GB2265176A - A device for use in applying a cladding panel to a supporting framework - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (10) for use in applying a cladding panel (P) to a supporting framework such as an array of ceiling joists (J) comprises suspension means in the form of a joist engagement means (11) (J) to suspend the device therefrom and panel support means (12) engaged or engageable with the joist engagement means (11) whereby at least a part of the weight of the panel (P) may be supported from the joist (J) whilst the panel is attached to the frame at a point remote from the said device. <IMAGE>

Description

A DEVICE FOR USE IN APPLYING A CLADDING PANEL TO A SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK The present invention relates to a device for use in applying a cladding panel to a supporting framework, particularly, but not exclusively, for use in supporting cladding panels to be attached to the underside of a framework of ceiling joists in order to form a ceiling.

The current method for constructing a ceiling is to fix large, rectangular panels, or boards, to the under sides of the joists spanning the ceiling of a room so as to form a contiguous array. The joins between the panels are then filled and/or covered before a finishing coat of plaster or other material is applied. The boards themselves may be of plasterboard, compressed fibre or polystyrene and are usually of the order of 2.4 metres long by 1.2 metres wide and 9 or 12 millimetres thick.

Even if comparatively light, they are thus not easy to manipulate and to hold in place against the ceiling joists during fixing, particularly as they are often brittle and require good support at both ends if they are not to fracture in the process.

When such work is carried out professionally, by skilled craftsmen, two men usually work together in order to provide the necessary support. Alternatively a single person, working on his own, employs mechanical aids to lift the panels into position and then to hold them while he nails them to the joists. The aids currently available, however, are specialised, expensive and bulky and difficult to justify except where considerable use is to be made of them.

Although such work has previously been considered as skilled work which should be left to the professional craftsman, more and more people are being forced by the cost of such work to attempt more tasks in the building and decorating field themselves. There is thus a growing demand for simple, inexpensive tools which can be used by unskilled amateurs to enable them to carry out all aspects of building work with reasonable success.

Cheaper but effective tools are also, of course, useful to the professional in helping him to reduce operating costs and become more competitive in difficult economic circumstances.

The object of the present invention is to provide equipment which can enable a single person to fix cladding panels to a framework in a simple and effective manner. Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for use in applying cladding panels to a supporting framework comprising means for suspending the panel from the framework so as to support at least part of its weight in a position for it to be fixed to the framework. The device is intended particularly for supporting one end of a very large panel to free the operator to position it correctly by means of the opposite end and to fix it to the framework while supporting it himself or with the aid of an additional support for the said opposite end.

A device in accordance with the invention may find use in the application of panels to walls or sloping surfaces but is particularly concerned with the application of cladding panels to form ceilings. The suspension means therefore preferably include means for engaging at least one ceiling frame member to suspend the device therefrom and support means for the cladding panel engaged, or engagable, with the ceiling frame engagement means.

The means for engaging the ceiling frame member will depend on the nature of that member but the invention is particularly concerned with providing a tool for the amateur handyman who is most usually faced with the task of nailing ceiling panels to wooden joists. The engagement means of the device as described below is therefore particularly adapted for attachment to such joists but could be used with, or adapted for use with, steel girders or other frame members as required.

Even for use with wooden joists, various types of frame member engagement means are envisaged. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention, the engagement means comprise a hook which is designed simply to be fitted over a joist to suspend the device therefrom. In an alternative embodiment, the engagement means comprise a clamp which can grip a joist between two jaws: the jaws may, for example, be relatively pivotable and urged into contact with the joist by resilient or other biasing means or the clamp may be a screw clamp. Preferred clamps are such that they can be operated manually to apply the clamping force rather than requiring external, for example, pneumatic energy.

In other embodiments it is convenient for the engagement means to engage two adjacent joists, the device being located between the joists and having hooks, clamps or other attachment means projecting in opposite directions into engagement with the two joists. In a simpler form of such embodiments of the invention, particularly for use in applying a second layer of ceiling panels beneath an existing layer of panels whereby the joists themselves are not directly accessible, the engagement means may comprise an abutment plate which can be placed against the under side of the joist or ceiling panel and can be fixed to the joist, if necessary through the panel, preferably by one or more screws which may, but need not, be an integral part of the device itself.

As indicated above, it is particularly envisaged that a device in accordance with the invention will be of particular use in supporting one end of a ceiling panel, or in some situations an edge portion of the panel adjacent one end, while the handyman manipulates the panel by its opposite end in order to position it correctly against the ceiling joists. For this purpose, the support means for the cladding panel preferably comprise a plate or bracket connected, or connectible, to the frame member engagement means so as to provide a rest surface for an edge portion of the panel.Such a support plate may be of sufficient size to support the edge of the panel from beneath, when suspended from a ceiling frame member in use, without the crushing or breaking which might be caused by a clamp although clamps with broad clamping surfaces might be suitable, particularly for less fragile boards than are currently in use. Other support means, such as for example, suction pads, which would not be very suitable for the current fairly roughsurfaced, porous boards, might also be usable in future circumstances and are not excluded from the present invention.

Returning to the preferred support means comprising a plate or bracket, this is preferably constituted by the lower wall of a channel member into which the edge of a panel fits so as to provide a stable location for the panel. Additional fixing means, such as a nail or screw which passes through an aperture in the channel wall, may also be provided to secure the panel to its support means: such additional fixing means also allow a relatively wide channel to be used so that the device can be employed with panels of different thicknesses rather than being limited to a very specific type of panel.

The connection between the panel support means and the frame engagement means will depend, in part, upon the nature of these two features of the device. It is particularly preferred for the device to enable one end of a long ceiling panel to be supported in a raised position, just below the ceiling frame members, while the user raises the opposite end of the board and adjusts it so that it abuts a previously fixed board or wall and may be secured in position. For this purpose, it is preferable for the panel support means to be pivotable relative to the frame member engagement means so that the panel may first be supported at an angle to the ceiling, with its upper end carried by the device engaged with the ceiling frame members, and may then be pivoted upwardly into its horizontal position beneath the frame members for fixing.

The pivotal connection may form part of a permanent connection or a releasable connection between the two parts of the device. In the first case, the device may first be fixed to the ceiling frame member or members and the panel may be offered up to it in situ but it is generally more convenient for the panel to be fitted to its support means at a low level and then the device offered up to the frame member; in this case the frame engagement means preferably comprising a hook which can be engaged very easily with a frame member such as a joist.A releasable connection is, however, even more preferable since the frame member engagement means may be separated from the support means and fixed in a desired position to the ceiling frame members: the support means may then be fitted to the edge of the panel and the panel and support means together offered up to the frame engagement means and connected thereto. Again in this case, the final attachment is preferably a simple hook on engagement.

In the application of ceiling panels to ceiling joists, it is customary for the panels to extend transverse the joists themselves with each end of the panel located directly beneath a joist so that it can be secured firmly thereto, usually by flat-headed nails. For this purpose, a device of the invention which is intended to support the shorter, end edge of the panel must be able to support it directly beneath a joist and extending parallel thereto: the edge of the panel may, however, be spaced a small distance from the joist, at least to an extent allowed by the flexibility of the panel material.

The device of the invention may, however, be adapted to support an edge of the panel which extends transverse the joists, whether this is a longitudinal edge or a shorter, end edge of the panel.

There is further provided a method of fixing cladding panels to a supporting framework including applying the panel to the framework with at least part of its weight supported from the framework by a device as described above. Depending upon the nature of the device and of the framework, the panel support means of the device may be engaged with the panel before or after the frame engagement means are engaged with the framework. The panel support means are preferably attached to the panel before being offered up the framework; if the panel support means are separable from the frame support means, the latter are preferably attached first to the framework and then engaged by the support means carrying the panel, preferably by a simple hook engagement.If the panel support means are not readily separable from the frame engagement means the latter is preferably engaged with a frame member by a simple hook engagement.

Several embodiments of the device of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the device of the invention showing two parts separated; Figure 2 is a part-sectioned elevational view of the device of Figure 1 in use supporting one edge of a ceiling panel; Figures 3 and 4 are schematic perspective views of respective stages in the fixing of a ceiling panel to the ceiling joists of a room with the aid of the device of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a second embodiment of the device of the invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of part of a third embodiment of the device of the invention; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a fourth embodiment of the device of the invention;; Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of fifth and sixth embodiments respectively of a device of the invention; and Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing part of a further embodiment of the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a device for supporting one edge of a sheet of plasterboard, or other ceiling cladding panel, from a joist is generally indicated 10. The device 10 is formed in two interengagable parts, indicated 11 and 12 respectively. The first part 11 includes a "G"-clamp 13 for clamping to a joist indicated J in Figure 2 while the second part 12 provides a seat for the plasterboard itself, shown at P in Figure 2.

The G-clamp 13 comprises, in known manner, a robust G shaped frame 14 the free end of one arm whereof terminates in a fixed clamping disc 16 while the other arm supports an opposing movable clamping disc 17 carried on a shaft 18 extending through a through-hole in the arm. The through-hole and the shaft have cooperating screw-threading, only the threading 18a on the shaft being visible. The shaft 18 is turnable by a handle 19 in known manner to move the movable clamping disc 17 axially towards and away from the opposing clamping disc 16, the clamp 13 being of such a size that it can accommodate a standard-sized ceiling joist J between the discs 16, 17 as shown in Figure 2.

The clamp 13 carries an annular support bar 20 for engagement by the second part 12 of the support device 10. The bar 20 is in fact in the form of an elongate, rectangular annulus, one of the longer arms 21 of which extends transversely through, and is captive in, an aperture 22 in the base portion 23 of the G-frame 14.

The plane of the annular bar 20 is perpendicular to the plane of symmetry of the G-clamp but it is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of its arm 21 captive in the aperture 22. In this embodiment the arm 21 is fixed against longitudinal sliding in the aperture 22 and is held at its centre but in alternative embodiments it could be free to slide in the aperture 22. The aperture 22 is offset from the centre of the base 23 of the Gclamp towards the handle end of the clamp.

As is seen in the drawings, the second longer arm, indicated 24, of the annulus 20 opposite the arm 21 lies outside the channel defined by the G-clamp and, when the clamp is clamped to a joist J as shown in Figure 2, is dependent from the base 23 of the clamp for engagement by a cooperating hook-portion 25 of the second part 12 of the device 10.

Turning now to the second part 12 of the device 10, this comprises essentially a channel-shaped member 26 which can receive an edge portion Pa of the plasterboard P as shown in Figure 2. In the embodiment shown, the channel member 26 incudes a base wall 27 intended to support the plasterboard P from underneath, and an opposing, parallel, upper wall 28 intended to overlie the sheet P, the walls 27, 28 being joined by an end wall 29. The hook member 25 mentioned above projects from the top of the upper wall 28 adjacent the edge joining the upper wall 28 and the end wall 29: the hook member 25 is substantially semi-circular in section and projects away from the end wall 29.

As shown in the drawings, the overall length of the channel member 26, axially of the channel, is substantially the same as the length of the arms 21, 24 of the annular bar 20 but the hook member 25 has a shorter axial extent so that, when hooked over the arm 24 as shown in Figure 2, it can slide along this arm between the stops provided by the shorter end arms of the annular bar 20. The hook member 25 is, however, located centrally of the channel member 29 relative to its longitudinal axis.

A final feature of the support part 12 comprises a fixing screw 30 for retaining the plasterboard P in the channel 26. The screw 30 has a threaded shank 31 with a tapered tip 32 at one end and a knurled head 33 at its opposite end. The threaded shank passes through an annular shoulder 34 projecting from the outer face of the base wall 27 of the channel member and through the base wall 27 itself, such that its pointed tip projects into its channel while its head 33 is outside the channel. The shoulder 34 is internally screw threaded to cooperate with the threading of the screw shank 31.The screw 30 may be rotated manually be means of its head 33 to withdraw the tip 32 from the channel to allow the edge portion Pa of the board P to be fitted into the channel between the opposing walls 27 and 28 and may then be screwed manually into the channel again so that its tip pierces the plasterboard P to retain it firmly in the channel. The piercing of the plasterboard will naturally form a hole in the board but this may easily be filled in subsequently when the board is nailed in position to the joist J as will be described below. The insertion of the edge portion Pa of the plasterboard P into the channel 26 is facilitated by the flaring of the free edges of the walls 27, 28 outwardly of the channel as shown at 27a and 28a respectively in Figure 2.

As seen in the drawings, the base wall 27 of the channel member 26 projects further from the end wall 29 than the upper wall 28; this also facilitates the insertion of the board P into the channel 26 but is not an essential feature of the invention.

