GB2236349A - Holding board material during fixing - Google Patents

Abstract

A support for board material intended to be attached to a sub-structure comprises a frame 12 attachable to the sub-structure, and an arm 14 projecting from the frame in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the sub-structure and adapted to hold board material close to the sub-structure. The support is suitable for holding plasterboard against ceiling joists, so allowing the operative to apply the permanent fixings avoiding the need for him to simultaneously support the board. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT FOR BOARD MATERIAL This invention relates to a support for fixing board material and particularly to a temporary support for fixing board material, such as plasterboard, to ceiling joists.

Plasterboard has been widely used in recent years for forming ceilings and has largely replaced traditional lath and plaster techniques. The board is usually fixed to the underside of joists by nailing. Plasterboard relatively fraaile is rather difficult to fix to joists being usually supplied in sheets 8ft long by 4 ft wide and weighing about 25 kg: the board being fixed overhead of the operative and requiring reasonable accuracy with close butt joints between adjacent boards. Two persons are required to support the board, and manipulate it into position whilst having hammer and nails ready to fix the board to the joists. Obviously this technique is rather hazardous and strenuous, and requires considerable practice to obtain a neat result.

In more recent times the traditional skim coat of plaster which covers the joints and defects in the boarded ceiling, has been replaced by the technique of applying a tape to cover the joints followed by a very thin decorative coating which is combed or stippled to give the desired appearance.

Although major defects can be rectified prior to taping there is no doubt that visible fixing defects will still be apparent after the decorative coating is applied and it is acknowledged that this present technique requires even greater care in fixing the board to joists.

The present invention provides a temporary support for board material such as plasterboard which permits the material to be held close to joists or studs for positioning and fixing.

According to the invention there is provided a support for board material intended to be attached to a substructure, the support comprising a frame, means for temvorêrilv attaching the frame to a sub-structure, and an arm projecting from the frame in a direction substantially parallel to the plane or the sub-structure and adapted to hold board material close to the sub-structure.

Such a support allows the board material to be held close to the support thus freeing the operative from the need to support the board whilst fixing. Furthermore, where the support is used to hold board material against ceiling joists, the operative is relieved of the need to take the weight of the board material whilst manoeuvring and nailing.

The support also allows single handed fixing of board material to joists as will be described below.

Preferably the arm comprises a flat plate pivotally attached to said frame. Such an arrangement allows the plate to be pivoted from a projecting to a non-projecting position; this is advantageous when the board material is posi-i^ne; and aiso when the clamp is removed from the substructure.

Various configurations are possible but in one preferred arrangement an oblong plate is provided, the long dimension projecting to support the board material and the short dimension not projecting.

The frame may comprise a simple U' shaped channel to the base of which is attached the support for the board material; one upstanding limb may have a screw clamp to retain the frame on a joist or stud, alternatively an overcentre clamp or wedge may be provided.

In a preferred embodiment the frame comprises two L' shaped members pivoted together for relative angular movement in the plane of said base, the base thus comprising one each of the limbs of said members. Such an arrangement permits quick attachment and release of the support in the manner described in the following description.

The support may have a spacer between the frame and the arm to accommodate the sheet material to be fixed. This arrangement is necessary where one edge of the sheet material is aligned with the stud or joist to which the support is attached. In such an arrangement the pivot point may be offset so that the edge of the material may be aligned with the centreline of the joist or stud.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of several preferred embodiments shown by way of example only in the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Fig 1 is a view from below of a support according to the invention fixed to a ceiling joist; Fig 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a view from below corresponding to Fig 1 but showing the support in use; Fig 4 shows the support of Fig 3 used in an alternative position.

Fig 5 is a view from below of an alternative support in use; Fig 6 is a transverse section on line 6-6' of Fig 5; Fig 7 is a transverse section similar to Fig 6 but showing another alternative support; Fig 8 is a plan view of the support of Fig 7 in an alternative position; and Fig 9 is a scrap section showing part of yet another alternative support.

With reference to Figs 1 and 2 there is shown a joist ii to which is clamped a U' shaped frame 12 by a screw 13; the screw being tightened by hand until the frame is firmly anchored. The screw 13 may bite into the joist and the non threaded side of the member 12 may have one or more projections to also bite into the joist thereby to anchor the member with the minimum effort.

Attached to the underside of the member is an oblong plate 14, free to pivot through at least 900. As shown the plate is retained by a rivet 15 and is free to rotate about the rivet axis.

Fig 3 illustrates the invention in use, the plate 14 being rotated through 900 with respect to the position shown in Fig 2 to hold an edge of a plasterboard sheet 16 close to the joist Clearly corners of a sheet could be supported in the same way, as illustrated in Fig 4.

