CONSTRUCTION PANEL POSITIONING AND SUPPORT SYSTEM AND TOOLS

Abstract

A construction panel positioning tool includes a ramp member having a support platform to support a panel edge, and a downwardly inclined ramp section configured to slidingly engage and guide a panel edge placed thereon toward the support platform. A stabilizing member coupled to the ramp member engages a structural building component to support the ramp member in position. A construction panel support tool includes a suspension frame having guides that slidably engage a ceiling joist, and a support member cantilevered thereto, which has a top surface spaced from the bottom of a ceiling joist to provide clearance for a construction panel. A system includes one or more of each tool. The positioning tool(s) is/are installed to position and support a first panel edge. The opposite panel edge is then lifted against the ceiling and then supported by the support member of a support tool that is moved into place.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to building construction, and in particular to tools to assist lifting and supporting construction panels in position for installation.

BACKGROUND

In building construction in the U.S., it is conventional to install sheets of drywall and other types of construction panels (such as plywood, paneling, other forms of wall sheeting, and so forth) to ceiling and wall joists. However, construction panels can be large and somewhat cumbersome to position for installation. Drywall, for example, is typically composed of a layer of crushed gypsum pressed between two sheets of thick paper. A standard sheet of drywall is usually 4′ by 8′, or 4′ by 12′, in size, and generally weighs between about 50 to 110 pounds, depending on its constituent materials and dimensions. When drywall and other construction panels are installed to walls and ceilings, it is often necessary for one or more workers to hold the panel in place while others nail or screw it to the underlying joists or supports.

Construction panel lifts, which are sometimes referred to as drywall jacks in drywall-specific applications, are not satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing lifts generally include a number of articulating components and/or are complex to maneuver and operate, and in general are quite cumbersome. Further, some lifts do not significantly decrease the labor expense of positioning by hand, because many require one person to attend to the lift at all times to maintain the construction panel in a desired position, while another worker fastens the panel to the installation site. Lacking a second worker, the use of conventional construction panel lifts by a solo worker risks injury and/or inaccurate positioning or installation of a panel.

SUMMARY

Illustrative embodiments of construction panel positioning tools and construction panel support tools, and construction panel positioning and support systems employing two or more of such tools, are disclosed herein. An illustrative embodiment of a construction panel positioning tool to position and support at least one edge of a construction panel relative to a panel installation site includes a ramp member and a stabilizing member coupled thereto. The ramp member includes a support platform disposed at an upper end thereof and having an upper surface to receive and support at least an edge portion of a construction panel, and a ramp section adjacent the support platform and extending downward at an angle therefrom. The ramp section is configured to slidingly engage and guide an edge of a construction panel placed thereon toward the support platform, with which it shares a common edge. The stabilizing member is configured to be temporarily secured to or otherwise engage a structural component of a building structure, such as a wall or ceiling joist, to support the ramp member in position. In some panel tool embodiments, the stabilizing member includes a vertical brace, such as to engage and/or be secured to one or more wall joists, with the ramp section projecting at an angle away from the wall joist. When installed with the support platform near ceiling joists, such embodiments may be used to position and then temporarily support an edge of a construction panel in position for installation to the ceiling joists. In some panel tool embodiments, the stabilizing member includes a horizontal brace, such as to engage and/or be secured to one or more ceiling joists.

An illustrative embodiment of a construction panel support tool to temporarily support a construction panel relative to a panel installation site includes a suspension frame and an elongate support member coupled thereto. The suspension frame includes elongate top and bottom guide members collectively configured to slidably engage all four sides of a ceiling joist, and the support member cantilevers away from the suspension frame, and includes a top surface that is spaced, with respect to a ceiling joist with which the suspension frame is engaged, to provide temporary support of a construction panel to the ceiling joist.

