Seamsaver for drywall

Abstract

The seamsaver is a recess creating device available in one of three embodiments. Each embodiment is designed to prevent the potential ridging and crowning of butt joint seams in different situations. The first embodiment comprises a rectangular panel with a single elongate ridge attached on the front face, vertically centered and horizontally to one side. A second embodiment is identical to the first except that it has an additional ridge attached on the same face but opposite side. The ridge may be formed by an elongate rectangular block, a channel, or an angle, the channel and the angle having a wedge-shaped flange attached to the front face of the rectangular panel. The third embodiment has no ridges but comprises an elongated rectangular block of wood with a uniform, elongated dip running length-wise which is used to create an elongated recess running along the seam instead of across the seam.

1 . A seamsaver for drywall, comprising: 
 (a) an elongate rectangular panel of wood having a front face and first and second opposing side edges;    (b) an elongate first ridge attached to the front face of the rectangular panel, the ridge being vertically centered on the rectangular panel and aligned along the first side edge of the rectangular panel;    whereby the rectangular panel is adapted for having first and second abutting sheets of drywall are fastened along a seam formed by the abutting sheets of drywall, the ridge abutting the first sheet of drywall so that the first sheet is bent inward towards the rectangular panel in order to define a recess extending along the seam adapted for coating with joint compound.    
     
     
         2 . The seamsaver for drywall according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second ridge identical in dimensions to said first ridge, the second ridge being attached to the front face of said panel, the second ridge being vertically centered and aligned along the second side edge of said panel opposite said first ridge, the second ridge being adapted for abutting the second sheet of drywall, whereby both the first and second sheets of drywall are bent inward towards the rectangular panel in order to define the recess extending along the seam.  
     
     
         3 . The seamsaver for drywall according to  claim 1 , wherein said first ridge is rectangular in cross section.  
     
     
         4 . The seamsaver for drywall according to  claim 1 , wherein said first ridge comprises an elongate, substantially U-shaped channel, having a front flange and a rear flange joined by a web, the front flange being substantially wedge-shaped, the channel being closely disposed over the first side edge of said panel with the front flange attached to the front face.  
     
     
         5 . The seamsaver for drywall according to  claim 1 , wherein said first ridge comprises an elongate, substantially L-shaped angle, having a front flange and a side flange normal to the front flange, the front flange being substantially wedge-shaped, the angle being closely disposed over the first side edge of said panel with the front flange attached to the front face.  
     
     
         6 . The seamsaver for drywall according to  claim 1 , wherein said rectangular panel is about forty-eight inches in length and between about four and ten inches in width.  
     
     
         7 . The seamsaver for drywall according to  claim 1 , wherein said first ridge is between about twenty-eight and thirty-four inches in length.  
     
     
         8 . The seamsaver for drywall according to  claim 1 , wherein said ridge has a thickness between about one-sixteenth and one-eighth inches.  
     
     
         9 . A seamsaver for drywall, comprising an elongated, rectangular block of wood measuring a total of fifty-three inches long, two and one-half inches wide and one and one forth inch thick, the block having an elongated, uniform, gradual slope measuring forty-eight inches running from two and one half inches from the top of said block to two and one half inches from the bottom of said block and reaching a maximum depth of one-eight inch.