The use of the device 10 to facilitate the fixing of a sheet of plasterboard P to ceiling joists J will now be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3 a plurality of ceiling joists J are shown schematically from above. Three elongate sheets of plasterboard P1, P2 and P3 have already been fixed in position to the under sides of the joists J with their longitudinal axes extending perpendicular to the joists and with adjacent edges in abutment. The boards P are of such a length as to span five of the joists J and are nailed to the joists from underneath, the nails not being shown in the drawings, and with their end edges substantially under the longitudinal centre lines of respective joists J.

A fourth sheet of plasterboard indicated P4 is to be fixed in position with a longitudinal edge abutting the board P2 and a shorter end abutting the board P3. Two stages in this process are shown in Figures 3 and 4 respectively. In the first stage, of Figure 3, the two parts 11 and 12 of the device 10 have been separated and the part 11 has been clamped by its G-clamp 13 to a joist J5 to which one end of the board P4 is to be fixed and which is remote from the previously fixed board P3. The clamp 13 is fixed substantially on the intended centre line of the board P4 in its final position of fixing but the position does not need to be determined accurately for reasons which will become clear below.

The other part 12 of the device 10 has been fitted to the end portion P4a of the board P4, again substantially on its longitudinal centre axis. The member 12 has been firmly fixed to the board by means of the screw 33 which has been screwed into it.

With the parts 11, 12 in position, the end P4a of the board P4 is raised to the position shown in Figure 3 until the hook 25 can be engaged over the dependent arm 24 of the clamp part 12. Once the hook 25 has been engaged with the arm 24, the clamp part 11 supports that end of the board P4 and the operator may then raise the other end of the board, indicated P4b into its position of abutment with the end of the board P3 as shown in Figure 4. As the operator raises the other end of the board P4, the hook member 25 will pivot on the arm 24 and this latter may also pivot about the axis of the arm 21.

In addition, the hook 25 may also slide along the arm 24 to enable the board P4 to be moved transverse it longitudinal axis so as to bring its longitudinal edge into abutment with the adjacent longitudinal edge of the board P2 which has already been fixed to the joists J.

The board P4 is shown in its position ready for fixing in Figure 4.

Once the board P4 has been positioned as shown in Figure 4, the operator may immediately start nailing it to the joists J but it is more convenient to support that end P4b of the board 15 adjacent the fixed board P3 before nailing is commenced. For this purpose, a known Tsupport indicated at 120 may be used. The T-support 120 comprises a relatively short head 121 carried on a long pole 122 whose length is equal to, or slightly more than, the height of the room, from floor to ceiling, and which is wedged in the position shown in Figure 4 with the head 121 supporting the end P4b of the board P4. The board P4 may now be nailed to the four joists J1 to J4 other than that joist J5 supporting the end P4a.

As seen in Figure 4, when the board P is nailed to these four joists J1-J4, the end portion P4a is bent slightly downwardly out of alignment with the major portion of the board P4 in order to accommodate part of the device 10 between it and the joist J5. This bending is not sufficient to cause any likelihood of the board being damaged.

A final stage in the fixing of the board P4 is to loosen the screw 33 retaining it in its channel member 26 and to release the clamp 13 to allow the whole device 10 to be removed. The end P4a of the board P4 may then be pressed up against the joist J5 and nailed in position.

Additional sheets of plasterboard may then be applied to the ceiling joists, again with the aid of the device 10 to complete the major part of the ceiling. Only the final portion adjoining the wall of the room will need different treatment. If large sheets are needed to complete this part of the ceiling, a variant of the device 10 which will be described below with reference to Figure 8 may be used.

Once the entirety of the undersides of the joists have been covered with the sheets of plasterboard, the joins between them may be filled and covered in the usual manner before a final ceiling coat of plaster or other material is applied. The holes which have been made in the boards by the screw 33 may easily be filled at the same time.

Reference is now made to Figure 5 of the drawings which shows an alternative embodiment of the invention indicated 210. This embodiment differs from that of Figures 1 and 2 only in the form of the part 11 for attachment to the joist and parts which are the same as those of Figures 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

In the device 210 of Figure 5, the annular support bar 20 is dependant, not from a G-clamp as in the embodiment of Figure 1, but from a hook member generally indicated 211.

