GB2238072A

GB2238072A - Device for temporary support of board

Info

Publication number: GB2238072A
Application number: GB9022480A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Robert Kinzett; Andrew Phillip Kinzett
Original assignee: KINZETT ANDREW P; KINZETT IAN R
Current assignee: KINZETT ANDREW P; KINZETT IAN R
Priority date: 1989-10-21
Filing date: 1990-10-17
Publication date: 1991-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2010-10-17
Also published as: GB2238072B; GB8923771D0; GB9022480D0

Abstract

A tool which may be used with other similar tools for the temporary positioning of a board on a substrate 16 to which it is being permanently attached comprises an elongate member 10 fixable to the substrate and carrying partway along its length an annular support 12. As shown, the elongate member is a hollow shaft through which a nail, screw or the like may be passed to fix the tool to a substrate, and the support is spaced from one of its ends by the thickness of a board to be supported. The spacing of the support from opposite ends of the elongate member may be different for use with two different boards. The elongate and support members are of mild steel and welded together. In another arrangement the outer surface of the elongate member is threaded to engage a threaded aperture in the support so that its position on the elongate member may be varied and the elongate member is formed at one end with an axially extending spike and at the other end with a head such that the spike may be driven into a substrate with a hammer. In either arrangement the diameter of the elongate member is selected to enable a predetermined spacing to be obtained between adjacent boards being fixed to substrates, and the tools are removed once permanent fixings are applied to the board. <IMAGE>

Description

TOOL DESCRIPTION The invention concerns tools, more particularly tools for use in assisting the placement of material layers in desired positions, and has especial advantage in the assisting the temporary placement of material boards, sheets and layers in desired positions on substrates to which they are to be permanently fixed during the construction of buildings and the like. The invention also concerns methods of fixing material boards, sheets and layers in desired positions on substrates to which they are to be permanently fixed making use of such tools.

Traditionally the fixture of plaster boards onto joists to form ceilings requires the services of two men one to hold the board in position and the other to nail or otherwise fix the board to the joist.

Proposals have been made to use a long pole one end of which may be placed on a floor below the ceiling being formed with the length of it extending upwardly such that a plaster board to be fIxed to the joists thereabove may be supported on the erect pole while the plaster board is fixed in position. The upper end of the pole may be provided with a flat board to more readily support the plaster board.

This proposal has the advantage of enabling the fixing of the plaster board in position by a single person but has significant drawbacks in that it is difficult for a person working on his or her own to ensure both the proper support of the plaster board and fix the plaster board to the joists.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tool usable with other similar tools to temporarily support plaster boards or other material boards, sheets and layers in desired positions on substrates whilst they are being permanently fixed in position.

In one aspect the invention provides a tool comprising an elongate member carrying partway along its length a support member, the elongate member being adapted to enable attachment of the tool to a substrate with the support member a predetermined spacing therefrom.

The arrangement is such that a plurality of such tools may be attached to a substrate at positions enabling a board, sheet or layer to be be supported by the support members of the tools in a desired position in abutment with the substrate.

The support member preferably extends normally of the axis of the elongate member such that when the elongate member is in use attached te a substrate to extend normally thereof the support member extends generally parallel to the substrate.

Desirably the support member comprises an annular member mounted on the elongate member.

In one arrangement embodying the invention the elongate member comprises a hollow shaft through which a nail, screw or like member may be passed to fix the tool to a substrate.

In this arrangement the support member is preferably carried on the elongate member of the tool at a spacing from one end thereof substantially equal to the thickness of a board, sheet or layer to be supported by the tool such that in use a board, sheet or layer may be held in the desired position in contact with the substrate by a plurality of the tools.

Advantageously, the support member is be carried on the elongate member at spacings from opposite ends thereof substantially equal to the thicknesses of two different boards, sheets or layers to be supported by the tool such said tool may be used with two different thicknesses of boards, sheets or layers.

Preferably the elongate member and the support member are of mild steel and are welded one to the other.

In a second arrangement embodying the invention the position of the support member along the length of the elongate member is variable. To achieve this the outer surface of the elongate member may be threaded and the support member may include a threaded aperture engagable with the threaded outer surface of the elongate member.

Again, in this arrangement the elongate member is preferably formed at one end with an axially extending spike and at the other end with a head formation, such that the axially extending spike may be driven into a substrate by a user striking the head formation with a nail.

In both the above arrangements the outer diameter of the elongate member is desirably selected to enable a predetermined spacing to be obtained between adjacent material boards, sheets or layers attached to substrates.

