Support apparatus for work on joists

Abstract

The support apparatus is principally directed to a planar structure which will support a workman when working above a ceiling with steps provided only by joists. The support apparatus is planar having handles at each side and each end. The apparatus folds about a hinge which is intermediate the ends. Notches at the bottom side are spaced to standard residential construction for joists to give the support apparatus greater stability when in use.

1 . A support apparatus ( 1 ) comprising:
 a. a planar structure having a top side ( 100 ), a bottom side ( 600 ), a first side ( 110 ), a second side ( 120 ), a first end ( 130 ) and a second end ( 140 );   b. a handle ( 200 ) at the first side ( 110 ) extending outwardly respectfully from the first side ( 110 ); a handle ( 200 ) at the second side ( 120 ) extending outwardly from the second side ( 120 ); at least one handle aperture ( 210 ) from the top side ( 100 ) to the bottom side ( 600 ) at each of the handles ( 200 ) proximal the respective first side ( 110 ) and the second side ( 120 );   c. a handle ( 200 ) at the first end ( 130 ) and at the second end ( 140 ), at least one handle aperture ( 210 ) from the top side ( 100 ) to the bottom side ( 600 ) at each of the handles ( 200 ) proximal the respective first end ( 130 ) and the second end ( 140 );   d. a longitudinal axis ( 400 ) centrally positioned from the first end ( 130 ) to the second end ( 140 ); the apparatus ( 1 ) is either comprised of a single planar part ( 170 ) or the apparatus has a first part ( 150 ) and a second part ( 160 ); the first part ( 150 ) extends from the first end ( 130 ) toward the second end ( 140 ) and terminates intermediate the first end ( 130 ) and the second end ( 140 ); the second part ( 160 ) extends from the second end ( 140 ) toward the first end ( 130 ) and terminates intermediate the first end ( 130 ) and the second end ( 140 );   e. when the apparatus is composed of a first part ( 150 ) and a second part ( 160 ) a hinge ( 410 ) joins the first part ( 150 ) and the second part ( 160 ) intermediate the first end ( 130 ) and the second end ( 140 ); the hinge ( 410 ) is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis ( 400 ); the hinge ( 410 ) is affixed to the first part ( 150 ) and the second part ( 160 ) to enable the folding of the first part ( 150 ) relative to the second part ( 160 ) to cause the bottom side ( 600 ) of the first part ( 150 ) to face the bottom side ( 600 ) of the second part ( 160 ) and to prevent the folding of the first part ( 150 ) relative to the second part ( 160 ) to cause the top side ( 100 ) of the first part ( 150 ) to face the top side ( 100 ) of the second part ( 160 ); the hinge ( 410 ) is formed to prevent the apparatus ( 1 ) from folding when the apparatus ( 1 ) is unfolded and in use;   f. when the apparatus ( 1 ) is folded the at least one handle aperture ( 210 ) at the first part ( 150 ) is aligned with the at least one handle aperture ( 210 ) at the second part ( 160 );   g. at least one magnet ( 500 ) at the top side ( 100 ) and or at the bottom side ( 600 ); a bottom side structural support ( 610 ) at the bottom side ( 600 ); the apparatus ( 1 ) having a depth ( 605 ) from the top side ( 100 ) to the bottom side ( 600 ); at least one joist notch ( 700 ) extending from the bottom side ( 600 ) toward and proximal the top side ( 100 ); the at least one joist notch ( 700 ) is orthogonal to the axis ( 400 ), extends from the first side ( 110 ) to the second side ( 120 ) and is shaped and dimensioned to receive an upstanding joist.   
   