The hook 211 comprises a robust channel-section frame with a base 212 slightly longer than the depth of a standard joist and two projecting arms 213, 214 which are slightly longer than the width of a joist. The arm 213 has the aperture 22 in which the arm 21 of the annular bar 20 is captive while the free end of the opposing arm 214 has a hooked end portion 215 which projects towards the arm 213. As shown in Figure 5 the hook 211 can accommodate a joist 14 with slight clearance and can simply be hooked over it to engage it with the joist and can be removed as easily. The device 211 would be used in exactly the same way as the device 10 of Figures 1 and 2.

The device 210 may be simplified even more. In Figure 5 it is shown as two separable parts 12 and 211 with two pivot axes but at least one of the connections may be a fixed connection as shown in Figure 6. Here only the connection between the hook 211 and the support part 12 is shown for simplicity. The lower arm 213 of the hook 211 carries an integral, dependent stem 220 which terminates in a cylindrical T-bar head 221 which extends transverse the plane of the hook 211. The free ends of the T-bar 221 have enlarged retaining heads 223 although these are not essential. The support member 12, instead of a single hook 25, has two spaced-apart hooks 224 each engaged with a respective portion of the T-bar 221 one on either side of the stem 220. The hooks 224 could, alternatively, be replaced by lugs captive on the T-bar 221 so that the two parts 12, 211 are not disengagable.

The bar 221 and hooks 224 form the sole pivotal connection between the device part 12 and the device part 211. The relative sliding of the hook 25 on the bar 24 is provided partly by the sliding of the hooks 224 on the T-bar 221 but also by the possibility of the hook 211 itself being readily movable along a joist.

It will be appreciated that the pivotal connection between the joist engagement part 211 and the board support part 12 could alternatively by formed in other ways and at any point in the connection between the two parts. It is also envisaged that the pivotal connection could be constituted by a universal joint, such as a ball joint, or for the dependant stem 220 to be rotatable about is axis in order to allow the support channel 26 to be rotated relative to the joist engagement part 211 through 90 in a horizontal plane from its usual position shown in Figure 6. This would enable the support channel 26 to be fitted to an edge of a plasterboard extending perpendicular to a joist to which the hook 212 were hooked, instead of parallel to the joist, for reasons which will be explained below with reference to the embodiment of Figure 8.

Reference is now made to Figure 7 of the drawings. This shows a further variant of the invention in which parts similar to those shown in Figures 1 and 2 are indicated by the same references and are not described in detail.

In this embodiment the G-clamp of Figures 1 and 2 is replaced by an alternative form of clamp. The device of Figure 7 is indicated 300 and includes a joist-clamping part 301 and a plasterboard support part 302 which serve the same purposes as the clamp part 11 and the support part 12 of the embodiment of Figure 1.

The clamp part 301 comprises two lever-arms 303, 304 of equal length interconnected by a shorter arm 305. The arm 305 is connected at its ends to the respective arms 303, 304 by transverse pins 306 captive in throughapertures in the arms 303, 304, 305 but enabling the arms to pivot relative to each other about the axes of the pins 306. The pins 306 are asymmetrically positioned so as to divide each arm 303, 304 into a shorter lever arm portion 303a, 304a respectively and a longer lever arm portion 303b, 304b respectively.

The two arms 303, 304, are also interconnected by a tension spring 307 which extends between two points close to the pivot pins 306 but located on the longer lever arms 303b, 304b. The spring 307 thus urges the longer lever arm portions 303b, 304b to pivot about the respective pins 306 towards each other. The dimensions of the arms 303, 304, 305 are such that, when the arms 303, 304 are substantially parallel, they can accommodate a joist J between them. The longer arm portions 303b, 304b have saw teeth 308 on their facing edges so that when placed either side of a joist 14 as shown in Figure 7 they grip the joist between them under the action of the tension spring 307.

If a sufficiently strong tension spring 307 is used, the plasterboard support part 302 may depend directly from the connecting arm 305 of the clamp part 301 but the additional features of the embodiment of Figure 7 described below enable a relatively weak tension spring 307 to be used. Here the free ends of the shorter lever arm portions 303a, 304a are also interconnected by two identical, auxiliary connecting arms 309, 310, each fixed at one end to a respective lever arm 303, 304 by a transverse pivot pin 311 and themselves connected by a further, central, transverse pivot pin 312. The combined length of the auxiliary arms 309, 310 is greater than that of the primary connecting arm 305. The plasterboard support channel 26, similar to that of Figure 1, is dependent by an arm 313 from this central pivot pin 312 interconnecting the auxiliary arms 309, 310.