The invention further provides a set of tools each as defined above, individuals ones of which are attachable to a substrate at positions enabling a board, sheet or layer to be be supported by the support members of the tools in a desired position juxtaposed to the substrate.

In a second aspect the invention provides a method of fixing material boards, sheets and layers in desired positions on substrates to which they are to be permanently fixed by using a plurality of tools each comprising an elongate member carrying partway along the length thereof a support member, releasably attaching the elongate members of the tools to the substrate in predetermined locations with the support members thereof a predetermined distance from the substrate substantially equal to the thickness of the material board, sheet or layer being fixed to the substrate, temporarily locating a material board, sheet or layer with one or more edges thereof between the support members of the tools and the substrate, permanently fixing the material board, sheet or layer to the substrate and then releasing and removing the tools from the substrate.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiment of the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of one form of tool embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the tool shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 diagramatically illustrates the use of the tool of Figure 1 to fix a plaster board to joists to form a ceiling, and Figure 4 illustrates a second form of tool embodying the invention.

A tool embodying the invention (Figures 1 and 2) comprises a hollow mild steel shaft 10 carrying a support member in the form of an annular mild steel disc 12 centrally located on the shaft at a distance A from one end thereof and at a distance B from the other end thereof.

The tool may be fixed to a substrate - for example a joist - by passing a nail 14 which longer than the hollow shaft the along the hollow shaft and hammering it into the joist 16. It will be seen that in this way the spacing of the disc 12 from the joist 16 will be either A or B depending upon the orientation of the tool when the nail is passed along the hollow shaft 10.

If the tool is to be used to temporarily support plaster board against the joist whilst being permanently fixed thereto the dimensions A and B are respectively lOmm (3/8") and 13mm (1/2") - the two standard thicknesses of plaster board normally used in the United Kingdom.

The disc 12 has a thickness T of approximately 3mm (1/8") such that the tool may be fixed onto joist 14 using a nail longer than 32m (1 1/4") - preferably a 50mm (2") nail. Preferably the diameter D of disc 12 is not less that 50mm and the outer diameter of the hollow shaft is not more than 6mm (1/4").

Figure 3 illustrates the fixture of plaster boarding to a series of joists 20, 22, 24 and 26.

Two tools 30 are nailed into substantially the centre of joist 20 at the position it is desired to locate a first edge of the sheet of plaster board being fixed to the joists and a spacing approximately one third the length of the sheet of plaster board being used. A third tool 32 is nailed into approximately the centre of the joist 22 at a position to support a second edge of the sheet of plaster board at the position it is desired the sheet of plaster board to be fixed.

The tools are located on the joists such that the discs 12 are either 13mm (1/2") or 16mm (5/8") spaced from the joists in dependence upon the thickness of the sheets of plaster board being used.

A sheet of plaster board 40 is then lifted until it is touching the joists and slid across the joists until the edge 42 thereof is located between the discs 12 of tools 30 and the joist 20 and the edge 44 thereof is located between the disc 12 of tool 32 and the joist 22.

As the spacing of the discs 12 from the joists is substantially the same as the thickness of the sheet of plaster board 40 the sheet is firmly held in position by the tools 30 and 32 allowing the worker to use both hands in applying the clouts or nails 41 along the edges 42, 44 and the other two edges of the sheet to permanently fix the plaster board sheet to the joists.

To fix the second sheet of plaster board 50 two further tools 34 are nailed into joist 24 - being located against the edge 46 of sheet 40 (substantially the centre of joist 24) again at a spacing approximately one third the length of the sheet of plaster board being used. A sixth tool 36 is nailed into approximately the centre of the joist 26 at a position to support a second edge of the sheet 50 at the desired the position.

The tools 34 and 36 are again located on the joists such that the discs 12 are the correct distance from the joist for the thickness of the sheets of plaster board being used.

The sheet of plaster board 50 is then lifted until it is touching the joists and slid across the joists until the edge 52 thereof is located between the discs 12 of tools 34 and the joist 24 and the edge 54 thereof is located between the disc 12 of tools 36 and joist 26.

Once again the sheet 50 is is firmly held in position by the tools 34 and 36 allowing the worker to use both hands in applying the clouts 41 used to permanently fix sheet 50 to the joists.

The tools 30 may then be simply pulled out of the joist 20 and used to assist in supporting another sheet of plaster board (for example, as shown in dotted outline at 60) on others of the joists to be clad with plaster board.

