Device for holding and positioning construction materials

Abstract

A device and method that allows the installation of construction materials, such as drywall, by a single person, is described. The device includes an extension (or hoist) section coupled at one end to a support that can receive and support a piece of drywall during installation. The extension section is further coupled to a base portion at the end opposite to the support. The base portion includes a pivot feature that serves to lift the construction materials into an elevated position once it has been positioned on the support. The extension is adjustable to install construction drywall on a stud wall at various heights. A stand member allows the drywall to be supported in the elevated position. The base portion is foldable between a transport position and an operating position to facilitate transport and shipping.

1 . A device for holding and positioning construction materials, comprising:
 a. a support for supporting the construction materials;   b. an extension section comprising an elongate tubular member and a shaft member relatively axially adjustable; and   c. a base portion comprising a pivot feature adapted to lift or hoist the construction material into an elevated position once it has been placed on the support, the pivot feature movable between a transport position and an operating position.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a stand member adapted to support the device, holding the construction material in the elevated position. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , the stand member extendable from the tubular member. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , comprising a locking mechanism for fixing the relative axial position between the stand member and the tubular member. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft member and the tubular member are telescopically disposed. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , the base portion movable between a transport position and an operating position. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , comprising locking means for locking the base portion in the transport position or the operating position. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 6 , comprising a second spring adapted to bias the base portion into the operating position. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a stabilizer adapted to support the device in a freestanding position. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , the stabilizer comprising a support plaque oriented at an approximate right angle relative to the pivot feature, the support plaque being substantially planar and extending on either side of the pivot feature. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , the stabilizer comprising the pivot feature. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , the stabilizer comprising a first spring extending between the pivot feature and the extension section. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , the support including a horizontally projecting support bearing flange. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , the support including a vertically projecting pusher flange. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 5 , the shaft member telescopically disposed in the tubular member. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 5 , the tubular member telescopically disposed in the shaft member. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a locking mechanism for fixing the relative axial position between the tubular member and the shaft member. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 1 , the pivot feature comprising an elevation element disposed at a position that is approximately within a middle ⅓ portion of the pivot feature. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1 , the pivot feature comprising an elevation element disposed at a distance that is approximately ⅓ the distance from the extension section and approximately ⅔ the distance from the proximal end of the pivot feature. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 1 , the extension section adapted to position the support at an elevated position between about 42″ (1050 mm) and about 60″ (1525 mm). 
   
   
       21 . A device for holding and positioning construction materials, comprising:
 a. a support for supporting the construction materials;   b. an extension section comprising an elongate tubular member and a shaft member relatively axially adjustable;   c. a base portion comprising a pivot feature adapted to lift or hoist the construction material into an elevated position once it has been placed on the support; and   d. a stand member adapted to support the device, holding the construction material in the elevated position.   
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21 , the pivot feature movable between a transport position and an operating position. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 21 , the stand member extendable from the tubular member. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 21 , comprising a locking mechanism for fixing the relative axial position between the stand member and the tubular member. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the shaft member and the tubular member are telescopically disposed. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 22 , the base portion movable between a transport position and an operating position. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , comprising locking means for locking the base portion in the transport position or the operating position. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 26 , comprising a second spring adapted to bias the base portion into the operating position. 
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 21 , comprising a stabilizer adapted to support the device in a freestanding position. 
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 29 , the stabilizer comprising a support plaque oriented at an approximate right angle relative to the pivot feature, the support plaque being substantially planar and extending on either side of the pivot feature. 
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 29 , the stabilizer comprising the pivot feature. 
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 29 , the stabilizer comprising a first spring extending between the pivot feature and the extension section. 
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 21 , the support including a horizontally projecting support bearing flange. 
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 21 , the support including a vertically projecting pusher flange. 
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 25 , the shaft member telescopically disposed in the tubular member. 
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 25 , the tubular member telescopically disposed in the shaft member. 
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 21 , comprising a locking mechanism for fixing the relative axial position between the tubular member and the shaft member. 
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 21 , the pivot feature comprising an elevation element disposed at a position that is approximately within a middle ⅓ portion of the pivot feature. 
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 21 , the pivot feature comprising an elevation element disposed at a distance that is approximately ⅓ the distance from the extension section and approximately ⅔ the distance from the proximal end of the pivot feature. 
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 21 , the extension section adapted to position the support at an elevated position between about 42″ (1050 mm) and about 60″ (1525 mm). 
   
   
       41 . A device for holding and positioning construction materials comprising:
 a. a support for supporting the construction materials;   b. an extension section comprising an elongate tubular member and a shaft member telescopically disposed within said tubular member, a locking mechanism for fixing the relative axial position between the tubular member and the shaft member;   c. a base portion comprising a pivot feature adapted to lift or hoist the construction material into an elevated position once it has been placed on the support for positioning against a wall, the base portion movable between a transport position and an operating position, the base portion comprising a support plaque oriented at an approximate right angle relative to the pivot feature, the support plaque being substantially planar and extending on either side of the pivot feature;   d. a stand member adapted to support the device, holding the construction material in the elevated position; and   e. locking means for locking the base portion in the transport position or the operating position.   
   
   
       42 . A method for holding and positioning a construction material comprising:
 a. providing the device of  claim 1 ;   b. supporting the construction material on the device; and   c. lifting or hoisting the construction material into an elevated position using the pivot feature.   
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising moving the base portion between a transport position and an operating position. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising providing a stand member associated with the device and using the stand member to hold the construction material in the elevated position. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the construction material is drywall.