Self-adhering spacer
An improved spacing and positioning device is provided for facilitating spacing and positioning of construction materials. The device allows for the installation of construction materials in various orientations. Preferably, the device is used in a set of two or more, which are placed at proximate opposed ends of the materials being spaced, to ensure correct spacing and positioning of the workpiece materials along the length thereof. The device includes a self-adhesive material on one or more surfaces to allow the spacer to be positioned on vertical or pitched construction members. A self-adhering spacer is provided for maintaining accurate spacing between adjacent wooden boards or other construction members during construction activities. The spacer can be formed from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, or plastic. The self-adhering spacer can also be shaped in a variety of configurations, including a T or L shape. The self-adhering spacer has at least one surface a material, such as one or two-sided tape, that will allow the spacer to be temporarily affixed to the construction member. The self adhering qualities of the spacer will allow the easy placement of spacers on many different construction member surfaces and at all angles of orientation.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for orienting construction materials such as, for example, adjacent sheet of plywood. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for spacing multiple construction materials a fixed distance apart, while simultaneously positioning those construction materials parallel to one another in a preferred orientation thereof, and placing the materials in a straight line, with respect to one another.
2. Description of the Background Art
The building construction trade is a relatively fast paced industry; a great deal of pressure is exerted on those engaged in such labor to work as quickly as possible, particularly as favorable weather permits. However, the major portion of such work is hand labor; very little has been accomplished in the way of mass production methods, or the development of tools and equipment, other than electrical power tools, to permit those engaged in the building construction trade to work more rapidly and efficiently.
One of the more time consuming tasks in the trade is the precise alignment, spacing, and cutting of construction members such as plywood sheets. The methods used to date have been relatively crude, involving the use of nails as makeshift spacing guides, and the experience and judgment of the worker. The need arises for a device which allows the worker to quickly, efficiently, and accurately mark, cut, align, and secure plywood sheets, and the like.
Many of these materials are installed vertically or in a pitched manner, such as plywood sheets. Workers assembling such structures could benefit from, and could save time on the job with a reliable spacer template, which would allow them to assemble components for such structures at the correct spacing and orientation thereof. Some materials for use as spacers in the construction industry are known. Examples of these known spacers may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,945 to Allen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,322,064 to Jarvis; U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,921 Hardin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,814 to Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,266 to Barrera, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,905 to Jablonski et al.
While the known spacers are useful for their intended purposes, a need still exists in the art for a versatile spacer device, which will allow for fast, inexpensive installation on a variety of surfaces, including vertical and pitched.
The invention is directed to a device for maintaining two construction members, such as boards, in spaced relative relationship to each other, as for example, plywood boards or similar wooden boards incident to nailing during construction activities. Typical of spacers for spacing two boards are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,497 (Boettcher), U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,117 (Tallman), U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,225 (Phillips), U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,142 (Rieck). These patents each disclose structures for accomplishing the broad concept of board spacing, but each includes the disadvantage of preventing the worker or other person using the spacer from placing the spacer on the construction member, regardless of the pitch or angle of that construction member. The prior art lacks self-adhering spacers that allow for quick, stable, and accurate spacing during construction activities. The self-adhering spacer solves these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an improved spacing and positioning device for facilitating quick and easy spacing, positioning and alignment of construction materials, and to place those materials in a desired configuration. The spacer device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention allows for similarly aligning and spacing a plurality of similar workpiece materials, in relation to each other.
One embodiment of the spacing and positioning device hereof includes one or more self-adhesive strips so that the user can quickly and easily position the spacer at the desired location without the need to take additional time to secure the spacer. In one embodiment, the spacer has a tab affixed for easy removal of the spacer after use.
Another embodiment of the spacing and positioning device hereof and attached thereto includes one or more tacks that can be pressed into the construction member at the desired location without any additional time needed to secure the spacer. This embodiment would allow the spacer to be affixed and removed easily and also be used multiple times.
Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved device for the proper and precise alignment of construction members.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of serving as a guide for the precise measuring, marking, and/or cutting of such materials at a variety of angles.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device serving as a guide for the proper and precise spacing and location of nails or other fasteners.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device which will protect the material upon which it is being used from hammer marks or other defacement.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a device, which could be color coded to denote particular sizes, making identification simple and reducing mistakes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device serving all of the above functions and is compact, portable, and disposable and may perform the above functions with a variety of standard shapes and sizes.
With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed with reference being made to the attached drawings.
Preferably, the spacer device hereof will be used in a set of two or more at opposed ends or sides of the materials being spaced, to ensure correct spacing along the lengths thereof.
A self-adhering spacer is provided for maintaining accurate spacing between adjacent construction members during construction activities. The spacer can be formed from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, or plastic. The self-adhering spacer can also be shaped in a variety of configurations, including T or L shapes.
In one embodiment, an adhering material, such as one or two-sided tape, is affixed to at least one surface of the spacer surface that will allow the spacer to be temporarily affixed to the construction member. In another embodiment, one or more small tacks protrude from one or more surfaces of the spacer, which will allow the spacer to be affixed to the construction member. The self adhering qualities of the spacer will allow the easy placement of spacers on many different construction member surfaces and at all angles of orientation. This will reduce construction time and costs.
With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONA spacer device in accordance with the present invention, generally, includes: a generally T shaped spacer body having a top edge, a left bottom edge, a right bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge, wherein each spacer may be manufactured in various sizes and lengths of the various edges, as well as the relative lengths and sizes of the edges; or a a generally L shaped spacer body having a bottom edge, a right edge, and a left edge, wherein each spacer may be manufactured in various sizes and lengths of the various edges, as well as the relative lengths and sizes of the edges
A generally L shaped spacer body with a triangular piece connecting the two edges, positioned on top of the leading edges, as shown in
A spacer as described with an affixed tab for extraction following use.
A spacer as described, with self adhesive material on one or more edges, thus allowing simple and secure placement of the spacer on a variety of surfaces and at a variety of angles and slopes.
A self adhering spacer as described, with one or more small tacks protruding from it, thus allowing simple and secure placement of the spacer on a variety of surfaces and at a variety of angles and slopes.
The spacer as described, can be manufactured using a variety of materials, including, but not limited to plastic, metal or wood. In one embodiment, the spacer would be made of plastic to facilitate uniformity, low weight, and amenability to mass production. It is anticipated that the described spacers can be manufactured in strips containing multiple units, allowing for easier mass production and also allows the user to remove one or more of the spacers from the strip as desired. See
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of explanation, it should be understood that further modifications or variations thereof would be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.
Claims
1. A self adhering spacing member for alignment and/or spacing of construction members comprising:
- a spacing member; and
- a self-adhesive material on one or more surfaces of the spacing member.
2. A spacing member as in claim one, wherein the adhesive material has an outer and inner surface, the inner surface affixed to the spacing member, the outer surface affixed to a non-stick release liner.
3. A self adhering spacing member for alignment and/or spacing of construction members comprising:
- a spacing member; and
- a plurality of tacks protruding from one or more surfaces of the spacing member.
4. A spacing member as in claims 1,2 or 3, wherein the spacing member is a generally T shaped spacing member.
5. A spacing member as in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the spacing member is an generally L shaped spacing member.
6. A spacing member as in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein a tab is affixed to the spacing member to facilitate removal of spacing member after use.
7. A method of spacing construction members, comprising the following steps:
- removing non stick release liner(s) from the surface(s) of the desired number of spacers;
- placing the spacers at the desired locations on or between construction members;
- pressing the spacers against the construction members where required to affix spacers to construction members;
- positioning and aligning construction members with spacers and installing construction members; and
- removing used spacers as desired.
8. A method of assembling or installing structural work pieces comprising the following steps:
- placing a plurality self adhering spacers at locations on or about structural work pieces to
- guide, position, and/or align said or other structural work pieces into desired position(s);
- placing the plurality of structural work pieces into desired position;
- effectuating a permanent installation of said work pieces; and
- removing self adhering spacers as desired.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 25, 2004
Publication Date: May 18, 2006
Inventor: William Duterte (Livermore, CA)
Application Number: 10/974,367
International Classification: E04F 21/00 (20060101);