Corner molding installation tool

Abstract

A tool ( 10 ) for rapidly and accurately aligning corner molding ( 50 ) on an external corner ( 51 ) of a wall ( 52 A, 52 B). In one embodiment, the tool has a mainstay ( 11 ) having first and second longitudinal sections ( 12 A, 12 B) joined along a corner ( 13 ), and first and second positioning members ( 16 A, 16 B) attached to the first and second longitudinal sections, respectively. Each positioning member has a bottom surface ( 17 A, 17 B) attached to a respective longitudinal section of the mainstay, an internal side surface ( 18 A, 18 B), a top surface ( 19 A, 19 B), and preferably an angled face ( 20 A, 20 B) between the top surface and the internal side surface. When the installer pushes on the tool the tool forces the corner molding into alignment with the corner of the wall. An optional handle ( 23 ) may also be provided. The positioning members and/or the optional handle may be unitary with the mainstay.

1 . A tool, comprising: 
 a mainstay having first and second longitudinal sections joined along a corner having a predetermined angle;    a first positioning member, attached to the first longitudinal section, and having a top surface, the top surface being approximately parallel to the first longitudinal section; and    a second positioning member, attached to the second longitudinal section, and having a top surface, the top surface being approximately parallel to the second longitudinal section.    
   
   
       2 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein at least one positioning member comprises: 
 a bottom surface attached to a longitudinal surface of the mainstay;    an internal side surface;    a top surface; and    an angled face joining the internal side surface and the top surface of the at least one positioning member.    
   
   
       3 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein at least one positioning member comprises: 
 a bottom surface attached to a longitudinal section of the mainstay;    a top surface; and    an angled face joining the top surface and the bottom surface.    
   
   
       4 . The tool of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined angle of the corner of the mainstay is approximately 90 degrees.  
   
   
       5 . The tool of  claim 1  and further comprising a handle attached to the mainstay.  
   
   
       6 . A tool for aligning corner molding on an external corner joining first and second wall sections, the corner molding having first and second sections joined at a corner; the tool comprising: 
 a mainstay having first and second longitudinal sections joined along a corner; and    first and second positioning members, attached to the mainstay, to press against at least part of the first section of the corner molding and at least part of the second section of the corner molding, respectively, to align the corner of the corner molding with the external corner.    
   
   
       7 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein at least one positioning member comprises: 
 a bottom surface attached to a longitudinal surface of the mainstay;    an internal side surface;    a top surface; and    an angled face joining the internal side surface and the top surface of the at least one positioning member.    
   
   
       8 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein at least one positioning member comprises: 
 a bottom surface attached to a longitudinal section of the mainstay;    a top surface; and    an angled face joining the top surface and the bottom surface.    
   
   
       9 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein the external corner has a predetermined angle, and wherein the predetermined angle of the corner of the mainstay has an angle approximately equal to the counterpart of the predetermined angle of the external corner.  
   
   
       10 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein the predetermined angle of the corner of the mainstay is approximately 90 degrees.  
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein the external corner has a predetermined angle, and wherein the corner of the mainstay has an angle approximately equal to the counterpart of the predetermined angle.  
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 6  wherein the angle of the corner of the mainstay is approximately 90 degrees.  
   
   
       13 . The tool of  claim 6  and further comprising a handle attached to the mainstay.  
   
   
       14 . A tool, comprising: 
 a mainstay having first and second longitudinal sections joined along a corner having a predetermined angle;    a first positioning member, unitary with the first longitudinal section, and having a top surface, the top surface being approximately parallel to the first longitudinal section; and    a second positioning member, unitary with the second longitudinal section, and having a top surface, the top surface being approximately parallel to the second longitudinal section.    
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 14  wherein at least one positioning member comprises: 
 an internal side surface;    a top surface; and    an angled face joining the internal side surface and the top surface of the at least one positioning member.    
   
   
       16 . The tool of  claim 14  wherein at least one positioning member comprises: 
 a top surface; and    an angled face joining the top surface and the bottom surface.    
   
   
       17 . The tool of  claim 14  wherein the predetermined angle of the corner of the mainstay is approximately 90 degrees.  
   
   
       18 . The tool of  claim 14  and further comprising a handle attached to the mainstay.  
   
   
       19 . The tool of  claim 1  and further comprising a handle, unitary with the mainstay.