Installation Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel tongue and groove installation device. The device allows a single person to install tongue and groove ceiling boards without the assistance of another. The device comprises a first holding component and a second holding component spaced apart, with a spacer component positioned at one end, between the first and second holding components. The space component is secured at one end, leaving the second end of the first and second holding components open. Typically, the length of the first and second holding components is longer than a width of a tongue and groove ceiling board. Further, the thickness of the spacer component is greater than the thickness of a tongue and groove ceiling board, such that the device slides onto the board with ease.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tongue and groove installation device that allows a user to install a plurality of tongue and groove ceiling boards without assistance from another, the tongue and groove installation device comprising:
 a first holding component;   a second holding component secured to the first holding component; and   a spacer component secured between the first holding component and the second holding component;   wherein the user slides the tongue and groove installation device over a combined width of an uninstalled ceiling board and multiple installed ceiling boards;   wherein the tongue and groove installation device is a support system for the plurality of tongue and groove ceiling boards during installation; and   further wherein the tongue and groove installation device allows the user to tap and nail the uninstalled ceiling board into place, without having to simultaneously hold the uninstalled ceiling board over the user.   
     
     
         2 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 1 , wherein the first holding component and the second holding component are configured in a spaced apart relationship. 
     
     
         3 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 2  wherein the spacer component is positioned at a first end of each of the first and the second holding components and is positioned between the first and the second holding components. 
     
     
         4 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 3 , wherein the first and the second holding components are configured parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 4 , wherein a size and a shape of the first and the second holding components is approximately the same. 
     
     
         6 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 5 , wherein the first and the second holding components are detachably connected to the spacer component by a plurality of fasteners, in such a way that the first and the second holding components create vertically upright end walls at opposite ends of the spacer component. 
     
     
         7 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 6 , wherein a length of the first and the second holding components is longer than a combined width of the plurality of tongue and groove ceiling boards, such that when the tongue and groove installation device is inserted onto the uninstalled ceiling board, it also slides over multiple installed ceiling boards to retain the uninstalled ceiling board against the multiple installed ceiling boards. 
     
     
         8 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 7 , wherein the spacer component is secured to an interior surface of each of the first and the second holding components. 
     
     
         9 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 8 , wherein the spacer component is secured at the first end of the first and the second holding components, leaving a second end of each of the first and the second holding components open, thereby allowing the plurality of tongue and groove ceiling boards to be inserted into the second end and retained. 
     
     
         10 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 9 , wherein a thickness of the spacer component is greater than a thickness of the tongue and groove ceiling board, such that the tongue and groove installation device slides onto the tongue and groove ceiling board with ease. 
     
     
         11 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 10 , wherein the spacer component and each of the first and the second holding components are integrated into a single unitary body. 
     
     
         12 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer component is a block that acts to space apart the first and the second holding components by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         13 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer component is a clamp that allows the first and the second holding components to be spaced apart when an end is pressed together. 
     
     
         14 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of each of the first and the second holding components are lined with a soft material to protect against scuffing or scratching of the installed and uninstalled tongue and groove ceiling boards. 
     
     
         15 . A tongue and groove installation device that allows a user to install a plurality of tongue and groove ceiling boards without assistance of another, the tongue and groove installation device comprising:
 a first holding component;   second holding component secured to the first holding component in a parallel configuration; and   a spacer component secured between the first holding component and the second holding component;   wherein the spacer component is secured to an interior surface of each of the first and the second holding components;   wherein the spacer component is secured at a first end of each of the first and the second holding components, leaving a second end of each of the first and the second holding components open and allowing the plurality of tongue and groove ceiling boards to be inserted into the second end and retained;   wherein a thickness of the spacer component is greater than a thickness of the tongue and groove ceiling board, such that the tongue and groove installation device slides onto the tongue and groove ceiling board with ease;   wherein the user slides the tongue and groove installation device over a combined width of an uninstalled ceiling board and multiple installed ceiling boards;   wherein a length of each of the first and the second holding components is longer than a combined width of the plurality of tongue and groove ceiling boards, such that when the tongue and groove installation device is inserted onto the uninstalled ceiling board, it also slides over multiple installed ceiling boards to retain the uninstalled ceiling board against the multiple installed ceiling boards; and   further wherein the tongue and groove installation device allows the user to tap and nail the uninstalled ceiling board into place, without having to simultaneously and manually support the uninstalled ceiling board.   
     
     
         16 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of indicia. 
     
     
         17 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 15 , wherein an interior surface of each of the first and the second holding components is lined with a soft material to protect against scuffing or scratching of the installed and uninstalled tongue and groove ceiling boards. 
     
     
         18 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first and the second holding components are detachably connected to the spacer component by fasteners, in such a way that the first and the second holding components create vertically upright end walls at opposite ends of the spacer component. 
     
     
         19 . The tongue and groove installation device of  claim 15 , wherein the spacer component and each of the first and the second holding components are integrated into a single unitary body. 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing tongue and groove ceiling boards without the assistance of another, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tongue and groove installation device comprising a first holding component and a second holding component with a spacer component positioned at a first end of each of the first and second holding components and therebetween;   positioning an uninstalled ceiling board in place next to an installed ceiling board;   sliding a device onto an end of the uninstalled board, such that the device slides over a width of the uninstalled board and the installed board next to it;   sliding a second device onto a second end of the uninstalled board, such that the second device slides over a width of the uninstalled board and the installed board next to it;   securing the uninstalled board in place via a securing means; and   removing the devices and positioning another uninstalled ceiling board in place.