in use, an illustrative embodiment of a construction panel positioning and support system, which includes one or more construction panel positioning tools and one or more construction panel support tools, may be used, such as by an individual worker, to assist in maneuvering and holding construction panels in position for installation, for example to ceiling joists in order to form a ceiling. For example, one or more panel positioning tools with vertical stabilizing members may first be fastened to wall joists so the support platforms are near the ceiling joists. A construction panel, such as a sheet of drywall, may be placed with a first or forward edge on the ramp section(s) of the positioning tool(s) and slid upward so the forward edge is supported on the support platform(s) thereof. With the forward edge supported, the worker may lift the opposite edge toward the ceiling joists. A panel support tool suspended on a nearby ceiling joist may then be slid therealong so the support member extends below the construction panel, providing vertical support so the worker can then install the construction panel. The positioning tool(s) may then be removed and the support tool moved away from the installed panel. To install a second panel adjacent the first, a worker may then fasten one or more panel positioning tools with horizontal stabilizing members to the ceiling joists to which the first panel is installed, and use the ramp sections of the positioning tools in the same manner to raise and then support the forward edge of the second panel in place, lifting the opposite edge up to the ceiling, and holding the panel in place by sliding a support member of a panel support tool underneath the panel.

The concepts and components listed above are clarified with reference to the accompanying drawings and detailed description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a first illustrative embodiment of a construction panel position tool constructed in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, with a vertically-oriented stabilizing member that includes two horizontal arms by which the tool is removably secured to a wall joist.

FIG. 2 shows a front elevation view of the positioning tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a second illustrative embodiment of a construction panel positioning tool constructed in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, with a horizontally oriented stabilizing member by which the tool is removably secured to a ceiling joist to which a construction panel is installed.

FIG. 4 shows a front elevation view of the positioning tool of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of an illustrative embodiment of a construction panel support tool constructed in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, having a suspension frame by which the tool is suspended from a ceiling joist. An elongate support member extends partially beneath a construction panel, supporting the panel beneath the ceiling joist.

FIG. 6 shows a partial side elevation view of a construction panel positioning tool, such as shown in FIG. 1, as part of a construction panel positioning and support system, in which the positioning tool is removably secured to a wall joist, and in which a forward edge of a construction panel is shown to be guided upward along the ramp section of the positioning tool.

FIG. 7 shows a side elevation view of the positioning tool of the positioning and support system partially shown in FIG. 6, in which the forward edge of the construction panel is shown to have been guided onto the support platform of the positioning tool.

FIG. 8 shows a side elevation view of the positioning and support system partially shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, now including a construction panel support tool, shown to be moved so that the elongate support member thereof extends beneath the construction panel to support it in place for installation.

FIG. 9 shows a side elevation view of the positioning system partially shown in FIGS. 6-8, now including a second construction panel positioning tool, such as shown in FIG. 3, in which the positioning tool is secured to the ceiling joist to which a construction panel is installed, and in which a forward edge of a second construction panel is shown to be guided upward along the ramp section of the positioning tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A construction panel positioning and support system 50, which includes one or more construction panel positioning tools (indicated generally at 10) and one or more construction panel support tools (indicated generally at 40), and example embodiments of the individual tools thereof, is shown in FIGS. 1-9. As described in greater detail below, the tools of the system are collectively and individually adapted to assist a user in maneuvering and/or temporarily supporting a construction panel, such as a drywall sheet, in a desired position adjacent an installation site, to which it may then be installed.

In general, the positioning tool(s) 10 are each adapted to engage and/or be supported on a structural component of a building structure, such as by being removably or temporarily secured to a wall or ceiling joist, and/or a construction panel already installed thereto. Once supported in place, the positioning tools may facilitate guiding a first edge (also referred to herein as a forward edge) of a construction panel, by means of an inclined ramp section, and then temporarily supporting the panel edge on a support platform in a desired position, such as adjacent to a joist to which the panel will then be installed. The support tool(s) 40 are also each adapted to be supported on a structural component, such as by being movably suspended from a ceiling joist, and may facilitate supporting a portion of a construction panel, such as a second edge of a construction panel partially supported on one or more positioning tools, by being moved along the joist into a position in which a support member engages the construction panel portion. As such, the tools may be used separately, or collectively as a system.

