US3467261A - Sheet handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 16, 1969 R. c. JEWELL 3,467,261

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ROWAN C. JEWELL mu; Cram 5 M Sept. 16, 1969 c. JEWELL 3,467,261

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1363 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 4| 1 F I ZAjk/Zl 8 9 mllfi 7 FIGS. --,I FIG.4.

4s 46 qt 1 1 INVENTOR ROWAN C. JEWELL Sept. 16, 1969 R. c. JEWELL 3,467,261

SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ROWAN C. JEWELL United States Patent US. Cl. 2141 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for lifting and supporting wallboard or other sheet material and having an upright support on which is mounted a vertiually reciprocable sheet-lifting member which constantly is biased to an elevated position, the apparatus including releasable latch means for latching the sheet-lifting member in a lowered position against the bias of the spring, thereby facilitating the loading of sheet material on the sheet-lifting member and enabling effortless lifting of the sheet material to a desired elevation.

The invention disclosed herein relates to apparatus for handling sheet material such as wallboard of the kind utilized in the construction of the interior walls and ceilings of buildings, and more particularly the invention relates to apparatus for facilitating the raising and supporting of such sheets in position for nailing t0 the studs and joists of such a building.

In the construction of dwellings and other buildings, it is quite common for the interior walls and ceilings to be formed by large sheets of a suitable material which are nailed or otherwise secured to the upright studs or horizontal joists of the building. The size of such sheets may vary, some being 4 feet by 8 feet, some being 4 feet by 12 feet, and others being 4 feet by 18 feet. In any event, the size of such a sheet makes it awkward to handle. In addition, each such sheets has substantial weight, thereby further increasing the difficulty in handling of the sheet. The utilization of such sheets to form the ceiling of a building is particularly difficult inasmuch as the sheet must be located quite precisely and supported manually until sufli'cient nails or other anchoring devices have been driven through the sheet to enable it to be supported without manual assistance. The need for precise location of such a sheet, coupled with its size and weight, frequently requires the services of two or more persons merely to locate and initiate nailing of the sheet. As a result, the expense of utilizing such sheets in the construction of a building is greater than it otherwise might be.

Various kinds of devices for supporting and lifting drywall sheets have been proposed heretofore. Some are more efiective than others, but all of them appear to be subject to the criticism that their use does not avoid the necessity of the workmans having to raise the sheet, as well as the support, to the desired elevation.

An object of this invention is to provide sheet handling apparatus which overcomes the objectionable characteristics referred to above.

Another object of the invention is to provide sheet handling apparatus by means of which one person may position and elevate a drywall or the like sheet to a desired level without the expenditure of any substantial energy in the lifting of the sheet.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to which permits location of a sheet in a desired position ready for anchoring and without any interference from the sheet supporting apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction ice with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating in phantom lines a sheet of drywall or the like supported by the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but illustrating the apparatus in an elevated position and with the sheet supporting member swung to a horizontal position;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but illustrating the parts of the apparatus in the positions shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating the sheet lifting member in a locked position;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, and taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged isometric view of a portion of the apparatus; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, isometric view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the latching mechanism forming part of the invention.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention comprises an elongated, tubular member 1 having secured adjacent its upper end a pair of parallel plates 2 which project laterally beyond the member 1. Spanning the plates 2 is a pair of guide pins 3 for guiding vertically movable lift means 4 having an elongated, tubular member 5 accommodated between the guide pins 3. At the lower end of the member 5 is secured a U-shaped, laterally extending foot 6 which straddles the support member 1 and carries a guide pin 7 which rides against the support 1. A tension spring 8 has one of its ends anchored to the foot 6 by means of a pin 9 and has its other end anchored to a similar pin 10 which spans a pair of plates 11 which are fixed to the upper end of the support 1 and project laterally therefrom in a direction opposite to the direction in which the plates 2 extend. The arrangement is such that the spring 8 acts on the member 5 and biases the latter to move upwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 3.