It will be seen from Figure 7 that, when the lever arm portions 303b, 304b are clamped against a joist J, the auxiliary connecting arms 309, 310 are forced to take up positions in which they are inclined to each other and extend upwardly from their ends connected to the respective arms 303, 304. The weight of the plasterboard P carried by the support channel 26, pulling downwardly through the support arm 313 on the pivot pin 312, urges this pin downwardly, pulling the arms 309, 310 more into alignment with each other and forcing their ends connected to the lever arms 303, 304 apart: this in turn tends to pivot the arms 303, 304 about their pivot pins 306 to clamp the lever arm portions 303b, 304b even more firmly against the joist J.

In practice, the end of a sheet of plasterboard is fixed in the channel 26 while the clamp is not attached to a joist. The clamp is then raised so that its clamp arms 303b, 304b fit either side of a joist J with the weight of the plasterboard supported by the operator. Once he releases the plasterboard so that its weight acts on the pivot pin 312, this automatically clamps the arms 303b, 304b against the joist.

It will be appreciated that although the clamping arrangement and dependant arm 313 of Figure 7 have been described as an essentially two-dimensional arrangement, with no provision for sliding of the support channel 26 relative to the clamp 301, the arrangement could easily be modified to a three dimensional form to provide for such sliding movement, the dependant arm 313 being captive on or releasable from its pivot pin.

Figure 7 shows a simpler fixing of the plasterboard in its channel 26. Instead of the screw provided in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, a nail 314 is used and passes through an aperture 315 in the base wall 27 of the channel 26 and through the plasterboard itself.

With reference now to Figure 8, a further embodiment of the device of the invention is shown for use in supporting an edge of a sheet of plasterboard which extends transverse a joist. This is usable for supporting the shorter, end edges of sheets of plasterboard which are positioned with their longitudinal axes extending parallel to the joists. It may also be used to support a longitudinal edge extending transverse the joists, for example; when the end edge abuts a wall so that the sheet cannot be supported at its end in the manner described above.

In the embodiment of Figure 8 parts similar to those already described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. Thus the support part 12 of the device is substantially identical to that of Figures 1 and 2.

The main difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment lies in the fact that the joist attachment part 401 is adapted to wedge between two joists J. The wedge member 401 includes a tubular sleeve 402 carrying a coaxial disc 403 at one end for abutting a side face Jla of a joist J1 while a threaded rod 404 projects from its opposite end and carries a second disc 405 at its free end for abutting the opposing face J2a of the adjacent joist J2. The rod 404 is engaged in a cooperating female thread of an annular end member 406 of the tubular sleeve 402 such that, if the tubular member 402 is held fixed and the rod 404 is rotated, the engagement of the rod 404 with the threading of the end member 406 causes it to move axially out of or into the tubular member 402 to alter the distance between the end abutment discs 403, 405.It will immediately be appreciated that the member 401 may be shortened for it to be located between the two joists J1, J2 and then the rod 404 may be rotated to move the discs 403, 405 apart and into abutment with the respective faces Jla, J2a of the joists, effectively wedging the member 401 between the joists.

Dependent from the tubular member 402 is a rectangular loop 420 which serves the same function as the loop 20 of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. The loop 420 may be fixed to or pivotable on the tube 402.

The device 400 of Figure 8 may be used between a joist J and an adjacent wall rather than between two joists.

With reference finally to Figure 9 of the drawings, this shows a further variant of the device of the invention.

The plasterboard support part 12 is again substantially identical to that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and will not be described: only the joist-engagement part, indicated 500 differs.

The hook 25 of the support part 12 is in this case engageable with a central portion 524 of a bar whose end portions are bent at right angles and carried by two support plates 525 which extend in planes parallel to, but spaced from, the axis of the central part of the rod 524. The spacing of the plates 525 is such that each can be located against the underside of a respective one of a par of adjacent joists and each has an aperture 526 through which a screw 527 can be screwed into the joist to fix the plate 525 thereto. In this position the bar 524 is suspended below the level of the underside of the joists to receive the plasterboard support part 12 and a sheet of plasterboard carried thereby, as in the embodiment of Figure 8.