For ease of explanation, the illustrative embodiments of the tools 10, 40 shown and described herein are adapted for use with sheets of drywall to be temporarily supported in a generally horizontal orientation adjacent ceiling joists, prior to installation thereto. However, it will be clear from the following description that the tools may be adapted for use with other types of construction panels as well as drywall sheets, any of which may be installed in a variety of orientations (such as vertical, such as for installation to wall joists, or in an angled orientation, such as for installation to joists or other structural beams or supports forming curved or angled walls or ceilings), without departing from the scope of the invention. As such, for example, the directional terms used in the description below are relative and are provided for the sake of clarity, and should not be considered in a limiting sense.

Also, the illustrative tool embodiments shown and discussed below are prototype embodiments fashioned from pieces of industrial steel, such as square tubing and angle steel and so forth, which have been rigidly welded together and/or machined to have the particular characteristics explained herein. Moreover, the specific dimensions, scale, and other measurements thereof are customized for use with standard lumber sizes and construction techniques conventionally used in building construction in the U.S. For example, a wall frame is generally constructed from 2×4 beams of lumber and/or steel braces, with a series of vertical beams (studs) extending between horizontal top and bottom beams (plates). Typically, there are two top plates, one on top of the other, with a parallel series of 2×4 or 2×6 beams extending edgewise across the top plates of opposing wall frames to form the ceiling frame. However, the disclosure should be understood to encompass embodiments that may be constructed to suit other structural beam components or configurations, fabricated from other suitable materials and assembled in other manners, and/or configured to include adjustable or otherwise movable linkages between or among various components and parts of the particular tool.

Two illustrative embodiments of a construction panel positioning tool 10 are discussed first with reference to FIGS. 1-4, followed by a discussion of an illustrative embodiment of a construction panel support tool 40, with reference to FIG. 5. The description then proceeds with a discussion of how the tools 10, 40 may be used together as a construction panel positioning and support system 50, with reference to FIGS. 6-9, and concludes by discussing some alternative configurations and/or variants of some of the embodiments, such as to illustrate variations of structural components and arrangement of such components. The various embodiments, configurations, and methods disclosed in the paragraphs below are illustrative and should not be considered in a limiting sense, but merely for purposes of illustrating one or more of the aspects of the subject matter described herein. Numerous variations are possible and considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.

A first, non-exclusive, illustrative embodiment of a construction panel positioning tool 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at 100, and a second, non-exclusive, illustrative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 at 200. Both embodiments of positioning tool 10 are adapted to position and support an edge, or edge portion, of a construction panel in a desired position, such as adjacent to an installation site. In particular, positioning tools 100 and 200 are both adapted to support a forward edge of a sheet of drywall in position substantially adjacent to one or more ceiling joists to which the sheet is to be installed. The structural differences between the two illustrative embodiments provide configurations that are each suitable for a different type of installation site. More specifically, positioning tool 100 is an embodiment in which the stabilizing member is adapted to engage a wall component, such as one or more wall joists, and thus may be suitable for a ceiling installation site in which one or more edges of a drywall sheet are to be installed adjacent to a wall. Positioning tool 200, however, is an embodiment in which the stabilizing member is adapted to engage a ceiling component, such as a ceiling joist to which a sheet of drywall has already been installed, and thus may be suitable for a ceiling installation site in which none of the edges of a dry all sheet will be adjacent to a wall.

In general and somewhat functional terms, each of the positioning tool embodiments includes an elongate ramp member 12 coupled to a stabilizing member 14, which is configured to engage a structural building component to thereby support the ramp member in a predetermined position relative to an installation site on the building structure. Ramp member 12 includes a support platform 16 disposed at its upper end, and a ramp section 18 disposed adjacent the support platform 16 and configured to extend downwardly at an angle therefrom. The ramp section 18 includes a substantially planar upper surface 20 configured to slidably engage and subsequently guide a forward edge of a construction panel placed on the ramp section toward the support platform 16. The upper surface of the ramp section has an upper edge 22 in common with an upper surface 24 of the support platform 16, which is configured to receive and support at least the forward edge of the construction panel.

