Stud clamp

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6536752
  • Patent Number
    6,536,752
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, October 31, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 25, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Watson; Robert C.
    Agents
    • Breiner & Breiner, L.L.C.
Abstract
A stud clamp is provided that attaches across a first stud providing a stationary brace for a second perpendicular stud to be connected to the first, thereby facilitating the toe-nailing process. The stud clamp is adjustable to fit variety of stud widths and has a clamping mechanism for securely clamping the device to the first stud.
Description




FIELD OF INVENTION




The present invention relates to a carpenter's stud clamp for facilitating the activity known as toe-nailing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a stud clamp that adjusts to accommodate studs of various widths and that securely clamps onto the stud during use.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Toe-nailing is a construction process in which a horizontal wooden stud, called the “toe-plate”, is connected to a vertical wooden stud by nails driven obliquely through both. The procedure produces a sturdy perpendicular connection between studs and is used in structural framing of buildings and in other settings such as window and door framing.




Traditionally, a carpenter joins the two studs by first placing one foot on top of the toe-plate, keeping it snug against one side of the bottom of the unattached vertical stud. The foot acts to steady the vertical stud as the carpenter drives nails downward at an angle, about one inch from the joint, through the vertical stud and into the toe-plate. Thus, the term “toe-nailing”. This method, simple as it seems, can take years to master. Keeping one's foot firmly in place while hammering at an angle low to the ground proves challenging for many.




One problem with traditional toe-nailing is that of securely positioning the vertical stud with respect to the toe-plate. In driving a nail at an angle to the studs, the vertical stud has a tendency to move out of position. This is because it is difficult to simultaneously steady the vertical stud with a foot and drive nails at an angle to connect the toe-plate. For this reason, successful toe-nailing often requires the vertical stud to be cut to a perfect length allowing it to be wedged between the toe-plate and an upper horizontal stud. This fit assists the carpenter by holding the vertical stud in place during toe-nailing. However, an imperfect stud length results in either bowing of the stud between the toe-plate and the upper horizontal stud or a loose fit which provides no assistance to the carpenter.




U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,084 discloses a carpenter's toe-nail backup clamp that is cam operated. However, this device has drawbacks, including its inability to accommodate toe-plates of various widths and its lack of an adequate clamping mechanism for securing the device to a toe-plate.




Accordingly, the prior art methods of toe-nailing have proved difficult and cumbersome. The present invention provides a device that solves these problems, making toe-nailing easier, faster, and safer.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




A primary object of the present invention is to provide a stud clamp that facilitates and simplifies toe-nailing.




Another primary object of the invention is to provide a stud clamp that facilitates toe-nailing by providing a secure means for positioning a vertical stud on a toe-plate, eliminating the need for a carpenter's foot to position and hold the stud.




Another object of the invention is to provide a versatile stud clamp that is adjustable to fit a variety of toe-plate widths, for example, 2×3, 2×4, and 2×6 stock.




Another object of the invention is to provide a versatile stud clamp that is effective in any instance where studs need to be joined perpendicularly, including window framing, door framing, as well as the more common large-scale structural framing.




Another object of the invention is to provide a stud clamp having a clamping mechanism that securely clamps the stud clamp to a toe-plate.




Another object of the invention is to provide a stud clamp that is durable, safe, and easy to use.




Another object of the invention is to provide a stud clamp that works well for both right- and left-handed users.




In accordance with these objectives, an adjustable stud clamp used for positioning a vertical stud on a horizontal toe-plate is provided. The stud clamp clamps to a toe-plate across its width to provide a rigid brace that aids the user in stably positioning a vertical stud perpendicular to the toe-plate. The clamp operates to brace the vertical stud against slippage along two axes by preventing the vertical stud from slipping off the side of the toe-plate and from slipping along the toe-plate length.




The stud clamp of the present invention comprises a clamp base and an adjustable clamping mechanism connected to the clamp base.