The embodiment of Figure 9 is of particular use when the undersides of floor joists J are concealed so that it is not possible to use one of the other embodiments described above. The most usual example of such an occurrence is when two layers of plasterboard need to be used to complete a ceiling, for example for fire-proofing reasons in a garage.

It will be appreciated that the device 500 may be fixed to a single joist J rather than to two separate joists if it is desired to fix a second layer of boards with their longitudinal axes perpendicular to the joists, as shown with reference to Figures 3 and 4, rather than parallel to the joists.

With reference to Figure 10 of the drawings, this shows a modified, and currently preferred form of the joist engaging part of the device of the invention, indicated 601. The difference between this embodiment and that of Figure 1 is that the G-clamp 13 has been modified specifically to fit more conveniently to a joist J. Thus the G-shaped frame of Figure 1 is replaced by a rectangular channel 602 having opposing side walls 603, 604 and a base 605. A fixed clamping disc 606 is carried by the inner face of one wall 603 while a movable clamping disc 607 is carried by a threaded shaft 608 engaged in a cooperatingly threaded aperture (not visible) in the opposing wall 604. The outer end of the shaft 608 carries a handle 609 for turning it in a similar manner to the handle 19 of Figure 1 to enable a joist to be clamped between the discs 606, 607 as shown.

The base 605 of the clamp carries an annular support bar 20 identical to that of the embodiment of Figure 1 and serving the same purpose.

The embodiments of the invention described above may be made of any suitably strong material, particularly metals, such as steel, or certain plastics materials.

Claims (17)

1. A device for use in applying a cladding panel to a supporting framework comprising suspension means for use in suspending the panel from the framework so as to support at least part of its weight in a position allowing preliminary or partial fixing to the framework.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, for use in applying cladding panels to elongate ceiling frame members, in which the suspension means include frame member engagement means for engagement with at least one frame member to suspend the device therefrom and panel support means engaged or engagable with the frame member engagement means.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the panel support means is engageable with an edge portion of the panel and is pivotable relative to the frame member engagement means so that, when the panel is suspended from a ceiling framework by the device, it may be pivoted upwardly about the said edge portion to bring the panel into its position for fixing.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the frame member engagement means comprise a hook shaped to fit over a frame limb to engage the device thereon.

5. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, in which the frame member engagement means comprise a clamp operable to grip a frame limb between two jaws thereof.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, in which the clamp is annually operable to apply the clamping force to engage the frame member engagement means to a frame limb.

7. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, adapted for applying a cladding panel to elongate ceiling frame members, in which the frame member engagement means is adapted to engage two adjacent joists, the device being located between the joists and having hooks, clamps or other attachment means projecting in opposite directions for engagement with the said two joists.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the engagement means comprise an abutment plate which can be fitted against the underside of the joist or ceiling panel and can be fixed to the joist by releasable fixing means.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the panel support means comprise a plate or bracket connected or connectable to the frame member engagement means whereby to provide a support surface for an edge portion of the panel.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the panel support means include suction pads.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the panel support means comprise a plate or bracket constituted by the lower wall of a channel member into which the edge of a panel can be fitted so as to provide a stable location for the panel.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 11, wherein further fixing means, such as a nail or screw is provided to secure the panel to the said panel support means.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the said panel support means are pivotable relative to the frame member engagement means such that the panel may first be supported at an angle to the frame, with one end thereof carried by the device engaged with the frame limbs before being pivoted to a position parallel to the frame limbs for fixing.

14. A device as claimed in Claim 13, in which the said pivotal connection forms part of a releasable coupling between the two parts of the device.

15. A method of fixing cladding panels to a support framework comprising the steps of applying frame member engagement means to one limb of the frame, applying panel support means to one edge of the panel, interengaging the panel support means with the frame member engagement means such that at least part of the weight of the panel is supported by the framework, displacing the panel to a framework such that a part thereof remote from the said edge engaged in the panel support means can be secured to the frame, removing the panel support means and the frame member engagement means, and securing the said edge of the panel to the adjacent said frame member.

16. A method of fixing a cladding panel to a supporting frame work substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A device for use in applying a panel to a supporting frame work substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.