Patent Application
20200392739
The present invention relates generally to the field of installation of building materials, and more particularly, to an apparatus that temporarily secures a wall or ceiling panel until the installer can permanently secure the material into position.
Wall and ceiling panels are typically composed of a layer of gypsum sandwiched between two layers of heavy paper. The panels are known various as “wallboard”, “dywall”, etc. The panels are typically constructed and sold in four foot by eight foot sections having a thickness of ¼ inch, ⅜ inch, lit inch, or ⅝ inch. Installation of the panels onto a wall or a ceiling can be very cumbersome and labor intensive primarily because of their size and weight. For example, a ½ inch panel weighs approximately 50 pounds and a ⅝ inch panel weighs approximately 70 pounds. The size and weight of the panels make them very difficult to be installed by a single individual without assistance. Installation typically requires at least two individuals, one that lifts and holds the panel temporarily into position while the other permanently secures the panel in position typically using screws, nails, and/or adhesives. This practice is dangerous, cumbersome, and costly. Therefore, there is a need for an invention that can temporarily hold a panel in place while the installer makes final adjustments and permanently secures the panel in place onto a wall or ceiling.
One method that is often used involves the use of a drywall lift that raises drywall into position. A disadvantage to this method is that the drywall lift is cumbersome to assemble and disassemble. Installation of panels on different walls require the drywall lift to be disassembled, moved to the next wall, and re-assembled.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,329 teaches a rotatable device having an integral “Z” shaped body used to temporarily hold the panel but it does not have the option to be locked in a secure position. This causes a problem when a panel needs to be adjusted to properly fit when abutting another panel. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,131,361; 6,161,824; 6,364,404; 6,467,236; and 6,904,732, all describe various brackets that can be attached temporarily to ceiling joists, to wall studs, or to top plates for guiding a panel into place and supporting them while they are permanently secured. All of these brackets fail to effectively secure a panel because they allow a panel to slip off the bracket, they are cumbersome to assemble and disassemble for each panel installed, and they do not accommodate multiple panel sizes.
Therefore, there exists a need for a construction panel mounting apparatus which will overcome the deficiencies of the prior art devices without having its own drawbacks. The construction panel mounting apparatus of the present invention provides a highly practical and satisfactory device which is a significant advance in the art.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned disadvantages occurring in the prior art and it is the object of the present invention to provide a construction panel mounting apparatus that temporarily secures a wall or ceiling panel until the installer can permanently secure the material into position.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a construction panel mounting apparatus that can accommodate varying panel sizes.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a construction panel mounting apparatus that can be readily assembled and disassembled for use with ease.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a construction panel mounting apparatus that allows for the position of the panel to be adjusted before it is permanently secured in place.
It is yet another object of the present invention to facilitate the installation of a construction panel by a single individual.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a construction panel mounting apparatus that is durable enough to withstand the rigors of a construction site.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a construction panel mounting apparatus that can be used with thick panels such as plywood or lumber panels.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a construction panel mounting apparatus that facilitates with the lifting of a panel off the ground.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a construction panel mounting apparatus that is cost effective and manufacturable.
To accomplish the above objects, the present invention is embodied in a construction panel mounting apparatus comprising a body, preferably a rectangular cube, having various cantilevers and holes. The body is attached to a ceiling joist or wall stud with screws through said holes and the cantilevers temporarily secure one end of the panel to a wall or ceiling while the installer permanently secures it into position.
The above and other features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and usage of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functional similar elements. A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Certain terminology is used in the following descriptions for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” or “distally” and “outwardly” or “proximally” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center or orientation of the device and instruments and related parts thereof. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
Although, the present invention can be used in connection with any type of construction panel mounting application, it is especially suited for mounting drywall panels to a wall or ceiling. Accordingly, the present invention will be described herein with reference to drywall panel mounting application. However, the preferred system of the present application may also be adapted for use with other types of panels, such as wood, lumber, metal, plastic, and the like.
Reference will be made to the drawings in which various elements of the present invention will be given numerical designations and in which the invention will be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention.
As shown in
As shown in
Hereinafter, an explanation of the methods of using the construction panel mounting apparatus 100 of the present invention will be given.
A construction panel 200 is typically mounted to a wall with screws that are driven through the panel 200 and into wall studs 300. Multiple screws are driven through the panel 200 and into various wall studs 300 to ensure that the panel 200 is installed securely. The size and weight of the panel 200 causes difficulty in holding the panel 200 in the preferred position or alignment until enough screws are installed to secure the panel 200. The process of installing a panel 200 typically requires at least one person to hold the panel 200 in the preferred position or alignment while another person drives the screws into the proper wall studs 300.
The construction panel mounting apparatus 100 of the present invention takes the place of the first person that holds the panel 200 in the preferred position or alignment, First, the thickness of the panel 200 must be determined to determine which cantilever to use. For example, if mounting a ½-inch panel 200, then place the construction panel mounting apparatus 100 of the present invention with the front face 10 abutting a wall stud 300 onto which the panel 200 will be secured. More specifically, the construction panel mounting apparatus 100 of the present invention must be positioned onto the wall stud 300 with the front face 10 abutting the front 310 of the wall stud 300, the front cantilever 15 abutting the side 320 of the wall stud 300, and the top cantilever 35 facing upwards. Once the construction panel mounting apparatus 100 is placed in the preferred position on the wall stud 300, a screw is driven through the front hole 13 and into the wall stud 300 to secure the construction panel mounting apparatus 100 into place.
Then, the panel 200 is placed against the front 310 of the wall stud 300 and allowed to slide down so that its bottom edge 210 slides in between the front 310 of the wall stud 300 and the top cantilever 35. After all the top cantilever 35 is spaced ½ inches from the front 310 of the wall stud 300, enough space to fit a ½-inch panel. Once in place, the panel 200 is temporarily retained in place by the wall stud 300 in the hack, the top face 30 in the bottom, and the top cantilever 35 in the front, as shown in
In the same manner as explained above, the construction panel mounting apparatus 100 of the present invention can be used to mount panels of varying thickness. In the example above, the front face 10 and the top cantilever 35 were used to mount a ½ inch panel. Similarly, the rear face 20 and the top cantilever 35 are used to mount a ⅜ inch panel. In a similar manner, the front face 10 and the bottom cantilever 45 are used to mount a ⅝ inch panel. Further, the rear face 20 and the bottom cantilever 45 are used to mount a ¼ inch panel. Even further, the right face 50 and the front cantilever 15 can be used to mount thicker materials, such a 4×2 lumber.
A second functional use of the construction panel mounting apparatus 100 of the present invention is that of a typical drywall foot lift. The front cantilever 15 is slid under a panel 200 resting on the ground. Then the user's foot steps on the rear cantilever 25 and presses downward so as to force the construction panel mounting apparatus 100 to pivot as shown on
It is understood that the described embodiments of the present invention as discussed above are illustrative only, and that modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiments disclosed, but to be limited only as defined by the appended claims herein.
