Patent Description:
A drywall system may include drywall rails that are fastened to the ceiling and floor, and drywall panels that are held in place between the drywall rails to form the drywall. The drywall may be a partition wall. Vertical rails may also extend between the ceiling and floor drywall rails. The drywall rails are typically attached to the ceiling and floor by fasteners, for example using anchors and screws, or nails. During this operation, the drywall rail must remain fixed without moving. This step is usually made by the installer or many installers with their hands which is time consuming for everybody. <CIT> discloses a height adjustable apparatus for supporting goods for a person at a desired height.

The present invention provides a support device adapted to hold a drywall rail against a ceiling for fastening the drywall rail to the ceiling, the support device comprising:.

The support device can extend between the floor and ceiling to hold the drywall rail against the ceiling, allowing an installer to fasten the drywall rail to the ceiling without having to hold the drywall rail.

In examples, the engagement portion may comprise a rail, and the pole may be slidably attached to the rail of the engagement portion.

In examples, the pole may comprise a carriage fixed to the extendible pole and slidably attached to the rail, and the biasing member may act between the carriage and the engagement portion. In examples, the carriage may include a fixing ring, for example a clamping ring, that fixes the carriage to the pole.

In examples, the engagement portion may comprise a seat and the biasing member may act between the seat and a part of the pole, for example the carriage. In examples, the seat may comprise an opening to permit movement of an end part of the pole through the seat.

In examples, the biasing member may comprise a compression spring or a gas actuator.

In examples, the engagement portion may further comprise a magnet.

In examples, the pole comprises an extendible pole. In examples, the extendible pole may comprise a telescopic pole having at least two telescopic parts and a clamp arranged to clamp the telescopic parts to each other.

In examples, the support device may further comprise a second engagement portion disposed at an end of the pole opposite to the first engagement portion. The second engagement portion may be configured to engage the opposing surface opposite the ceiling.

In examples, the pole may comprise a level, for example a spirit level.

As shown in <FIG>, the support device <NUM> extends between a floor <NUM> and a ceiling <NUM> to hold a drywall rail <NUM> against the ceiling <NUM>. The support device <NUM> can be used to hold the drywall rail <NUM> against the ceiling <NUM> so that an installer can fasten the drywall rail <NUM> to the ceiling <NUM> without having to hold the drywall rail <NUM> in place themselves.

In some examples, a further drywall rail may be attached to the floor <NUM> and aligned with the drywall rail <NUM> on the ceiling, and the support device <NUM> can engage the floor drywall rail.

As illustrated, the support device <NUM> includes an extendible pole <NUM> and an engagement portion <NUM> (also called first engagement portion <NUM>). The extendible pole <NUM> may be a telescopic pole with a telescopic part <NUM> sliding into a main body of the pole <NUM>, and a clamp <NUM> adapted to secure the two parts <NUM> and <NUM> to each other at the desired length.

As illustrated in <FIG> , a biasing member is arranged to act between the extendible pole <NUM> and the engagement portion <NUM>. In the illustrated example the biasing member comprises a compression spring <NUM>.

As illustrated, the engagement portion <NUM> comprises a first rail 10a and a second rail 10b, and the extendible pole <NUM> has a carriage <NUM> that slidably engages the second rail 10b. The carriage <NUM> may be clamped onto the extendible pole <NUM>. Accordingly, the extendible pole <NUM> is slidably mounted to the engagement portion <NUM> via the carriage <NUM> and second rail 10b.

In examples the carriage may sliding engage the first rail 10a and/or the second rail 10b.

The engagement portion <NUM> also includes a seat <NUM>, and the compression spring <NUM> is disposed between the carriage <NUM> on the extendible pole <NUM> and the seat <NUM> of the engagement portion <NUM> to act between the extendible pole <NUM> and the engagement portion <NUM>. In particular, an end portion of the extendible pole <NUM> is positioned within the compression spring <NUM>. Accordingly, pushing the extendible pole <NUM> upwards during use to press the engagement portion <NUM> onto the ceiling (<NUM>, see FIG. 1c) causes the compression spring <NUM> to be compressed and a biasing force exerted on the drywall rail (<NUM>, see <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the seat <NUM> may include a hole <NUM> to accommodate movement of the end of the extendible pole <NUM> past the seat <NUM> when the compression spring <NUM> is compressed. In some examples, the end of the extendible pole <NUM> is approximately aligned with the seat <NUM> when the compression spring <NUM> is not compressed such that the position of the compression spring <NUM> is maintained.

The engagement portion <NUM> also include engaging parts 7a, 7b. In examples, as shown in <FIG>, the engaging parts 7a, 7b may include magnets <NUM> adapted to attract the drywall rail <NUM>.

