Abstract: A masonry tool is provided for a concrete block wall which consists of a mechanism for positioning a side end of a first concrete block, with mortar applied thereto, next to a side end of a second concrete block on the wall when being built, so as to form front and rear mortar joints therebetween. A structure on the positioning mechanism is for preventing the mortar from entering into a vertical open space in a third concrete block located below the front and rear mortar joints.

Abstract: A tile spacer includes a platform (10) having opposite coplanar surfaces (11, 12) on which are disposed a straight spacer (13) and a corner spacer, either a cross-shaped spacer (14) or a tee-shaped spacer 15, respectively. One leg of the corner spacer (14, 15) is coaligned with the straight spacer (13) so as to assist in aligning either of the spacers while using the other spacer as a handle. The spacer (13) and the coaligned leg of the spacers (14, 15) may extend beyond the platform so as to assist aligning the spacer (13) when using the spacer (14, 15) as a handle.

Abstract: A finishing board provides a smooth finish and removes air pockets during the application of wall coverings. A substantially rectangular plastic board has four rounded edges, four rounded corners, and a thickness of approximately 1/8 of an inch. A first edge is configured to contact a wall covering and measures either about 8 inches in a first embodiment or 12 inches in a second embodiment. A second edge is situated parallel to the first edge and also measures either about 8 inches in the first embodiment or about 12 inches in the second embodiment. A third edge connects and is orthogonal to the first and second edges. The third edge measures about 5 inches. A fourth edge is situated parallel to the third edge and connects the first and second edges. The fourth edge also measures about 5 inches. All of the edges are rounded to exhibit a 1/16 inch radius. Moreover, all of the corners are rounded to exhibit an 1/8 inch radius.

Abstract: Tools for correcting placement of backer rod on tape within the spacings between adjacent stones of a building assures proper depth of sealing compound for setting of protective caps and for preventing pulling or separation of the sealing material due to subsequent joint dimensional movement. The tools are based on a flat plate, having an edge of a thickness adapted to a substantial proportion of the width of the joint to be sealed. Along one or both sides of the plate, parallel to the edge, are gauging bars, spaced a distance from the edge proportional to the joint width of the joint for optimum sealing depth. The edge placement tool has an open channel as its operative edge, and in use is tamped along the joint down on backer rod, correcting the placement where the backer rod edges contact the joint walls without displacing the body of the backer rod.

Abstract: The present invention involves a construction sheet material installation tool used to assist a worker to install sheets of material that would ordinarily require more than one worker. The tool includes a screw that has its non-threaded end embedded into a base, and the threaded portion of the screw extends outwardly perpendicular from the top surface of the base. The base has at least one side ledge that extends downwardly from the top surface at an obtuse angle. The top surface and side ledge of the base are all widened as to provide support to common construction sheet material without damaging the same. It is used by partially screwing into the overhead surface on which the construction sheet material will be installed to leave a gap. One end of the construction sheet is lifted to engage the side ledge of the device. The construction sheet material is then pushed upward from its opposite end into the gap and securely held in place by the invention, until the sheet material can be permanently installed.

Abstract: A non-skid holder for shingles for use on a pitched roof and method of making it. The holder is made from sheet metal and has one end upturned to a position at right angles thereto in order to guide shingles placed thereon. A handle is secured to the upturned end and to the underside of the metallic sheet. The handle provides additional lateral support for the holder when positioned on a roof in the event of tipping of the holder. The holder is provided with a non-skid undersurface by securing a rubberized or plastic material thereto. Preferably, the non-skid surface material is adhesively bonded to the undersurface of the holder and is wrapped in continuous fashion around the corner between the upturned end and the bottom of the holder. In one form of the invention, the non-skid surface covers the entire bottom surface of the holder and in another form the non-skid surface is applied as strips along the marginal undersurface of the holder.

Abstract: A single piece spacer element is disclosed for insertion between spaces between tiles for uniform spacing of the tiles. The spacer element comprising a plurality of legs extending radially from a common juncture, with the legs being formed with beveled edges which facilitate their removal from the adhesive material between the tiles once the adhesive has cured. The invention also comprises integrally formed cylindrical or U-shaped stems which extend from the surface of the spacer element and which aid in placement and removal thereof. The invention also comprises the method of using the spacer element to space and align tiles.

Abstract: A tool having a first member adapted to rest on the upper face of a header to which a joist hanger is to be mounted. A magnetic structure is coupled with the first member for holding a joist hanger in place by magnetic attraction as the first member is supported on the upper margin of the header. Thus, the hanger can be nailed. The magnetic structure includes a second member coupled with the first member and has a pair of opposed flat side faces provided with magnetic structure thereon. Such magnetic structure can be in the form of spaced, permanent magnets extending into holes drilled in the side faces of the second member. The second member can be removably and adjustably coupled to the first member by alignment structure.