The tool described above is of particular advantage in fixing plaster board to joists to form a ceiling - in enabling an individual to properly locate the plaster board prior to fixing it in location and moreover b ensuring that adjacent sheets of plaster board are at the preferred spacing of 6mm (1/4") to enable the ceiling to be finished with grouting plaster when skimming joints.

Tools embodying the invention are not limited in use, however, to fixing plaster board to joists but may be used to assist fixture of other material boards, sheets or layers onto a substrates. For example, the dimensions of the tool may be different from those shown so that the tool may be used with other types of cladding and on other forms of substrate (for example, studding forming internal walls).

Figure 4 illustrates a second form of tool embodying the invention which is readity adaptable for use in assisting the fixture of different material boards, sheets or layers to a variety of different substrates. This tool differs from that already described in that the axial member 100 is in the form of a solid mild steel member having a spike end 102 terminating in a shoulder 104 at one end of a shank part 106 which is threaded along its length as shown. The other end 108 of the axial member is formed with a head.

The disc 120 of this form of the tool is of mild steel and has a central aperture which is threaded to engage with the threaded outer surface of the axial member 100.

With this form of the tool the position of the disc 120 may be adjusted along the length of the axial member 100 by being screwed nearer or further from the spike end 102 until the disc is at a distance from the shoulder 104 substantially the same as the thickness of the material boards, sheets or layers to be on fixed on a substrates. The tools are then used in the method described above - each tool being fixed to a joist by hammering the spike end 102 into the joist.

To ensure the support 120 remains at a set position the tool may be provided with lock nuts to either side of the support 120 as indicated at 130.

It will be appreciated that modifications may be made to the arrangements described without departing from the scope of the invention, for example the shapes and dimensions of the elements of the tool may be altered to suit particular purposes to which the tool is to be put and the tools may be made of any suitable metal or plastics material which is sufficiently strong for the purpose they are to be used.

It will be further be appreciated that the described method of the invention may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention, for example the number of tools used to support an edge of a sheet, board or layer may be more or less than that described and the number of edges supported of each such sheet by the tools may be one, two as described, or three depending upon the choice of the person fixing the sheets in position.

Claims

1. A tool comprising an elongate member carrying partway along its length a support member, the elongate member being adapted to enable attachment of the tool to a substrate with the support member a predetermined spacing therefrom.

2. A tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support member extends normally of the axis of the elongate member such that when the elongate member is in use attached to a substrate to extend normally thereof the support member extends generally parallel to the substrate.

3. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the support member comprises an annular member mounted on the elongate member.

4. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elongate member comprises a hollow shaft through which a nail or like member may be passed to fix the tool to a substrate.

5. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein support member is carried on the elongate member of the tool at a spacing from one end thereof substantially equal to the thickness of a board, sheet or layer to be supported by the tool such that in use a board, sheet or layer may be held in the desired position in contact with the substrate by a plurality of the tools.

6. A tool as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the support member is be carried on the elongate member at spacings from opposite ends thereof substantially equal to the thicknesses of two different boards, sheets or layers to be supported by the tool such said tool may be used with two different thicknesses of boards, sheets or layers.

7. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the elonagte member and the support member are of mild steel and are welded one to the other.

8. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the position of the support member along the length of the elongate member is variable.

9. A tool as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the outer surface of the elongate member is be threaded and the support member include a threaded aperture engagable with the threaded outer surface of the elongate member.

10. A tool as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the elongate member is formed at one end with an axially extending spike and at the other end with a head formation, such that the axially extending spike may be driven into a substrate by a user striking the head formation with a nail.

11. A tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the outer diameter of the elongate member is selected to enable a predetermined spacing to be obtained between adjacent material boards, sheets or layers attached to substrates.

12. A set of tools each as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, individuals ones of which are attachable to a substrate at positions enabling a board, sheet or layer to be be supported by the support members of the tools in a desired position juxtaposed to the substrate.

13. A method of fixing material boards, sheets and layers in desired positions on substrates to which they are to be permanently fixed by using a plurality of tools each comprising an elongate member carrying partway along the length thereof a support member, releasably attaching the elongate members of the tools to the substrate in predetermined locations with the support members thereof a predetermined distance from the substrate substantially equal to the thickness of the material board, sheet or layer being fixed to the substrate, temporarily locating a material board, sheet or layer with one or more edges thereof between the support members of the tools and the substrate, permanently fixing the material board, sheet or layer to the substrate and then releasing and removing the tools from the substrate.

14. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of fixing material boards, sheets and layers in desired positions on substrates to which they are to be permanently fixed as claimed in Claim 13 and substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.