Pictorial markings on construction materials for speed

Abstract

A set of construction material elements including gypsum board, plywood, studs, tracks and cement boards each contain markings on a front and rear face. The markings comprise a plurality of series of symbols including a first and second series of symbols that appear on the face at regular repeating intervals, such as every 12 or 16 inches aligned along a horizontal line, the first and second series being substantially parallel spaced a few inches away from one another. The symbols may be combinations of dots and bars wherein each dot represents an interval of one unit, and each bar represents an interval of five units. Each construction material element may also have a first series of numerals in ascending order at regular repeating intervals around a perimeter of the face and a second series of numerals in descending order at regular repeating intervals around the perimeter.

1 . Construction material, comprising:
 a construction material element having a face, the face containing markings that include a first series of numerals in ascending order at regular repeating intervals around a perimeter of the face, a second series of numerals in descending order at regular repeating intervals around the perimeter, the second series spaced apart from the first series, the markings also including a series of lines of varying length situated perpendicular to a direction of the first and second series,   a series of symbols, the symbols being combinations of dots and bars wherein each dot represents an interval of one unit, and each bar represents an interval of five units.   
   
   
       2 . The construction material of  claim 1 , wherein the construction material element is a member of the group consisting of gypsum board, plywood, piping, studs, tracks and cement board. 
   
   
       3 . The construction material of  claim 1 , wherein the symbols appear at regular repeating intervals of approximately 16 inches beginning at an edge of the face and wherein the symbols appear at a one inch point from the edge. 
   
   
       4 . The construction material of  claim 1 , wherein the symbols appear at regular repeating intervals of approximately 16 inches beginning at an edge of the face and at regular repeating intervals of approximately 12 inches. 
   
   
       5 . The construction material of  claim 1 , wherein the construction material element has at least two faces containing the markings. 
   
   
       6 . The construction material of  claim 1 , wherein corners of the construction material element are free of markings. 
   
   
       7 . The construction material of  claim 6 , wherein the corners are approximately three and one half inches by approximately three and one half inches. 
   
   
       8 . The construction material of  claim 1 , wherein no numerals in either the first or second series appear corresponding to points at which the symbols appear. 
   
   
       9 . The construction material of  claim 1 , wherein the series of symbols is positioned between the first series and the second series. 
   
   
       10 . Construction material, comprising:
 a set of construction material elements, including at least gypsum board, each element having a face, the face containing an array of symbols including at least two rows of symbols, the symbols appearing at regular repeating intervals aligned along a line, the at least two rows being substantially parallel, the symbols being combinations of dots and bars wherein each dot represents an interval of one unit, and each bar represents an interval of five units.   
   
   
       11 . The construction material of  claim 10 , wherein the symbols are spaced at intervals of approximately 12 inches in at least one row and wherein the symbols are spaced at intervals of approximately 16 inches in at least one row. 
   
   
       12 . The construction material of  claim 11 , wherein for each first series of symbols on the face there is a second series of symbols also appearing on the face, the first and second series being within approximately six inches of one another. 
   
   
       13 . The construction material of  claim 10 , wherein the symbols appear at regular repeating intervals of approximately 16 inches and at regular repeating intervals of approximately 12 inches. 
   
   
       14 . The construction material of  claim 10 , wherein four corners of the gypsum board and four corners of the plywood are free of markings. 
   
   
       15 . The construction material of  claim 10 , wherein the rows of symbols appearing on the face at regular repeating intervals are aligned along a vertical line. 
   
   
       16 . Construction material, comprising:
 a layer of gypsum board having a face;   a thin transparent film strip on the gypsum board in adhering relation thereto, the film strip containing markings that include a first series of numerals in ascending order at regular repeating intervals around a perimeter of the film, a second series of numerals in descending order at regular repeating intervals around the perimeter, the second series spaced apart from the first series, the markings also including a series of lines of varying length situated perpendicular to a direction of the first and second series,   a series of symbols positioned between the first series and the second series, the symbols being combinations of dots and bars wherein each dot represents an interval of one unit, and each bar represents an interval of five units.   
   
   
       17 . The construction material of  claim 16 , wherein the transparent film strip is coextensive horizontally and vertically with the gypsum board.