   
       2 . A support apparatus ( 1 ) comprising:
 a. a planar structure having a top side ( 100 ), a bottom side ( 600 ), a first side ( 110 ), a second side ( 120 ), a first end ( 130 ) and a second end ( 140 ); the apparatus ( 1 ) having a depth ( 605 ) from the top side ( 100 ) to the bottom side ( 600 );   b. a handle ( 200 ) at either or both of the first side ( 110 ) and the second side ( 120 ) and or a handle ( 200 ) at the first end ( 130 ) and or at the second end ( 140 ); the handle ( 200 ) at the first side ( 110 ) and or at the second side ( 120 ) and or the handle at the first end ( 130 ) and or at the second end ( 140 ) having at least one handle aperture ( 210 ) from the top side ( 100 ) to the bottom side ( 600 ) proximal the respective first side ( 110 ) and or the second side ( 120 ) and or the first end ( 130 ) and or the second end ( 140 );   c. a longitudinal axis ( 400 ) centrally positioned from the first end ( 130 ) to the second end ( 140 ); the apparatus ( 1 ) is either comprised of a single planar part ( 170 ) or the apparatus has a first part ( 150 ) and a second part ( 160 ); the first part ( 150 ) extends from the first end ( 130 ) toward the second end ( 140 ) and terminates intermediate the first end ( 130 ) and the second end ( 140 ); the second part ( 160 ) extends from the second end ( 140 ) toward the first end ( 130 ) and terminates intermediate the first end ( 130 ) and the second end ( 140 );   d. when the apparatus is composed of a first part ( 150 ) and a second part ( 160 ) a hinge ( 410 ) joins the first part ( 150 ) and the second part ( 160 ) intermediate the first end ( 130 ) and the second end ( 140 ); the hinge ( 410 ) is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis ( 400 ); the hinge ( 410 ) is affixed to the first part ( 150 ) and the second part ( 160 ) to enable the folding of the first part ( 150 ) relative to the second part ( 160 ) to cause the bottom side ( 600 ) of the first part ( 150 ) to be rotated to face the bottom side ( 600 ) of the second part ( 160 ) and to prevent the folding of the first part ( 150 ) relative to the second part ( 160 ) to cause the top side ( 100 ) of the first part ( 150 ) to be rotated to face the top side ( 100 ) of the second part ( 160 ); the hinge ( 410 ) is formed to prevent the apparatus ( 1 ) from folding when the apparatus ( 1 ) is unfolded and in use.   
   
   
       3 . A support apparatus of claim ( 1 ) further comprising:
 a. a handle ( 200 ) at the first side ( 110 ) and or at the second side ( 120 ) and or at the first end ( 130 ) and or at the second end ( 140 ) extending outwardly respectfully from the first side ( 110 ) or the second side ( 120 ) or the first end ( 130 ) or the second end ( 140 ); a handle ( 200 ) at the second side ( 120 ) extending outwardly from the second side ( 120 ); at least one handle aperture ( 210 ) from the top side ( 100 ) to the bottom side ( 600 ) at each of the handles ( 200 ) proximal the respective first side ( 110 ) and the second side ( 120 );   b. at least one magnet ( 500 ) at the top side ( 100 ) and or at the bottom side ( 600 ); at least one joist notch ( 700 ) extending from the bottom side ( 600 ) toward and proximal the top side ( 100 ); the at least one joist notch ( 700 ) is orthogonal to the axis ( 400 ) and extends from the first side ( 110 ) to the second side ( 120 ).   
   
   
       4 . A support apparatus of claim ( 2 ) further comprising:
 a. the apparatus ( 1 ) is formed of rigid materials including wood, metal and plastics and may be formed from injection molding processes; the hinge may be formed of flexible or rigid materials including canvas, metal, and plastics;   b. the at least one joist notch ( 700 ) is shaped to securely receive at upstanding member.   
   
   
       5 . A support apparatus of claim ( 4 ) further comprising:
 a. the at least one joist notch ( 700 ) is shaped to receive an upstanding joist; b. the at least one joist notch ( 700 ) is comprised of at least two joist notches ( 700 ) spaced apart in accordance with construction standards for ceiling joists;   b. when the apparatus ( 1 ) is folded the at least one handle aperture ( 210 ) at the first part ( 150 ) is aligned with the at least one handle aperture ( 210 ) at the second part ( 160 );   c. a bottom side structural support ( 610 ) at the bottom side ( 600 ).   
   
   
       6 . A support apparatus of claim ( 5 ) further comprising:
 a. the at least two joist notches ( 700 ) are spaced apart 24″; the bottom side structural support ( 610 ) is comprised of stiffeners extending downwardly from the bottom side ( 600 ).