Tool for installing large sheets of material on a ceiling and method

Abstract

A tool for installing sheets of drywall and the like on a ceiling has a base with a pivot member thereon. The tool can be mounted on a ceiling joist and pivots between an open and closed position.

1 . A tool for use in manually installing large sheets of material on a ceiling, said ceiling having a plurality of supports thereon, said supports being spaced to receive a width of said sheets substantially from center to center of two or more supports, said tool comprising a base and a pivot member pivotally connected to said base, said pivot member having a free end extending beyond said base, said base being removably connected to a support, said pivot member being rotatable by at least 90° relative to said base, said base being removably connectable to one of said supports, said base being above said pivot member when said base is connected to one of said supports, said base and said pivot member being sized and shaped so that a vertical distance from a top of said base to a top of said free end of said pivot member is at least equal to a thickness of one sheet of material, said tool having an open position to receive said one sheet of material and a closed position to support said one sheet of material. 
   
   
       2 . A tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said pivot member has two levels, a higher level in an area of said base and a lower level in an area beyond said base. 
   
   
       3 . A tool as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said pivot member is pivotally connected to said base at a pivot point. 
   
   
       4 . A tool as claimed in  claim 3  wherein there is an opening through said pivot point through which said tool can be affixed to said supports. 
   
   
       5 . A tool as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said pivot member has a pivot end opposite to said free end, said pivot end and said free end being separated by two substantially 90° bends so that said free end is substantially parallel to said pivot end. 
   
   
       6 . A tool as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said pivot member has a pivot end opposite to said free end, said free end being at a lower level than said pivot end when said tool is in an upright position, there being two 90° bends in said pivot member between said free end and said pivot end. 
   
   
       7 . A tool as claimed in  claim 4  wherein there is a handle extending downward from said free end. 
   
   
       8 . A tool as claimed in  claim 4  wherein there are two tools used with each sheet. 
   
   
       9 . A tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are retainers located to support a first side of said sheet with said tool supporting the second side of said sheet. 
   
   
       10 . A tool for use in manually installing large sheets of material on a ceiling, said ceiling having a plurality of supports thereon, said supports being spaced to receive a width of said sheet substantially from center to center of two or more supports, said sheets having a thickness, said tool comprising of a base and a pivot member pivotally connected to said base, said pivot member being pivotable between an open position and a closed position relative to said base, a vertical distance between a lower surface of said base and an upper surface of an outer portion of said pivot member being at least equal to said thickness of said sheets to support said sheet adjacent said supports in said closed position. 
   
   
       11 . A tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are two tools for each sheet. 
   
   
       12 . A tool as claimed in  claim 1  wherein there are retainers located to support a first side of said sheet, with said tool supporting a second side of said sheet. 
   
   
       13 . A method of installing large sheets of material on a ceiling, said ceiling having a plurality of supports thereon, said supports being spaced to receive a width of said sheet substantially from center to center of two or more supports, said tool having a base and an elongated member pivotally connected to said base with at least two retainers that are connectable to said supports, said method comprising installing said retainers on one of said supports at a location to receive a first side of said sheet, installing said tool on a support at a location to receive a second side of said sheet, moving said tool to an open position, lifting said sheet and inserting said first side of said sheet into said retainers, raising said second side of said sheet to said supports and while holding a second side of said sheet in position, adjusting said tool from said open position to said closed position, thereby holding said sheet adjacent to said supports inserting fasteners into said sheet to permanently hold said sheet against said supports and removing said retainers and said tool.