Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02430722 2004-05-20
1 SUPPORT BRACKET TO SUSPEND SHEET
2 MATERIAL FOR A WALL'-'
3
4 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bracket which may be temporarily
6 attached to a vertical stud for the purpose of supporting a sheet of
building
7 material, to assist the installer as he secures the sheet to the stud.
8
9 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide a bracket for temporary installation on a vertical
11 support member, such as a pair of abutting studs forming part of a wall.
8pe
12 °~~Examples are disclosed in published Canadian patent application
13 No. 2,052,996 and U.S. patent No. 4.449.338.
14 However, such known devices are relatively complex and cumbersome
to use and are not ~ideall~r suited for use with both
16 wooden and metal studs commonly used in buildings construction.
17
18 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
19 The present invention is a bracket for use in the installation of sheet
material on stud-framed walls, such as drywall or sheetrock.
21 The bracket of the present invention comprises:
22 ~ A flat base which can be readily applied to abut the side surface of
23 the vertical stud;
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CA 02430722 2004-05-20
2
1 ~ the base forming holes through which threaded fasteners may be
2 driven into the stud to firmly attach the bracket to the stud;
3 ~ the base having a pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontal,
4 outwardly projecting, oppositely directed L-shaped support arms;
~ the bracket being an integral unit formed of °~~iniection
6 molded plastic.
7 The support arms are preferably joined along one side by an outwardly
8 projecting flange, for reinforcing the arms.
9 By providing a pair of oppositely directed support arms, the bracket is
adapted for use by either left or right handed installers.
11 In the installation of drywall on walls, it is often preferable to install
the
12 sheets in a horizontal orientation to minimize the number of joints to be
taped.
13 This is especially true on longer walls where it is possible to use longer
14 lengths of drywall; such as 10, 12 or 14-foot long sheets. When installing
drywall in this fashion, it is typical to start from the ceiling and work
16 downwards to the floor. This reauires the handling and positioning of
drywall
17 against the stud frame so that the drywall is flush with the ceiling and
any
18 adjoining wall.
19 These longer lengths are often too heavy to be handled by a single
installer so at least one other person is needed to help position the sheet on
21 the wall during its installation. Using the present invention it is
possible for a
22 single installer to install sheet material without having another person to
23 assist.
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CA 02430722 2004-05-20
1 The bracket of the present invention is used by temporarily screwing
2 the bracket to a stud at an appropriate height on a stud so it may be used
as a
3 support for the sheet material. Preferably, a second bracket is installed on
4 another stud along! the wall at a similar height so that the sheet material
may_
be placed at or near the position the sheet material is to be installed on the
6 wall.
7 With the brackets holding the sheet material at or near its intended
8 installed position, the installer can then easily nail or screw the sheet to
the
9 studs until it is completely installed. The brackets are then removed from
the
studs so that the installer can complete covering the wall with sheet
material.
11 The installer can then use the brackets to install sheet material on
another
12 section of wall.
13 To keep the cost of the bracket affordable and to keep its
14 manufactured cost low, the bracket is preferably made of infection molded
lastic.
16 Broadly stated, one aspect of the present invention is a bracket for use
17 in installing sheet material on a wall, comprising: a base having upper and
18 lower ends and a substantially flat surface extending therebetween for
19 abutting against a side surface of a stud of said wall the base forming at
least
one hole through which a threaded fastener may be driven into said stud to
21 firmly attach said bracket to said stud: and a first substantially
horizontal
22 upwardly directed L-shaped support arm said support arm proiectina
23 outwardly from said upper end away from said flat surface.
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CA 02430722 2004-05-20
4
1 Broadly stated, another aspect of the~resent invention is a bracket
2 for use in installing sheet material on a wall, comprising: a base having a
3 substantially flat surface for abutting against a side surface of a stud of
said
4 wall; the base forming at least one hole through which a threaded fastener
may be driven into said stud to firmly attach said bracket to said stud: and
the
6 base having a pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontal, outwardly
proiectinc~
7 oppositely directed L-shaped support arms.
8
9 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the bracket mounted to the side
11 surface of a C-shaped stud;
12 Figure 2a is a perspective view showing a building material sheet
13 resting on a pair of brackets mounted to studs, prior to securing the sheet
to
14 the vertical studs;
Figure 2b is similar to Figure 2a, with the sheet now secured to the
16 studs;
17 Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bracket;
18 Figure 4 is an end view of the bracket;
19 Figure 5 is a plan view of the bracket; and
Figure 6 is a front view of the bracket.
21
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CA 02430722 2004-05-20
1
2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
3 The bracket 1 comprises a flat rectangular base 2 having a bottom stud
4 contact surface 3.
