Drywall repair plug and method

Abstract

A drywall repair device includes an elongated plank. The elongated plank includes a body with back end and a tapered front end. The elongated plank also includes a cylindrical puck positioned at a central portion of the elongated plank between the back end and tapered front end. The cylindrical puck has a diameter corresponding with a width of the elongated plank. The drywall repair device includes a plug having a frustoconical shape. The drywall repair device also includes a tensioner removably coupled to the cylindrical puck and the plug. The tensioner is adapted to apply a tension to a back surface of the cylindrical puck to retain the elongated plank in a hole in a drywall panel and to guide the plug into the hole of the drywall panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drywall repair device, comprising:
 an elongated plank comprising:
 a body with back end and a tapered front end; and 
 a cylindrical puck positioned at a central portion of the elongated plank between the back end and tapered front end, the cylindrical puck having a diameter corresponding with a width of the elongated plank; 
   a plug having a frustoconical shape; and   a tensioner removably coupled to the cylindrical puck and the plug, the tensioner being adapted to apply a tension to a back surface of the cylindrical puck to retain the elongated plank in a hole in a drywall panel and to guide the plug into the hole of the drywall panel.   
     
     
         2 . The drywall repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter is selected to correspond with a size of the hole to be repaired. 
     
     
         3 . The drywall repair device of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the cylindrical puck is elevated at a height from a top surface of the elongated plank such that when combined with a height of the plug is approximately ⅛ inch less than a thickness of the drywall panel and a bottom surface of the cylindrical puck is elevated at a height from a bottom surface of the elongated plank such that when combined with the height of the plug is approximately 2 mm less than the thickness of the drywall panel. 
     
     
         4 . The drywall repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises one or more channels extending from a front surface of the plug to a back surface of the plug and the one or more channels are configured to receive the tensioner. 
     
     
         5 . The drywall repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises a tapered fastener channel extending from a front surface of the plug to a back surface of the plug and the tapered fastener channel is configured to receive a fastener to couple the plug to the elongated plank. 
     
     
         6 . The drywall repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical puck comprises one or more channels extending from a front surface of the cylindrical puck to the back surface of the cylindrical puck and the one or more channels are configured to receive the tensioner. 
     
     
         7 . The drywall repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the elongated plank further comprises a beveled edge defined along a side edge of at least the tapered end. 
     
     
         8 . A method of drywall repair, comprising:
 inserting drywall repair device in  claim 1  and   positioning the cylindrical puck in the hole by manipulating a tensioner removably coupled to the cylindrical puck;   inserting a plug into the hole using the tensioner as a guide;   securing the elongated plank to an interior surface of the drywall panel with a first and second fastener extending through a front surface of the drywall panel; and   securing the plug to the elongated plank with a third fastener extending through a front surface of the plug; and pulling ragged edges of the hole under a tapered edge as it is being tightened against the plank.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 removing the tensioner from the cylindrical puck and the plug.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 applying a drywall compound to an exterior surface of the drywall panel to cover the front surface of the plug, the first fastener, the second fastener, and third fastener.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , the method further comprising:
 cleaning and sizing the hole by inserting the tapered front end of the elongated plank into the hole; and   rotating the elongated plank about a longitudinal axis and urging the elongated plank into the hole until the hole has a width corresponding to the width of the elongated plank.