Abstract:
A batter board for aiding in the placement and alignment of foundation lines and other structural elements. The batter board includes a main crossmember that has a slot along the top surface in which an alignment device slides for positioning an alignment line. There are mounting collars on both ends for mounting to stakes in the ground and are vertically offset so that multiple members can be interconnected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to batter boards and more particularly pertains to a new batter board for aiding in the placement and alignment of foundation lines and other structural elements. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of batter boards is known in the prior art. More specifically, batter boards heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,739; U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,546; U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,134; U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,579; U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,816; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 411,119. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new batter board. The inventive device includes a main crossmember that has a slot along the top surface in which an alignment device slides for positioning an alignment line. There are mounting collars on both ends for mounting to stakes in the ground and are vertically offset so that multiple members can be interconnected. 
     In these respects, the batter board according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of for aiding in the placement and alignment of foundation lines and other structural elements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of batter boards now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new batter board construction wherein the same can be utilized for aiding in the placement and alignment of foundation lines and other structural elements. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new batter board apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the batter boards mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new batter board which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art batter boards, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a main crossmember that has a slot along the top surface in which an alignment device slides for positioning an alignment line. There are mounting collars on both ends for mounting to stakes in the ground and are vertically offset so that multiple members can be interconnected. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new batter board apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the batter boards mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new batter board which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art batter boards, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new batter board which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new batter board which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new batter board which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such batter board economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new batter board which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new batter board for aiding in the placement and alignment of foundation lines and other structural elements. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new batter board which includes a main crossmember that has a slot along the top surface in which an alignment device slides for positioning an alignment line. There are mounting collars on both ends for mounting to stakes in the ground and are vertically offset so that multiple members can be interconnected. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new batter board that is lightweight and versatile in design. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new batter board that is reusable and more accurate than on-site built batter boards. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new batter board according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a sleeve member of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main member and the alignment device in the locking position. 
     FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the main member and the alignment device in the insertable position. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of two members interconnected. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of two members interconnected. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new batter board embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the batter board  10  generally comprises an elongate member  12 . The elongate member  12  is for holding an alignment device  14  in a fixed position such that an alignment line  16  is selectively couplable to the alignment device  14  for positioning the alignment line  16  to facilitate the placement of construction forms or the like. 
     The elongate member  12  includes exterior surfaces  18 . The exterior surfaces  18  define an interior space  20 . 
     A top surface  22  of the elongate member  12  includes a slot  24 . The slot  24  is located in a medial portion of the top surface  22  comprising approximately the full length along a longitudinal axis of the elongate member  12 . The slot  24  is for receiving the alignment device  14  such that the alignment device  14  may be positioned at any point along the slot  24  for positioning of the alignment line  16 . 
     The elongate member  12  includes a bottom surface  26 . The bottom surface  26  includes a plurality of drain holes  28 . The plurality of drain holes  28  are located in a medial portion of the bottom surface  26  extending approximately the full length along a longitudinal axis of the elongate member  12 . The drain holes  28  are equally spaced along the longitudinal axis of the elongate member  12  for allowing moisture captured within the interior space  20  of the elongate member  12  to drain out. 
     The elongate member  12  includes a first end  30  and a second end  32 . The first and second ends  30 ,  32  include a sleeve member  34 . The sleeve member  34  is for receiving a mounting post  36  for facilitating the attachment of the elongate member  12  to a ground surface. 
     The sleeve member  34  of the first end  30  is located on a lower portion  38  of the first end  30 . The sleeve member  34  of the second end  32  is located on an upper portion  40  of the second end  32  such that a first end  30  of a first elongate member  42  is designed for overlapping a sleeve member  34  of a second elongate member  44  such that a plurality of elongate member  12  may be interconnected. 
     The sleeve members  34  include a locking member  46 . The locking member  46  is for selectively coupling the elongate member  12  to the mounting post  36  at any position along a longitudinal axis of the mounting post  36 . 
     The locking member  46  is positioned on the sleeve member  34  substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member  12  such that the locking member  46  is accessible when the plurality of elongate members  12  are interconnected. 
     The alignment device  14  includes a slot plate  48 . The slot plate  48  is for inserting into the slot  24  of the elongate member  12 . 
     The alignment device  14  includes a securing post  50  that is fixedly coupled to a medial section of a top edge  52  of the slot plate  48  such that when the slot plate  48  is fully received by the slot  24 , the securing post  50  is oriented substantially perpendicular to the top surface  22  of the elongate member  12 . 
     The alignment device  14  includes a locking collar  54 . The locking collar  54  includes a bottom side  56  which abuts the top surface  22  of the elongate member  12  when the alignment device  14  is fully received by the slot  24 . 
     The locking collar  54  is threadably coupled to the securing post  50  such that rotation of the locking collar  54  biases the securing post  50  upwardly and downwardly. 
     The top edge  52  of the slot plate  48  abuts an opposing surface  58  of the top surface  22  when the locking collar  54  biases the securing post  50  upwardly and the slot plate  48  is oriented substantially perpendicular to the slot  24 , thereby selectively coupling the alignment device  14  to the top surface  22  of the elongate member  12 . 
     The alignment device  14  includes an alignment cap  60 . The alignment cap  60  is threadably coupled to an upper end  62  of the securing post  50 . 
     The alignment cap  60  includes an alignment slot  64 . The alignment slot  64  is for receiving the alignment line  16  when the alignment device  14  is positioned along the slot  24  of the elongate member  12 . 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.