Brackets for supporting and aligning wall members for attachment

Abstract

A series of brackets that are inexpensively cut and bent from sheet metal in a stamping process, and are used as an aid in construction projects. The brackets are designed for support and alignment of wall panels; wallboards or lap boards while the same are being positioned for attachment to the structure. These fixtures are configured to align with the support structure, automatically aligning the wall panel, wallboards, or lap boards to be attached, and continuing to support and align the boards during and after attachment. The brackets are inexpensive to manufacture and can remain on the structure, thereby providing continual support and alignment. Ledge portions with bent up outer corner points engage and support the wall members.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A construction support and alignment device for supporting and aligning vertical wall members for attachment, the device comprising: 
 a bracket cut and bent from sheet metal to conform to a portion of a support structure in a building, the bracket having at least one bracket horizontal surface capable of being aligned with a horizontal surface of the support structure, at least one bracket vertical surface extending from the horizontal surface, the bracket vertical surface capable of being aligned with a vertical surface of the support structure, a means for permanently attaching the bracket to the support structure, and at least one protruding ledge portion extending from the bracket vertical surface in a fixed relationship with the bracket horizontal surface so that when the bracket is in use with at least one additional bracket in spaced alignment, the ledge portions being capable of supporting and aligning a wall member to allow the wall member to be attached to the support structure with the wall member in a fixed alignment with the support structure determined by the position of the ledge relative to the bracket horizontal surface.    
     
     
         2 . The construction support device of  claim 1  wherein the ledge portion further comprises two outer corners bent upwardly to form gripping points capable of piercing and engaging a bottom of a wall member placed on the ledge portion to prevent movement of the wall member relative to the ledge portion.  
     
     
         3 . The construction support device of  claim 2  wherein the means for permanently attaching the bracket comprises at least one surface having an opening therethrough to receive a connecting means through the opening and into a portion of the support structure.  
     
     
         4 . The construction support device of  claim 3  wherein the connecting means comprises a nail.  
     
     
         5 . The construction support device of  claim 2  wherein the bracket horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of the bracket vertical surface and is capable of resting on top of a mud plate board on a foundation wall with the bracket vertical surface on an outside face of the mud plate board, and the ledge extends from a bottom of the bracket vertical surface outwardly away from the support structure, the ledge being aligned with a top of the foundation wall so that the ledge is capable of supporting a wall board aligned with the top of the foundation.  
     
     
         6 . The construction support device of  claim 2  wherein the bracket horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of the bracket vertical surface and is capable of resting on top of a mud plate board on a foundation wall with the bracket vertical surface on an outside face of the mud plate board, and the ledge extends from a bottom of the bracket vertical surface outwardly away from the support structure, the ledge being aligned a set distance below a top of the foundation wall so that the ledge is capable of supporting a wall board overhanging the top of the foundation by the set distance.  
     
     
         7 . The construction support device of  claim 2  wherein the bracket horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of the bracket vertical surface and is capable of aligning with and contacting a bottom surface of a cantilevered floor joist with the bracket vertical surface on an outside face of the cantilevered floor joist, and the ledge extends from the bracket vertical outwardly away from the support structure surface in alignment with the bracket horizontal surface, so that the ledge is capable of supporting a wall board aligned with the bottom surface of a cantilevered floor joist.  
     
     
         8 . The construction support device of  claim 2  wherein the bracket horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of the bracket vertical surface and is capable of aligning with and contacting a bottom surface of a cantilevered floor joist with the bracket vertical surface on an outside face of the cantilevered floor joist, and the ledge extends from the bracket vertical outwardly away from the support structure surface below the bracket horizontal surface a set distance, so that the ledge is capable of supporting a wall board overhanging the bottom surface of the cantilevered floor joist by the set distance.  
     
     
         9 . The construction support device of  claim 2  wherein the bracket horizontal surface extends inwardly from a top of a first bracket vertical surface and is capable of aligning with and contacting a top surface of a first lap board with the first bracket vertical surface on an outside face of the first lap board, and the ledge extends from the first bracket vertical outwardly away from the support structure surface below the bracket horizontal surface a set distance, so that the ledge is capable of supporting a second lap board overhanging the top surface of the first lap board by the set distance and further comprising a second bracket vertical surface extending upwardly from an inner edge of the bracket horizontal surface so that the second bracket vertical surface rests against a vertical portion of the support structure is capable of being permanently attached thereto.