Abstract
An apparatus that facilitates lifting and manipulating a wall section when building on a slab. The apparatus has a lower hinge plate, a hinge pin, an upper hinge plate, a rotational stop, a gauge and a sliding keyed joint. The apparatus is designed to be mounted to the edges of both a sill plate and a bottom plate of the wall to enable a wall to be framed and sheathed in a horizontal orientation. The bottom plate aligns with the sill plate as the wall is pivoted into its final vertical position.
Claims
1. An apparatus for constructing and lifting a wall section, the apparatus comprising: a lower hinge plate configured for removable attachment to a sill plate; and an upper hinge plate configured for removable attachment to a bottom plate of the wall section; and a hinge pin pivotally connecting the lower hinge plate and the upper hinge plate; and a rotational stop configured to limit pivotal movement between the upper hinge plate and the lower hinge plate; and a removable gauge configured to align the apparatus on the sill plate prior to fastening the upper hinge plate to the bottom plate of the wall section; wherein the gauge aligns the hinge pin with an edge of the sill plate and the upper hinge plate is rotatable about the hinge pin to allow for wall construction in a horizontal orientation before lifting the constructed wall section into a final orientation.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the rotational stop comprises a first integral cam extending from the lower hinge plate and a second integral cam extending from the upper hinge plate; and the first integral cam is disposed proximate to the hinge pin and is configured to engage with the upper hinge plate; and the second integral cam is disposed proximate to the hinge pin and is configured to engage with the lower hinge plate; wherein the first integral cam and the second integral cam limit a pivot angle between the lower hinge plate and the upper hinge plate to approximately 90 degrees.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the rotational stop comprises at least one gusset affixed to the lower hinge plate; and the at least one gusset is positioned to contact the upper hinge plate to prevent rotation about the hinge pin beyond approximately 90 degrees.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the removable gauge comprises a key; and wherein the lower hinge plate defines a keyway configured to slidably receive the key to temporarily join the gauge to the apparatus.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: the removable gauge further comprises a pull tab to facilitate removal of the key from the keyway.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the removable gauge comprises a key; and wherein the lower hinge plate and upper hinge plate each define a keyway configured to slidably receive the key to temporarily join the gauge to the apparatus.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: the upper hinge plate and the lower hinge plate are formed from a single extruded profile.
8. A method for constructing and lifting a wall section, the method comprising: providing a hinge apparatus comprising an upper hinge plate and a lower hinge plate pivotally connected by a hinge pin, wherein the upper and lower hinge plates include integral cams configured to act as a rotational stop; and securing the lower hinge plate to a sill plate; and securing the upper hinge plate to a bottom plate of a wall section; and assembling the wall section in a horizontal orientation; and pivoting the wall section about the hinge pin to a vertical orientation until the integral cams of the upper and lower hinge plates engage to arrest rotation.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: prior to securing the lower hinge plate, the steps of: positioning a removable gauge on the hinge apparatus to align the apparatus relative to the sill plate; and removing the gauge after securing the lower hinge plate.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: after pivoting the wall section: the step of fastening the bottom plate to the sill plate.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising: the step of detaching the apparatus from the sill plate and the bottom plate for reuse.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a removed gauge;
[0017] FIG. 3A is a front-perspective view of the example embodiment shown mounted on a sill plate;
[0018] FIG. 3B is a rear-perspective view of the configuration of FIG. 3A;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the example embodiment mounted to a sill plate and to a bottom plate;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the example embodiment mounted to a sill plate, and to a wall section in a horizontal orientation;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the example embodiment mounted to a sill plate and to a wall section in a vertical orientation.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a side view of the embodiment thereof;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective, exploded view thereof;
[0025] FIG. 10A is a front-perspective view of the example embodiment shown mounted on a sill plate;
[0026] FIG. 10B is a rear-perspective view of the configuration of FIG. 10A;
[0027] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the example embodiment mounted to a sill plate and to a bottom plate;
[0028] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the example embodiment mounted to a sill plate, and to a wall section in a horizontal orientation;
[0029] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the example embodiment mounted to a sill plate and to a wall section in a vertical orientation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 depict an embodiment of an apparatus 110 designed to assist in the construction and manipulation of a wall section. The apparatus 110 comprises an upper hinge plate 112 and a lower hinge plate 114, which are pivotally connected by a hinge pin 116. Both hinge plates include fastener holes 122 for mounting. Gussets 118 are affixed to the lower hinge plate 114 to provide structural support. A removable gauge 120, featuring a key 126, is configured to slide into a corresponding keyway 124 on the hinge plates, in a manner similar to a dovetail joint. This gauge 120 includes a pull tab 128 to facilitate its removal. In some embodiments, the gauge 120 may be secured to the lower hinge plate 114 with a tether 138.
