Stud framing brace

Abstract

The stud framing brace is a tool used in aligning and supporting wall studs during the construction of a building. The brace has a central arm with a stud-receiving member attached to a first end of the arm and a stud-clamping member attached to a second end of the arm. The stud-clamping member secures the brace to an installed stud, while the stud-receiving member may allow a free stud to rest against the brace. The arm may be extended to the proper standardized length to ensure the studs are properly spaced. Spirit levels disposed in the arm may be used to align the stud vertically.

1 . A stud framing brace for positioning and aligning wall studs during construction, comprising: 
 a central arm having a first end and a second end;    a stud-receiving member having a front plate and a side plate, wherein the side plate is permanently secured to the first end of said central arm;    a stud-clamping member having a left plate, a right plate and a front plate, wherein the right plate is permanently secured to the second end of said central arm; and    a means for sliding the left plate toward and away from the right plate on said stud-clamping member, such that the plates may act to create a frictional hold on a wall stud to secure said brace to the wall stud.    
   
   
       2 . The stud framing brace according to  claim 1 , wherein said central arm further comprises at least one spirit level, such that said spirit level may be used in aligning the wall studs vertically so that the studs are parallel to each other.  
   
   
       3 . The stud framing brace according to  claim 1 , wherein said central arm further comprises an ergonomical grip.  
   
   
       4 . The stud framing brace according to  claim 1 , wherein the front plate of said stud-receiving member further comprises indicia, wherein the indicia indicates the location of the center of a wall stud when said stud-receiving member is correctly positioned over the wall stud.  
   
   
       5 . The stud framing brace according to  claim 1 , wherein the front plate of said stud-clamping member further comprises indicia, wherein the indicia indicates the location of the center of a wall stud when said stud-clamping member is correctly positioned over the wall stud.  
   
   
       6 . The stud framing brace according to  claim 1 , wherein said central arm further comprises a means for extending the length of said central arm, wherein said brace may be used to position and align studs at several standardized widths.  
   
   
       7 . The stud framing brace according to  claim 6 , wherein said central arm further comprises indicia, whereby the indicia describes the distance between the centers of the studs when positioned in the extended brace.