Latch means designated generally by the reference character 12 is provided for releasably latching the lift means 4 in a lowered position against the bias of the spring 8. The latch means comprises an arm 13 (see FIG- URE 8) pivoted by means of a pin 14 on a bracket 15 that is welded or otherwise suitably fixed to the lift member 5. A torsion spring 16 is wound around the pin 14 and has one leg 17 which bears against the bracket and another leg 18 which embraces the arm 13 so as constantly to bias the latter to rock in a counterclockwise direction. At the lower end of the arm 13 is fixed to a handle 19 having a latch tongue 20 which is adapted to be accommodated beneath a laterally projecting tab or keeper 21 bent outwardly from the adjacent plate 2. The construction and arrangement of the latch means 12 are such that the tongue 12 constantly is biased by the spring 1-6 toward latching engagement with the keeper 21, but the handle 19 may be manipulated so as to swing the arm 13 clockwise to effect disengagement of the latch parts 20 and 21, whereupon the spring 8 may elevate the lift means 4 from the position shown in FIGURE 1 to the position shown in FIGURE 3.

The sheet lifting means 4 includes a tubular sheet supporting member 22 at substantially the center of which is secured a substantially semicircular plate 23 that is apertured to accommodate a pivot pin 24 mounted at the upper end of the member 5. The diameter of the aperture in the plate 23 is larger than the diameter of the pin 24, thereby enabling the plate 23 to be capable of wo'bbling about the axis of the pin 24. A compression spring 25 reacts between the plate 23 and a washer 26 (FIGURE 5) on the pin 24 so as normally to maintain the plane of the plate 23 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the member 5. The plate, however, is capable of being moved longitudinally of the pin 24 against the bias of the spring 25. The plate 23 is provided with a notch 27 that is adapted to accommodate an upstanding blade 28 that is secured adjacent the upper end of the member 5 and to which is secured a handle 29. The notch 27 is so positioned that, when it accommodates the blade 28, the tube 22 will be in a horizontal position.

Slideably accommodated in the hollow tube 22 is an elongated, preferably square bar 30 which is considerably longer than the tube 22. The cross-sectional size of the bar 30 is such that the bar 30 may be rotated about its own axis within the tube 22. Due to the square cross section of the bar 30, it will have a tendency to rotate, but will remain in the angular position to which it is adjusted. To one end of the bar 30 is fixed a foot element 31 having an upstanding tongue 32 which is of such length as to be capable of abutting the adjacent end of the tube 22 so as to prevent inadvertent removal of the bar 30 from the tube. At the opposite end of the bar 30 is a similar foot member 33 having a similar upstanding foot 34. The members 31 and 33 are so oriented with respect to the bar 30 that they are angularly spaced 90 from one another.

Locking means designated generally by the reference character 35 is provided for releasably locking the members 1 and 5 in any selected position of adjustment. The locking means comprises toggle links 36 pivoted as at 37 to an operating handle 38 which, in turn, is pivoted at 39 to the member 11. The links 36 are pivoted at 39a to a bar 40 which in turn is pivoted at 41 to the member 11. Extending through an opening in the bar 40 is a threaded shaft 42, the position of which may be adjusted by nuts 43 threaded onto the shaft 42. The shaft terminates in a foot 44 adapted to bear against the member 5 with sufiicient force to prevent relative movement between the members 1 and 5. The position of the foot 44 may be adjusted by manipulation of the nuts 43 so that, when the locking means 35 is in its locking position as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the foot 44 will bear against the member 5 with the desired force.

The apparatus is adapted to be mounted in an upright position and conveniently may be mounted on a supporting base 45 comprising a horizontal platform 46 to which is secured a plurality of foldable legs 47. The base 45 may include a pair of frame members 48 and 49 joined at corresponding ends by a pin 50 and secured at their other ends to the platform 46. The frame member 49 preferably is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced openings in any one of which a stud 51 fixed at the lower end of the support member 1 may be accommodated. A retaining bracket 52 is secured to the platform 46 and in which the support member 1 is accommodated, the arrangement being such that the base 45 removably mounts the member 1 in an upright position. By selecting an appropriate opening in the frame member 49, the level at which the support 1 is mounted may be varied.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is adapted for use in pairs of identical units, the units being spaced apart a distance suflicient to be spanned by a drywall or other sheet 53.

To condition the apparatus for operation, the support members 1 are mounted on their respective bases 45 and with the supports 1 at a predetermined level. Each lift device 4 then may be lowered by the application of a downward force on the handle 29, thereby causing the member 5 and its associated parts to slide downwardly relative to the support member 1. As the bar 5 slides downwardly, the latch tongue 20 will pass beneath the latch keeper 21, whereupon the spring 16 will locate the latch tongue 20 beneath the keeper 21. As the bar 5 moves downwardly, the spring 8 is stretched or tensioned so as to cock the lift mechanism 4 in position for upward movement upon release of the latch means.