In more specific terms, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, positioning tool 100 is shown to be constructed from two bars 102, 104 of square steel tubing, which are coupled at the upper ends thereof to form an apex. In particular, the front bar 102 projects forward at an acute angle relative to the rear bar 104, which is shown to be vertically oriented. A crossbar 106, shown as a length of angle steel, is coupled at its center to the apex to extend at right angles to the vertical plane formed by bars 102, 104, with its top plate 108 forming a horizontal plane and its side plate 110 abutting the rear side of the rear bar 104. The side plate 110, which may be thought of as opposing arms extending to either side of the rear bar, is provided with one or more openings 112, for example so that fastening means (shown as screws S) may be used to temporarily and removably secure the tool to one or more wall joists W. The forward edge 114 of the top plate 108 is biased across its thickness, and along its length, at the same angle at which the front bar 102 projects, such that the upper surface 116 of the front bar has an edge 118 in common with the upper surface 120 of the top plate 106. Finally, the lower end of the rear bar 104 is shown to include a U-shaped brace member 122, which consists primarily of a pair of parallel arms 124 that extend rearwardly from a base plate 126 that is coupled to the rear side of bar 104. As shown, parallel arms 124 are spaced from each other by a distance sufficient to provide a clearance fit for a wall joist W.

Thus, in the first embodiment 100, the top plate 108 of the crossbar 106 provides the support platform 16 of the positioning tool 10, with the upper surface 122 of the top plate forming the upper surface 18 of the support platform adapted to receive and support the forward edge of a construction panel such as a drywall sheet. The upper surface 120 of the front bar 102 provides the ramp section 18 of the tool, and the stabilizing member 14 is collectively formed from the rear bar 102, the side plate 110, and the brace member 122. More specifically, the rear surface of the side plate 110 is positioned to abut a horizontal wall joist W, for example a top plate, and be temporarily secured thereto, and the brace member 122 engages the vertical wall joist W. As mentioned above, but although not shown in this view, ceiling joists are typically supported on the top plates, so the tool 100 is generally installed in a position such that the upper surface 122 of the top plate 108 is spaced from the ceiling joist sufficiently to accommodate the thickness of a construction panel. In embodiments that include a brace member, the tool is generally centered (or otherwise positioned) relative to a stud (vertical wall joist W) so that the arms of the brace member loosely engage either side of the stud, such as to provide additional restriction of lateral movement of the tool relative to the wall frame.

In prototype embodiments represented by the first illustrative embodiment 100 of positioning tool 10, ¾″ square tubing was used for the front and rear bars, with the rear bar having an overall length in the range of about 10″ to 18″, and the front bar having an overall length in the range of about 18″ to 24″. The downwardly projecting tip of the front bar, in some of the prototype embodiments, was smoothed or radiused on its upper corner (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), and/or was bent to curve further downward, to present a smoother surface to the drywall sheet engaging the bottom end of the bar. Additionally, the angle between the front and rear bars was in the range of about 45 to 55 degrees (resulting in the angle formed between the upper surface of the ramp section and the upper surface of the support platform being in the range of about 35 to 45 degrees). A length of 1″×1″ angle steel in the range of about 6″ to 10″ was used for the crossbar. However, some variants were not provided with a crossbar, instead having openings through the rear bar for securement to a wall stud, and having support platform only as wide as one or both of the front and rear bars. Also, some variants were not provided with a brace member; in some applications, such as those in which multiple positioning tools were installed in parallel on a wall frame, to provide multiple points of support for a drywall sheet placed thereon, the brace member was found not to be as helpful to restrict lateral movement of the individual tools as in applications in which only one positioning tool was used.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the second illustrative embodiment 200 of positioning tool 10 is also shown to be constructed from two bars 202, 204 of square steel tubing, coupled at the ends thereof to form an apex, but with the front bar 202 projecting forward at an obtuse angle relative to the rear bar 204, which is shown in this embodiment to be horizontally oriented. The upper surface 206 of the front bar has an upper edge 208 in common with the upper surface 210 of the rear her 204. A brace 212, shown as an elongate bar of angle steel, is coupled at its proximal end to the distal end of the rear bar 204 and extends generally rearwardly therefrom along a longitudinal axis parallel to that of the rear bar. Brace 212 consists of a side plate 214, the lower portion of which, at the forward end thereof, is coupled to a side surface of the rear bar 204, and a top plate 216, which is spaced upward from the upper surface 210 of the rear bar by a distance sufficient to accommodate the thickness of a forward edge of a construction panel. Top plate 216 is provided with one or more openings 218, for example so that fastening means (shown as screws S) may be used to temporarily secure the tool to one or more ceiling joists C, for example through a construction panel P installed thereto.

