Support for construction site layout lines

Abstract

A support for layout lines utilized in laying out construction sites. The support is slidably carried on a stake and includes a clamping bolt to fix it in position on the stake and to allow it to be moved along the stake for adjustment purposes. The support includes a transit pole tab, on which the bottom of a transit pole can be placed for positioning purposes, and a tab for supporting a layout line platform. A clamping member, such as a thumbscrew, is carried in a bracket and overlies the platform to allow the thumbscrew to clamp the layout line in position against the upper face of the platform, which can include a groove or slot for receiving the layout line. The upper surface of the transit pole tab lies in the same plane as the upper surface of the layout line platform.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/376,072, filed on Apr. 29, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a support for construction site layout lines or strings. More particularly, the present invention relates to a site layout line support that can be attached to a stake and that allows quick positioning of construction site layout lines, and that also allows simple and quick adjustments to site layout line orientation and positioning, without the need to move layout stakes or to untie and retie the layout lines to the stakes.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] The layout of construction projects, such as building foundations, walls, sidewalks, patios, and the like, is generally accomplished by setting stakes and site layout lines or strings. The stakes are placed at the corners of the proposed project, or at some intermediate position, to define an outline of the intended construction site, to define the orientation of a portion of the proposed project, to mark a level portion of a project, to indicate grade lines, or to square up two or more layout lines. Layout lines are attached to the stakes and are oriented by the use of transits, ground measurements, and levels, in order to properly set the stake positions and layout lines relative to the ground to facilitate accurate placement of the intended structure or improvement.

[0006] Typically, the layout lines are attached to the stakes by tying the lines around the stakes. When adjustments are needed after a rough initial layout of the stakes and lines, either the stakes must be removed and shifted to a new, more accurate position, or the lines must be untied and shifted up or down along the stake for proper leveling. In either case, the squaring and leveling process may require several adjustments and is a time-consuming and burdensome process because of the need to repeatedly remove and replace the stakes, and because of the need to repeatedly untie and retie the layout lines to the stakes until proper positioning of the lines and the stakes has been achieved.

[0007] Additionally, when construction equipment or materials must be moved onto or off of a site that includes layout stakes and layout lines, the layout lines must be untied to allow the necessary movement into or out of the site. The layout lines must then be relocated and reattached which, again, is a time-consuming and burdensome process.

[0008] The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems and limitations of the previously-utilized techniques, and to simplifying and speeding up accurate site layout line positioning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a support is provided for holding a site layout line or string. A layout line support member includes a support body having a longitudinal axis. A first lateral member is carried by the support body and includes a laterally-extending locating surface. A second lateral member is carried by the support body and is circumferentially offset from the first lateral member, the second lateral member including a transversely-extending platform including a layout line support surface. A line clamping member is carried by the second lateral member for clamping and holding a layout line in a desired position relative to the support body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a layout line support positioned on a stake;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a top view of the support and stake shown in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of line platform for supporting a site layout line;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of another form of line platform for supporting a site layout line;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

[0016] FIG. 7 is perspective view of a modified form of site layout line support, including a slidable extension member;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a top view of the support shown in FIG. 7;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a top view of a further modified form of layout line support;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a trench in which leveling can be accomplished using the site line layout support shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0020] FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the trench shown in FIG. 10;

[0021] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a site layout arrangement for a brick sidewalk;

[0022] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing use of the site layout line support for squaring a brick patio; and

[0023] FIG. 14 is a fragmentary elevational view of an arrangement for attaching a survey transit pole to a site layout stake.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown an embodiment of a site layout line support 10 in accordance with the present invention. Support 10 is carried on a stake 12, which can be a cylindrical metal stake as shown, or it can be a wood stake. Support 10 includes a support body 14 in the form of a tubular sleeve that is slidable axially along the outer surface of stake 12 to change the elevation of support 10 relative to stake 12 or relative to the ground. Support body 14 serves as a positioning sleeve that can be secured at a desired position along stake 12 by a clamping bolt 16, which can have a T-handle, as shown, or it can be a spade head thumbscrew or a thumbscrew with a knurled outer knob, or the like, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Clamping bolt 16 extends substantially radially relative to stake 12, and when tightened against stake 12 it securely holds support 10 in a desired vertical and circumferential position on stake 12.

[0025] Support body 14 includes a pair of first and second lateral members 20, 22 that extend outwardly therefrom in a substantially radial direction. Lateral members 20, 22 can be welded to support body 14 and serve as a locating tab and as a layout line clamp support, respectively. Each of lateral members 20, 22 has a respective radially-extending upper surface 24, 26 and the lateral members are circumferentially offset from each other relative to support body 14. In that regard, the circumferential offset between the first and second lateral members can be of the order of from about 120° to about 180°.