The clamp base has a horizontal plate attached to a vertical side plate that extends normal to the horizontal plate above and below its bottom surface. The clamp base fits atop a horizontal toe-plate such that the horizontal plate bottom surface rests on the toe-plate across its width and the side plate hangs vertically downward, abutting a vertical edge of the toe-plate. In this position, the clamping mechanism can be activated to hold the stud clamp in place.




The adjustable clamping mechanism is attached to the clamp base horizontal plate. It preferably comprises a vice-grip assembly controlling a pivoting arm that extends below the horizontal plate to a clamping head that is parallel to and opposes the side plate. The head position is adjustable relative to the side plate and capable of sandwiching toe-plates of various widths between the clamping head and the side plate.




In order to accommodate a range of toe-plate widths, in addition to the arm adjustability, the clamping mechanism is preferably attachable to the clamp base at at least two positions on the clamp base horizontal plate.




In operation, the user places the clamp base across a toe-plate with the clamp base side plate abutting a toe-plate vertical edge. The clamping mechanism is then activated to clamp the clamping head against the opposite toe-plate vertical edge. Once the stud clamp is secured, the clamp base horizontal and side plates each serves a bracing function for an unattached vertical stud placed on the toe-plate. The horizontal plate prevents the vertical stud from slipping away from the user along the toe-plate length. The clamp base side plate, with part of its vertical surface extending above the level of the toe-plate top surface, prevents the vertical stud from sliding off the side of the toe-plate.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a plan view of a stud clamp according to the present invention;





FIG. 2

shows a top view of the stud clamp, viewed along line


2





2


in

FIG. 1

, positioned across a toe-plate in relation to a vertical stud;





FIG. 3

shows the stud clamp, toe-plate, and vertical stud as viewed along line


3





3


in

FIG. 2

; and





FIG. 4

shows an adapter piece for attaching the clamping mechanism to the clamp base.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Having described the invention in general terms, a further description of the presently preferred embodiment is provided with reference to the drawings.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, a stud clamp


10


according to the present invention is shown having clamp base


20


and adjustable clamping mechanism


30


.




Clamp base


20


includes horizontal plate


21


and side plate


22


. Side plate


22


is a generally rectangular aluminum plate, 5″×2″×½″, having knurled sidewall


12


and top wall


14


. Top wall


14


includes a 2″×½″×½″ central cut-out for receiving horizontal plate


21


.




Horizontal plate


21


is a generally rectangular aluminum plate, 6″×2″×½″, attached at one end to top wall


14


by allen screws


23


or by any other suitable fastening means. It is understood that the clamp base may also be manufactured from a single piece of material, which may be aluminum or any other suitable material.




The attached combination of horizontal plate


21


and side plate


22


form a right angle between sidewall


12


and horizontal plate


21


. Thus, sidewall


12


can be placed against the vertical edge of a toe-plate, with horizontal plate


21


extending across the toe-plate width and resting on the toe-plate upper horizontal surface. The uppermost portion of sidewall


12


extends above the toe-plate.




Adjustable clamping mechanism


30


comprises a vise-grip assembly including pivoting arm


40


connected to handle


34


and locking lever


35


. Pivoting arm


40


includes a flat clamping head


42


, as shown in FIG.


3


. Clamping head


42


is generally rectangular in structure and has a knurled surface to prevent slippage when clamped to a toe-plate. Clamping head


42


is connected to arm


40


by rivet


41


. Clamping mechanism handle


34


is attached to clamp base


20


via adapter


50


and removable threaded locking pin


32


.




Referring now to

FIG. 2

, a top view of stud clamp


10


along line


2





2


in FIG.


1


and toe-plate


60


in relation to vertical stud


62


is shown. Pinholes


27


and


29


offer alternative attachment sites for clamping mechanism


30


. Proximal slot


26


receives adapter


50


to be secured by locking pin


32


through pinhole


27


, located about 2¼″ from side plate


22


. Distal slot


28


accommodates clamping arm


40


. Distal slot


28


can also receive adapter


50


, to be secured by locking pin


32


through pinhole


29


, located about 4¼″ from side plate


22


. It is understood that a variety of attachment means for adjustable clamping mechanism


30


are available. The pinhole/locking pin arrangement is preferred for reasons of economy and simplicity.




In

FIG. 1

, the stud clamp is shown with clamping mechanism


30


attached at proximal slot


26


. Rivet


37


attaches adapter


50


to handle


34


of clamping mechanism


30


and is inserted in slot


26


. Threaded locking pin


32


is in pinhole


27


, immobilizing clamping mechanism


30


on horizontal plate


21


. Note that locking pin


32


is flush with vertical bracing wall


33


of horizontal plate


21


and that pinholes


27


and


29


are cut to allow finger access to locking pin


32


.




Referring to

FIG. 4

, adapter


50


is shown. Upper extension


52


has rivet hole


54


for attachment to handle


34


. Lower extension


56


fits into either slot


26


or


28


and has hole


58


to receive locking pin


32


.




Referring now to FIG.


2


and

FIG. 3

, the stud clamp


10


is shown in relation to toe-plate


60


and vertical stud


62


. Clamping mechanism


30


is a vise-grip adjustable clamping mechanism having handle


34


, locking lever


35


, adjustment knob


36


, and release lever


38


. Clamping arm


40


extends through slot


28


beneath horizontal plate


21


and has pivoting clamp head


42


. Clamping mechanism


30


is adjustable at knob


36


to change the resting position of clamp head


42


relative to side plate


22


. It is understood that the clamping mechanism need not comprise the preferred vise-grip assembly, but may be substituted with other types of clamps.




Once adjusted at adjustment knob


36


and/or between alternative pinhole positions, the clamping mechanism is engaged by pulling locking lever


35


toward handle


34


. Stud clamp


10


will be securely attached to the toe-plate.




Bracing wall


33


and the uppermost portion of sidewall


12


now serve as braces for positioning unattached vertical stud


62


. The “T” shaped profile of the stud clamp, as seen in

FIG. 2

, illustrates the two axes of bracing provided by the stud clamp. The base of the vertical stud fits a corner that prevents it from moving off the toe-plate and from sliding along its length. The “T” shape also prevents the stud clamp from pivoting-on the toe-plate. Note also that sidewall


12


, seen in

FIG. 1

, is knurled to prevent slippage of stud clamp


10


along the toe-plate length.




The combined adjustability provided by the vise-grip adjustment knob and the alternative pinhole attachment points makes the stud clamp of the present invention quite versatile and the vise-grip assembly provides sturdy clamping power. Many variations of the invention are possible in keeping with the principle of stud clamp adjustability. The dimensions of the stud clamp can be adjusted to reach a desired combination of portability, economy, and effectiveness. Additionally, the clamping mechanism may be attached to the clamp base in any suitable fashion that allows adjustability and the structure of the clamping mechanism itself is not limited to a vise-grip assembly, but may comprise any effective type of clamp.




The stud clamp of the present invention may be used in a variety of settings, including those that require the stud clamp to be attached to a vertical rather than a horizontal stud.




While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, various modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as described above.



Claims
  • 1. A stud clamp comprising:a horizontal plate having upper and lower horizontal surfaces and vertical bracing walls; a side plate having a vertical sidewall; said side plate being affixed to said horizontal plate such that said sidewall extends above sand below said lower horizontal surface and forms a right angle to said lower surface; adjustable clamping means attached to said upper surface wherein said adjustable clamping means adjusts to clamp a stud selected from the group consisting of a two inches by three inches stock stud, a two inches by four inches stock stud and a two inches by six inches stock stud.
Parent Case Info

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/237,933 filed Jan. 27, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,547.

US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
3357464 Vroman Dec 1967 A
4165869 Williams Aug 1979 A
4505011 Dupuy Mar 1985 A
5192060 Novak Mar 1993 A
5364084 Karash Nov 1994 A
5575518 Payne Nov 1996 A
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/237933 Jan 1999 US
Child 09/699453 US