Framing lumber product and a bundle of pre-marked framing lumber products

Abstract

Lumber having stud locator markings spaced along lengths thereof. The marked lumber assists in layout and assembly of a frame wall including a bottom plate, a top plate and a plurality of studs extending between the bottom and top plates. The stud are placed at one or more of a limited number of regularly-spaced pre-determined stud spacings along the plates. Respective pieces of the lumber are useful in the bottom and/or top plates. Stud locator markings define positions for placement of an end of a stud against the respective bottom and top plates. The stud locator markings indicate where the front and back surfaces of the studs intersect the respective plates. Each stud marking includes marking material affixed directly to the respective piece of lumber. The lumber is preferably substantially devoid of location indicators except for the stud markings.

1 . A bundle of pre-marked framing lumber product comprising: 
 a) a plurality of pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber product operative to assist in the layout and assembly of a wall, wherein such wall comprises a bottom plate and a top plate, and a plurality of dimension studs extending between said bottom plate and said top plate at one or more of a limited number of pre-determined stud spacings located along said bottom plate and said top plate, wherein respective ones of said pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber are operative for use in said bottom plate and/or in said top plate, each of said respective pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber having a first end, a second end and a length therebetween, a front surface, a back surface and opposing sides extending between said front and back surfaces along the length thereof, and having thickness dimensions between said front and back surfaces and between said opposing sides thereof;    b) a plurality of stud locator markings, reflecting application of said markings by at least one of a marking machine or by a lumber-modifying process, not by a hand-held marker, said plurality of stud locator markings being spaced from each other along the length of each of said pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber and disposed directly on said front surface of each of said pre-marked elongated pieces of lumber, each of said plurality of stud locator markings having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and defining a position for placement of an end of each of said plurality of dimension studs, each of said plurality of dimension studs having opposing front and back stud surfaces which face along the length of each of said pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber, and each of said plurality of dimension studs having a thickness dimension located between said front and back stud surfaces, said opposing front and back stud surfaces being joined to said respective pre-marked elongate piece of lumber, said respective stud locator markings on said front surface of each of said pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber indicating where said front and back surfaces of said respective dimensioned studs are to intersect with said respective front surface of each of said pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber;    (c) an integral member capable of retaining said plurality of pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber together as a bundle, and    d) each of said plurality of stud locator markings located on a respective one of said pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber being spaced apart from each other along the length thereof by at least one of said limited number of pre-determined stud spacings, each of said stud locator markings including a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein said leading and trailing edges are displaced from each other by approximately a standard thickness of such stud lumber piece, and each of said stud locator markings being visually conspicuous on said front surface of each of said pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber so as to quickly catch a viewer's eye.    
   
   
       2 . The bundle of framing lumber product as recited in  claim 1  wherein said integral member is a wrapper.  
   
   
       3 . The bundle of framing lumber product as recited in  claim 2  wherein said wrapper is a shrink wrap.  
   
   
       4 . The bundle of framing lumber product as recited in  claim 3  wherein said shrink wrap is a plastic film.  
   
   
       5 . The bundle of framing lumber product as recited in  claim 1  wherein said integral member is a loose wrap.  
   
   
       6 . The bundle of framing lumber product as recited in  claim 1  wherein said integral member is a honeycomb-like structure containing multiple compartments each sized to receive one of said plurality of pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber.  
   
   
       7 . The bundle of framing lumber product as recited in  claim 6  wherein said integral member includes a pair of honeycomb-like structures each located at an opposite end of said bundle.  
   
   
       8 . The bundle of framing lumber product as recited in  claim 1  wherein said integral member is a cardboard container.  
   
   
       9 . The bundle of framing lumber product as recited in  claim 1  wherein said integral member is a pallet having at least four upstanding members designed to hold said plurality of pre-marked elongate pieces of lumber together as a unit.  
   
