Building-siding hanger and support device
Apparatus for supporting an object for attachment to a substantially vertical surface. The apparatus comprises at least two elongate columns having a plurality of apertures. The columns are securable in parallel, spaced apart relation to the surface. Support members are insertable through the apertures of each of the columns, the support members being operable to receive and support the object for attachment to the surface between the columns and the surface. The apparatus finds particular application in supporting siding for installation on a building. The apparatus allows for a single worker to perform the installation and is capable of reliably handling newer, heavier fiber-cement composite material siding. The apparatus also finds application in the installation of drywall panels. The apparatus can also be used as a modular shelving system.
This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 11/154,411 filed on Jun. 15, 2005 which claims priority to prior provisional application Ser. No. 60/600,361 filed Aug. 11, 2004 both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of Invention
The present application relates to an apparatus for supporting an object, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for supporting a construction element such as a drywall panel or a siding member for application to a mounting surface. The apparatus of the present invention also finds use as a free-standing or hanging shelving unit.
2. Description of Related Art
Siding is typically applied to a building for the purposes of protecting the building from the environment as well as for aesthetic reasons. Many types of siding are provided in the form of sheets or strips that must be secured to the exterior surface of the building, typically by lapping successively higher sheets or strips above corresponding lower sheets or strips. Newer types of siding have been introduces comprised of a fiber-cement composite material. These fiber-cement siding elements are typically heavier than traditional wood or vinyl siding elements.
In the case of drywall panels, the panels are generally applied to the exterior of an internal open frame structure (often formed from wooden members) to quickly establish walls and ceilings.
Traditionally two installation workers have been required to position siding, boards, panels, or the like, on a building. One installer secures one end while the other levels to the first secure fixing. This process is repeated for each successive level or layer. Subsequent differential levels or layers of siding are determined and achieved through use of a level and rule. The use of two installation workers is both more inefficient and more expensive than using a single installation worker. The traditional process also requires that the position of each siding element be measured individually. This repetitive measuring is time consuming.
A similar situation arises in the installation of drywall panels. While drywalling does not generally involve the same attention to measuring and aligning, it often requires lifting and holding in place by one worker as another worker fastens the panel to the underlying frame structure.
In order to reduce inefficient use of manpower, various tools have been developed which allow a single installer to install a sheet of siding. Various other tools have also been designed which allow the support of multiple siding elements for attachment to the building. However, for various reasons, these tools have not gained widespread acceptance.
Some devices have been developed which support a siding element from a previously applied siding element. Examples of such devices may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,149 to Meyer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,392 to Defino et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,192 to Partin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,029 to Matthews; U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,714 to Kelly, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,853 to Pyburn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,767 to Colavito; U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,377 to Van Der Meer; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,100 to Wheeler. These devices remove the need for a second installer but still requires the individual installer to return to the device in order to remove and reposition the device for each subsequent board.
Other tools have been developed which are limited by their requirement to either clamp to, abut to, or affix to existing boards, studs or panels that have already been fixed in position Examples of such devices may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,021 to Nadal et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,311 to Paquin; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,175 to Stiles. These devices still require the individual installer to return to the device in order to remove and reposition the device for each subsequent board.
Several devices have been developed which permit multiple siding panels to be positioned with a single application of the device. Examples of such devices may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,909 to Singleterry; U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,669 to Jacobsen and U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,459 to Taggart. The Taggart device affixes the supporting column to the building where the device remains, even after construction. This device is therefore wasteful as it is only intended to be used one time.
Many of these devices are also not readily adaptable for use with siding elements of varying widths or with heavier siding elements. For example, Singleterry includes fixed support surfaces and does not therefore permit the use with siding elements of differing widths. In addition, although Jacobsen allows for the siding supports to be adjusted, such adjustment is achieved with slots and thumbscrews. Such a method of adjustment suffers from the necessity and difficulties of accurate measurement when adjusting so as to ensure correct siding placement.