In the second embodiment 200, the rear bar 204 provides the support platform 16 of the positioning tool 10, with the upper surface 210 thereof forming the upper surface 24 of the support platform adapted to receive and support the forward edge of a construction panel such as a drywall sheet. The front bar 202 provides the ramp member 12, with the upper surface 206 of the front bar 202 providing the ramp section 18 of the tool. The stabilizing member 14 is in the form of the brace 212.

In prototype embodiments represented by the second illustrative embodiment 200 of positioning tool 10, ¾″ square tubing was used for the front and rear bars, with the rear bar having an overall length in the range of about 2″ to 6″, and the front bar having an overall length in the range of about 18″ to 24″. As with embodiment 100, the downwardly projecting tip of the front bar, in some of the prototype embodiments, was smoothed or radiused on the upper corner (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), and/or was bent to curve further downward, and the angle between the front and rear bars was in the range of about 135 to 145 degrees (resulting in the angle formed between the upper surface of the ramp section and the upper surface of the support platform being in the range of about 35 to 45 degrees). A length of 1″×1″ angle steel in the range of about 10″ to 14″ was used for the crossbar, with the length of the front end coupled to the side surface of the rear bar being in the range of about 1″ to 4″. The clearance between the upper surface of the rear bar and the top plate was between about ¼″ to ¾″. In some variants, the support platform was laterally extended by means of an additional crossbar configured to extend to either side of the rear bar.

A non-exclusive, illustrative embodiment of a construction panel support tool 40 is shown in FIG. 5 at 300. Briefly, the support tool 40 is adapted to temporarily support an edge, edge portion, or other portion of a construction panel P in a desired position, such as adjacent to an installation site. In particular, support tool 300 is adapted to movably mount to a ceiling joist C and be selectively moved into place to support the lower surface of a sheet of drywall in position substantially adjacent to one or more ceiling joists to which the sheet is to be installed.

In general and somewhat functional terms, support tool 40 includes a suspension frame 42 adapted to movably mount the tool on a ceiling joist C, and a support member 44 coupled thereto and disposed to extend away therefrom in a plane parallel to that of the bottom surface of the ceiling joist C to which the suspension frame 42 is mounted.

More specifically, suspension frame 42 of support tool 300 is shown to be formed from elongate top and bottom guide members 302, 304 coupled to each other by means of struts 306. In particular, top guide member 302 forms a channel adapted to provide at least a clearance fit with the top edge of a ceiling joist C, with the channel defined by parallel sidewalls 308 extending downward from a top wall 310. Bottom guide member 304 includes a sidewall 312 and a bottom wall 314 adapted, respectively, to engage one side and the bottom edge of the ceiling joist C. This configuration allows the entire frame 42 to be suspended from a ceiling joist by “hanging” the top guide member over the top edge at a slight angle, then engaging the bottom wall 314 with the bottom edge of the joist. The struts maintain a predetermined spaced relation between the top and bottom guide members. Optionally, the guide members may be adjustably coupled, such as to accommodate ceiling joists of different widths (for example, 2×8 s, 2×6 s, and 2×4 s are all lumber sizes that are commonly used for ceiling joists). In support tool 300, the adjustability is provided by means of openings along struts 306 through which bolts 316, which protrude from sidewall 312, may extend and be fastened by means of nuts 318.

