MARKING TAPE FOR FRAMING LAYOUT

Abstract

A roll of marking tape for framing layout is marked with a plurality repeating series of on-center marks for common stud, joist or rafter at distances, such as 12, 16 and 24 inch locations. The builder appropriately positions the tape relative to a reference point such as an end-edge of a plate, then attaches the tape to the plate. An alternate embodiment comprises a computer, software and a printer to allow a builder to enter building plans into a computer and print customized tape that has marks matching job plans. In another alternate embodiment a portable plate marker system prints marks onto a plate (without using tape). In another alternate embodiment a wheel marking system prints marks onto a plate (also without using tape).

Claims

1. A length of marking tape having a plurality of marks, wherein at least one of the marks is indexed to an end-edge of a plate before affixing the tape to the plate, the tape comprising a first side comprising a plurality of marks operative to substantially indicate the desired attachment locations of a plurality of members to a plate.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: printed construction information on the tape that is operative to display to the builder at least one of the following; a locating mark operative to correctly index the tape on the plate, said locate mark positions said marks printed on said tape to coincide with desired member attachment locations on plate; a member name or symbol; a member length, said member to be attached to said plate.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising of marks printed on tape that is to be attached to a plate, said marks further comprising: a first series of uniformly spaced group of said marks substantially representative of a 12 inch on-center location; or a second series of uniformly spaced group of said marks substantially representative of a 16 inch on-center location; or a third series of uniformly spaced group of said marks substantially representative of a 24 inch on-center location; or a fourth series group of said marks, substantially representative of any combination of said marks in said first, second or third series; or a fifth series group of said marks, substantially representative of at least one of a 12, 16 or 24 inch on-center locations; or a sixth series of said marks, each said mark substantially representative of a desired attachment location of a said member to a said plate; or a seventh series of said marks, each said mark substantially representative of a desired attachment location of a said member to a said plate; or an eight series group of said marks, substantially representative of at least one of a 12, 16 or 24 inch on-center locations.

4. The tape of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of said marks on printed on at least one of a first side and a second side of said tape.

5. The tape of claim 1, further comprising: a second side, opposite to said plurality of said marks on said first side, that is adhesive to affix said tape to said plate.

6. The tape of claim 1, further comprising: a material that substantially resists tearing deformation when attached to a plate using a plurality of staples.

7. A tape marking system for printing a plurality of marks on a role of tape such that each mark is substantially representative of a framing member attachment location, the system comprising: a computer to operate a computer software and a printer; a length of tape that said printer prints marks on; said computer software being operative to receive building plans, said plans comprised of at least one of framing on-center member information and opening member information; from the building plans, determine marks to be printed on said tape; control said printer to print said plurality of marks on said tape; and wherein said printed marks indicate substantially desired attachment locations of a plurality of members to be affixed to a plate.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising: printed construction information on the tape that is operative to display to the builder at least one of the following; a locating mark operative to correctly index the tape on the plate, said locate mark positions said marks printed on said tape to coincide with desired member attachment locations on plate; a member name or symbol; a member length, said member to be attached to said plate.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising of marks printed on tape that is to be attached to a plate, said marks further comprising: a first series of uniformly spaced group of said marks substantially representative of a 12 inch on-center location; or a second series of uniformly spaced group of said marks substantially representative of a 16 inch on-center location; or a third series of uniformly spaced group of said marks substantially representative of a 24 inch on-center location; or a fourth series group of said marks, substantially representative of any combination of said marks in said first, second or third series; or a fifth series group of said marks, substantially representative of at least one of a 12, 16 or 24 inch on-center locations; or a sixth series of said marks, each said mark substantially representative of a desired attachment location of a said member to a said plate; or a seventh series of said marks, each said mark substantially representative of a desired attachment location of a said member to a said plate; or an eight series group of said marks, substantially representative of at least one of a 12, 16 or 24 inch on-center locations.

10. The tape of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of said marks on printed on at least one of a first side and a second side of said tape.

11. The tape of claim 7, further comprising: a second side, opposite to said plurality of said marks on said first side, that is adhesive to affix said tape to said plate.

12. The tape of claim 7, further comprising: a material that substantially resists tearing deformation when attached to a plate using a plurality of staples.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The features of the invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

[0045] FIG. 1 presents an elevation view of fifth series marks on tape to accommodate any of 12, 16 and 24 inch on-center construction;

[0046] FIG. 2 is a line drawing that shows a plate marker system; and

[0047] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a wheel marking system.

[0048] The following reference numerals are used to indicate the parts and environment of the invention on the drawings: [0049] 2 tape with marks, pre-marked tape, marking tape [0050] 4 tape [0051] 6 first mark, indicative of 12 inch on-center location [0052] 8 second mark, indicative of 16 inch on-center location [0053] 12 fourth mark, indicative of coincident 12 and 24 inch on-center location [0054] 14 fifth mark, indicative of coincident 12, 16, and 24 inch on-center location [0055] 16 series, repeating series of marks, group, concatenation of series or groups [0056] 18 mark center-line indicator, index marker, index line [0057] 20 plate marker system [0058] 22 handle [0059] 24 frame [0060] 26 wheel having a known circumference, wheel [0061] 28 frame start indicator line, index line [0062] 30 control subsystem [0063] 32 a wheel travel sensor, encoder [0064] 36 solenoid actuator, solenoid [0065] 38 linkage 40 aerosol can of marking paint [0066] 42 frame marking hole, through hole forming a shroud [0067] 44 distance between frame start indicator line and the contact point of wheel to plate [0068] 50 wheel marking system, wheel marking [0069] 52 handle [0070] 54 axel, bearing, hub, wheel hub [0071] 56 wheel [0072] 58 wheel rolling contact surface, wheel contact plate surface [0073] 60 ink pad [0074] 62 wheel circumference dimension [0075] 64 ink pad marking dimension, ink pad rolling marking dimension [0076] 66 wheel thickness dimension, wheel width dimension [0077] 68 ink well, ink vessel, container of marking fluid [0078] 70 ink transport tube, conduit hose [0079] 72 wheel start indicator line, start indicator line, index line

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0080] The following description of the disclosed embodiments of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 1 an elevation view of pre-marked tape 2 is presented. Tape 4 includes a plurality of marks shown as follows: [0082] A first mark 6 substantially represents a 12 inch on-center location (actually a two mark set for the sides of the stud member); [0083] A second mark 8 substantially represents a 16 inch on-center location (actually a two mark set for the sides of the stud member); [0084] A fourth mark 12 substantially represents a 12 or 24 inch on-center location (actually a two mark set for the sides of the stud member); and [0085] A fifth mark 14 substantially represents a 12, 16 or 24 inch on-center location (actually a two mark set for the sides of the stud member).
Those skilled in the art will recognize, in detail that the above described marks collectively form series group 16 of marks, having a first boundary through center-line indicator 18 mark and a second boundary through the next center-line mark of the coincident multiple mark indicated as 12, 16 and 24 inch. This fifth series, group 16 is repeated as though perpetually concatenated on the length of tape, however repetition is not shown in FIG. 1 for purposes of clarity and due to limitations of page size.

[0086] Now looking in more detail, any mark may optionally have at least one mark center-line indicator 18 to aid the builder when collinearly positioning a tape mark with the end-edge of a plate (when appropriately positioning or indexing the marking tape on a plate). For purposes of clarity only one of fifth mark 14 has a center-line indicator 18 shown in FIG. 1 but every mark may have a center-line indicator 18.

[0087] Given the illustration of FIG. 1, it is understood in yet another alternate embodiment that to avoid builder confusion the tape may contain marks on both the top (first) and bottom (second) sides of tape 4 to allow the builder to attach tape 4 to a plate with either first or second side up depending on their construction goals. Although not limiting, to illustrate and to further teach this concept, those skilled in the art may now to conceptualize tape 4 having the following alternate markings to those shown in FIG. 1. For example, a first side of tape marked with a repeating series of second mark 8 indicating a 16 inch on-center location; and a second side of tape marked with a repeating series plurality of third mark (not shown) indicating a 24 inch on-center location.

[0088] Still referring to FIG. 1, in use to index the marking tape 4 the builder selects a desired mark according to their layout objective and collinearly aligns the center of the selected mark with the end-edge of a plate, preferably with the aid of at least one tape 4 center-line indicator 18; then affixes tape 4 to the plate, and unrolls tape 4 along the length of the plate while further affixing tape 4 to plate where necessary to secure tape 4 to the plate. The graphic for each mark shown in FIG. 1 provides two lines for the builder to collinearly align the sides of members to and center-line indicator 18 (also preferably included in the graphic for each mark) is used to collinearly align with the end-edge of the plate. For an example of use, to display marks for a desired 16 inch on-center wall, a builder first preferably selects a mark with a 16 printed on it and located nearest the end of the tape roll (these are any of second mark 8 or fifth mark 14). Next the builder indexes the tape by collinearly aligning the mark center-line indicators 18 of the selected mark with the end-edge of the plate and affixes the tape to the plate. Then, the builder unrolls the tape along the plate, further affixing the tape to the plate as needed. When the members are affixed to the plate, the center of each member will collinearly align with the graphical center-line indicator 18 of the desired mark, representative of layout plans, and sides of each member will collinearly align with the illustrated graphical lines portraying the boundaries of each mark.