Abstract: The connecting element (1) has a flat head (2) with an inside hexagon (3), a shaft (7, 8) and two studs (5, 6). The two studs (5, 6) are offset against one another through 90.degree.. The first stud (5) molded on the free shaft end is shorter than the second stud (6). The connecting element (1) is suited especially for connecting the side wall (37) of a supply body of a room divider with vertical, tubular columns (35) of the room divider. The connecting element is very rapidly mounted. In the installed state the second stud (6) holds the side wall (37) spaced from the column (35). For this reason the supply body is somewhat shorter than the clear distance between adjacent columns (35). The supply bodies, therefore, can be installed in and removed from the room divider very simply and rapidly subsequently.

Abstract: There is provided an overhead sheet-installation support tool inclusive of a forwardly-directed tapered threaded screw with a tapered threaded forward distal end and having rearward-extending handle structure with opposite flattened sides spaced-apart by a minor handle-thickness, and having forward shoulders angled rearwardly at laterally outwardly distal ends thereof and with the forward shoulders' edges extending in opposite lateral directions at about 90 degrees to oppositely-extending flattened lateral flattened handle surfaces. There are flat-faced support members mounted intermittently adjustably on one of the flattened handle surfaces with support member distal ends each separately movable, each of the arcuate members when in an upwardly-extended state being in juxtaposition to one of spaced-apart rearwardly-extending edges of the handle structure and spaced-away from the threaded screw.

Abstract: For temporarily supporting an end of one sheet and/or of adjacent ends of two separate sheets of plasterboard (drywall), plywood or the like, in a raised overhead state and position while raising and securing opposite end(s) thereof to overhead rafters, beams or the like, there is provided an overhead sheet-installation support tool inclusive of a forwardly-directed tapered threaded screw having a longitudinal axis along its length-dimension with a tapered forward distal end, having at its forward distal end screw threads; there is a handle structure extending rearwardly a suitable height-distance for grasping and handling, the handle having opposite flattened sides spaced-apart by a minor handle-thickness, and with forward shoulders of handle structure having laterally-extending shoulders angled rearwardly at laterally outwardly distal ends thereof and the shoulders having a flange along at-least a forward edge of the shoulders with the flange extending at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the flatten

Abstract: A spacer for concrete wire reinforcement is comprised of a heavy gauge, flat metal spring steel band, having a hook at one end for receipt of one of two parallel wires of a wire mesh, and a curved and hook-like opposite end which can be resiliently forced into position under the second wire to securely retain the spacer in position. A generally V-shaped projection is provided on the spacer to position the wire mesh at the desired distance from the surface of the concrete mold. The apex of the projection is formed to have a convex wide-radius "ball-bearing" shape. This shape lends increased strength to the spacer and also results in a greatly reduced area of contact between the spacer projection and the mold wall. The spacer also includes a tail-like extension on the second hook-like opposite end, which extension coacts with a pronged tool during installation of the spacer on a wire mesh.

Abstract: A wall track installation device for use in installing fabrics on a wall, with the fabric being suspended on the wall by sections of plastic wall track each having a base including first and second opposed edges, a first shoulder having a free end extending outwardly from the first edge, a second shoulder extending outwardly from the second edge and a panel hingedly coupled to the second shoulder and adapted to lock over the first shoulder to capture the fabric therebetween. The device includes an elongated frame having a third edge with a groove formed therein sized to receive the free end of the first shoulder therein. The third edge further includes a raised surface having a predetermined thickness which extends along the length of the groove.

Abstract: A hanger made from a rigid sheet, having two legs, one offset at a right angle to the other, the two legs connected by a third member, the opening thus formed being of a size to contain a beam and a sheet of sheetrock. A multiplicity of notches on the edges of the third member allows the hanger to be attached to a beam by means of nails in a removable manner.

Abstract: A template device (12) for applying mortar to a surface of precast concrete block (10) of the like. The device includes a frame (28) which has an outline similar to the outline of the surface of a standard precast concrete block (10) upon which similar blocks are stacked during building operations. Walls (30) served to define openings in the template device which are substantially coextensive with the sections of the surface of the block upon proper placement of the device thereon. Cover members (36) of the frame are substantially coextensive with openings in the block to prevent waste of mortar into those openings. A guide (40) is provided to facilitate proper positioning of the device squarely on the a block (10) prior to the application of mortar thereto. The device (12) assists those skilled and unskilled in precisely controlling the thickness and placement of mortar on precast concrete blocks of standard sizes during building operations.

