CA2430722C

CA2430722C - Support bracket to suspend sheet material for a wall

Info

Publication number: CA2430722C
Application number: CA2430722A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ganske Roger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Jencorp Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2003-06-03
Filing date: 2003-06-03
Publication date: 2011-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-03
Also published as: US20050161564A1; CA2430722A1

Abstract

The present invention is a bracket having outwardly projecting support arms for use in installing sheet material, such as drywall or sheetrock, on a wall. The bracket comprises a base having holes for temporarily screwing the bracket to a stud of the wall. The support arms of the bracket extend horizontally from the bracket to support the edge of sheet material. When a pair of brackets is installed on the studs of a wall to be covered with sheet material, a single person can install the sheet material on a wall by first resting the sheet on the support arms of the brackets and then easily positioning and fastening the sheet to the wall. The brackets can then be removed and be reused to install sheet material on another section of wall. The bracket further comprises a flange that is easily grasped by either hand when installing or removing the bracket.

Description

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.

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.

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;
(E4181868.DOC;1 } 1E4180830.DOC;11 I

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.
(E4181868.DOC;1 } (E4180830.DOC;11 I

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.
{E4181868.DOC;1 } 1E4180830.DOC:11 I

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.

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.

{E4181868.DOC;1 } 1E4180830.DOC;11 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.
{E4181868.DOC;1 } t E4180830.DOC;11 I

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.
{E418I868.DOC;1}1E4180830.DOC:11 I

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.

{E4181868.DOC;1 } iE4180830.DOC; I 1 I

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 {E4181868.DOC; I ) dE4180830.DOC;11 fastener may be driven into said stud to firmly attach said bracket to said stud.
{E4181868.DOC;1 }1E4180830.DOC;17

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A bracket for use in installing sheet material on a wall, comprising:
a) a base having upper and lower ends and a substantially flat surface extending therebetween for abutting against a side surface of a stud of said wall;
b) 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 c) a first substantially horizontal, upwardly directed L-shaped support arm, said support arm projecting outwardly from said upper end away from said flat surface.

2. The bracket as set forth in Claim 1 further comprising a second substantially horizontal, downwardly directed L-shaped support arm, said second support arm projecting outwardly from said lower end away from said flat surface and vertically spaced-apart from said first support arm.

3. The bracket as set forth in Claim 2 wherein said support arms are joined along one side of said base by a first outwardly projecting flange for reinforcing said support arms.

4. The bracket as set forth in Claim 3 further comprising a second flange that extends outwardly sideways from said first flange to provide means for grasping said bracket.

5. The bracket as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said bracket is made of plastic.

6. The bracket as set forth in Claim 1 further comprising the base forming a second hole through which a second threaded fastener may be driven into said stud to firmly attach said bracket to said stud.

7. A bracket for use in installing sheet material on a wall, comprising:
a) a base having a substantially flat surface for abutting against a side surface of a stud of said wall;
b) 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 c) the base having a pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontal, outwardly projecting, oppositely directed L-shaped support arms.

8. The bracket as set forth in Claim 6 wherein said support arms are joined along one side of said base by a first outwardly projecting flange for reinforcing said support arms.

9. The bracket as set forth in Claim 7 further comprising a second flange that extends outwardly sideways from said first flange to provide means for grasping said bracket.

10. The bracket as set forth in Claim 7 wherein said bracket is made of plastic.

11. The bracket as set forth in Claim 7 further comprising the base forming a second hole through which a second threaded fastener may be driven into said stud to firmly attach said bracket to said stud.