Ceiling sheet installation apparatus

Abstract

A new and improved ceiling sheet installation apparatus includes a set of four ceiling-mounted sheet material support assemblies. Each sheet material support assembly includes a ceiling mounting portion and a sheet retaining portion. The ceiling mounting portion includes a channel for receiving a fastener for attaching to a fixed object in a ceiling. The sheet retaining portion includes a sloped upper surface for receiving an edge of the sheet material and for retaining the sheet material adjacent to the ceiling by supporting the edge of the sheet material. With the sloped upper surface, the edge of the sheet material is wedged between the sloped upper surface and the ceiling. The channel is oriented in the ceiling mounting portion such that the sheet material support assembly is capable of selectively rotating around the fastener to and from two positions. A closed position is such that an edge of the sheet material is supported by the sloped upper surface of the sheet retaining portion, and an open position is such that an edge of the sheet material is not supported by the sloped upper surface of the sheet retaining portion. Once the sheet of material is completely supported by the sheet material support assemblies of the invention. A worker has his hands free to permanently fasten the sheet of material to the ceiling, a hinge assembly may be supported by the ceiling mounting portion connecting the ceiling mounting portion and the sheet retaining portion, and the sheet retaining portion can be moved from an open position to a closed position around the hinge assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.