SHEET MATERIAL SUPPORT DEVICE AND METHOD
The present invention is directed to a sheet material support device that may be mounted on a framing component, such as a stud. The sheet material support device provides one or more mounting surfaces to which sheet material may be attached. In some embodiments, the sheet material support device may be configured to grip the stud.
This invention is directed to construction materials, and more particularly one or more embodiments are directed to sheet material support devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the construction industry, a common material for finishing walls, floors and ceilings is sheet material. Sheet material may include drywall, plywood, wall board, paneling or other appropriate materials. By far the most common material for finishing interior walls and ceilings is drywall. Drywall, like other sheet materials, is typically fastened directly to framing components, such as studs and/or joists, that are assembled to form the skeleton of a building, such as a dwelling or commercial building. In general, studs or joists are typically made of framing grade lumber dimensioned as 2″×4″, 2″×6″, or 2″×8″ pieces and the drywall is hung by screwing or nailing the sheet directly into the studs or joists.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward helmets, and more particularly one or more embodiments are directed to helmets comprising surface reinforcing components. Some embodiments relate to helmets comprising one or more surface reinforcing components with anchoring features embedded in a structural feature of the helmet such as a force absorbing element. Certain details are set forth below to provide a sufficient understanding of the invention. However, it will be clear to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without these particular details.
The present invention is directed to a sheet material support device that may be mounted on a framing component, such as a stud. The sheet material support device provides one or more mounting surfaces to which sheet material, such as drywall, plywood, wall board, paneling and any other appropriate material, may be attached. In some embodiments, the sheet material support device may be configured to grip the stud.
The sheet material support device 100 may optionally include backing members 112. The backing members 112 may be configured to abut a second surface of the stud. In some embodiments, the backing members 112 may assist in maintaining a position of the sheet material support device relative to the stud.
In one embodiment, the angle between the front mounting surface 106 and each side mounting surfaces 108 are orthogonal. In other embodiments, the angle between the front mounting surface 106 and each side mounting surfaces 108 forms an acute angle. For instance, in one embodiment the angle between the front mounting surface 106 and the side mounting surfaces 108 is less than 90° but more than 65°. In another embodiment, the angle is between 87° and 89° and in one embodiment, the angle is 88°. In some embodiments, the acute angle may assist in holding the sheet material support device 100 in place when positioned around a stud. For instance, in some embodiments, the angle may assist in holding the sheet material support device 100 in position without the use of fasteners, such as screws or nails.
In some embodiments, the sheet material support device may be secured to the stud with a fasteners. In these embodiments, the front mounting surface 106 may include one or more grooves 116. The one or more grooves may extend the entire length of the sheet material support device 100 or less than the length of the sheet material support device 100. In some embodiments, the one or more grooves may assist in allowing the fastener, such as a screw, nail, staple, etc., to enter into the front mounting surface 106 with reduced slippage.
In the embodiment shown in
Some of the dimensions of the sheet material support device 100 may vary depending on the size of stud to which it may be secured. For instance, the width of the front mounting surface 106 and the side mounting surfaces 108 may be of sufficient size to fit around a particular size stud. In accordance to the above description, the stud mounting component 102 may be of sufficient size to clamp on to the stud and be held in position on the stud without the use of fasteners. The length of the sheet material support device 100 may vary. In some embodiments, the sheet material support device 100 has a length about the same as the length of a stud to which it will be attached. In other embodiments, the length of the sheet material support device 100 is any length less than the length of the stud to which it will be attached. In one embodiment, the sheet material support device 100 has a length that is a multiple of a foot plus an extra 1-4 inches at each end. For instance, in one embodiment, the total length of the sheet material support device is about 27 inches or in another embodiment, 51 inches.
The sheet material support device 100 may be made from any material capable of receiving fasteners and withstanding forces from securing the sheet material the fastening receiving members 104. In some embodiments, the sheet material support device 100 comprises a plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, high density polyethylene, acrylic, styrofoam or composites of the same. In some embodiments, the sheet material support device 100 is formed from a single piece of plastic. For instance, the sheet material support device 100 may be a single molded device. In other embodiments, the sheet material support device 100 may comprise materials, such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, tin, aluminum, steel, brass, or other sufficient materials.
