Construction panel positioning and support system and tools

Abstract

A construction panel support tool includes a suspension frame having a mounting member to mount the tool to a ceiling joist adjacent a construction panel installation site and a guide member coupled thereto. An elongate support member movably supported on the guide member is movable relative thereto between a deployed position in which a distal portion of the support member extends beneath the panel installation site, and a standby position. The tool may include a locking member selectively engageable to retain the support member in a desired position, such as a deployed position, and may optionally include a biasing member selectively engageable to bias the distal portion of the support member toward the panel installation site.

1 . A construction panel support tool to support a construction panel relative to a panel installation site, the support tool comprising:
 a suspension frame that includes a mounting member adapted to mount the tool to a ceiling joist adjacent a panel installation site, and a guide member coupled to the mounting member;   an elongate support member movably supported on h guide member and configured, when the tool is mounted on a ceiling joist, to be movable relative to the guide member between a deployed position in which the distal portion of the support member extends beneath the panel installation site and a standby position in which it does not.   
     
     
         2 . The panel support tool of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting member includes a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a surface of the ceiling joist. 
     
     
         3 . The panel support tool of  claim 1 , further including a locking member selectively engageable to retain the support member in a desired position relative to the guide member. 
     
     
         4 . The panel support tool of  claim 3 , wherein the locking member is disposed on the proximal portion of the support member. 
     
     
         5 . The panel support tool of  claim 4 , wherein the locking member is adapted to selectively engage the mounting member when the support member is in a deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The panel support tool of  claim 3 , wherein the locking member includes a thumbscrew threaded vertically through the distal portion of the support member, with the distal end thereof having a locking surface configured to be urged against a corresponding target surface to thereby form a lock. 
     
     
         7 . The panel support tool of  claim 6 , wherein when the lock member is not engaged, the thumb screw is movable along the length of the distal portion of the support member. 
     
     
         8 . The panel support tool of  claim 3 , wherein the guide member is pivotably mounted to the mounting member to provide a range of pivotal movement of the guide member about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to a long axis of the support member and parallel to the plane of the bottom surface of the ceiling joist. 
     
     
         9 . The panel support tool of  claim 8 , further including a biasing member selectively engageable to bias the distal portion of the support member toward the plane of the ceiling joist to which the tool is mounted. 
     
     
         10 . The panel support tool of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is coupled to the guide member to extend, when the tool is mounted on a ceiling joist, in a plane substantially parallel to, and spaced beneath, that of the bottom surface of the ceiling joist. 
     
     
         11 . The panel support tool of  claim 10 , wherein the guide member includes a sleeve portion that defines a channel through which the support member is slidably received, such that the support member is configured for translational movement relative to the sleeve portion between the deployed and standby positions. 
     
     
         12 . The panel support tool of  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve portion is rigidly mounted to the mounting member. 
     
     
         13 . The panel support tool of  claim 11 , wherein the sleeve portion is pivotably mounted to the mounting member to provide a range of pivotal movement of the sleeve portion, and the support member slidably received therethrough, about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to a long axis of the support member and parallel to the plane of the bottom surface of the ceiling joist. 
     
     
         14 . The panel support tool of  claim 13 , further including a biasing member selectively engageable to bias the distal portion of the support member toward the plane of the bottom surface of the ceiling joist to which the tool is mounted. 
     
     
         15 . The panel support tool of  claim 1 , further including a handle operatively attached to the support member. 
     
     
         16 . The panel support tool of  claim 15 , wherein the handle is disposed on the proximal portion of the support member. 
     
     
         17 . A construction panel support tool to support a construction panel relative to a panel installation site, the support tool comprising:
 a suspension frame having a mounting plate adapted to be secured to a ceiling joist adjacent the panel installation site;   a guide member pivotably coupled to the suspension frame;   an elongate support member slidably mounted to the guide member and extending, when the tool is mounted on a ceiling joist, in a plane substantially parallel to, and spaced beneath, that of the bottom surface of the ceiling joist;   wherein, when the tool is mounted on a ceiling joist, the support member is configured for movement along its long axis, relative to the guide member, between a deployed position in which the distal portion of the support member extends beneath the panel installation site and a standby position in which it does not; and   wherein, when the tool is mounted on a ceiling joist, the pivotal coupling of the guide member provides a range of pivotal movement of the support member in the vertical plane in which its long axis lies.   
     
     
         18 . The panel support tool of  claim 17 , further including a thumbscrew disposed on a proximal portion of the support member and having a locking surface configured to be selectively engage and be urged against the mounting plate when the support member is in a deployed position, to thereby retain the support member in the deployed position. 
     
     
         19 . The panel support tool of  claim 18 , wherein the thumbscrew is configured, when the locking surface is urged against the mounting plate, to correspondingly bias the distal portion of the support member toward the plane of a ceiling joist to which the tool is mounted. 
     
     
         20 . A construction panel support system to position and temporarily support a construction panel relative to a panel installation site, the panel support system comprising:
 one or more construction panel positioning tools, each positioning tool further including:
 a ramp member having a support platform at an upper end thereof configured to receive and support a portion of a construction panel and a ramp section adjacent the support platform and sharing a common edge therewith, the ramp section including a substantially planar upper surface configured to slidingly engage and guide a portion of a construction panel placed thereon toward the support platform; and 
 a stabilizing member coupled to the ramp member, the stabilizing member being configured to engage a structural component of a building structure to support the ramp member in a predetermined position relative to the installation site; and 
   one or more construction panel support tools, each support tool further including:
 a suspension frame adapted to mount the support tool on a ceiling joist adjacent a panel installation site; and 
 an elongate support member movably supported on the suspension frame and configured, when the tool is mounted on a ceiling joist, to be moved relative to the suspension frame member between a deployed position in which the distal portion of the support member extends beneath the panel installation site and a standby position in which it does not.