The support member 44 of support tool 300 is shown to be formed from an elongate bar 320 of square steel tubing that cantilevers in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support frame, in a plane substantially parallel to, and spaced below, the bottom surface of the ceiling joist. In particular, the spacing is sufficient to accommodate the thickness of a construction panel. Bar 320 is coupled to the suspension frame by means of a pair of bolts 322, which protrude downward from bottom wall 314, and which are fastened by nuts 324. Although not required to all embodiments, this coupling is also shown in support tool 300 to be adjustable, such as to allow a user to adjust the clearance between the top surface of the bar 320 and the bottom surface of the ceiling joist C. The clearance may be determined by user preference, thickness of the particular construction panel with which the support tool is being used, and so forth, but is generally a value greater than the thickness, but less than about twice the thickness, of a construction panel.

In prototype embodiments represented by embodiment 300 of support tool 40, a length of 1″ square tubing having an overall length in the range of about 24″ to 30″ was used for the elongate support bar. The top and bottom guide members both had an overall length in the range of about 6″ to 10″, which was suitable to prevent the suspension frame from rocking or tipping on the ceiling joist when the weight of a sheet of drywall is supported by the support bar.

In some prototypes, instead of bolts, one or both struts extend beyond the bottom guide member to either adjustably (by means of additional openings) or non-adjustably (such as by welding) couple with the support bar. In one variant, the support bar is mounted for a limited range of pivotal movement in a vertical plane on one strut, and a biasing means in the form of a tension spring positioned to bias the distal end of the bar upward, for example to urge the end of the bar against a sheet of drywall supported by the support tool.

FIGS. 6-9 show components of a construction panel support system 50 in use to position and temporarily support multiple construction panels P (shown as sheets of drywall), relative to adjacent installation sites on a ceiling joist C. In general, system 50 includes one or more construction panel positioning tools 10 (such as tool(s) 100, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, and/or tool(s) 200, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, and so forth), and one or more construction panel support tools 40 (such as tool(s) 300, as shown in FIG. 5). The structural components (i.e., joists W, C, and the drywall sheets P) and tools are not necessarily shown to scale, but rather are presented somewhat schematically for the sake of illustration.

In FIG. 6, a positioning tool 10 according to the first illustrated embodiment 100 is shown to be secured to a wall joist W such that the upper surface 24 of the support platform 16 is spaced from an adjacent ceiling joist C by a distance sufficient to accommodate a construction panel P. Construction panel P is shown with its forward edge placed on the upper surface 20 of the ramp section 18, and is guided up the ramp section in the direction shown by the arrow, such as if a worker holding the opposite edge pushes the panel along the ramp section. Although only one positioning tool 10 is shown in FIG. 6, two or more positioning tools may be deployed in parallel along a wall frame, such as to provide greater stability and support through the use of multiple, parallel ramp sections.

In FIG. 7, the forward edge of the construction panel P has been guided to the upper surface of the support platform, and is supported in position to be installed. The middle section of the construction panel P may then be pivoted upward and away from the ramp section, as shown by the arrow, such as by a worker lifting the opposite edge toward the ceiling.

In FIG. 8, a support tool 40 according to the illustrated embodiment 300 is shown to be movably suspended from ceiling joist C, and is moved into place so that the support member 44 engages the bottom surface of the construction panel P. In general, the support tool 40 engages the ceiling joist from which it is suspended loosely enough to be moved easily along the length thereof, for example so that a worker supporting the panel with one hand against the ceiling joists may reach back with the other hand to pull or otherwise slide the tool 40 into place. Again, although only one support tool 40 is shown in FIG. 8, two or more support tools may be deployed, for example to provide multiple points of support. The construction panel P is now in place relative to the installation site, and may be installed according to conventional methods, after which the positioning tool(s) 10 may be removed and the support tool(s) 40 may be moved from a supporting position.