In one embodiment, the sheet material support device 100 may be installed on a stud by separating the side mounting surfaces 108 from each other and the backing members 112 (if included) a sufficient amount to clear the stud 130. In some embodiment, the front mounting surface 106 may flex as the side mounting surfaces 108 are separated. The sheet material support device 100 may then be positioned to surround the stud 130 as shown in
In some embodiments, fasteners (not shown) may be used to secure the sheet material support device 100 to the stud 130. For instance, fasteners, such as screws, nails, staples, adhesive, or any other fastening device, may be used to couple the front mounting surface 106 to the upper surface 132 of the stud 130. In some embodiments, the fasteners are provided through the grooves 116 in the front mounting surface 106 and in to the stud 130.
As is illustrated in
In some embodiments, the sheet material support device 100 may be separated into two separate parts for applications that do not need the addition of both fastener receiving members 104b and 104c. For instance, if in
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the disclosed embodiments, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Such modifications are well within the skill of those ordinarily skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A sheet material support device to be secured to a stud and configured to support a plurality of sheet materials, the sheet material support device comprising:
- a front mounting surface;
- a plurality of side mounting surfaces, each of the plurality of side mounting surfaces extending from a respective side of the front mounting surface, the front mounting surface in combination with the plurality of side mounting surfaces being configured to be secured to the stud; and
- a plurality of fastening receiving members, each of the fastening receiving members extending outwardly from a respective side mounting surface and configured to at least partially support a respective one of the plurality of sheet materials.
2. The sheet material support device of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of side mounting surfaces extend from a respective side of the front mounting surface at an acute angle.
3. The sheet material support device of claim 2 wherein the angle is between approximately 87° and 89°.
4. The sheet material support device of claim 1 wherein an surface of each of the fastening receiving members is corrugated.
5. The sheet material support device of claim 1 further comprising backing members coupled to an end of the fastening receiving members and configured to abut a surface of the stud.
6. The sheet material support device of claim 1 wherein the front mounting surface includes at least one longitudinal groove extending along a surface thereof.
7. The sheet material support device of claim 1 wherein the front mounting surface, the plurality of side mounting surfaces, and the plurality of fastening receiving members are molded as a single plastic piece.
8. The sheet material support device of claim 1 wherein each of the fastening receiving members extend from a respective side mounting surface in a plane substantially parallel with the front mounting surface.
9. An assembly comprising:
- a framing component;
- a sheet material support device secured to the framing component, the sheet material support device including a front mounting surface, a plurality of side mounting surfaces, and a plurality of fastening receiving members, each of the plurality of side mounting surfaces extending outwardly from a respective side of the front mounting surface, each of the fastening receiving members extending from a respective side mounting surface; and
- a respective sheet material secured to each of the fastening receiving members.
10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of side mounting surfaces extend from a respective side of the front mounting surface at an acute angle.
11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the angle is between approximately 85° and 89°.
12. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising backing members coupled to an end of the fastening receiving members and configured to abut a surface of the framing component.
13. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the sheet material support device is secured to the framing component with at least one fastener device.
14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the front mounting surface includes at least one groove to receive the at least one fastener device.
15. The assembly of claim 9 wherein framing component is a stud.
16. The assembly of claim 9 wherein each of the fastening receiving members extend in a plane parallel to a surface of the framing component.
17. A method of providing a surface for installing sheet material using a sheet material support device, the sheet material support device including a front mounting surface, a first and second side mounting surface, and a plurality of fastening receiving members, each of the plurality of side mounting surfaces extending outwardly from a respective side of the front mounting surface, each of the fastening receiving members extending from a respective side mounting surface, the method comprising:
- separating a portion of the first side surface from a portion of the second side surface;
- placing the sheet material support device around a framing component;
- releasing the first and side mounting surfaces to allow the first and second side mounting surfaces to abut a respective surface of the framing component;
- securing the front mounting surface to the framing component; and
- securing a sheet material to one of the side mounting surfaces.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein securing the front mounting surface to the framing component comprises securing the front mounting surface to the framing component with a screw, a nail, or a stapler.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein releasing the first and side mounting surfaces causes the sheet material support device to grip the framing component.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein each of the plurality of side mounting surfaces extend from a respective side of the front mounting surface at an acute angle.
Type: Application
Filed: May 4, 2010
Publication Date: Nov 10, 2011
Applicant: FastBacker, Inc. (Post Falls, ID)
Inventors: Timothy Lee Wirth (Spirit Lake, ID), Jack Alton Wirth (Post Falls, ID)
Application Number: 12/773,597
International Classification: E04B 2/44 (20060101); E04B 1/38 (20060101);