Rapid interior wall layout components and methods

Abstract

A rapid interior wall layout system can include an anchor and clasp. The anchor can have a lower portion that fits within a drywall track opening, an upper portion having an external notch, and a central opening that extends through the lower and upper portions to receive a fastener that extends through the anchor to hold the anchor in place against an existing building structure. The clasp can include a base, arms pivotally coupled to the base, tabs that extend inward from the arms, and flanges that extend from the base and arms. The clasp tabs can lock onto the external notch during installation to hold the drywall track in place against the anchor. The system can also include the drywall track itself, a second anchor for a second opening in the drywall track and a second clasp to hold the drywall track in place against the second anchor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anchor configured for rapid construction, the anchor comprising:
 a lower portion configured to couple with an existing building structure, wherein the lower portion includes a bottom surface to contact the existing building structure and one or more exterior surfaces that fit within an opening in a separate construction component;   an upper portion located proximate the lower portion and having a top surface, wherein the upper portion includes an external notch configured to receive a separate clasp that holds the separate construction component in place against the anchor; and   a central opening that extends through the lower portion and upper portion, wherein the central opening is configured to receive a fastener that extends through the anchor and into the existing building structure to hold the anchor in place against the existing building structure.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is integrally formed with the lower portion. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the entire anchor is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis that extends through the length of the central opening. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the separate construction component is a drywall track, a pipe hanger, a duct hanger, or a cable tray hanger. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is configured to receive a fastening force from the fastener at the top surface of the upper portion. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is combined with the anchor to form a single component. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the external notch defines an annular groove that extends around the outer circumference of the upper portion. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the central opening includes an internal thread configured to mate with the fastener. 
     
     
         9 . A system configured for rapid construction, the system comprising:
 a construction component having a first opening; and   a first clasp coupled to the construction component and arranged around the first opening, wherein the first clasp is configured to lock onto a first external notch of a first anchor and hold the construction component in place against the first anchor.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first clasp includes a base, a first arm pivotally coupled to a first distal end of the base, and a second arm pivotally coupled to a second distal end of the base opposite the first distal end. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first arm and second arm are configured to pivot outward when the first clasp is fitted over the top surface of the upper portion of the first anchor and to pivot back inward when the first clasp locks onto the first external notch. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first clasp further includes tabs extending inward from both of the first and second arms, and wherein the tabs lock into the first external notch when the first and second arms pivot back inward. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first clasp further includes flanges that extend laterally from the base, the first arm, and the second arm, and wherein the flanges include openings configured to receive fastening components that affix the first clasp to the construction component. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the construction component is a drywall track, a pipe hanger, a duct hanger, or a cable tray hanger. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the construction component includes a second opening, the system further comprising:
 a second clasp coupled to the construction component and arranged around the second opening, wherein the second clasp is configured to lock onto a second external notch of a second anchor and hold the construction component in place against the second anchor.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the first anchor, wherein the first anchor includes a first lower portion configured to couple with an existing building structure and one or more exterior surfaces that fit within the first opening in the construction component and a first upper portion located proximate the first lower portion and having a first top surface and the first external notch; and   the second anchor, wherein the second anchor includes a second lower portion configured to couple with the existing building structure and one or more exterior surfaces that fit within the second opening in the construction component and a second upper portion located proximate the second lower portion and having a second top surface and the second external notch.   
     
     
         17 . A method of attaching a construction component to an existing building structure, the method comprising:
 forming a first opening in the construction component; and   coupling a first clasp to the construction component with one or more fastening components such that the first clasp is arranged around the first opening, wherein the first clasp is configured to lock onto a first external notch of a first anchor and hold the construction component in place against the first anchor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 forming a second opening in the construction component; and   coupling a second clasp to the construction component with one or more fastening components such that the second clasp is arranged around the second opening, wherein the second clasp is configured to lock onto a second external notch of a second anchor and hold the construction component in place against the second anchor.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
 locating a first point along the existing building structure using a robotic total station;   attaching the first anchor to the existing building structure at the first point with a first fastener, wherein the first anchor includes a lower portion configured to couple with the existing building structure and one or more exterior surfaces that fit within the first opening in the construction component, an upper portion located proximate the lower portion and having a top surface and the first external notch, and a central opening that extends through the lower portion and upper portion;   locating a second point along the existing building structure using the robotic total station;   attaching the second anchor to the existing building structure at the second point with a second fastener, wherein the second anchor fits within the second opening in the construction component and includes the second external notch; and   installing the construction component onto the first anchor and the second anchor by placing the first anchor through the first opening and the second anchor through the second opening, wherein the first clasp locks onto the first external notch to hold the first clasp and construction component in place against the first anchor and the existing building structure and the second clasp locks onto the second external notch to hold the second clasp and construction component in place against the second anchor and the existing building structure.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the construction component is a drywall track, a pipe hanger, a duct hanger, or a cable tray hanger.