In FIG. 9, a positioning tool 10 according to the second illustrative embodiment 200 is shown to be secured to ceiling joist C through construction panel P. Again, more than one positioning tool may be used, such as to provide multiple, parallel ramp sections. Also, the support tool has been moved away from the wall sufficiently to allow a second construction panel P to be raised and supported into position relative to an installation site adjacent to the installed construction panel. Continuing in this manner, a solo worker Say sequentially install multiple construction panels to the entire ceiling frame.

Several configurational variations may be made to the illustrative embodiments within the scope of the invention. For example, although the positioning tools 10 are shown to be of rigid construction, other embodiments may employ hinged, adjustable connections, such as a selectively pivotable coupling between the stabilizing member and the ramp member, so that a single unit relay be employed for installation sites that are adjacent to walls as well as those that are not adjacent to walls, for example by moving the stabilizing member between vertical and horizontal orientations. Further, although the range of angles formed between the ramp section and a horizontal plane in the prototype embodiments is about 35 to 45 degrees, an angle anywhere in the range of about 20 to 60 degrees, or beyond, would have utility in certain applications. Moreover, the inclusion of an adjustable-angle coupling may provide a positioning tool capable of providing such a range. Optionally, the positioning tool components forming the ramp member and/or stabilizing member may be of adjustable length, such as by employing a telescoping configuration, so that the positioning tool may be used in a greater number of applications. For example, ceiling heights in many installations may vary quite a bit, and a positioning tool with a ramp member of adjustable length may allow the vertical distance that a construction panel must be lifted in order to place the forward edge onto a ramp section to be kept minimal. Further, some embodiments of the positioning tools may include additional components, such as braces or supporting struts, as might suitable for a heavier-duty application, and/or multiple iterations of a particular component, such as parallel ramp members, multiple stabilizing members, and so forth; whereas others may include fewer components, such as indicated above, in which some embodiments of a positioning tool does not include a support brace. In some positioning tools, the stabilizing member may instead or additionally couple to the ramp section, and/or may be configured to engage one or more structural components of a building structure in a different manner than as shown. Moreover, the support tools 40 may include a suspension frame that remains in place on a ceiling joist, but may instead (or additionally) feature a slidable and/or pivotable support arm that is movable relative to the suspension frame.

Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles and illustrated examples and embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A construction panel positioning tool to position and support at least one edge of a construction panel relative to a panel installation site, the positioning tool comprising:

a ramp member, having: a support platform disposed at an upper end thereof, the support platform further including an upper surface configured to receive and support at least an edge portion of a construction panel; and a ramp section disposed adjacent the support platform and extending downwardly at an angle therefrom, the ramp section further including a substantially planar upper surface having an upper edge in common with the upper surface of the support platform, the upper surface of the ramp section being configured to slidingly engage and guide an edge portion of a construction panel placed thereon toward the support platform; and

a stabilizing member coupled to the ramp member and configured to engage a structural component of a building structure, thereby supporting the ramp member in a predetermined position relative to the installation site.

2. The positioning tool of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the support platform is horizontally disposed when the stabilizing member is engaged with the structural component.

3. The positioning tool of claim 1, wherein the angle of the upper surface of the ramp section relative to the upper surface of the support platform is within a range of 20 to 60 degrees.

4. The positioning tool of claim 3, wherein the angle of the upper surface of the ramp section elative to the upper surface of the support platform is within a range of 35 to 45 degrees.

5. The positioning tool of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing member is coupled to the support platform.

6. The positioning tool of claim 5, wherein the common edge of the upper surfaces of the ramp section and the support platform is a forward edge of the upper surface of the support platform, and wherein the stabilizing member includes a elongate vertical brace extending downward from the support platform and having a rear surface that is configured to engage a wall joist of the building structure or a construction panel installed thereto.