   
       10 . A framing lumber product operative to assist in layout and assembly of a wall, wherein said wall includes a bottom plate, a top plate and a plurality of dimension studs extending between said bottom and top plates at one or more of a limited number of pre-determined stud spacings situated along said bottom and top plates, said framing lumber product comprising: 
 a) an elongate piece of lumber for use as one of said bottom and top plates, said elongate piece of lumber having a first end, a second end, a length between said first and second ends, a front surface, a back surface, and opposing sides extending between said front and back surfaces along the length thereof;    b) each of said plurality of stud dimension lumber pieces having a pair of ends, a front surface and an opposing back surface, and a thickness dimension between said front and back surfaces;    c) a plurality of stud locator markings spaced along the length of said elongate piece of lumber, each of said plurality of stud locator markings defining a position for placement of an end of each of said plurality of stud dimension lumber pieces against said elongate piece of lumber, said stud locator markings indicating positions where said front and back surfaces of each of said plurality of stud dimension lumber pieces is to be placed against said elongate piece of lumber; and    d) each of said plurality of stud locator markings being spaced from each other along the length of said elongate piece of lumber by at least one of said limited number of pre-determined stud spacings, and each of said plurality of stud locator markings comprising marking material affixed directly to said elongate piece of lumber such that a process of placing a stud against said framing lumber product does not routinely displace said respective stud locator marking.    
   
   
       11 . The framing lumber product as recited in  claim 10  wherein said stud locator markings are each spaced at about 8 inches leading edge-to-leading edge.  
   
   
       12 . The framing lumber product as recited in  claim 10  wherein said stud locator markings are each spaced at about 16 inches leading edge-to-leading edge.  
   
   
       13 . The framing lumber product as recited in  claim 10  wherein said stud locator markings are each spaced at about 24 inches leading edge-to-leading edge.  
   
   
       14 . The framing lumber product as recited in  claim 10  wherein variations in spacing between said stud locator markings are consistently no more than 0.13 inches leading edge-to-leading edge.  
   
   
       15 . The framing lumber product as recited in  claim 10  further including sets of 2 side-by-side stud locator markings arrayed along the length of said framing lumber product.  
   
   
       16 . The framing lumber product as recited in  claim 10  wherein said elongate piece of lumber is substantially devoid of location marking indicators except for said stud locator markings.  
   
   
       17 . The framing lumber product as recited in  claim 10  wherein said stud locator markings extend substantially across a full width of said elongate piece of lumber, said framing lumber product being devoid of other marking indicators which extend more than half way across the width of the elongate piece of lumber whereby said stud locator markings can be readily visually distinguished from any such other marking indicators by appearance differences which are, not color differences.  
   
   
       18 . The framing lumber product as recited in  claim 10  wherein a respective one of said stud locator markings has a leading edge line, a trailing edge line, and crossing lines located between said leading edge line and said trailing edge line.  
   
   
       19 . The framing lumber product as recited in  claim 10  wherein a respective one of said stud locator markings has a leading edge line, a trailing edge line, and first and second crossing lines extending from said leading edge line to said trailing edge line.  
   
   
       20 . A pre-marked framing lumber product operative to assist in layout and assembly of a wall, wherein said wall includes a bottom plate, a top plate, and a plurality of studs dimension lumber pieces extending between said bottom and top plates at one or more of a limited number of pre-determined cooperating stud spacings situated along said bottom and top plates, said pre-marked framing lumber product comprising: 
 a) a pre-marked elongate piece of lumber for use as one of said bottom and top plates, said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber having a first end, a second end, a length between said first and second ends, a front surface, a back surface and opposing sides extending between said front and back surfaces along the length thereof;    b) each of said plurality of stud dimension lumber pieces having a pair of ends, a front surface and an opposing back surface, and a thickness dimension between said front and back surfaces;    b) a plurality of stud locator markings reflecting application of said markings by at least one of a marking machine and a lumber-modifying process, not by a hand-held marker, said plurality of stud locator markings spaced along the length of said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber, each of said plurality of stud locator markings defining a position for placement of an end of each of said plurality of stud dimension lumber pieces against said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber, said plurality of stud locator markings indicating positions where said front and back surfaces of each of said plurality of stud dimension lumber pieces is to be placed against said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber; and    d) each of said plurality of stud locator markings being spaced from each other along the length of said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber by at least one of said limited number of pre-determined stud spacings, each of said plurality of stud locator markings comprising marking material affixed directly to said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber such that a process of placing a stud against said framing lumber product does not routinely displace said respective stud locator marking, and said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber being generally devoid of marking indicators located away from said plurality of stud locator markings.    
   
   
       21 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 20  wherein variations in spacing between said plurality of stud locator markings are consistently no more than 0.13 inch leading edge-to-leading edge.  
   
   
       22 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 20  further including sets of  2  side-by-side stud locator markings arrayed along the length of said pre-marked framing lumber product.  
   
   
       23 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 20  wherein a respective one of said plurality of stud locator markings has a leading edge line and a trailing edge line.  
   