5 A pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontal, oppositely directed, L-
6 shaped support arms 4 project forwardly from the base 2. The support arms 4
7 each provide a panel-supporting surface 5 and a panel-retaining lip 6.
8 Through holes 7 are formed in the base 2, through which threaded
9 fasteners 8 may be driven to affix the bracket 1 onto the side surface 9 of
the
stud 10.
11 A first flange 11 protrudes forwardly from the base 2 and joins the
12 support arms 4 at their lower ends at one side. The flange 11 functions to
13 reinforce the support arms 4.
14 A second flange 12 projects sideways from the first flange 11, to
provide means for the installer to grasp to firmly hold the bracket 1.
16 In use, the base 2 is vertically applied as shown in Figure 1, to bring
17 the stud contact surface 3 into abutment with the side surface 9 of the
stud
18 10. Threaded fasteners 8 can then be driven through holes 7 to affix
bracket
19 1 firmly to stud 10. One upwardly directed support arm 54 then provides a
panel-supporting surface 5 to suspend the panel 13 and also provides a lip 6
21 for ~e#ai~ain~ +h° ~'~°',unassisted support of the panel when
the panel is
22 disposed in an anaular are-installation position as shown in Figure 2a.
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6
1 After panel 13 has been affixed to studs 10 the brackets 1 can be
2 removed by extracting threaded fasteners ~8. This process can then be
3 repeated until the required area is completely covered by sheeting.
4 As the bracket 1 is preferably formed of ~iniection molded
plastic, it is characterized by:
6 ~ low manufacturing cost; and
7 ~ ease of use.
8 It should be obvious to those skilled in the art, however, that other
9 suitable materials having properties similar to that of injection molded
plastic
may be used to form the bracket of the present invention.
11 Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and
12 described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various
13 changes and modifications might be made without departingi from the scope
14 of the invention. The terms and expressions used in the preceding
specification have been used herein as terms of description and not of
16 limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and
expressions
17 of excluding-eguivalents of the features shown and described or portions
18 thereof, it being recognized at the scope of the invention as defined and
19 limited only by the claims that follow.
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7
1 WE CLAIM:
2 1. A bracket
for use
in installing
sheet
material
on a
wall,
comprising;
3 a) a base having upper and lower ends and a substantially
flat
4 surface extending therebetween for abutting
against a side
surface of a stud of said wall:
6 b) the base forming at least one hole through
which a threaded
7 fastener may be driven into said stud to firmly
attach said
8 bracket to said stud; and
9 c) a first substantially horizontal, upwardly
directed L-shaped
support arm, said support arm projecting outwardly
from said
11 upper end away from said flat surface.
12 2. The bracket as set forth in Claim 1 further
comprising a second
13 substantially horizontal, downwardly directed
L-shaped support
14 arm, said second support arm projecting outwardly
from said
lower end away from said flat surface and vertically
spaced-
16 apart from said first support arm.
17 3. The bracket as set forth in Claim 2 wherein
said Support arms
18 are joined along one side of said base by a
first outwardly
19 projecting flange for reinforcing said support
arms.
4. The bracket as set forth in Claim 3 further
comprising a second
21 flange that extends outwardly sideways from
said first flan a to
22 provide means for grasping said bracket.
23 5. The bracket as set forth in Claim 1 wherein
said bracket is made
24 of plastic.
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8
1 6. The bracket as set forth in Claim 1 further
comprising the base
2 forming a second hole through which a second
threaded
3 fastener may be driven into said stud to firmly
attach said
4 bracket to said stud.
7. A bracket for use in installing sheet material
on a wall,
6 comprising_
7 a) a base having a substantially flat surface
for abutting against a
8 side surface of a stud of said wall:
9 b) the base forming at least one hole through
which a threaded
fastener may be driven into said stud to firmly
attach said
11 bracket to said stud: and
12 c) the base havinc~aJ~air of vertically spaced
apart, horizontal
13 outwardly projecting, oppositely directed L-shaped
support
14 arms.
8. The bracket as set forth in Claim 6 wherein said support arms
16 are joined along one side of said base by a first outwardly
17 proiectin flange for reinforcing said support arms.
18 9. The bracket as set forth in Claim 7 further comprising a second
19 flange that extends outwardly sideways from said first flange to
provide means for ra aspina said bracket.
21 10. The bracket as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said bracket is made
22 of plastic.
23 11. The bracket as set forth in Claim 7 further comprising the base
24 forming a second hole through which a second threaded
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CA 02430722 2004-05-20
fastener may be driven into said stud to firmly attach said
bracket to said stud.
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