Panel Framing Device and Method of Use

Abstract

This invention is directed toward a panel framing device. The device comprises a portable framing table that can be driven in a trailer to remote locations and a pre-printed roll of framing tape that is used to tell a worker where different parts of a framed panel will go. The goal of the device is to facilitate the building of structures using a panel approach, with the framing table and template tape minimizing the chances that a worker will make a mistake in either the selection of materials or the location of the materials. The technology can also be used to construct entire walls, which are then either transported to the site, or merely “tilted-up” into place, having been constructed on the slab.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A panel comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, a plurality of studs, a header, a plurality of fasteners, a wall surface, and a tape, wherein the tape comprises a first half and a second half, where each half comprises stud placement indicia, wall surface placement indicia, header placement indicia, and fastener placement indicia, where the first half of the tape is attached to the top plate, and where the second half of the tape is attached to the bottom plate, where the stud placement indicia are mirrored between the first half and the second half of the tape, where the plurality of studs each has a width, where the width of each half of the tape fits the width of each of the plurality of studs. 
     
     
         2 . The construction panel of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener placement indicia comprises anchor bolt placement indicia in the second half, and where the fastener placement indicia does not comprise anchor bolt placement indicia in the first half. 
     
     
         3 . The construction panel of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener placement indicia comprises nailing instructions. 
     
     
         4 . The construction panel of  claim 1 , wherein each half of the tape further comprises cripple and sill placement indicia. 
     
     
         5 . The construction panel of  claim 1 , wherein each half of the tape further comprises electrical box placement indicia. 
     
     
         6 . The construction panel of  claim 1 , wherein the header is a pre-build header. 
     
     
         7 . The construction panel of  claim 1 , wherein the wall surface is an oriented strand board. 
     
     
         8 . The construction panel of  claim 1 , wherein each half of the tape further comprises backing board placement indicia. 
     
     
         9 . The construction panel of  claim 1 , where the tape further comprises a distortion-resistant material selected from the group consisting of Mylar, vinyl, paper, and cloth. 
     
     
         10 . A method of constructing a panel comprising the steps of
 applying a tape along the length of a bottom plate, where the tape comprises indicia for placement of studs, a header, and fasteners;   applying a second tape along the length of a top plate, where the second tape comprises indicia for placement of studs, a pre-build header, and fasteners;   fastening the studs to the bottom plate according to the indicia on the tape;   fastening the studs to the top plate according to the indicia on the second tape; and   fastening the pre-build header to the bottom plate according to the indicia on the tape.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the tape further comprises indicia for placement of an oriented strand board. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of fastening the oriented strand board to one or more of the studs, the bottom plate, or both according to the indicia for placement of an oriented strand board. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the tape further comprises indicia for placement of an electrical box. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of fastening the electrical box to one of the studs according to the indicia for placement of an electrical box. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the tape further comprises indicia for placement of an anchor bolt. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of securing the bottom plate to a surface using an anchor bolt according to the indicia for placement of an anchor bolt. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the tape further comprises indicia for placement of a backing board. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of fastening the backing board to at least one of the studs according to the indicia for placement of an anchor bolt. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of cutting the tape before it is applied to the bottom plate. 
     
     
         20 . A tilt-up wall panel comprising a wall surface, a pre-build header, a plurality of fasteners, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a tape, wherein the tape comprises two halves separated by a line, where each half comprises color-coded indicia, where the color coded indicia comprises stud placement indicia, wall surface placement indicia, pre-build header placement indicia, and fastener indicia, where the fastener placement indicia comprises nailing instructions, where one of the two halves is attached to the top plate, and where the other of the two halves is attached to the bottom plate, where the stud placement indicia are mirrored between each of the halves, where at least one of the two halves further comprises anchor bolt placement indicia and electrical box placement indicia.