The device of Jacobsen which relies on thumbscrews to position the siding supports is not a secure support for heavier siding elements such as fiber-cement boards. The device of Jacobsen also requires an established board in order to be utilized. This device is held in place only by friction behind a first siding board which prevents its use for supporting heavy siding elements such as fiber-cement boards.
What is desirable is a method and apparatus for supporting construction elements such as siding or drywall panels for application to a building or other surface. The method and apparatus would preferably permit installation of the construction elements by a single user. The method and apparatus would desirably have the ability to support multiple siding elements and have the ability to support heavier siding elements such as fiber-cement siding. The apparatus would also be desirably useful as a modular shelving system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, the present invention provides apparatus for supporting an object for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, the apparatus comprising:
-
- at least two elongate columns having a plurality of apertures, said columns being securable in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface; and
- support members passable through said apertures of each of said columns, said support members being operable to receive and support said object for attachment to the surface between said columns and the surface.
The present invention also provides apparatus for supporting siding for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, the apparatus comprising an elongate column being securable in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface, the column having a plurality of apertures for receiving a support member for supporting the siding.
The present invention also provides apparatus for supporting objects, the apparatus comprising an elongate column, the column having two opposed walls, each of said two opposed walls having a plurality of corresponding apertures for receiving a support member therethrough.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for supporting siding for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, the apparatus comprising:
-
- at least two elongate columns, each column having two opposed walls, each of said two opposed walls having a plurality of corresponding apertures therethrough; and
- at least two support members receivable in said apertures.
The present invention also provides a modular shelving system comprising:
-
- at least two elongates columns, each column having two opposed walls, each of said two opposed walls having a plurality of corresponding apertures;
- an elongate bar extending between said at least two columns receivable in said apertures; and
- at least one support plate pivotally fixed on said elongate bar.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of attaching siding to a substantially vertical surface, the method comprising:
-
- securing at least two elongate supports in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface, said elongate channels having a plurality of apertures;
- passing a support pin through an apertures of each of said elongate supports; and
- locating a siding element for attachment to the surface on said support pins between said elongate supports and the surface.
In a still further aspect, the present invention provides a method of attaching a sheet of material to a substantially vertical surface, the method comprising:
-
- securing at least one elongate support adjacent to the substantially vertical surface, the elongate support having a base to permit pivoting of the elongate support between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position, said elongate support defining a support surface for the sheet of material;
- loading the sheet of material onto the support surface when in the generally horizontal position;
- pivoting the elongate support to the generally vertical position to position the sheet of material adjacent the substantially vertical surface; and
- attaching the sheet of material to the substantially vertical surface.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,
Referring to
Now turning to
First and second sides 30 and 32 each include a plurality of apertures 22 adapted to receive support members 60. The apertures 22 on the first and second sides 30 and 32 may be arranged to align with each other such that a single support member 60 may be passed through a pair of corresponding apertures 22 at a right angle to the column 20. The third side 34 of the column may also include apertures 22 that are arranged in planar alignment with corresponding apertures 22 of the first and second sides 30 and 32.
As shown in
The column 20 may be formed from a sheet of material 12 as shown in
Referring back to
As previously described, the column 20 may be located and secured in parallel, spaced-apart relation to a surface 8 by passing a spike or other suitable fastener 24 through fastener apertures 26. As illustrated in
Now referring to
The stand portion 74 comprises an elongate member having a free distal end 76 and a proximate end 78 normally affixed to the plate portion 72. Stand portion 74 is adapted to be received within the interior region 40 of the column. As illustrated in
Now referring to
It will be appreciated that the footings or bottom plates described herein may also be used as top plates for securing the column to an upper surface, such as a ceiling, with the top plate anchored to the upper surface, and the column suspended below the top plate for pivotal movement about pin 96.
