This invention relates in general to hand tools, and particularly to a hand tool for positioning siding planks when installing on a building.
When plank siding is applied to a side of a building, each newly installed plank overlaps the previously installed plank by a given amount. The amount of overlap needs to remain fixed from plank to plank to keep the siding level and neatly spaced.
The most common means of achieving this outcome is by having workmen hold the plank being applied at each end using a pattern measurement block. Once aligned, the plank is nailed in place and the handheld supports removed. This technique is labor intensive because long planks require at least two people to perform the task.
A number of tools are disclosed in patents for assisting in installing siding planks. Improvements are needed, however. The tool needs to be quickly installed and quickly removed once the plank is fastened to the building. Also, to make it economical, a single workman should be able to install long siding planks.
In this invention, two embodiments of a tool for positioning overlapping siding planks are shown. Both embodiments have an elongated member with a hook on an upper end. The hook fits over the upper edge of a first or lower plank fastened to a structure. A support is carried by the elongated member for engaging the lower edge of a second or next upward siding plank. The hook of the elongated member and the support will hold the second plank in a desired position to enable the workman to fasten the second plank to the structure.
After fastening, the elongated member is upwardly movable from the engaged position, and the hook is rotatable to a disengaged position approximately 90 degrees from the engaged position. This allows the workman to pull the elongated member and hook down from between the two overlapping siding planks.
In one embodiment, the hook and elongated member will flex when twisted from a natural position to a position about 90 degrees from the natural position. A retainer mechanism holds the hook in this cocked position, retaining the a torque imposed on the elongated member. When the elongated member is pushed upward, the upper edge of the hook will clear the first siding plank, releasing the torque and causing the hook to spring back to its natural, disengaged position.
In the second embodiment, the elongated member does not undergo torque as in the first embodiment. A spacer is located below the support. The spacer is rotatable relative to the elongated member and the support. A mating lug and groove between the elongated member and the spacer, when misaligned, prevents upward movement of the elongated member relative to the support and also transfers the weight of the second plank from the support to the elongated member. When the lug and groove are aligned by the workman, upward movement of the elongated member moves the hook above the upper edge of the lower plank. This upper position allows the workman to rotate the hook approximately 90 degrees to the disengaged position.
Referring to
Tool 11 has a torsion member 17 that in this embodiment comprises an elongated strip of spring steel that can be twisted 90 degrees without exceeding the yield strength of the steel. Torsion member 17 has an upper portion bent permanently into a hook 19. Hook 19 is generally rectangular and sized for fitting over the upper edge of plank 13. In this embodiment, torsion member 17 also has a plurality of permanent twists 21 formed in it and extending over most of its length. Twists 21 facilitate a user applying torque to torsion member 17.
Tool 11 has a handle 23 for gripping by a workman. Handle 23 has a central axial hole 25 extending throughout most of its length. Preferably, a metal liner 27 forms a sheath in at least part of hole 25, although this would not be necessary if handle 23 were made of sufficiently rigid material. The lower end of torsion member 17 is permanently secured within a slot in a cylindrical anchor 29 located at the bottom of hole 25. A set screw 31, engageable through a laterally extending passage in handle 23, locks anchor 29 rigidly to handle 23. The purpose of anchor 29 is to rigidly secure the lower end of torsion member 17 to handle 23. Other arrangements for securing the lower end of torsion member 17 to handle 23 could be employed.
A guide tube 33 has a lower portion that is closely received within liner 27. Guide tube 33 is able to rotate relative to handle 23 as well as move axially. Guide tube 23 has an upper portion that protrudes above handle 23 and is preferably gradually curved to facilitate use of tool 11.
A support assembly 35 is secured to the upper end of guide tube 33 for supporting the lower edge of plank 15. Torsion member 17 extends through guide tube 33 and through a hole provided in support assembly 35. Support assembly 35 includes a base 37 that holds a shelf 39 in this embodiment. As shown in
Referring again to
When handle 23 is in the position relative to guide tube 33 shown in
Referring to
In operation of the tool of the embodiments of
To remove each tool 11, the workman first cocks tool 11 by rotating handle 23 approximately 90 degrees from the natural position shown in
Continued upward movement of handle 23 from the cocked position moves hook 19 above the upper edge of lower plank 13. Once cleared, the torque within torsion member 17 causes hook 19 to elastically spring 90 degrees to the natural position shown in
Referring to
A spacer 69 is carried on rod 61 below support 65. Spacer 69 is also freely rotatable and axially movable to rod 61. Spacer 69 also can rotate relative to support 65. In the preferred embodiment, spacer 69 does not move axially relative to support 65, but it could, if desired. In this example, spacer 69 is a cylindrical spool-shaped member, but the configuration may vary. Spacer 69 has a laterally-extending spacer arm 71 that allows the user to grip and rotate spacer 69. Spacer 69 also has an axially extending slot or groove 73 formed on one side.
A collar 75 is rigidly secured to rod 61 below spacer 69. Rod 61 moves both axially and rotatably with collar 75. A set screw 77 locks collar 75 rigidly to rod 61 in this embodiment, but other arrangements could be employed. Collar 75 has an upward protruding tang or lug 79 for reception within groove 73. An arm 81 extends laterally from collar 75, serving as a handle for rotating collar 75 and rod 61.
While in the position of
In the operation of the embodiment of
After fastening plank 59, the workman rotates spacer 69 approximately 90 degrees to the aligned position. Groove 73 will now align with lug 79, allowing the workman to push rod 61 and hook 63 upward so that hook 63 clears the upper edge of plank 57, as shown in
The invention has significant advantages. The tool will easily assemble with the plank and provide support the next upper plank. The tool is readily released from engagement with the first plank and readily withdrawn because in both embodiments, the hook rotates 90 degrees from the engaged position. The overlap of the planks can be adjusted by the tool.
While the invention has been shown in only two of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/668,660, filed Apr. 6, 2005.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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60668660 | Apr 2005 | US |