arm  2  is attached at one of its ends to an end of a second arm  3  to form a right angle. A third arm  4  intersects the first arm  2  and second arm  3  to form a hypotenuse. On the first arm  2 , is a first level means  15  located inward from said third edge  11  and located along the length of the first arm  2 . Also on the first arm  2  is a third fastening slot  7 , which starts at and inward from a third edge  11  of the first arm  2 . On the second arm  3  are a second fastening slot  6  that starts at and inward from the second edge  10  and a second level means  16 . The second level means  16  is located inward from said second edge  10  of the second arm  3  and located along the length of the second arm  3 . A dimensional cross member  17  is present for purposes of adding strength and support to the tool. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 4  is an illustration of a dimensional cross member  17  of the tool  1  having a “T” shape. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 5  is an illustration of tool  1  being inserted into a frame  30  by an operator  35  for purposes of plumbing, squaring and attaching. 
       Elements Of The Tools Of The Present Invention 
       [0020]    The first arm  2  and the second arm  3  of the tool  1  of the present invention each may contain one or more level means along the length of their arms. The level means used in the present invention may include circular levels, tubular levels, spirit levels, plate levels, acrylic levels or any combination thereof. It is preferred that the level means of the present invention are replaceable such as tubular level that are finned at the ends to snap in and out of place on the arms. 
         [0021]    The first arm  2  and the second arm  3  of the tool  1  of the present invention each may contain one or more fastening slots. The fastening slots are designed to allow an attaching device to be placed through the slot and allow the frame to be attached to a structure while the operator is holding a frame in place with the tool  1 . 
         [0022]    A frame may be attached to a structure by using an attaching device such as a nails, screws, tacks, or other suitable attaching device. A nail gun may be used to insert nails into the frame. 
         [0023]    A grip  14  may be attached to the third arm  4  of the tool  1  to provide comfort and eliminating slippage. The grip  14  of the presence invention may be molded into the device, for example slots  18 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a grip may be attached to the third arm  4 . A grip  14  attached to the third arm  4  may be made of leather, plastic, a combination thereof, or any other form of material that prevents slippage. 
         [0024]    The tool of the present invention may include a dimensional cross member that adds strength and support to the tool. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the dimensional cross member has a “T” shape and preferably runs along the entire length of the tool. The dimensional cross member may take any shape that adds support to the tool. As shown in  FIG. 4  the dimensional cross member runs along the length of the first arm  2  and the second arm  3 . 
         [0025]    The third arm  4  may intersect the first arm  2  and the second arm  3  anywhere along their lengths provided there is space for an operator to place his or her hand on the third arm  4  for holding the tool. Also, the level means and the fastening slot may be located anywhere along the lengths of the first arm  2  and the second arm  3  if the version of the tool contains such elements on each of these arms. Consequently, a fastening slot may be located closer to the right angle of the tool then a level means or vice versa. Also, the third arm  4  may intersect the first arm  2  or the second arm  3  at a place on the arm located closer to the right angle of the tool than a level means or a fastening slot. There are many variations of the tools of the present invention based on the locations of the above-identified elements. 
       Method of Using the Tool. 
       [0026]    The tools of the present invention allow frames to be attached level, plumb, and square to a structure, preferably a rough. The method begins by obtaining a frame and placing the frame within the rough. As shown in  FIG. 5 , an operator places a tool of the present invention into the upper corner of the frame. The first arm  2  of the tool  1  including the level means is placed adjacent to the top side of the rough and the second arm  3  including at least one fastening slot is placed adjacent to the long side of the rough. If an ambidextrous version of the tool is used, such as that depicted in  FIG. 1 , either the first or second arm may be placed against the top side or long side of the rough. The operator holding the third arm of the tool applies force causing the tool to press against a top corner of the frame and the frame to press against the rough. While the operator maintains force against the frame and rough, the operator views the level means in the arm of the tool located adjacent to the top side of the frame. If the level means indicates the frame is level, the frame is plumb and square because the first arm and the second arm of the tool are at right angles and are pressed against the top corner of the frame. The operator continues to apply force to the tool and now secures the frame to the rough with his or her free hand. The operator obtains an attaching device such as a nail gun. With the operator&#39;s free hand the operator picks up the attaching device and places the attaching device through at least one fastening slot. The operator activates the attaching device and attaches the frame to the rough. 
         [0027]    Some times shims are place between the frame and the rough prior to leveling, plumbing, squaring and attaching the frame to the rough. 
       References: 
       [0028]    The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention provides an exemplary illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention.