Telescopic Plank and Bracing System for Masonry Openings

Abstract

A telescopic plank and bracing system is disclosed. The system features a telescoping metal bridge designed to span horizontally across door or window openings. A welded clip is disposed at opposite ends of the metal bridge and each clip is adapted to abut against the jambs of the openings for a secure fit. A brace system is included having vertical tube braces for providing support to the metal bridge. Each brace consists of a telescoping upper component and a telescoping lower component, enabling for length adjustment to accommodate different construction scenarios. A screw sleeve positioned on each upper components secures to the bottom of the bridge and provides a stable support and connection between the metal bridge and the brace system. Base plates equipped with multiple apertures for anchoring bolts are used for providing a stable foundation to the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units, the telescopic plank and bracing system comprising:
 a telescoping metal bridge;   a horizontal telescoping plank;   a first telescoping vertical brace; and   a second telescoping vertical brace;   wherein said horizontal telescoping plank having a first end and an opposing second end;   wherein said first end having a first clip for resting on a jamb of a masonry opening;   wherein said second end having a second clip for resting on the jamb of the masonry opening;   wherein said first telescoping brace and said second telescoping brace supports a laterally positioned said horizontal telescoping plank;   wherein said first telescoping vertical brace having a first lower vertical brace member having a first plurality of lower positioning holes and a first upper vertical brace member having a first plurality of upper positioning holes;   wherein at least one pair said first plurality of lower positioning holes and at least one pair of said first plurality of upper positioning holes alignable for receiving a pin and adjusting a length of said first telescoping vertical brace;   wherein said second telescoping vertical brace having a second lower vertical brace member having a second plurality of lower positioning holes and a second upper vertical brace member having a second plurality of upper positioning holes;   wherein at least one pair of said second plurality of lower positioning holes and at least one pair of said second plurality of upper positioning holes alignable for receiving a pin and adjusting a length of said second telescoping vertical brace;   wherein said first upper vertical brace member having a first screw sleeve with a top end and a bottom end secured to a top end of said first upper vertical brace member;   wherein said top end of said first screw sleeve having a first brace plate securable to said horizontal telescoping plank;   wherein said second upper vertical brace member having a second screw sleeve with a top end and a bottom end secured to a top end of said second upper vertical brace member; and   further wherein said top end of said second screw sleeve having a second brace plate securable to said horizontal telescoping plank.   
     
     
         2 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 1 , wherein said first screw sleeve having a first adjusting pin for threadingly adjusting a height of said first screw sleeve within said first upper vertical brace member, and further wherein said second screw sleeve having a second adjusting pin for threadingly adjusting a height of said second screw sleeve within said second upper vertical brace member. 
     
     
         3 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 2 , wherein said first lower vertical brace member having a bottom end fastened to a first vertical pole member of a first base plate. 
     
     
         4 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 3 , wherein said second lower vertical brace member having a bottom end fastened to a second vertical pole member of a second base plate. 
     
     
         5 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 4 , wherein said first base plate having a plurality of apertures disposed through a first horizontal surface, and further wherein said first base plate anchored on a floor surface. 
     
     
         6 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 5 , wherein said second base plate having a plurality of apertures disposed through a second horizontal surface, and further wherein said second base plate anchored on the floor surface. 
     
     
         7 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 6 , wherein said horizontal telescoping plank having a bottom surface including a plurality of brace cut-outs, and further wherein at least one said plurality of brace cut-outs receives said first brace plate or said second brace plate. 
     
     
         8 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 7 , wherein said first brace plate, said second brace plate, said first base plate, and said second base plate are rectangular. 
     
     
         9 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of brace cut-outs is from two to four cut-outs. 
     
     
         10 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 7 , wherein said first clip is a metal angle clip and said second clip is a metal angle clip. 
     
     
         11 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 7 , wherein said telescoping metal bridge mountable in an area selected from the group consisting of a door jamb and a window frame. 
     
     
         12 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 7 , wherein said telescoping metal bridge extendable to a variety of lengths, and further wherein said variety of lengths is from 2 feet to 14 feet. 
     
     
         13 . A telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units, the telescopic plank and bracing system comprising:
 a telescoping metal bridge;   a horizontal telescoping plank;   a first telescoping vertical brace; and   a second telescoping vertical brace;   wherein said horizontal telescoping plank having a first end and an opposing second end;   wherein said first end having a first clip for resting on a jamb of a masonry opening;   wherein said second end having a second clip for resting on the jamb of the masonry opening;   wherein said first telescoping brace and said second telescoping brace supports a laterally positioned said horizontal telescoping plank;   wherein said first telescoping vertical brace having a first lower vertical brace member having a first plurality of lower positioning holes and a first upper vertical brace member having a first plurality of upper positioning holes;   wherein at least one pair said first plurality of lower positioning holes and at least one pair of said first plurality of upper positioning holes alignable for receiving a pin and adjusting a length of said first telescoping vertical brace;   wherein said second telescoping vertical brace having a second lower vertical brace member having a second plurality of lower positioning holes and a second upper vertical brace member having a second plurality of upper positioning holes;   wherein at least one pair of said second plurality of lower positioning holes and at least one pair of said second plurality of upper positioning holes alignable for receiving a pin and adjusting a length of said second telescoping vertical brace;   wherein said first upper vertical brace member having a first screw sleeve with a top end and a bottom end secured to a top end of said first upper vertical brace member;   wherein said top end of said first screw sleeve having a first brace plate securable to said horizontal telescoping plank;   wherein said second upper vertical brace member having a second screw sleeve with a top end and a bottom end secured to a top end of said second upper vertical brace member;   wherein said top end of said second screw sleeve having a second brace plate securable to said horizontal telescoping plank; and   further wherein said horizontal telescoping plank independently extendable in a horizontal direction after said first telescoping vertical brace and said second telescoping vertical brace fixedly positioned under said horizontal telescoping plank.   
     
     
         14 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 13 , wherein said first screw sleeve having a first adjusting pin for threadingly adjusting a height of said first screw sleeve within said first upper vertical brace member, and further wherein said second screw sleeve having a second adjusting pin for threadingly adjusting a height of said second screw sleeve within said second upper vertical brace member. 
     
     
         15 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 13 , wherein said first lower vertical brace member having a bottom end fastened to a first vertical pole member of a first base plate. 
     
     
         16 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 15 , wherein said second lower vertical brace member having a bottom end fastened to a second vertical pole member of a second base plate. 
     
     
         17 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 15 , wherein said first base plate having a plurality of apertures disposed through a first horizontal surface, and further wherein said first base plate anchored on a floor surface. 
     
     
         18 . The telescopic plank and bracing system for supporting masonry units of  claim 16 , wherein said second base plate having a plurality of apertures disposed through a second horizontal surface, and further wherein said second base plate anchored on the floor surface. 
     
     
         19 . A method of supporting a masonry unit lintel, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a telescoping metal bridge, a horizontal telescoping plank, a first telescoping vertical brace, a second telescoping vertical brace, wherein said horizontal telescoping plank having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein said first end having a first clip for resting on a jamb of a masonry opening, wherein said second end having a second clip for resting on the jamb of the masonry opening;   laterally supporting said horizontal telescoping plank with said first telescoping brace and said second telescoping brace, wherein said first telescoping vertical brace having a first lower vertical brace member having a first plurality of lower positioning holes and a first upper vertical brace member having a first plurality of upper positioning holes, wherein at least one pair of said first plurality of lower positioning holes and at least one pair of said first plurality of upper positioning holes alignable for receiving a pin and adjusting a length of said first telescoping vertical brace, wherein said second telescoping vertical brace having a second lower vertical brace member having a second plurality of lower positioning holes and a second upper vertical brace member having a second plurality of upper positioning holes, wherein at least one pair of said second plurality of lower positioning holes and at least one pair of said second plurality of upper positioning holes alignable for receiving a pin and adjusting a length of said second telescoping vertical brace;   threadingly adjusting a height of said first upper vertical brace member within said first lower vertical brace member;   threadingly adjusting a height of said second upper vertical brace member within said second lower vertical brace member; and   independently adjusting a horizontal length of said horizontal telescoping plank across a lintel and a vertical height of said first telescoping vertical brace and a vertical height of said second telescoping vertical brace.   
     
     
         20 . The method of supporting a masonry unit lintel of  claim 19 , wherein said first clip is a metal angle clip and said second clip is a metal angle clip.