Abstract: A process for the assembly of at least one adjacent pair of component structural elements to form an upright vault structure, each of the elements having a recess, wherein the elements are arranged flat on the ground in the desired relative configuration and are temporarily joined together into an assembled unit by an assembly device, whereafter the device and the assembled unit are lifted and placed in a final position of the structure, and the joining device is removed from the elements. The joining device includes a post and a pair of opposed spaced jaw members mounted on the post for relative movement toward and away from one another, a pair of wing members being afixed to one of the jaw members, the wing members extending from opposite sides of this jaw member and toward the other of the jaw members and respectively engaging the recess of the structural elements. The jaw members are clamped together about the joined structural element.

Abstract: A panel mounting system and method for mounting panels employing a panel mounting temporary retainer for holding adjacent panels in place during glazing with and curing of structural silicone sealant or other suitable adhesive wherein the retainer is readily accepted by the structural member without the need of drilling and tapping holes in the member and wherein the retainer is readily installed from the interior of the building.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing joint integrity of a seam formed by union of adjacently disposed panels wherein one panel is provided with a female member and the other panel is provided with a male member, the female member being adopted to receive the male member such that a recessed portion is formed within the male member. The apparatus includes a first hand implement positionable within the recessed portion of the male member for selectively exerting a force on the male member for moving same into a seating, substantially watertight sealing relationship with the female member. The apparatus also includes a second hand implement positionable over the female member for exerting a force on the female member in a direction substantially opposite the force exerted on the male member by the first hand implement.

Abstract: The device for installing batts of insulation in preexisting structures comprises a control sheet having a substantially flat elongated surface for receiving a batt of insulation, a first end having a handle, and a second end which is free for insertion into a wall opening, and a compressor sheet having a substantially flat enlongated surface for overlying the control sheet flat surface to compress a batt of insulation therebetween, a first end having a handle, and having a second end which is free for insertion into a wall opening. A latch is provided for connecting the control sheet second end to the compression sheet second end such that the sheets are maintained a predetermined distance apart to compress a batt of insulation and the compressor sheet second end and the control sheet second end overlie one another. The latch includes a release for releasing a batt of insulation after insertion into a wall opening.

Abstract: Stressing tendons used in prestressing concrete are generally anchored to the concrete by wedge plates which are embedded in the concrete. The anchorage is accomplished by the use of gripping wedges which are placed around the stressing tendons and into the wedge plates.A gripping tool is provided which inserts and seats, in a single operation, gripping wedges. The tool is generally comprised of a holding and guiding piece and a sliding mechanism.

Abstract: A spacer element is provided for attachment to a pair of parallel wires of a mesh spaced from a surface of a concrete form or wall and having a projection adapted to maintain the spacing between the wall and the plane of the mesh, the element being of generally hairpin shape and providing a duplicate pair of hooks for hooking over one wire, a duplicate pair of second, S-shaped hooks for hooking over a parallel wire, a duplicate pair of V-shaped projections, and a bight joining the S-shaped hooks and providing a looped lever arm for receiving a tool for forcibly applying the element to the mesh.

Abstract: A tool for installing a pane to an existing glazing to provide an insulating, sealed airspace therebetween includes a plate having a pin on one surface to secure the tool to a frame of the existing glazing. A shaft slidably mounted on the other side of the plate urges a blade against the marginal edges of the pane to flow adhesive between the pane and existing glazing to form a hermetic seal.

Abstract: Siding boards, shingles, shakes, or the like are applied to the wall of a building by use of a tool having an arm which extends upwardly adjacent the wall structure and is temporarily secured thereto, with the siding or the like then being placed at the outer side of the tool arm, and being supported at a predetermined level by a projection extending outwardly from a lower portion of the arm, so that the siding can then be nailed to the wall structure and the tool can ultimately be withdrawn from its position of reception between the siding and wall structure for use in similarly positioning and securing a next successive layer of siding, shingles, etc. to the structure. Preferably, two such tools are employed at horizontally spaced locations for supporting the siding or the like therebetween.

Abstract: A tool for temporarily holding one or both ends of a piece of wallboard or plaster-board adjacent a ceiling joist to assist in nailing or otherwise fastening the board to the joist is disclosed. In one embodiment the tool includes a right angle plate with a handle at the bottom and an inverted U-shaped flange along the top edge for engagement over a joist as the end edge of the wallboard is carried and supported by the plate. The U-shaped flange is dimensioned from the plate so as to be engageable of joists of different widths. In another embodiment the inverted U-shaped flange is adjustable so that different widths of joists can be accommodated to bring the end edge of the wallboard relatively close to the bottom edge of the joist for convenience in nailing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an access floor system with deep pile carpet covered panels. The deep pile fibers from adjacent panels intermingle with each other to visually obscure the cracks between the panels. Disclosed is a tool and method for inserting or reinserting such panels into the floor system without pinching carpet pile between the panel edges. Disclosed is a floor system having service conduits running between adjacent panels but being visually undetectable due to the uniform appearance of the deep pile carpet covering.