[0026] Upper surface 24 of lateral member 20 serves as a reference surface, as will be explained hereinafter. Upper surface 26 of lateral member 22 supports a layout line platform 30 that is securely fastened to lateral member 22, such as by welding. The upper surface of platform 30 lies in the same plane as upper surface 26 of lateral member 20. Above line platform 30 is a layout line clamping member, which can be a thumbscrew that is rotatably carried in a threaded opening provided in an angle bracket 34 that is also secured to lateral member 22 by welding, or the like. The threaded portion of thumbscrew 32 can have a flat outer end, or it can carry a swivel pad 36, as shown in FIG. 1. Spaced directly below thumbscrew 32 and formed in the upper surface of platform 30 is a linearly-extending recess, groove, or slot 38 to receive and support a layout line 40. Thumbscrew 32 serves to firmly clamp and hold layout line 40 in a desired position against platform 30. Although illustrated and described in terms of a thumbscrew, other line clamping arrangements can also be employed, such as spring clamps, ratchet-based clamps, and the like.

[0027] FIGS. 3 through 6 show only two of many different possible forms of layout-line-receiving recesses and layout line platform structures. In FIGS. 3 and 4, line platform 30 of FIG. 1 is shown in enlarged form. Platform 30 includes linear groove or slot 38, which preferably has a depth that is less than the diameter of layout line 40 to enable a portion of the line to protrude above the upper surface of platform 30 so that it can be securely clamped to the platform. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, line platform 42 includes two substantially parallel, spaced protrusions 44 that extend upwardly from the upper surface of line platform 42. Protrusions 44 each include respective recesses or slots 46 that are aligned with each other and that are adapted to receive layout line 40. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 layout line 40 is clamped directly to the upper surface of platform 42, with slots 46 serving to receive line 40 and thereby fix its orientation and position.

[0028] Another layout line support configuration, utilizing the basic line clamp structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Support 48 as there shown is similar to that of support 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that it includes two opposed clamping bolts 50, 52 to engage the surface of stake 12. It also includes a laterally-extending side passageway 54 to slidably receive an extension bar 56. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, side passageway 54 and extension bar 56 are of rectangular cross section, although other cross-sectional shapes can also be utilized. Extending into side passageway 54 is a thumbscrew 58 to clamp extension bar 56 securely in a desired position relative to support 48. Additionally, extension bar 56 carries a layout line clamp 60 that is structurally similar to line clamp 28 of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that line clamp 60 is movable along extension bar 56 and can be secured in a desired position by the use of thumbscrew 58. Further, the upper surfaces of the line platforms associated with line clamps 28 and 60 lie in the same plane as the upper surface of support 48. And as is apparent from FIGS. 7 and 8, two mutually perpendicular layout lines 62, 64 are supported by the line support structure there shown. Support 48 is adjustable vertically along stake 12, and line clamp 60 is adjustable horizontally along extension bar 56. Thus, both vertical and horizontal adjustments of the intersection of layout lines 62, 64 can be made without moving stake 12 and without untying or unclamping the layout lines.

[0029] A further structural variation of a layout line support is shown in FIG. 9. As there shown, each of a pair of spaced stakes 12 carries a stake-mounted layout line support 48 of the type shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. An extension bar 56 is clampingly received in corresponding, aligned passageways 54 in each of supports 48. A slidable layout line support 60, having the structure shown in FIG. 7, is carried on extension bar 56. Again, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the FIG. 9 embodiment also allows vertical adjustment of each of layout lines 62, 64, and it also allows shifting of the intersection point between those layout lines, each adjustment being possible without moving either of the stakes and without untying or unclamping either of the layout lines.

[0030] Several possible applications of the site layout line support described herein to set layout lines for different projects are shown in FIGS. 10 through 13. FIGS. 10 and 11 show plan and elevational views of a serpentine gravel trench 66 in which several stakes 12 are placed having layout line supports 10 of the type herein described. A layout line 68 extends along trench 66 between successive stakes 12. A transit 70 is utilized along with a transit pole 72 to establish the grade for the trench, which can be a trench for a water-carrying line (not shown), or for a walkway, for example. The base of transit pole 70 is placed against upper surface 24 of locating tab 20 provided on layout line support 10, which lies in the same plane as the upper surface of line support platform 30. Any necessary adjustments of the line support along a stake can readily be made by loosening the clamping bolt 16 to arrange line 68 to define a required drop or slope in the grade along the trench. A line level 74 can be utilized to assure a proper level of the layout line between particular stakes along the trench if a level grade is desired.