The engaging parts 7a, 7b may be sized so as to fit within the drywall rail <NUM>. For example, the drywall rail <NUM> may comprise one or more flanges extending from a web (e.g., an L profile, a C-profile, or an H-profile), and the engaging parts 7a, 7b may be adapted to fit between the flange(s) and engage the web. Accordingly, the drywall rail <NUM> is stably supported and the flange(s) and engaging parts 7a, 7b may ensure alignment of the drywall rail <NUM> to the engaging parts 7a, 7b.

As shown in <FIG>, the engaging parts 7a, 7b are attached to ends of the first and second rails 10a, 10b. Additionally, diagonal struts 14a, 14b may attach the engaging parts 7a, 7b to the other ends of the first and second rails 10a, 10b. According, the first and second rails 10a, 10b, engaging parts 7a, 7b, and diagonal struts 14a, 14b may form a generally A-frame arrangement. As shown, the seat <NUM> may be formed by a member extending between the first and second rails 10a, 10b.

<FIG> illustrates an initial step of using the support device <NUM>, in which the support device <NUM> is engaged with a drywall rail <NUM> that is positioned against the ceiling <NUM>, although not pressed against the ceiling <NUM>. As shown, the compression spring <NUM> is not compressed.

<FIG> shows the support device <NUM> during use to press the drywall rail <NUM> against the ceiling <NUM>. As shown, the extendible pole <NUM> has been pushed upwards, compressing the compression spring <NUM> between the carriage <NUM> and seat <NUM>, and moving an end part 5a of the extendible pole <NUM> past the seat <NUM> (through the hole <NUM> shown in <FIG>). In this position, the compression spring <NUM> acts to urge the engagement portion <NUM> and extendible pole <NUM> apart, effectively pushing the engagement portion <NUM> upwards against the extendible pole <NUM> to press the drywall rail <NUM> against the ceiling <NUM> and hold it in place.

To use the support device <NUM> the installer attaches the engagement portion <NUM> to the drywall rail <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, positions the drywall rail <NUM> against the ceiling <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, pushes the extendible pole <NUM> upwards as shown in <FIG>, extends the pole to the floor (<NUM>, see <FIG>) and locks the extendible pole <NUM> to length using the clamp (<NUM>, see <FIG>). Accordingly, the support device <NUM>, in particular the compression spring <NUM>, acts to urge the drywall rail <NUM> against the ceiling <NUM> and hold it in place without an installer needing to hold the support device <NUM> or the drywall rail <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the support device <NUM> may be used between a floor drywall rail <NUM> on the floor <NUM> and the ceiling <NUM>. The floor drywall rail <NUM> and drywall rail <NUM> may be aligned and parallel. The extendible pole <NUM>, in particular an end of the extendible pole <NUM>, may be shaped to fit into the floor drywall rail <NUM> and retrain the orientation of the support device <NUM> so that the engagement portion <NUM> holds the drywall rail <NUM> parallel to the floor drywall rail <NUM>. In particular, as illustrated in <FIG>, a second engagement portion <NUM> may be provided at an opposite end of the extendible pole to the first engagement portion <NUM>. The second engagement portion <NUM> is arranged to engage the floor <NUM> or the floor rail <NUM>. The second engagement portion <NUM> comprises an elongate portion <NUM> extending perpendicularly to the extendible pole <NUM> and parallel and aligned with the engagement portion <NUM> at the opposite end of the extendible pole <NUM>. Accordingly, the second engagement portion <NUM> can fit within a floor rail <NUM>, or engage the floor <NUM>, and hold the extendible pole <NUM> substantially perpendicular to the floor. This ensures that the drywall rail <NUM> is parallel with the floor drywall rail <NUM>. An installer <NUM> may use a level to ensure that the extendible pole <NUM> is substantially vertical, so that the drywall rail <NUM> is aligned with the floor drywall rail <NUM>. The level may be attached to, or embedded in, the extendible pole <NUM>. In examples, the level may be a spirit level or electronic level.

As shown in <FIG>, the support device <NUM> holds the drywall rail <NUM> in position against the ceiling <NUM>, allowing the installer <NUM> to move freely and fasten the drywall rail <NUM> to the ceiling <NUM>. In the example of <FIG> the installer <NUM> is using an extended nail gun <NUM> to nail the drywall rail <NUM> to the ceiling, but it will be appreciated that the installer <NUM> may alternatively use a drill, screw, bolt, anchor, ladder, raised platform or other equipment and fasteners to fasten the drywall rail <NUM> to the ceiling <NUM> while the drywall rail <NUM> is held in place by the support device <NUM>.