Now referring to
Now referring to
The shelving plate 124 comprises a substantially flat upper plate 126 and a sleeve portion 128. The sleeve portion has an internal opening having a cross section corresponding to the spanning bar 122 so as to be slidably received thereon. The sleeve portion 128 is furthermore rotationally fixed relative to the spanning par 122 to as to prevent rotation of the spanning bar. Upper plate 126 is secured to and above the sleeve portion 128 and thereby forms a flat upper surface on which shelves or other objects may be placed. The upper plate 126 may also include holes 130 through which fasteners may be passed to secure selves or other object to the upper plate. It will be appreciated that the holes 130 may be threaded so as to enable bolts connected to an object to be secured to the upper plate to be secured in to.
The shelving bracket 140 comprises a cantilevered member 142 and an angled member 144 each connected to each other at a distal end 146 thereof. The cantilevered member 142 and angled member 144 may be formed of a continuous element wherein the element is bent to form the distal end 146. The cantilevered member 142 and angled member may also be formed of two separate elements and joined or fastened to each other at the distal end 146, for example by welding. The cantilevered member 142 and the angled members each include a proximate end 152 and 154 respectively which may be received in the apertures 22 of the column. The cantilevered member includes and upper support surface 148 for receiving a shelf or other supported object. The cantilevered member and angled member may each also include an upturned portion 150 as illustrated in
The modular shelving system as illustrated in
It will be appreciated that the shelving bracket 140 and the intermediate shelving element 120 may also be utilized with the column for supporting siding for attachment to a surface. In this use, the shelving bracket 140 and the intermediate shelving element 120 may be used to either support siding materials or to provide a surface for an installation worker to stand.
Operation
In use as a tool for putting up siding, the apparatus is aligned with the building surface 8 to be covered and a fastener 24, such as a spike, is passed through the fastener apertures 26 of a top distal portion of column 20 into surface 8 such that the column is suspended in parallel, space apart relation out from surface 8. As best shown in
In use as a tool for applying sheet material, such as drywall panels, to a surface, the apparatus is most efficiently arranged and used in the following manner as best shown in
Support bars 60 (
In an alternative arrangement for installing smaller sheets of material, a single column 20 mounted to a single pivoting bottom plate 90 may be used to support the sheet. If necessary, at least one spanning bar 122 inserted through the apertures of the column to protrude from either side of the column can be used to define a larger surface to support the rear face of the sheet to stabilize the sheet on the column. In this arrangement, a lifting force is applied to the column directly to pivot between the loading and installation positions.
While the foregoing description of the structure and operation of support framework 200 deals with installation of a drywall panel, it will be readily apparent to a skilled worker that the framework may be used with any sheet material such as plywood, glass or the like.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. Apparatus for supporting an object for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two elongate columns having a plurality of apertures, said columns being securable in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface; and
- support members passable through said apertures of each of said columns, said support members being operable to receive and support said object for attachment to the surface between said columns and the surface.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a fastener, wherein said elongate columns further include a fastener apertures located at a top distal end through which said fastener may be passed to secure said column in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fastener comprises a spike.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said column has a c-shaped cross section.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said c-shaped cross section defines a substantially rectangular region wherein said column has two opposed walls.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said two opposed walls are parallel.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said c-shaped cross section defines a substantially square region.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said two opposed walls includes corresponding apertures adapted to receive a common support member therethrough.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein two opposed walls are joined by a connecting wall.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said connecting wall includes apertures in planar alignment with the apertures of said opposed walls.
11. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plurality of apertures are substantially rectangular.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said plurality of apertures are substantially square.
13. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said apertures are regularly spaced along the length of said column.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 including a plate releasably securable to at least one end of said column to support said column.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support members comprise elongate bars having cross-sections corresponding to said apertures of said column.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of nested columns securable to each other in a plurality of lengths.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein apertures of an inner nested column are alignable with apertures of an outer nested column such that said nested columns may be secured to each other by passing a pin through said aligned apertures.
18. Apparatus for supporting siding for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, the apparatus comprising an elongate column being securable in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface, the column having a plurality of apertures for receiving a support member for supporting the siding.
