US2380487A

US2380487A - Fire block setter

Info

Publication number: US2380487A
Application number: US429989A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ackley Sherman George
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-02-09
Filing date: 1942-02-09
Publication date: 1945-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1962-07-31

Description

Patented July 31s,. E945 mais? UNITED STAT-'E PATENT' 2,380,487 s rfnnrtocits'E'r'rEn' ShermauGeorge Ackley, South GaterCaliL Application Fetruary '9;. 194z,vsenslfnomzaasa (ci. zii-4) Y i illustrated more orless diagrammatically set in sciaimsr..

This invention relates toVX ar deviceA for. facilitat ing placing-` il're-blocks between studs ini frame buildings.` These ilre-blocksiare-short piecesfthat are` setintercostally between the'A studs, andfare nailed to thestuds bytoenailing. Buildingordinarices sometimes provide for the spaceftobeallowed vertically between these nre-blocks." They are usually put in place-horizontally, but may be staggered, that is to say, put in clined position.

One of the objects of this inventionis to provide a device of simple construction, which will provide a support or rest for the nre-block while it is being nailed in position.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a device of this kind, which can if desired, be readily adapted to support the lire-block either il? a horizontal position, or in an inclined posi- In its preferred construction, the device involves the use of two members that are put in place between two adjacent studs and pressed against the adjacent faces of the studs. These' members at their lower ends, rest upon a sill or stringer; or upon a nre-block that has already been put in position. The members are provided with means for forcing them outwardly to press them against the studs. This means is releasable so that after the nre-block has been nailed in place.- the device can be released and removed. One of the objects of the invention is to, provide meansvfor facilitating the release of the device from under the nre-block; morespeciflcally, to provide a construction vor mounting .for rests ci.

`the upper ends of the members, which will enable them to move outwardly and free themselves placev in an inplace between the studs inits operativefposition.. This view illustratesy the device: as employed where the 'fire-blocksnare horizontal. s

' Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2-, but1illustrat ing the manner in which the device-'adapts itself for setting staggered or inclined irezblocks.

Fig. 4 is a Vertical section" ,taken through a ilexible Joint'which I prefer to employf in constructing the device, certain' parts-being-'broken that in practicing lthe invention, I provide two juxtaposed members, the upper endsk of which Vconstitute two rests to support the nre-block in a position to be nailed. I also provide gauge means for enabling these rests to be set at a predetermined level either above a bottom sill or Stringer, or above a fire-block Ythat has already been putin position.

In its general construction, the device includes jointed means that connects two side members,

and this jointed means is so constructed that it fromengagement with the under side of the block. This facilitates the folding and withdrawal of the device from its operative position.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter. Y

The invention consists in novel parts and combination of parts to be described-hereinafter,

all of which contribute to producean elcient v nre block setter.

trating its general arrangement'and therelation of its parts. Y v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation theztwo adiant studs set on a strlnser, and'with'tniadevice' can be readily operated to exert apressure that forces the side members against the studs. The connection is easily releasable to enable the members to swing in toward each other, and in doing this the rests at the upper ends of the side mem-V bers, cooperate to facilitate the withdrawal of Y Fig. l is a perspective of thefdevicaandillusthe side members in spite of the fact that the rests are in contact with the nre-block that has just been nailed in place.

y Referring more particularly to the parts, the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, includes two side members land 2. These side members are associated with gauge means for enabling them to be set in position so that the upper ends of the side members can aitord a `support for a lire-block 3 to be set in position between two studs 4, as illustrated in` Fig. 2.

` .Any suitable gauging means may be employed, but in the present instance for this purpose, I

vprei'erto construct the side members inthe form oz elongated nat platesincluding mainplates I with side flanges 8 to give the same stillness. The uleoftheseilangeswillgivetheseplatelthorequired stiness in spite of the fact that they are made of very light gauge metal. In order to give vertical adjustability to the side plates 5, I prefer to provide each side plate 5 with a gauge plate 1, which is also preferably provided with side flanges B which telescope inside of the flanges Ii, and these plates 'I are provided with feet 9 at the lower ends to rest upon the sill or Stringer I in the manner indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. They would also rest upon a nre-block that had been already placed to gauge the distance up to the next nre-block higher up. In order to enable the gauge to be adjustable, the plates I are formed with slots la in which clamping bolts 1b run. The heads of these bolts are on the outside, and the outer heads of the bolts are flat curved faces as indicated in Fig. 1.