The support allows a plasterboard sheet to be held against the joists and nailed into place possibly without the need to support the weight of the board whilst nailing; up to three edges of the board being supported, the fourth being adjacent another board or a wall. Furthermore the support allows easy single handed fixing of smaller plasterboard by the use of one or more supports to hold the plasterboard edge remote from the first edge to be nailed.

As will be apparent from Figs 1 and 3, the plate may be pivoted into and out of supporting engagement with the board, thus allowing all of the necessary supports to be positioned prior to lifting the board against the joists.

As will also be apparent, the support is not a precision aid and is well suited for use in the building trade. In particular, none of the dimensions and fits are critical; it is sufficient for the support to be adequately strong and robust for the intended purpose. The frame 12 may be of aluminium or steel, although steel is preferred where the frame includes an internal thread.

The rivet 15 may be replaced by a clevis pin or nut and bolt; the plate 14 is preferably of steel for strength ano -ìeepness.

Although a screw 13 is illustrated, clamping could be effected by any other suitable means, for example an overcentre toggle clamp or wedge; Figs 5 and 6 illustrates a variant for use when the plasterboard edge is parallel to the joist. The rivet 21 includes a spacing portion 22 which allows the plasterboard to be held under the joist in position for nailing.

In the example shown the rivet is offset to allow the board edge to coincide with the centreline of the joist.

Once again the plate 14 is oblong to permit the support to be positioned prior to lifting the board against the joist.

The clamp may be removed either by sliding the frame along the joist until it is clear of the board, by slightly bending or dropping the board until the support can be swung clear, by pivoting the clamp about the axis of the clamping screw or by a combination of these methods.

A further refinement is illustrated in Figs 7 and.8.

The frame is formed of two L' shaped members 23, 24 pivoted together about the axis of rivet 25 which also retains the plate 14 as in previous embodiments. The clamping screw 26 is relatively long as shown. The rivet may of course include a spacing portion if desired.

In use the support may be removed by simply pivoting the screw 26 as shown in Fig 8; this generates sufficient clearance to allow the clamp to drop off the joist. This arrangement may also be used in reverse to fix the support to a joist and a locking nut may be provided to lock the screw at a desired projection. The non-threaded member 23 may have spaced projections illustrated by dotted lines 27 which dig into the joist in use. In an alternative only one opposite projection is provided to facilitate pivoting the clamp about the fixing axis during clamp removal.

Fig 9 illustrates an arrangement in which alternative fixing holes are provided for the two part frame of Fig 8.

This arrangement allows the support to be adjusted for joists of different thicknesses, for example 50 mm and 75 rnm, as indicated by arrow 28. The frame parts are shown pivcted toaether 5 a cievis pin 32, washer 33 and split pin 34.

The two part support of Figs 7-9 has a further advantage in that the threaded portion can be of steel for strength and durability whereas the non-threaded part can be of e.uminium for low cost and light weight.

Although a rotatable plate has been described, the invention wor adequately with a fixed plate, and a fixed plate may be preferable in certain circumstances. The plate, whether fixed or rotatable, may be of any suitable shape, regular or irregular. The support is suitable for use with other. materials. such as plywood, hardboard, asbestos board or timber boarding.

Other modifications and changes will be readily apparent, for example the spacing portion of the rivet of Fig 6 could be a separate tubular member. The dimensions of the clamp are determined by the material to be fixed and the nature of the sub-structure.

Claims (13)

1. A support for board material intended to be attached to a sub-structure, the support comprising a frame, means for temporarily attaching the frame to a sub-structure, and an arm projecting from the frame in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the sub-structure and adapted to hold board material close to the sub-structure.

2. A support according to Claim 1 wherein said arm comprises a flat plate.

3. A support according to Claim 2 wherein said plate is pivotally attached to said frame.

4. A support according to Claim 3 wherein the plate projects from the frame to provide support for board material in one orientation and is pivotable to a non projecting second orientation.

5. A support according to Claim 4 wherein said plate is oblong, the long dimension projecting in said one orientation.

6. A support according to any preceding Claim wherein the frame with two upstanding limbs extending in substantially the same direction and a base linking said limbs, said arm projecting from said base.

7. A support according to Claim 6 wherein said frame comprises two L' shaped members pivoted together for relative angular movement in the plane of said basle, said base comprising one each of the limbs of said members.

8. A support according to Claim 7 wherein the pivot axis of said L' shaped members is co-axial with the pivot axis of said plate.

9. A support according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the distance between the upstanding limbs is at a minimum when the limbs constituting the base are aligned.

10. A support according to any of Claims 6-9 wherein the means for attaching the frame comprises a screw threaded through one of said upstanding limbs.

11. A support according to Claim 10 wherein the other of said limbs has one or more projections facing towards said screw.

12. A support according to any preceding Claim wherein said arm is spaced from said frame to accommodate board material therebetween.

13. A support substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.