[0031] FIG. 12 shows the use of the present invention for providing layout lines for a structure such as a brick sidewalk having a gravel base 76. A rectangular array of stakes 12 is provided, each stake including a layout line support 10. Either a line level 74, or, if the spacing between stakes allows, a carpenter's level 78, can be utilized for properly positioning layout lines 80, 82.

[0032] FIG. 13 shows the use of the present invention to square the layout lines at a corner of a patio to be formed from brick pavers 84. The layout line support structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be utilized, which allows quick adjustment of the respective layout lines 62, 64 to accurately form a right angle intersection of the lines using a carpenter's square 86.

[0033] FIG. 14 shows a transit pole arrangement that allows a one-person setup of layout lines utilizing a transit and a layout line support arrangement in accordance with the present invention. A tubular sleeve 90 is provided having an inner diameter of a size to allow the sleeve to be slidably received on stake 12. The attachment of transit pole 72 to sleeve 90 can be effected by an elastic band 94 that has a width to allow it to overlap itself when it is wrapped around pale 72 and sleeve 90 in the direction indicated by arrow 96. Band 94 can have a length of about 1 foot and carries a fastening arrangement to allow removable application of the band to the pole and sleeve. One form of suitable fastening arrangement is a two-component Velcro® fastener in which one component 98 of a Velcro® hook-and-loop system is secured along one longitudinal edge of band 94 on one face of the band, while the other component 100 is secured along the opposite longitudinal edge of band 94 and on the face of the band opposite to the face on which component 98 is secured. One or more elongated longitudinal openings 102 can be provided in band 94 to expose the scale markings carried by transit pole 72. Thus, when sleeve 90 is placed on stake 12, transit pole 72 can be retained in position relative to 12 stake while the base of the pole rests against upper face 24 of locating tab 20 of layout line support 10, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0034] It will be apparent that the present invention greatly simplifies layout line adjustments. No tying and untying of the layout line to and from a stake is required, nor is stake repositioning necessary if the initial stake position is too far off a necessary position. Further, utilizing the present invention a novice can quickly install accurate layout lines for foundations, walls, patios, walkways, sheds, decks, and other construction projects.

[0035] Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended to encompass within the appended claims all such changes and modifications that fall with the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A layout line support member comprising:

a) a support body having a longitudinal axis;

b) a first lateral member carried by the support body and including a laterally-extending locating surface;

c) a second lateral member carried by the support body and circumferentially offset from the first lateral member, the second lateral member including a transversely-extending platform including a layout line support surface; and

d) a line clamping member carried by the second lateral member for clamping and holding a layout line in a desired position relative to the support body.

2. A layout line support in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support body includes a longitudinally-extending through passageway to allow the support body to be slidably carried on a layout stake.

3. A layout line support in accordance with claim 2, wherein the support body is a tubular structure.

4. A layout line support in accordance with claim 2, including a holding member carried by the support body for securing the support body to the stake at a desired position.

5. A layout line support in accordance with claim 4, wherein the holding member is threadedly carried by the support body.

6. A layout line support in accordance with claim 1, wherein the line clamping member is a thumb screw having a free end for contacting a layout line and positioned to hold the line against the first lateral member.

7. A layout line support in accordance with claim 6, wherein the thumb screw includes a swivel pad at its free end for engaging and clamping the layout line against the first lateral member.

8. A layout line support in accordance with claim 1, including a transversely-extending tubular support carried by the second lateral member for slidably supporting an extension bar.

9. A layout line support in accordance with claim 8, including an extension bar clamping member carried by the second lateral member for securely holding the extension bar in a desired position relative to the support body.

10. A layout line support in accordance with claim 9, wherein the extension bar slidably supports a second line clamping member for engagement with a second layout line.

11. A layout line support in accordance with claim 1, wherein the layout line support surface includes a linear recess for receiving a portion of the layout line and for positioning the layout line relative to the support body.

12. A layout line support in accordance with claim 11, wherein the linear recess extends across the layout line support surface.

13. A layout line support in accordance with claim 11, wherein the linear recess is formed in an upwardly-extending protrusion carried by the layout line support surface.

14. A layout line support in accordance with claim 13, wherein a pair of spaced, elongated protrusions are provided in the layout line support surface, and each protrusion includes a linear recess, and wherein the linear recesses are aligned with each other.

15. A layout line support in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circumferential offset between the first and second lateral members is from about 120° to about 180°.