Baluster aligning apparatus and method
OwnerAlbert Lavargnainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A baluster aligning apparatus and method includes an elongated panel has a front side, a back side, a bottom edge, a top edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge. Each of a pair of flanges is attached to and extends away from the front side of the panel. The flanges are positioned adjacent to and extend along one of the first and second lateral edges. The panel has fixed width equal to between 3 inches and 6 inches. A horizontal level is mounted in the panel. A first baluster is vertically aligned against the first lateral edge and then attached to top and bottom rails. A second baluster is vertically aligned against the second lateral edge and then attached to the top and bottom rails. This is repeated so that a plurality of equally spaced, vertically aligned balusters is formed.
Claims10
A method of mounting balusters between a top rail and a bottom rail comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongated panel having a front side, a back side, a bottom edge, a top edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, said first and second lateral edges being orientated parallel to each other, said panel having a fixed width from said first lateral edge to said second lateral edge generally equal to between 3 inches 6 inches, each of a pair of flanges is attached to and extends away from said front side of said panel, each of said flanges being positioned adjacent to and extending along one of said first and second lateral edges, a distance from an outer edge of each of said flanges to said back side being generally equal to ½ inch;
- providing a horizontal level being mounted in said panel, said horizontal level measuring a level plane orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said panel;
- extending a first baluster of said balusters between the top and bottom rails;
- positioning said first lateral edge against said first baluster and attaching said first baluster to said top and bottom rails when said first baluster is vertically orientated;
- extending a second baluster of said balusters between the top and bottom rails;
- abutting said second baluster against said second lateral edge such that said panel abuts each of said first and second balusters, attaching said second baluster to said top and bottom rails and removing said panel from between said first and second balusters;
- and
- wherein said first lateral edge may be positioned against consecutive ones of said balusters and a next consecutive one of said balusters is abuttable against said second lateral edge such that a plurality of vertically aligned balusters are positioned for being attached to said top and bottom rails.
A method of mounting balusters between a top rail and a bottom rail comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongated panel having a front side, a back side, a bottom edge, a top edge, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, said first and second lateral edges being orientated parallel to each other, said panel having a fixed height from said bottom edge to said top edge generally equal to between 28 inches and 32 inches, said panel having a fixed width from said first lateral edge to said second lateral edge generally equal to between 3 inches 6 inches, each of a pair of flanges being attached to and extending away from said front side of said panel, each of said flanges being positioned adjacent to and extending along one of said first and second lateral edges, a distance from an outer edge of each of said flanges to said back side being generally equal to ½ inch;
- providing a handle being attached to and extending away from said front side of said panel, said handle being positioned generally between said top and bottom edges;
- providing a horizontal level being mounted in said panel, said horizontal level measuring a level plane orientated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said panel;
- providing a vertical level being mounted in said panel, said vertical level being adapted for measuring a level plane orientated parallel to said longitudinal axis of said panel;
- providing a 45 degree level being mounted in said panel, said vertical level being adapted for measuring a level plane orientated 45 degrees to said longitudinal axis of said panel;
- extending a first baluster of said balusters between the top and bottom rails;
- positioning said first lateral edge against said first baluster and attaching said first baluster to said top and bottom rails when said first baluster is vertically orientated;
- extending a second baluster of said balusters between the top and bottom rails;
- abutting said second baluster against said second lateral edge such that said panel abuts each of said first and second balusters, attaching said second baluster to said top and bottom rails and removing said panel from between said first and second balusters;
- and
- wherein said first lateral edge may be positioned against consecutive ones of said balusters and a next consecutive one of said balusters is abuttable against said second lateral edge such that a plurality of vertically aligned balusters are positioned for being attached to said top and bottom rails.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.