   
       24 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 23  wherein a respective one of said plurality of stud locator markings has first and second crossing lines extending from said leading edge line to said trailing edge line.  
   
   
       25 . A pre-marked framing lumber product comprising: 
 a) a pre-marked elongate piece of lumber having a first end, a second end, a length between said first and second ends, a front surface, a back surface and opposing sides extending between said front and back surfaces along the length thereof, and thickness dimensions between said front and back surfaces and between said opposing sides thereof;    b) a plurality of stud locator markings, reflecting application of said markings by at least one of a marking machine and a lumber-modifying process, not by a hand-held marker, said plurality of stud locator markings being spaced from each other along the length of said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber on said front surface of said pre-marked piece of lumber, each of said plurality of stud locator markings including a leading edge and a trailing edge, with said trailing edge of a first of said stud locator markings being disposed toward a second of said stud locator markings, and with said leading edge of said second stud locator marking being disposed toward said first stud locator marking, said leading edge and said trailing edge, on a given one of said stud locator marking, being separated by a distance generally defined by at least a standard nominal stud thickness;    c) each of said plurality of stud locator markings being spaced from each other along the length of said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber by at least one of a limited number of pre-determined standard stud spacings; and    d) each of said plurality of stud locator markings including a visual marking indicator associated directly with said front surface of said pre-marked elongate piece of lumbers said plurality of stud locator markings being visually conspicuous so as to quickly catch a viewer's eye.    
   
   
       26 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 25  wherein said stud locator markings extend substantially across a full width of said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber, said framing lumber product being devoid of other marking indicators which extend more than half way across the width of the elongate piece of lumber whereby said stud locator markings can be readily visually distinguished from any such other marking indicators by appearance differences which are, not color differences.  
   
   
       27 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 25  wherein said trailing edge of a first of said stud locator markings is separated from said leading edge of a second of said stud locator markings by a first distance, whereby when a first stud is properly mounted to said pre-marked framing lumber product at said first stud locator marking and a second stud is properly mounted to said pre-marked framing lumber product at said second stud locator marking, said first and second studs define a second distance therebetween, and said second distance is greater than said first distance whereby at least a portion of each of said first and second stud locator markings remain visible while said first and second studs are mounted upon said pre-marked framing lumber product.  
   
   
       28 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 27  wherein a standard dimension stud can be placed on said front surface of said elongated piece of lumber, at one of said stud locator markings, so that neither of said leading edge and said trailing edge is completely covered on said respective surface.  
   
   
       29 . A pre-marked framing lumber product comprising: 
 a) a pre-marked elongate piece of lumber having a first end, a second end, a length between said first and second ends, a front surface, a back surface, and opposing sides extending between said front and back surfaces along the length thereof, and thickness dimensions between said front and back surfaces and between said opposing sides thereof;    b) a plurality of stud locator markings spaced apart from each other along the length of said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber on said front surface of said pre-marked piece of lumber, each of said stud locator markings including a leading edge and a trailing edge, with said trailing edge of a first of said stud locator markings being disposed toward a second of said stud locator markings, and with said leading edge of said second stud locator marking being disposed toward said first stud locator marking, said leading edge and said trailing edge, on a given one of said stud locator markings, being separated by a distance generally defined by at least a standard nominal stud thickness;    c) each of said stud locator markings being spaced from each other along the length of said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber by at least one of a limited number of pre-determined standard stud spacings; and    d) each of said stud locator markings having been associated directly with said pre-marked elongate piece of lumber by a process selected from the group consisting of: 
 i) using a machine printing process to print ink directly on said elongate piece of lumber, thereby to develop said markings directly on said framing lumber product,  
 ii) mechanically cutting such markings into said elongate piece of lumber,  
 iii) burning such markings into said elongate piece of lumber, and  
 iv) chemically treating said elongate piece of lumber so as to produce said markings.  
   
   
   
       30 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 29  wherein said plurality of stud locator markings are spaced from each other by distances of one of about 8 inches, about 16 inches, and about 24 inches, leading edge-to-leading edge.  
   
   
       31 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 29  wherein variations in spacing between said plurality of stud locator markings on said framing lumber product and from unit of product to unit of product, being consistently no more than 0.13 inches from leading edge-to-leading edge.  
   
   
       32 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 29  further including sets of two side-by-side stud locator markings arranged along the length of said pre-marked framing lumber product.  
   
   
       33 . The pre-marked framing lumber product as recited in  claim 29  wherein said framing lumber product is substantially devoid of any locations marking indicators situated away from said plurality of stud locator markings.