String Dispensing Assembly For Use In Connection With Ceiling Installation

Abstract

A string dispensing assembly is provided comprising a housing having opposed first and second housing ends that define first and second housing openings that lead to a housing interior in which a string supply is stored. A first engagement support member extends outwardly from the housing and has opposed convex and concave sides that extend to an engagement tab. The engagement tab is folded in on itself in such a way that the engagement tab faces the concave side of the first support member. End and feed caps close the second and first openings and a string from the string supply extends through the first housing opening and abuts the housing and feed cap. The engagement tab is adapted to be secured to a main runner folded portion of a first wall angle thus securing the housing, and the string is for aligning and squaring purposes.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A string dispensing assembly comprising:
 a housing having a first housing end that defines a first housing opening, and has an opposed second housing end that defines a second housing opening and wherein the first and second housing openings lead to a housing interior, and the housing has opposed interior and exterior housing surfaces;   the housing also having a first support member that extends outwardly from the exterior housing surface along a first bent portion, and the first support member has opposed convex and concave surfaces that extend to a first engagement tab and the first engagement tab is folded in on itself in such a way that the first engagement tab faces the concave surface of the first support member, and wherein the first engagement tab and the concave surface of the first support member that it faces define a first engagement slot.   
     
     
         2 . The string dispensing assembly comprising according to  claim 1  wherein the housing has a cutting tab and the cutting tab extends outwardly from the exterior housing surface. 
     
     
         3 . The string dispensing assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the housing has a cylindrical shape and further including an end cap and a feed cap and the end cap has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the second housing opening and the end cap is fitted in the second housing opening and the feed cap has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the first housing opening and the feed cap is fitted in the first housing opening. 
     
     
         4 . The string dispensing assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the feed cap is made of from a flexible resilient material that includes at least the following: rubber, silicone; and flexible resilient plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The string dispensing assembly according to  claim 3  further including a string supply that is positioned in the housing interior and wherein a string extends from the string supply and the string abuts against the feed cap and abuts interior housing surface such that the string can be manually pulled out of housing without retracting back into the housing after being pulled out of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The string dispensing assembly according to  claim 5  wherein the cutting tab has a cutting edge and the cutting edge is for cutting the string after the string has been pulled the string supply. 
     
     
         7 . The string dispensing assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the first engagement tab is adapted to be hooked on a main runner folded portion of a first wall angle that is supported on the first sidewall of a room, such that the string can be pulled from the housing without the housing moving. 
     
     
         8 . The string dispensing assembly according to  claim 1  further including a second support member that extends outwardly from the exterior housing surface along a second bent portion, and the second support member has opposed convex and concave surfaces that extend to a second engagement tab and the second engagement tab is folded in on itself in such a way that the second engagement tab faces the concave surface of the second support member; and,
 wherein the second engagement tab and the concave surface of the second engagement tab that it faces define a second engagement slot. 
 
     
     
         9 . The string dispensing assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the housing has a tapered portion that extends from the second housing end.