[0089] Referring to FIG. 2, a line drawing of an example plate marker system 20 is shown. The system is comprised of a handle 22, affixed to a frame 24 that slides at a first end on a plate (not shown) and rides at a second end on a wheel 26, with frame 24 having a frame start indicator line 28. The system is further comprised of a control subsystem 30 that includes a power supply, at least one voltage regulator, microprocessor, solenoid driver, and a start indicator switch. The system is further comprised of an encoder 32 that senses wheel rotation. Marking subsystem is comprised of a solenoid actuator 36 having a linkage 38 which is mechanically coupled and configured to actuate a spray nozzle and thereby operate an aerosol can 40 of marking paint to produce a mark on a plate. Finally a though hole shroud 42 in frame 24 confines over-spray of marking paint from can 40 to produce desired member visual mark. Although not shown for simplicity, encoder 32 and solenoid 36 are appropriately wired to control subsystem 30. Still referring to FIG. 2, in use the builder first enters building plan information including any of desired on-center construction distances and opening locations into the control subsystem 30. Next the builder indexes plate marker system 20 to a plate by aligning the start indicator line 28 on frame 24 with the end-edge of a plate and then presses a start button in the control subsystem 30. Finally to commence marking the builder uses handle 22 to guide plate marker system 20 along the plate, ensuring the wheel is always in rolling contact with the plate surface. It should be understood that control subsystem 30 has the wheel 26 circumference and the distance between frame start indicator line 28 and the contact point of wheel and the plate (distance 44) dimensions stored in memory. Those skilled in the art will understand that control subsystem 30 will operate to measure distances from the end-edge of the plate, to determine the desired mark locations for any one of a member, a stud, a specialized stud, and to place a plurality of marks on a plate at the desired mark location(s).

[0090] Referring to FIG. 3 an isometric view of wheel marking system 50 having a handle 52 coupled to wheel 56 at a hub 54. Wheel 56 has a rolling surface 58 that contacts a plate not shown in FIG. 3. The wheel 56 also has a pocket interior of the surface 58 to hold ink pad 60. The ink pad 60 extends radially just beyond radius of wheel 56 to functionally allow wetted marking ink to transfer from ink pad 60 to a plate surface as wheel 56 surface 58 rolls along a plate. A compression spring or load source (also not shown in FIG. 3) may reside inside pocket of wheel 56 surface 58 and apply radial force to ink pad 60 to improve transfer of marking ink from pad 60 to plate.

[0091] Wheel 56 has a circumference dimension 62, an ink pad marking dimension 64 and a wheel width dimension 66. While not limiting, the nominal dimension of ink pad 60 marking dimension 64 is 1 inches. Also while not limiting, the nominal circumference dimension 62 of wheel 56 is at least one of 12, 16, 24 and 23.62 inches. For wheel 56 index purposes, wheel 56 also has wheel start indicator line 72 located near its outer circumference. Line 72 is further located in the middle of ink pad 60 (also the middle of ink pad marking dimension 64).

[0092] Optionally a container of marking fluid 68 is attached to wheel 56 and coupled to pad 60 through sidewall of wheel 56 by an ink transport tube 70. While a load source such a compressed air applied to container 68 may be used to aid transfer of marking fluid to pad 60 through hose 70, preferably gravity forces provide sufficient load source to move marking fluid from container 68 to pad 60 when wheel 56 rotates to position pad 60 below container 68. Handle 52 may be attached to hub 54 on either side of wheel to avoid rolling interference with container 68 and tube 70.

[0093] Still referring to FIG. 3, in use the builder first indexes the wheel marking system 50 by aligning index line 72 with end-edge of a plate. Next while applying any necessary pressure or force to handle 52 to maintain continuous rolling contact of surface 58 with plate, the builder rolls wheel 56 along a plate to produce equivalent marks on plate as previously described in disclosed main embodiment marking tape. The builder's applied force to handle 52 helps prevent wheel surface 58 from skidding or sliding on the plate and depresses ink pad 60 into pocket (or otherwise overcomes optional radially applied load source against pad 60) when pad 60 passes over plate to transfer marking fluid from pad 60 to plate surface.

[0094] Given the teachings in FIG. 3, those skilled in the art will recognize that wheel 56 circumference dimension 62 can be multiples of the above indicated nominal center distances to produce a larger wheel 56 in wheel marking system 50. As an example to produce 16 inch center marks, if wheel 56 circumference dimension 62 were 16 inches a functionally equivalent wheel 56 may have dimension 62 of 32 inches and also have two opposing ink pads 60 both located 180 degrees from each other on wheel 56. In this example pads 60 may be refreshed from the same container of marking fluid 68.

[0095] A person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that the invention has applications in framing buildings. This invention could be incorporated into other machines without limitation.

[0096] Many variations of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Some variations include marks only on a first side of the tape, other variations include marks on both a first and a second side of the tape. Other variations of marks on tape are allowed without limit. All such variations are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0097] Although some embodiments are shown to include certain features, the applicant specifically contemplates that any feature disclosed herein may be used together or in combination with any other feature on any embodiment of the invention. It is also contemplated that any feature may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of the invention.