19. Apparatus for supporting objects, the apparatus comprising an elongate column, the column having two opposed walls, each of said two opposed walls having a plurality of corresponding apertures for receiving a support member therethrough.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 further including a fastener aperture located at a top distal end through which a fastener may be passed to secure said column in parallel spaced apart relation to a surface.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said column has a c-shaped cross section.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said c-shaped cross section defines a substantially rectangular region wherein said column has two opposed walls.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said two opposed walls are parallel.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said c-shaped cross section defines a substantially square region.
25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein two opposed walls are joined by a connecting wall.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said connecting wall includes apertures in planar alignment with the apertures of said opposed walls.
27. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said plurality of apertures are substantially rectangular.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said plurality of apertures are substantially square.
29. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said apertures are regularly spaced along the length of said column.
30. The apparatus of claim 19 including a plate releasably securable to at least one end of said column to support said column.
31. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a plurality of nested columns securable to each other in a plurality of lengths.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein apertures of an inner nested column are alignable with apertures of an outer nested column such that said nested columns may be secured to each other by passing a pin through said aligned apertures.
33. Apparatus for supporting siding for attachment to a substantially vertical surface, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two elongate columns, each column having two opposed walls, each of said two opposed walls having a plurality of corresponding apertures therethrough; and
- at least two support members receivable in said apertures.
34. A modular shelving system comprising:
- at least two elongates columns, each column having two opposed walls, each of said two opposed walls having a plurality of corresponding apertures;
- an elongate bar extending between said at least two columns receivable in said apertures; and
- at least one support plate pivotally fixed on said elongate bar.
35. The modular shelving system of claim 34 further comprising a cantilever bracket for supporting a shelf.
36. The modular shelving system of claim 35 wherein said cantilever bracket comprises a first portion having distal and proximate ends, said first portion being perpendicular to said column and a second portion angularly extending from said distal end of said first portion to said column.
37. The modular shelving system of claim 36 wherein said first portion includes an upturned portion at said proximate end operable to retain said first portion in engagement in one of said apertures of said column.
38. The modular shelving system of claim 37 wherein said second portion includes an upturned portion to operable to retain said second portion in engagement in one of said apertures of said column.
39. The modular shelving system of claim 34 further comprising bottom plates securable to a bottom end of said column.
40. The modular shelving system of claim 39 wherein said bottom plates include holes through which fasteners may be passed for securing said bottom plates to a floor surface.
41. The modular shelving system of claim 39 wherein said bottom plates are fixedly connectable to said columns.
42. The modular shelving system of claim 39 wherein said bottom plates are pivotally connectable to said columns.
43. The modular shelving system of claim 34 further comprising top plates securable to a top end of said column.
44. The modular shelving system of claim 43 wherein said top plates include holes through which fasteners may be passed for securing said top plates to a ceiling surface.
45. The modular shelving system of claim 43 wherein said top plates are fixedly connectable to said columns.
46. The modular shelving system of claim 39 wherein said top plates are pivotally connectable to said columns.
47. A method of attaching siding to a substantially vertical surface, the method comprising:
- securing at least two elongate supports in parallel spaced apart relation to the surface, said elongate supports having a plurality of apertures;
- passing a support pin through an apertures of each of said elongate supports; and
- locating a siding element for attachment to the surface on said support pins between said elongate supports and the surface.
48. A method of attaching a sheet of material to a substantially vertical surface, the method comprising:
- securing at least one elongate support adjacent to the substantially vertical surface, the elongate support having a base to permit pivoting of the elongate support between a generally horizontal position and a generally vertical position, said elongate support defining a support surface for the sheet of material;
- loading the sheet of material onto the support surface when in the generally horizontal position;
- pivoting the elongate support to the generally vertical position to position the sheet of material adjacent the substantially vertical surface; and
- attaching the sheet of material to the substantially vertical surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 28, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 25, 2007
Inventor: Richard Patton (Vancouver)
Application Number: 11/729,503
International Classification: E04C 3/30 (20060101);