Wall plate anchors, and methods of using same

Abstract

An L-shaped wall plate anchor to secure a wall frame bottom plate in place in preparation to raising a wall relative to a floor. The wall plate anchor is provided with apertures adapted to accommodate standard wall thicknesses of, for example, 3 ½ inch or 5 ½ inch thicknesses.

1 . A wall plate anchor, comprising: 
 a flexible elongated member having a first elongated portion extending in a first predetermined direction, and a second elongated portion extending in a second predetermined direction, which is disposed substantially perpendicular to said first predetermined direction;    said first elongated portion being provided with at least three apertures arranged in a predetermined pattern; and    said second elongated portion being provided with at least one aperture disposed at a predetermined location relative to said apertures provided in said first elongated portion of said flexible elongated member.    
     
     
         2 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said flexible elongated member is adapted to be placed and affixed to a wall member of a wall by a first fastener extending through said one aperture provided in said second elongated portion so that said first fastener extends in a third predetermined direction into said wall member, and by a second fastener extending through one of said three apertures provided in said first elongated portion and extending into said wall member in a fourth predetermined direction which is disposed substantially perpendicular to said third predetermined direction.    
     
     
         3 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said flexible elongated member is adapted to be disposed relative to and affixed to a floor member by floor fastening members which extend through two of said apertures provided in said first elongated portion and into said floor member.    
     
     
         4 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said flexible elongated member is adapted to be disposed relative to and affixed to a floor member by floor fastening members which extend through two of said apertures provided in said first elongated portion and into said floor member.    
     
     
         5 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said second fastening member extends in a direction opposite to the direction in which said floor fastening members extend.    
     
     
         6 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said flexible elongated member is adapted to be bent into a U-shaped configuration when said wall is raised to a vertical position relative to said floor member.    
     
     
         7 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said flexible elongated member is adapted to be bent into a U-shaped configuration when said wall is raised to a vertical position relative to said floor member.    
     
     
         8 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said apertures of said first elongated portion and said aperture of said second elongated portion are arranged and located so that fastening members can be placed through said apertures to fit with and be used in conjunction with construction lumber of standard dimensions.    
     
     
         9 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said apertures of said first elongated portion and said aperture of said second elongated portion are arranged and located so that fastening members can be placed through said apertures to fit with and be used in conjunction with construction lumber of standard dimensions.    
     
     
         10 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said apertures of said first elongated portion and said aperture of said second elongated portion are arranged and located so that fastening members can be placed through said apertures to fit with and be used in conjunction with construction lumber of standard dimensions.    
     
     
         11 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said apertures of said first elongated portion and said aperture of said second elongated portion are arranged and located so that fastening members can be placed through said apertures to fit with and be used in conjunction with construction lumber of standard dimensions.    
     
     
         12 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said apertures of said first elongated portion and said aperture of said second elongated portion are arranged and located so that fastening members can be placed through said apertures to fit with and be used in conjunction with construction lumber of standard dimensions.    
     
     
         13 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said apertures of said first elongated portion and said aperture of said second elongated portion are arranged and located so that fastening members can be placed through said apertures to fit with and be used in conjunction with construction lumber of standard dimensions.    
     
     
         14 . A wall plate anchor according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said apertures of said first elongated portion and said aperture of said second elongated portion are arranged and located so that fastening members can be placed through said apertures to fit with and be used in conjunction with construction lumber of standard dimensions.    
     
     
         15 . A method of using a wall plate anchor to secure a wall bottom plate in place in preparation for raising a wall relative to a floor, comprising the steps of: 
 fastening a first elongated portion of said wall plate anchor to said floor using fastening members extending through at least two apertures provided in said first elongated portion of said wall plate anchor; and    fastening a second elongated portion of said wall plate anchor to said wall bottom plate by using at least one fastener extending through an aperture in said first elongated portion of said wall plate anchor, and by placing at least another fastener extending through an aperture provided in a second elongated portion of said wall plate anchor.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , including the step of: 
 pivoting said wall relative to said floor until said wall is disposed substantially perpendicular to said floor, and said wall plate member is bent into a U-shaped configuration.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 upon raising the wall to its vertical position relative to the floor, no portion of said wall plate anchor remains to interfere with internal or external finishing operations.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said wall plate anchor holds the wall in its proper position relative to the floor when said wall is pivoted to its vertical position relative to the floor.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein: 
 said wall plate anchor holds the wall in its proper position relative to the floor when said wall is pivoted to its vertical position relative to the floor.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 when said wall plate anchor is used on an elevated foundation above the floor elevation, said wall plate anchor serves to hold the bottom wall plate in position during wall framing as well.