Once the drywall rail <NUM> has been fastened to the ceiling <NUM> the support device <NUM> can be removed. The support device <NUM> can be removed by unclamping the clamp <NUM> on the extendible pole <NUM>. Alternatively, the support device <NUM> can be removed by pushing the extendible pole <NUM> upwards to further compress the compression spring <NUM> and allow the end of the extendible pole <NUM> to move away from the floor <NUM>. Advantageously, this maintains the fixed length of the extendible pole <NUM>, so the support device <NUM> is already at the correct length for the next drywall rail <NUM> to be installed. The installer <NUM> can push the support device <NUM> into place for the next drywall rail <NUM> by compressing the compression spring <NUM>, without having to adjust the length of the extendible pole <NUM>.

Accordingly, in some examples the extendible pole <NUM> may have alternatively be a pole of fixed length, and the support device <NUM> may be configured to be used on a range of ceiling heights. The relative movement of the pole <NUM> and the engagement portion <NUM> provided by the compression spring <NUM> permits the support device <NUM> to be used on ceilings having a range of heights.

<FIG> illustrates the components of the support device <NUM> in disassembled form. As shown, the support device <NUM> comprises an extendible pole <NUM> with a clamp <NUM> for clamping parts of the telescopic arm in position to a defined length. The support device <NUM> also includes an engagement portion <NUM> that has a frame formed of first and second rails 10a, 10b, engaging parts 7a, 7b, and diagonal struts 14a, 14b. Magnets <NUM> are provided on the engaging parts 7a, 7b. Seat <NUM> extends between the first and second rails 10a, 10b and has a hole <NUM>. As illustrated, linear bushings <NUM> may be provided for hole <NUM> in seat <NUM> and hole <NUM> in part <NUM> that extends between the first and second rails 10a, 10b. The linear bushings <NUM> permit smooth movement of the extendible pole <NUM> through the holes <NUM>, <NUM> during use.

In another embodiment described in relation to <FIG>, a support device <NUM> like previously described in relation to <FIG> comprises of a biasing member <NUM> like a gas actuator, this biasing member <NUM> allowing to press a first engagement portion <NUM> against a drywall rail <NUM>. This biasing member slid into a pole <NUM> which acts like the pole <NUM> previously described. More precisely, the gas actuator slides onto a telescopic part <NUM> of the pole. To ensure the blocking of the telescopic part <NUM> on the main body pole <NUM>, a locking <NUM> (see <FIG>) can be, for example, a spring nut on the telescopic part <NUM>. This locking <NUM> is adapted to be inserted into a hole <NUM> of a plurality of holes placed along the pole <NUM> and allows to extend the length of the pole <NUM> thanks to the telescopic part <NUM>.

The biasing member <NUM> is locked in rotation by any means known in the art, as for the telescopic part <NUM> of the pole <NUM>. This allows to the operator to easily and precisely position the drywall cell on the ceiling during the step of positioning.

The first engagement portion <NUM> may include a plurality of magnets <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>), wherein said magnets are in contact with the drywall rail <NUM> when the fist engagement portion <NUM> is engaged into the drywall rail <NUM>. Theses magnets <NUM> can be removable from the first engagement portion if needed (see <FIG>). These magnets are inserted (or clipped in) into holes (not shown) of the first engagement portion <NUM> (made in plastic for example).

In <FIG>, one can see that the first engagement portion <NUM> can be inserted inside the drywall rail <NUM> or put it in contact with the drywall rail <NUM>, for example by putting a flange <NUM> of the drywall rail <NUM> into a groove <NUM> of the first engagement portion. Thus, the shape of the first engagement portion <NUM> can be compatible with a plurality of shape of the drywall rail <NUM>. On <FIG>, one can see the plurality of magnets <NUM> at the top of the first engagement portion <NUM>.

For example the gas actuator strength is about <NUM> daN.

In this embodiment of <FIG>, a second engagement portion <NUM> may be provided at an opposite end of the extendible pole <NUM> to the first engagement portion <NUM>. The second engagement portion <NUM> is arranged to engage the floor <NUM> or the floor rail <NUM>. The second engagement portion <NUM> is for example a bumper made in rubber. Accordingly, the second engagement portion <NUM> engage the floor <NUM>, and hold the extendible pole <NUM> substantially perpendicular to the floor <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A support device (<NUM>) adapted to hold a drywall rail (<NUM>) against a ceiling (<NUM>) for fastening the drywall rail (<NUM>) to the ceiling (<NUM>), the support device comprising:
a first engagement portion (<NUM>; <NUM>) sized to be inserted into the drywall rail (<NUM>),
a pole (<NUM>; <NUM>) slidably attached to the first engagement portion (<NUM>; <NUM>) and extending to contact an opposing surface opposite the ceiling, and
a biasing member (<NUM>; <NUM>) arranged to act between the first engagement portion (<NUM>) and the pole to urge the first engagement portion (<NUM>) and the drywall rail against the ceiling during use.