[0031] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B illustrate the initial setup of the apparatus 110. The lower hinge plate 114 is fastened to a sill plate 130 via fasteners installed through the holes 122. The gauge 120 serves to properly orient the apparatus 110 with respect to the edge of the sill plate 130. When multiple apparatuses 110 are used along the sill plate, the gauges ensure that all hinge pins 116 are precisely aligned, which is critical for a smooth pivot of the wall section.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 4, the gauge 120 is designed to be removed once the apparatus 110 is secured to the sill plate 130. A wall section's bottom plate 132 is then positioned atop the sill plate 130. The upper hinge plate 112 is subsequently affixed to the bottom plate 132 using fasteners driven through its fastener holes 122.
[0033] FIG. 5 shows the wall section being assembled at a horizontal orientation. For clarity, this view is presented from a vantage point beneath the floor level (floor not shown).
[0034] The hinge connection allows the upper hinge plate 112, now attached to the wall's bottom plate 132, to pivot 90. This enables the convenient attachment of studs 134 and sheathing 136 while the wall frame rests on a flat surface. The gussets 118 on the lower hinge plate 114 act as a stop, preventing rotation beyond 90. As understood by one skilled in the art, blocking can be placed under the studs 134 to ensure the wall section remains level during assembly.
[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates the final step of lifting the wall section into its vertical position, as indicated by arrow 140. The wall section, attached to the upper hinge plate 112, is rotated 90 about the hinge pin 116. Once vertical, the bottom plate 132 rests securely on the sill plate 130, and they can be permanently fastened together. At this point, the sheathing 136 (FIG. 5) can also be secured to the sill plate 130. Following installation, the apparatus 110 can be easily removed for reuse on subsequent wall sections.
[0036] FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 depict an iteration of the embodiment 210. The apparatus 210 comprises an upper hinge plate 212 and a lower hinge plate 214, which are pivotally connected by a hinge pin 216. Both hinge plates include fastener holes 222 for mounting. Upper and lower hinge plates 212/214 have cams 248 that surround the hinge pin 216 and prevent the upper hinge plate 212 from pivoting about the hinge pin 216 more than 90. In one example (FIG. 8), when the upper hinge plate 212 pivots 90, cam surface 246 meets the outer surface 244 of the proximal hinge plate, which in this example is the lower hinge plate 214. A removable gauge 220, featuring a key 226, is configured to slide into a corresponding keyway 224 on the hinge plates, in a manner similar to a dovetail joint. This gauge 220 includes a pull tab 228 to facilitate its removal. In some embodiments, the gauge 220 may be secured to the lower hinge plate 214 with a tether 238.
[0037] The keyway 244 is formed in both the upper hinge plate 212 and the lower hinge plate 214 allowing for the gauge 220 to be used with either the upper hinge plate 212 or lower hinge plate 214 to flip the apparatus 210. One skilled in the art will see that the upper hinge plate 212 and lower hinge plate 214 may be made from a single extrusion with simple machining operations to create interlocking hinge members.
[0038] FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B show the initial setup of the apparatus 210. The lower hinge plate 214 is fastened to a sill plate 230 via fasteners installed through fastener holes 222. The gauge 220 serves to properly orient the apparatus 210 with respect to the edge of the sill plate 230.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 11, the gauge 220 is removed once the apparatus 210 is secured to the sill plate 230. A wall section's bottom plate 232 is then positioned atop the sill plate 230. The upper hinge plate 212 is subsequently affixed to this bottom plate 232 using fasteners driven through fastener holes 222.
[0040] FIG. 12 shows the wall section being assembled in a horizontal orientation. For clarity, this view is presented from a vantage point beneath the floor level (floor not shown). The hinge connection allows the upper hinge plate 212, now attached to the wall's bottom plate 232, to pivot 90. This allows for the convenient attachment of studs 234 and sheathing 236 while the wall frame rests on a flat surface. The cams 248 act as a stop, preventing rotation beyond 90. As understood by one skilled in the art, blocking can be placed under the studs 234 to ensure the wall section remains level during assembly.
[0041] FIG. 13 illustrates the final step of lifting the wall section into its vertical position, as indicated by arrow 240. The wall section, attached to the upper hinge plate 212, is rotated 90 about the hinge pin 216. Once vertical, the bottom plate 232 rests securely on the sill plate 230, and they can be permanently fastened together. At this point, the sheathing 236 can also be secured to the sill plate 230. Following installation, the apparatus 210 can be easily removed for reuse on subsequent wall sections.
