Frame hanger jig apparatus

Abstract

A frame hanger jig apparatus includes generally parallel spaced-apart first and second jig side members (each side member defined by a first end, a second end, and a first edge), and a jig bottom member connecting the jig side members together at the first ends of the jig side members. A first jig support member is attached to the second end of the first jig side member, the first jig support member being essentially orthogonally oriented with respect to the first jig side member. The first jig support member includes a first jig support member portion which extends beyond the first edge of the first jig side member. The first ends of the jig side members are connected to the jig bottom member to allow a spring biased spread between the first and second ends of the jig side members of at least 20 degrees.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A frame hanger jig apparatus comprising:
 a first jig side member and a second jig side member, each jig side member being defined by a first end and a second end, and each jig side member being further defined by a first edge and a second edge;   a jig bottom member connecting the first and second jig side members together at the first ends of the jig side members to therefore place the jig side members in a generally parallel spaced-apart relationship;   a first jig support member attached to the second end of the first jig side member, the first jig support member being essentially orthogonally oriented with respect to the first jig side member, the first jig support member including a first jig support member portion which extends beyond the first edge of the first jig side member; and   wherein the first ends of the jig side members are connected to the jig bottom member to allow a spring biased spread between the first ends of the jig side members and the second ends of the jig side members of at least 20 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising a second jig support member attached to the second end of the second jig side member, the second jig support member being essentially orthogonally oriented with respect to the second jig side member, the second jig support member including a second jig support member portion which extends beyond the first edge of the second jig side member. 
     
     
         3 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 1  and wherein the first and second jig side members, and the jig bottom member, are formed from a single piece of material having spring properties to thereby provide the spring biased spread between the first ends of the jig side members and the second ends of the jig side members. 
     
     
         4 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 1  and wherein:
 each jig side member is further defined by an inner surface, such that the inner surfaces of the first and second jig side members are placed in generally parallel and spaced-apart relationship to one another; and 
 the apparatus further comprises a tensioning means configured to bring together the second ends of the jig side members against an opposing outward-spreading force applied to the inner surfaces of the jig side members and against the spring biased spread between the first ends of the jig side members and the second ends of the jig side members. 
 
     
     
         5 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 4  and wherein the tensioning means comprises a tensioning bolt which is passed between tensioning member holes located in the jig side members proximate to the second ends of the jig side members, the tensioning means further comprising a nut configured to be applied to a threaded end of the tensioning bolt. 
     
     
         6 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 4  and further wherein:
 the jig side members define there-within at least one set of generally horizontally aligned restricting pin holes; and 
 the frame hanger jig apparatus further comprises a restricting pin configured to be placed between the restricting pin holes in order to provide a resting area for a frame member support member of a frame hanger. 
 
     
     
         7 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 4  and further wherein:
 the jig side members define there-within a plurality of sets of generally horizontally aligned restricting pin holes; and 
 the apparatus further comprises a restricting pin configured to be placed between any given set of the restricting pin holes in order to provide a resting area for a frame member support member of a frame hanger. 
 
     
     
         8 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 7  and wherein the plurality of sets of generally horizontally aligned restricting pin holes in the jig side members are spaced apart within each of the jig side members by a dimension corresponding to a nominal incremental dimension for a set of finish lumber sizes. 
     
     
         9 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 8  and wherein the plurality of sets of generally horizontally aligned restricting pin holes in the jig side members comprise three sets of restricting pin holes, each restricting pin hole defined by a top edge which is proximate to the second end of the jig side members, and wherein:
 a dimension between an inside surface of the jig lower member and the second ends of the jig side members is about 11.5 inches; 
 the top edges of a first set of the restricting pin holes are about 9¼ inches from the seconds of the jig side members; 
 the top edges of a second set of the restricting pin holes are about 7¼ inches from the seconds of the jig side members; and 
 the top edges of a third set of the restricting pin holes are about 5½ inches from the seconds of the jig side members. 
 
     
     
         10 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 4  and wherein the jig side member inner surfaces are spaced-apart from one another, and in the absence of the tensioning means, a spatial relationship of the inner surfaces of the jig side members is defined by a first dimension between the jig side members at the first ends of the jig side members, and a second dimension between the jig side members at the second ends of the jig side members, and further wherein the first and second dimensions are selected such that a frame hanger will be captured between the inner surfaces of the jig side members when placed there-between. 
     
     
         11 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 10  and wherein the first dimension between the jig side members at the first ends of the jig side members is about 2 inches, and the second dimension between the jig side members at the second ends of the jig side members is about 2 3/16 inches, in the absence of the tensioning means. 
     
     
         12 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 2  and wherein the first and second jig side members, the jig bottom member, and the first and second jig support members are formed from a single piece of material having spring properties to therefore provide the spring biased spread between the first ends of the jig side members and the second ends of the jig side members. 
     
     
         13 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 12  and wherein the first and second jig side members, the jig bottom member, and the first and second jig support members are formed from a single piece of steel. 
     
     
         14 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 12  and wherein the first and second jig side members, the jig bottom member, and the first and second jig support members are formed from a single piece of plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 6  and wherein the restricting pin includes a restricting pin securing means configured to releasably retain the restricting pin within the restricting pin holes. 
     
     
         16 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 15  and wherein the restricting pin securing means comprises a spring-loaded ball bearing captured within the restricting pin proximate one end of the restricting pin. 
     
     
         17 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 15  and wherein the restricting pin securing means is located in the restricting pin to allow limited movement of the restricting pin within the restricting pin holes in a direction parallel to the jig bottom member. 
     
     
         18 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 15  and wherein the first jig support member defines therein a restricting pin storage hole configured to receive the restricting pin and to retain the restricting pin therein by the restricting pin securing means. 
     
     
         19 . A frame hanger jig apparatus comprising:
 a first jig side member and a second jig side member, each jig side member being defined by a first end and a second end, and each jig side member being further defined by a first edge and a second edge;   a jig bottom member connecting the first and second jig side members together at the first ends of the jig side members to therefore place the jig side members in a generally parallel spaced-apart relationship;   a first jig support member attached to the second end of the first jig side member, the first jig support member being essentially orthogonally oriented with respect to the first jig side member, the first jig support member including a first jig support member portion which extends beyond the first edge of the first jig side member;   a second jig support member attached to the second end of the second jig side member, the second jig support member being essentially orthogonally oriented with respect to the second jig side member, the second jig support member including a second jig support member portion which extends beyond the first edge of the second jig side member; and   wherein the first ends of the jig side members are connected to the jig bottom member to allow a spring biased spread between the first ends of the jig side members and the second ends of the jig side members of at least 5 degrees but not more than 30 degrees.   
     
     
         20 . The frame hanger jig apparatus of  claim 19  and wherein:
 each jig side member is further defined by an inner surface, such that the inner surfaces of the first and second jig side members are placed in generally parallel and spaced-apart relationship to one another; and 
 the apparatus further comprises a tensioning means configured to bring together the second ends of the jig side members against an opposing outward-spreading force applied to the inner surfaces of the jig side members and against the spring biased spread between the first ends of the jig side members and the second ends of the jig side members.