Between the plates I provide means for holding the members I and 2 shoved outwardly against the studs 4, and this means preferably includes a pair of parallel links II attached by hinge pins 'I2 to bracket I3 secured on the inner face of one of the plates 5, and the free ends of these links have a pin and slot connection with similar links I4 that are similarly connected to the inner face of the opposite plate 5. This pin and slot connection as illustrated, includes a pin I5 carried on the end of each link II and running in a slot I6 formed in the corresponding link I4. In this way two toggle joints I1 are formed, which I connect by a vertical connector bar or link I 8. This link keeps the links II parallel with each other, and the links I4 parallel with each other, when the toggle jointsv are operated. Associated with this connection I provide resilient means for forcing the links I4 outwardly as far as their slots I6 will permit, to force the member 2 against its adjacent stud 4. For this purpose I provide coil springs I9 located around the links II and shoving at their ends against a saddle plate 20 (see Fig. 4) which saddle plate seats against the end of the corresponding link I4. These links I4 are preferably of narrow channel form so as to present two ilanges 2I that carry the slot I6. In this way a clearance space or deep slot 22 is formed at the under side of the link I4 to receive the upper end of the connector bar I 8. This bar projects up into this space and has an opening enabling it to be attached to one of the pins orvaolts I5. These pins or lbolts I5 are provided with wing nuts IBaenabling them to be. clamped up more or lesstosecure them in place. However, itshould be understood that these bolts are not clamped up so tight as to prevent free movement of the links II in the space between the flanges 2I of the links I4. This construction is clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

When the device is clamped up as illustrated in Fig. 2, to enable the fire-block to be supported on the upper ends of the side members I and 2, it is advantageous to provide means for facilitating freeing of the side members I and 2 from the pressure of the fire-block which has been nailed in piace, and which naturally would be exerting considerable pressure on their upper ends. For this purpose I prefer to provide movable rests 23 at this point. Each of these rests is in the form of a plate that projects upwardly from a hinge connection 24 that attaches it to the upper end of its corresponding plate 5. The upper end of each rest 23 is bent over to form an inwardly and downwardly projecting ange 25, thereby forming a convex upper face which can roll on the under face of the fire-block 3 as the members l and 2 are pulled inwardly when the joints I'I are bi-olsen. These Joints preferably break in an upward direction, that is, in a substantially vertical direction.

The vertical adjustability of the members I and 2 not only facilitates setting them to any desired height fo'r the fire-blocks, but this adjustment also facilitates putting in inclined or staggered fire-blocks 26, as illustrated in Fig. 3. It is simply necessary to adjust one of the members 2 to a greater length than the other, and in this connection it should be understood that it is immaterial which side of this device is placed outermost when putting the same in position between the studs. This enables the device to be set in place for setting the next adjacent fireblocks 26, which incline in another direction, without making any changes in the adjustment of the device.

The hinge joint 24 has a coil spring 24a associated with it, which normally holds the rest 23 in an upright position, but this spring will permit the rest 23 to swing back relatively to the members I and 2 when .they are pulled inwardly by breaking the Itoggle joints.

If desired, one of the links I4 may be provided with a projecting flange 21 which will operate as a handle for breaking the Itoggle joints, or forcing the links down into their locking position. The toggle joints Il should be constructed so that when they are forced down into their locking position, the links II and I4 pass slightly beyond their dead center position. This prevents any possibility of the force of the spring releasing the toggle joints accidentally.

If desired, the rests 23 may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 6, in which each rest 28 is composed of two sections, 28a and 28h, the section 28a being hinged to the upper end of the member, and the upper section 28h being hinged to it. In this way two joints are formed including an upper joint 29. This joint 29 can be provided with a hook 30 on the inner side, that can be pulled out to break the joint. This pulls down the upper section 28h of the rest 28, and virtually shortens themember so rthat; it can be immediately pulled y away from the stud.

Many other embodiments ofthe invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim isf 1. In a device for setting a nre-block between studs of a wall of a building, the combination of a pair of members adapted to rest at their lower ends upon a support and adapted to press against the adjacent faces of the two studs, a toggle connection between said members including toggle links, and resilient means associated therewith and cooperating with the toggle links to exert a pressure through said members against the studs to enable a re-block to be supported on the upper ends of said members and nailed to said studs, said toggle connection capable of being moved laterally to relieve the pressure on said members and permit the same to be withdrawn from below the nailed fire-block,

2. In a device for setting a fire-block between studs of a wall of a building, the combination of a pair of members adapted to rest at their lower ends upon a support and adapted to press against the adjacent faces of the two studs, rests jointed to the upper ends of said members and capable of swinging outwardly, a toggle connection between said members with resilient means associated therewith cooperating with the toggle connection to exert a pressure through said members against the studs, said toggle connection capable.

of being moved laterally toremove .the pressure on said 'members and to permit the same .to-be withdrawn from contact lwith the studs,- said jointed rests then operating to swing relatively outwardly of the members frombelow the nailed nre-block.

and thereby facilitate the withdrawal n v said members, saidtoggle links havin a pin and slot connection therebetween, resilient means 3. In a devicefor setting a fire-block betweenl studs or .the like, the combination of va pair of members to press against the adjacent faces of the -two studs, jointed means including toggle links connected to each other andconnected to the pressure associated with the links for exerting a spreading force upon the links and the members when. the

toggle links are in substantial alignment, with each other for pressing the members against the studs,-said members voperating to support the fire-block on the uppel ends when nailingv the same to .the studs, said toggle links operating when out of alignment witheach other to relieve from said' members.

SHERMAN GEORGE ACKLEY.