7. The positioning tool of claim 6, further including one or more rearwardly extending arms disposed on the vertical brace, the one or more arms adapted to engage one or both sides of a wall joist of the building structure.

8. The positioning tool of claim 5, wherein the common edge of the upper surfaces of the ramp section and the support platform is a forward edge of the upper surface of the support platform, and wherein the stabilizing member includes one or more arms extending, respectively, to one or both sides thereof.

9. The positioning tool of claim 8, wherein one or more of the arms includes a vertically-disposed rear surface that is either even with or protrudes rearwardly beyond a rearward edge of the upper surface of the support platform and that is adapted to engage and be temporarily secured to a wall joist of the building structure or a construction panel installed thereto.

10. The positioning tool of claim 9, wherein the vertical brace includes one or more tabs extending rearwardly therefrom and that are adapted, respectively, to engage one or both sides of a wall joist of the building structure.

11. The positioning tool of claim 5, wherein the common edge of the upper surfaces of the ramp section and the support platform is a forward edge of the upper surface of the support platform, and wherein the stabilizing member includes an elongate horizontal brace configured to extend generally rearwardly of the support platform.

12. The positioning tool of claim 11, wherein the elongate horizontal brace includes one or more horizontally-disposed upper surfaces adapted to engage and be temporarily secured to a ceiling joist of the building structure or a construction panel installed thereto.

13. The positioning tool of claim 1, wherein the common edge of the upper surfaces of the ramp section and the support platform is a forward edge of the upper surface of the support platform, and wherein the ramp section extends perpendicular to the forward edge of the support platform.

14. The positioning tool of claim 1, wherein the ramp member is hingedly coupled to the stabilizing member.

15. A construction panel support tool to temporarily support a construction panel relative to a panel installation site, the support tool comprising:

a suspension frame adapted to movably mount the tool on a ceiling joist, the suspension frame further including elongate top and bottom guide members respectively configured to slidably engage the top surface and the opposing side surfaces, and the bottom surface, of the ceiling joist, wherein the top and bottom guide members are coupled to maintain a predetermined spaced relation therebetween;

an elongate support member coupled to the suspension frame and configured, when the suspension tool is suspended from a ceiling joist, to extend away from the suspension frame in a plane substantially parallel to, and spaced below, that of the bottom surface of the ceiling joist.

15. The panel support tool of claim 15, wherein the top and bottom guide members are adjustably coupled to allow adjustment of the distance therebetween to thereby accommodate ceiling joists of different heights.

17. The panel support tool of claim 15, wherein the elongate support member extends away from the suspension frame substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof.

18. The panel support tool of claim 15, wherein the suspension frame further includes one or more struts rigidly coupling the top and bottom guide members, and wherein the elongate support member is mounted to a portion of one or more of the struts that extends below the bottom guide member.

19. The panel support tool of claim 15, wherein the elongate support member is mounted for pivotable movement within a limited range relative to the plane of the bottom surface of the ceiling joist.

20. A construction panel support system to position and temporarily support a construction panel relative to a panel installation site, the panel support system comprising:

one or more construction panel positioning tools, each positioning tool further including: a ramp member having a support platform at an upper end thereof configured to receive and support a portion of a construction panel and a ramp section adjacent the support platform and sharing a common edge therewith, the ramp section including a substantially planar upper surface configured to slidingly engage and guide a portion of a construction panel placed thereon toward the support platform; and a stabilizing member coupled to the ramp member, the stabilizing member being configured to engage a structural component of a building structure to support the ramp member in a predetermined position relative to the installation site; and

one or more construction panel support tools, each support tool further including: a suspension frame adapted to movably mount the support tool on a ceiling joist, the suspension frame having elongate top and bottom guide members configured to collectively slidingly engage the top, bottom, and side surfaces of a ceiling joist; and an elongate support member coupled to the suspension frame and disposed to extend in a plane substantially parallel to, and spaced below, that of the bottom surface of a ceiling joist to which the support tool is movably mounted.