Wall plumbing and leveling device

Abstract

Correcting material and installation defects in stud-framed walls includes installing framing devices over an edge of the studs in the wall. The front face of each framing device is aligned vertically and horizontally with each other framing device while securing the framing devices to the studs of the wall. Additionally, the framing devices on one wall can be aligned square with framing devices on an adjacent wall. Then, the wall finishes are attached to the wall face by attaching the finishes to the front face of each framing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device to plumb and level construction materials, comprising:
 a body comprising a U-shaped profile comprising an elongated front face having a first edge and a second edge, a first side face, and a second side face, the first side face being disposed along the first edge of the front face, and the second side face being disposed along the second edge of the front face.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , the first side face being disposed orthogonally to the front face along the first edge of the front face, and the second side face being disposed orthogonally to the front face along the second edge of the front face. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , the body further comprising:
 a first flange face comprising a first edge and a second edge; and   a second flange face comprising a first edge and a second edge,   wherein the first side face is disposed along the first edge of the front face by the first edge of the first flange face being disposed along and extending angled from an edge of the first side face and the second edge of the first flange face being disposed along and extending angled from the first edge of the front face, and   wherein the second side face is disposed along the second edge of the front face by the first edge of the second flange face being disposed along and extending angled from an edge of the second side face and the second edge of the second flange face being disposed along and extending angled from the second edge of the front face.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein a width of the front face is wider than a distance between an outside of the first side face and an outside of the second side face. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first side face and the second side face corresponds to a thickness of a stud to which the device is configured to attach. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a depth of each of the first side face and the second side face extending away from the front face corresponds to a width of a stud to which the device is configured to attach. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a depth of each of the first side face and the second side face extending away from the front face is less than one-half of a width of a stud to which the device is configured to attach. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first side face and the second side face comprise a plurality of holes therein that are each sized to accommodate a fastener to attach the device to a stud. 
     
     
         9 . A device to plumb and level construction materials, comprising:
 a body comprising:
 an elongated front face having a first edge and a second edge; and 
 a first side face disposed along the first edge of the front face. 
   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the device comprises an L-shaped profile. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , the first side face being disposed orthogonally to the front face along the first edge of the front face. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , the body further comprising:
 a first flange face comprising a first edge and a second edge; and   wherein the first side face is disposed along the first edge of the front face by the first edge of the first flange face being disposed along and extending angled from an edge of the first side face and the second edge of the first flange face being disposed along and extending angled from the first edge of the front face.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a second side face disposed orthogonally to the front face and along the second edge of the front face, wherein the device comprises a U-shaped profile. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein a width of the front face is less than a thickness of a stud to which the device is configured to attach. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein a depth of the first side face extending away from the front face corresponds to a width of a stud to which the device is configured to attach. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the first side face comprises a plurality of holes therein, each of the plurality of holes being sized to accommodate a fastener to attach the device to a stud. 
     
     
         17 . A method to plumb and level studs in a stud-framed wall, comprising:
 providing a wall comprising a first stud and a second stud in a spaced-apart fashion, each of the first and second studs comprising a defect in manufacturing or installation causing the first and second studs to be out of vertical plumb and horizontal level with each other;   providing a first device and a second device to plumb and level construction materials, each device comprising a body comprising a U-shaped profile comprising an elongated front face having a first edge and a second edge, a first side face, and a second side face, the first side face being disposed along the first edge of the front face, and the second side face being disposed along the second edge of the front face;   positioning the first device over an edge of the first stud such that the first and second side faces of the first device overlap a width of the first stud and such that the front face of the first device is vertically plumb, and attaching the first device to the first stud in this position; and   positioning the second device over an edge of the second stud such that the first and second side faces of the second device overlap a width of the second stud and such that the front face of the second device is vertically plumb and horizontally level to the front face of the first device, and attaching the second device to the second stud in this position.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , the body of each device further comprising:
 a first flange face comprising a first edge and a second edge; and   a second flange face comprising a first edge and a second edge,   wherein the first side face is disposed along the first edge of the front face by the first edge of the first flange face being disposed along and extending angled from an edge of the first side face and the second edge of the first flange face being disposed along and extending angled from the first edge of the front face, and   wherein the second side face is disposed along the second edge of the front face by the first edge of the second flange face being disposed along and extending angled from an edge of the second side face and the second edge of the second flange face being disposed along and extending angled from the second edge of the front face.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a distance between the first side face and the second side face of each of the first and second devices corresponds to a thickness of the respective first and second studs to which the device is configured to attach. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a depth of each of the first side face and the second side face of each of the first and second devices extending away from the front face is less than one-half of a width of the respective first and second studs to which the corresponding device is configured to attach.