Apparatus and method for marking points and lines during building construction

Apparatus for marking points and lines on a ceiling surface of a building for laying out the location of interior walls and partitions and the like, comprising:

• a plurality of elongate, axially extensible tools each having a plurality of telescopically engaged members, and means for securing the members in axially adjusted positions;
• each tool including an axially resiliently yieldable portion, whereby the members may be adjusted to a length slightly greater than the distance between floor and ceiling surfaces, and the yieldable portion will compress to firmly but readily releasably hold the tool engaged between the floor and ceiling surfaces;
• combined line holding and alignment means on the upper ends of the tools for holding a chalk line against the ceiling surface in accurate alignment with a mark on the ceiling surface when the line is stretched tight between the tools, so that a chalk line may be made on a ceiling surface by a single workman standing on the floor surface;
• and a combined marking implement holder and chalk line snapping tool, said last named tool having an elongate handle with a string engaging look and a marking implement holder at one thereof.

A layout tool for marking points and lines on a ceiling surface for locating walls and partitions and the like, comprising:

• a plurality of elongate, axially adjustably interengaged members defining a body having a floor surface engaging foot portion at one end and a ceiling surface engaging top end portion at the other end, the foot portion including a resiliently yieldable, axially outwardly biased foot member for engaging the floor, said plurality of elongate members being adjustable to a length such that the foot member is compressed axially inwardly, whereby the tool is firmly engaged at its top and bottom ends between the ceiling and floor, said tool being capable of being removed from engagement with the ceiling and floor by forcing the tool downwardly against the bias of the foot member to disengage the top end of the tool from the ceiling;
• level means carried by the body for indicating when the tool is in a vertical position and including a plumb level connected to and suspended from the body;
• means on the body shielding the plumb level from ambient wind;
• and pointer means on the foot portion and top end portion, for alignment of one of the pointer means with an existing mark, whereby a mark in vertical alignment with the existing mark may be made at said other pointer means after the tool is made vertical as indicated by the level means, the pointer means at the foot portion comprising a pair of oppositely, laterally outwardly directed pointers resiliently biased downwardly against the floor, whereby the pointers are disposed in contact with a line on the floor for any extended or compressed position of the foot member, said tool enabling a single workman standing on the floor to mark points and lines on a ceiling surface in vertical alignment with points and lines on a floor surface, without requiring the use of ladders and the like.

The method of marking points and lines on a ceiling surface for indicating the layout of interior walls and partitions and the like in building construction, comprising the steps of:

• locating an existing mark on a floor surface of the building;
• placing the bottom end of a first elongate tool on said existing mark in alignment therewith;
• making the tool vertical in two mutually perpendicular vertical planes;
• lengthening the tool axially to engage the top and bottom ends thereof with the ceiling and floor surfaces, respectively, with the tool in said vertical position;
• marking the ceiling surface with a first mark at the top end of the tool in vertical alignment with the existing mark on the floor surface;
• removing said tool and similarly positioning it in a vertical position at a location spaced from the first mark made on the ceiling surface;
• making a second mark at said location;
• supporting one end of a chalk line from the top end of the tool at said second mark;
• positioning a second elongate tool with the upper end thereof at said first mark on the ceiling surface;
• supporting the other end of the chalk line at the top end of the second elongate tool;
• and engaging and snapping the chalk line to make a chalk line mark on the ceiling surface between the two tools, all of said steps being carried out by a workman standing on the floor surface.