Construction layout guide

Abstract

The construction layout guide is a gauge or template used to accurately position or layout metal stud walls and partitions during construction and assembly. The template is used to layout metal stud framing tracks on a floor and ceiling. The device includes a cold-formed 20-gauge steel assembly or frame formed from channels intersecting in the shape of an “L”, “T”, or “H”, having a flat base to receive the framing tracks for partitions. The L-shaped configuration has two channels connected at a 90° angle for corners, while the T-shaped guide forms two complementary 90° angles for an intermediate partition wall. The H-shaped guide forms four complementary 90° angles.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to building construction guides, gauges and templates, and more particularly to a construction layout guide that is used to accurately position or layout metal stud walls and partitions during building construction and assembly.

2. Description of the Related Art

Layout partitioning in the construction industry has always been a very labor intensive and time consuming procedure. Typically, in the layout of wall studs during metal building construction, personnel must cut and fit wall stud tracks in place on the floor and the ceiling. Personnel must first find appropriate dimensions, pop a caulk line, and then install metal tracks on the floor and ceiling to form the rooms specified in the design plan. There is a long felt need for a more efficient manner in which to form the layout plan for metal wall studs in metal construction.

Thus, a construction layout guide solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The construction layout guide is a device that is used to accurately position or layout metal stud walls and partitions during construction and assembly. The guide is particularly used to layout metal stud framing tracks on a floor and ceiling. The device comprises a cold-formed 20-gauge steel assembly or frame formed from channels arranged in the shape of an “L”, a “T”, or and “H”, the channels having a flat base and side flanges to receive the framing tracks for partitions. The L-shaped configuration features two legs connected at a 90° angle for layout of an end corner. The T-shaped configuration features two channels with the leg of one channel joining the middle of one side flange of the other channel at a 90° angle for laying out the intersection of one wall with a medial portion of a second wall. By placing the guides in a desired location, the framing tracks may be accurately positioned to receive intersecting metal stud wall partitions.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of an L-shaped construction layout guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a T-shaped construction layout guide according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a building layout facilitated by using the construction layout guides according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an H-shaped construction layout guide according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the construction layout guides provide gauges or templates used to accurately position or layout metal stud walls and partitions during construction and assembly. The L-shaped template 10 is a corner template, while the T-shaped template 20 is a wall division template. When required, an H-shaped template 30 may be used. The templates can be used to layout metal stud framing tracks on floors and ceilings. The devices are made from cold-formed 20-gauge steel channels joined together in the shape of an “L”, “T”, or “H” shape with portions of the side flanges being removed at the junction of the channels. Each channel has an elongated flat base 11 and side flanges 12 extending from opposite edges of the base to form U-shaped channels, which receive the framing tracks F for partitions. The L-shaped configuration features two channels connected at a 90° angle 90, with portions of the side flanges 12 at the intersection of the two channels being removed. This permits optional selection of either partition to join the other on the end or edge of the partition wall or at the side face of the partition wall. The channels are dimensioned to receive construction framing tracks F.

The T-shaped configuration has two channels, with the end of one channel connected to the middle or to a medial portion of the side flange of the second channel, with portions of the side flanges being removed at the intersection to form a continuous passage. The two channels form two complementary 90° angles 90. The channels are dimensioned to receive construction framing tracks F. As shown in FIG. 3, walls can be formed from a construction plan 300 by placing the L-shaped guides 10 and the T-shaped guides 20 in a desired location, then aligning the framing tracks F with the L-shaped guides 10 and the T-shaped guides 20 to accurately position the tracks F in preparation for receiving intersecting metal stud wall partitions.

Where appropriate, an H-shaped guide 30 may be used, e.g., to align parallel walls. As shown in FIG. 4, the H-shaped guide 30 has two parallel channels connected medially by a third channel, with portions of the channel side flanges being removed at each channel intersection. It should be noted that H-shaped guide 30 forms a quad of 90° angles 90 at the juncture of the channels.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A construction layout guide, comprising first and second elongated channels, each of the channels having an elongated base plate and parallel side flanges extending from opposite edges of the base plate to define U-shaped channels, one end of the second channel joining a medial portion of the first channel, intersecting portions of the side flanges of the first and second channels being removed to form a continuous passage at the juncture of the two channels, the first and second channels being dimensioned and configured to receive a track for an edge of a metal stud wall in order to ensure accurate layout of the metal stud walls.

2. The construction layout guide according to claim 1, wherein the first and second walls form two complementary 90° angles at the juncture of the channels.

3. The construction layout guide according to claim 1, further comprising a third channel parallel to the first channel, the second channel being orthogonal to and connecting the first and third channels to define an H-shaped guide, intersecting portions of the side flanges of each of the channels being removed to form a continuous passage at the juncture of the channels.

4. The construction layout guide according to claim 1, wherein the channels are made from cold formed steel.

5. The construction layout guide according to claim 4, wherein the cold formed steel is 20-gauge cold formed steel.

6. A construction layout guide, comprising first and second elongated channels, each of the channels having an elongated base plate and parallel side flanges extending from opposite edges of the base plate to define U-shaped channels, one end of the second channel joining one end of the first channel, intersecting portions of the side flanges of the first and second channels being removed to form a continuous passage at the juncture of the two channels, the first and second channels being dimensioned and configured to receive a track for an edge of a metal stud wall in order to ensure accurate layout of the metal stud walls, whereby the metal stud walls form a corner.

7. The construction layout guide according to claim 6, wherein the first and second walls form a single 90° angle at the juncture of the channels.

8. The construction layout guide according to claim 6, wherein the guide is made from cold formed steel.

9. The construction layout guide according to claim 8, wherein the cold formed steel is 20-gauge cold formed steel.