# US 2020/0399892 A1 · Guidance apparatus for assembly of construction panels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399892 A1 - Document ID: US20200399892A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/908,349 - Filed: 2020-06-22 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-24 - Assignees: Miller Dowel Company - Applicants: Miller Dowel Company - Inventors: Michael R. Miller; Robert Daly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399892A1 ## CPC - E04B 1/48: Dowels, i.e. members adapted to penetrate the surfaces of two parts and to take the shear stresses - F16B 19/02: Bolts or sleeves for positioning of machine parts, e.g. notched taper pins, fitting pins, sleeves, eccentric positioning rings - E04B 1/61: of slab-shaped building elements with each other - E04G 21/1841: {Means for positioning building parts or elements (strutting means for wall parts E04G21/26)} - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS ## Abstract An apparatus guides first and second assembly components into a predetermined configuration, each assembly component including an opening. When the assembly components are aligned into the predetermined configuration, their openings align to define a cavity for receiving a stepped dowel to fasten the components together. The guiding apparatus includes a stepped dowel member having successively-smaller dowel sections, and a collar member floating around the base of the stepped dowel member. The stepped dowel member tip can be passed through the first assembly component opening and inserted into the second assembly component opening, drawing the components into the predetermined configuration. When the components are aligned into the predetermined configuration, the collar member engages the first assembly component opening and the stepped dowel member engages the second assembly component opening. The guiding apparatus can be disengaged, freeing the dowel-receiving cavity to accept a stepped dowel for fastening the assembly components together. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for guiding first and second assembly components into an assembled configuration, the guidance apparatus comprising: a dowel member having: a base portion; a tip portion; and a plurality of dowel sections, each successive dowel section having a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of a preceding dowel section; and a collar member, the collar member disposed around and slidingly engaging the base portion of the dowel member; wherein the first assembly component includes a channel and the second assembly component includes a bore, such that when the first and second assembly components are aligned in the assembled configuration, the channel and the bore define a cavity configured for receiving a stepped dowel; and wherein the assembly components are positioned into the predetermined configuration by engaging: i) the collar member to the channel of the first assembly component and ii) the stepped dowel member to the bore of the second assembly component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guidance apparatus of claim 1, the collar member comprising a flange, the flange having a cross-section greater than a cross-section of the collar member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The guidance apparatus of claim 1, the base portion of the dowel member comprising a member for providing a grip for a manual tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dowel-receiving cavity includes a plurality of cavity sections, each successive cavity section having a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of a preceding cavity section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The guidance apparatus of claim 4, the collar member for engaging a first cavity section in the first assembly component, and the dowel sections for engaging the cavity sections in the second assembly component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The guidance apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the dowel-receiving cavity comprises four cavity sections; and the dowel member comprises three dowel sections. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The guidance apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the dowel-receiving cavity consists of four cavity sections; and the dowel member consists of three dowel sections. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guidance apparatus comprises a metallic material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dowel member comprises a metallic material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The guidance apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first assembly component comprises a ceiling member; and the second assembly component comprises a wall panel. ### Claim 11 A method for assembling a wall system comprising: providing a wall panel, the wall panel having a bore on a top surface, the wall panel bore for engaging a stepped dowel; providing a ceiling member, the ceiling member having upper and lower opposing elongated longitudinal surfaces, and a dowel cavity extending through the longitudinal surfaces; positioning a guidance member to engage the ceiling member cavity, the guidance member having a plurality of dowel sections, each successive dowel section having a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of a preceding dowel section; positioning a guidance member to engage the wall panel bore, one end of the guidance member engaging the ceiling member cavity, and the other end of the guidance member engaging the wall panel bore; positioning the ceiling member and the wall panel in a predetermined orientation; removing the guidance apparatus; and inserting the stepped dowel into a dowel-receiving cavity defined by the aligned ceiling member cavity and wall panel bore, to thereby connect the aligned ceiling member to the aligned wall panel and assemble the wall system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The wall system assembly method for claim 11 comprising: applying an adhesive material to the dowel-receiving cavity or the dowel such that the adhesive material is ultimately disposed in the dowel-receiving cavity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The wall system assembly method for claim 11 wherein the guidance apparatus comprises a collar member surrounding and slidingly engaging the dowel sections, the collar member having a cross-section larger than a cross-section of dowel sections. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The wall system assembly method for claim 11 wherein the guidance apparatus comprises a metallic material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The wall system assembly method for claim 11 wherein a base portion of the guidance apparatus comprises a member for providing a grip for a manual tool. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The wall system assembly method for claim 11, the guidance member including a collar member slidingly engaging a first dowel section, the collar member having a cross-section larger than a cross-section of the first dowel section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The wall system assembly method for claim 11, the stepped dowel including a plurality of dowel sections, wherein: a cross-section of a first dowel section of the guidance member is smaller than a cross-section of a first section of the stepped dowel; a cross-section of a second dowel section of the guidance member is smaller than a cross-section of a second dowel section of the stepped dowel; and a cross-section of a last dowel section of the guidance member is smaller than a cross section of a last dowel section of the stepped dowel. ### Claim 18 An apparatus for guiding first and second assembly components into an predetermined configuration, the guidance apparatus comprising: a stepped dowel member having a plurality of dowel sections, each successive dowel section having a cross-section smaller than a cross-section of a preceding dowel section; and a collar member surrounding and slidingly engaging a first dowel section; wherein each assembly component includes a stepped opening, such that when the assembly components are positioned in the assembled configuration the aligned stepped openings define a cavity for receiving a stepped dowel; and wherein the assembly components are positioned into the assembled configuration by the stepped dowel member passing through the stepped opening of the first assembly component and into the stepped opening of the second assembly component, such that the collar member engages the first assembly component stepped opening and the stepped dowel member engages the second assembly component stepped opening. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The guidance apparatus of claim 18, the stepped dowel member comprising a sensor.