With each of the lift mechanisms of the two units in lowered or cocked positions, the supporting members 22 may be pivoted to a downwardly inclined position by pushing a respective plate 23 longitudinally of the pin 24, as is permitted by the spring 25, so as to disengage the notch 27 from the blade 28, whereupon the support 22 can be rocked downwardly about the axis of the pin 24. As the support 22 rocks downwardly, the supporting bar 30 will slide downwardly within the tube 22 until the foot 32 engages the end of the tube 22. The bar 30 then may be rotated within the tube 22 so as to position the supporting foot 34 in a position to embrace the lower edge of the sheet 53, as is shown in FIGURE 1.

When the sheet 53 is supported by the lift mechanisms of each unit, the operator may rock the support bars toward a horizontal position. As the notches 27 reach a position of alignment with the blades 28, the springs 25 will snap the plates 23 into locking relation with the blades 28 was to maintain the supports 22 in horizontal position. At this time the supporting rods 30 may be rotated within the respective tubes 22 so that neither of the supporting feet 32 and 34 projects beyond the plane of the sheet 53. In these positions of the parts, the operator may step on the feet 6 so as to lower slightly the respective lift bars 5 to a position in which the latches may be released. The operator then, by utilizing the handles 29, gradually may permit the springs 8 to elevate the lift mechanisms 4, together with the supported sheet 53, until the' latter is in an elevated position in which it may be nailed to ceiling joists.

If the height of the ceiling joists is such that the lift mechanism cannot cause the sheet 53 to bear against the joists, an adjustment may be made in either of two ways. First, the stud 51 at the lower end of the support member 1 may be placed in a higher opening in the frame member 48. Second, the operator may elevate the lift mechanism 4 manually by means of the handle 29 and, by manipulation of the locking means 35, lock the lift bar 5 in elevated position.

The apparatus also can be utilized to support sheet material in position for nailing to vertical studs. In this instance, the sheet 53 will be assembled with the units in the same manner described previously, but the support members 22 will not be rocked to horizontal position. Instead, the units will be located adjacent the stud and with the support bars 22 in their vertically inclined positions. The lift apparatus may be adjusted to a desired vertical position in the same manner as described earlier and may be locked in the desired position by utilization of the locking means 35. The sheet then may be rocked relatively to the support members 22, while still being supported by the supporting feet 34, against the vertical stud for nailing thereto.

The disclosed embodiment is representative of a presently preferred form of the invention but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. Sheet handling apparatus comprising support means; lift means carried by said support means for vertical reciprocation between raised and lowered positions; spring means acting between said support means and said lift means and constantly biasing the latter toward said raised position; releasable latch means carried by said lift means and said support means operable releasably to latch said lift means in its lowered position against the bias of said spring means; sheet engaging means; and means mounting said sheet engaging means on said lift means for rocking movement about an axis from a first position inclined to the vertical to a second, substantially horizontal position.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means includes an upright member and wherein said lift means includes a rod-like member, said members being slideable relatively to one another.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for releasably locking said sheet engaging means in said second position.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheet engaging means is movable longitudinally of said axis.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sheet engaging means includes an elongated rod having an abutment at each of its ends, the abutment at one end of said rod extending in one direction therefrom and the abutment at the other end of said rod extending in a different direction therefrom.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including means mounting said rod for rotation about its longitudinal axis 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means mounting said support means in an upright position, said mounting means being adjustable to enable said sheet engaging means to be positioned at a selected predetermined level when said lift means is in said second position. 20

port member and said sheet lifting means and constantly biasing the latter from a retracted position to an extended position in prolongation of said support member; and releasable latch means carried by said members operable releasably to maintain said lifting member in said retracted position against the bias of said spring means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 including releasable lock means carried by one of said members andoperable to engage the other of said members to maintain said sheet lifting member in a selected position of adjustment relative to said support member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1953 Victor 18537 XR 3,131,928 5/1964 Whipple 2l4-1 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 933,347 8/1963 Great Britain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 18537; 26774

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