Ratcheting frame spreader

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to spreader devices and more particularly pertains to a new spreader device for precisely positioning members during construction SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a construction frame that has a pair of lateral arms. A spreader has a first half is slidably coupled to a second half. The spreader includes an urging unit extending between the first half and the second half. The urging unit may be manipulated thereby spacing the first half a selected distance from the second half. The spreader is selectively positioned between the lateral arms such each of the first half and the second half engages an associated one of the lateral arms. The urging unit urges each of the lateral arms a precise distance apart from each other. Thus, the lateral arms may be assembled during construction.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

Brief description of the drawings

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a ratcheting spreader system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3 - 3 of FIG. 2 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4 - 4 of FIG. 2 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

Description of the preferred embodiment

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new spreader device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 , the ratcheting spreader system 10 generally comprises a construction frame 12 that has a pair of lateral arms 14 . The construction frame 12 may be an opening framed into a wall or the like. The opening may be a doorway or a window. Additionally, each of the lateral arms 14 may be vertically oriented.

A spreader 16 is provided. The spreader 16 has a first half 18 that is slidably coupled to a second half 20 . The spreader 16 has an urging unit 22 extending between the first half 18 and the second half 20 . The urging unit 22 may be manipulated thereby spacing the first half 18 a selected distance from the second half 20 . The spreader 16 is selectively positioned between the lateral arms 14 . Thus, each of the first half 18 and the second half 20 engages an associated one of the lateral arms 14 .

The urging unit 22 urges each of the lateral arms 14 a precise distance apart from each other. Thus, the lateral arms 14 may be assembled during construction in a precise location. The spreader 16 enhances uniform positioning of the lateral arms 14 with respect to each other. Thus, the construction frame 12 is assembled in a precise manner.

The spreader 16 may be positioned between an object and a support surface. The spreader 16 may be vertically oriented between the object and the support surface. The object may be an overhead cabinet or the like. The support surface may be a countertop or the like. Thus, the spreader 16 may position the object a precise distance from the support surface.

Each of the first half 18 and the second half 20 comprise a plate 24 that has a first lateral surface 26 and a second lateral surface 28 . The plate 24 has a pair of feet 30 each extending away from the first lateral surface 26 . The feet 30 are spaced apart from each other and each of the feet 30 has a distal end 32 with respect to the first lateral surface 26 . The distal end 32 of each of the feet 30 abuts the associated lateral arm 14 when the spreader 16 is positioned between the lateral arms 14 .

Each of the first half 18 and the second half 20 include a first arm 34 that is coupled to and extends away from the second lateral surface 28 . The first arm 34 corresponding to the first half 18 has an inwardly facing surface 36 . The first arm 34 corresponding to the second half 20 has an outwardly facing surface 38 . The inwardly facing surface 36 has a slot 40 extending inwardly therein and the slot 40 is longitudinally coextensive with the corresponding first arm 34 . The inwardly facing surface 36 may extend inwardly across the slot 40 to define a pair of tabs 42 . The tabs 42 may be directed toward each other and the tabs 42 may be spaced apart from each other.

The outwardly facing surface 38 has a slot 44 extending inwardly therein. The slot 44 corresponding to the outwardly facing surface 38 is longitudinally coextensive with the corresponding first arm 34 . The outwardly facing surface 38 may extend inwardly across the slot 44 corresponding to the outwardly facing surface 38 . Thus, a pair of lips 46 may be defined. The lips 46 may be directed toward each other and the lips 46 may be spaced apart from each other.

The inwardly facing surface 36 corresponding to the first half 18 coextensively abuts the outwardly facing surface 38 corresponding to the second half 20 . Thus, the plate 24 corresponding to the first half 18 is oppositionally positioned with respect to the plate 24 corresponding to the second half 20 . The first arm 34 of each of the first half 18 and the second half 20 has a top surface 48 and indicia 50 is printed on the top surface 48 corresponding to the first half 18 . The indicia 50 comprise a ruler 52 . Indicia 54 are printed on the top surface 48 corresponding to the second half 20 and the indicia 54 corresponding to the second half 20 comprise a pointer 56 . The pointer 56 is aligned with a selected point on the ruler 52 when the plate 24 corresponding to the first half 18 is spaced from the plate 24 corresponding to the second half 20 .

Each of the first half 18 and the second half 20 include a second arm 58 that is coupled to and extends away from the second lateral surface 28 . The second arm 58 is spaced from the first arm 34 . The second arm 58 corresponding to the first half 18 has an interior facing surface 60 . The second arm 58 corresponding to the second half 20 has an exterior facing surface 62 . The interior facing surface 60 has a groove 64 extending inwardly therein and the groove 64 is longitudinally coextensive with the corresponding second arm 58 .

The exterior facing surface 62 has a groove 66 extending inwardly therein. The groove 66 corresponding to the exterior facing surface 62 is longitudinally coextensive with the corresponding second arm 58 . The interior facing surface 60 corresponding to the first half 18 coextensively abuts the exterior facing surface 62 corresponding to the second half 20 . Thus, the plate 24 corresponding to the first half 18 is oppositionally positioned with respect to the plate 24 corresponding to the second half 20 .

A first rail 68 is fixedly positioned within the slot 40 of the inwardly facing surface 36 . The first rail 68 engages the slot 44 of the outwardly facing surface 38 . Thus, the first arm 34 of the first half 18 is slidably coupled to the first arm 34 of the second half 20 . The first rail 68 is coextensive with the first arm 34 corresponding to the first half 18 .

The first rail 68 may have a pair of channels 70 each extending toward a center of the first rail 68 . The channels 70 may be positioned on opposite sides of the first rail 68 . The tabs 42 corresponding to each of the first half 18 and the second half 20 may engage an associated one of the channels 70 . Thus, the first arm 34 of each of the first half 18 and the second half 20 are slidably coupled together.

A second rail 72 is fixedly positioned within the groove 64 of the interior facing surface 60 . The second rail 72 engages the groove 66 of the exterior facing surface 62 . Thus, the second arm 58 of the first half 18 is slidably coupled to the second arm 58 of the second half 20 . The second rail 72 is coextensive with the second arm 58 of the first half 18 .

The second rail 72 may have a pair of channels 74 each extending toward a center of the second rail 72 . The channels 74 of the second rail 72 may be positioned on opposite sides of the second rail 72 . The lips 46 corresponding to each of the first half 18 and the second half 20 may engage an associated one of the channels 74 in the second rail 72 . Thus, the second arm 58 of the first half 18 is slidably coupled to the second arm 58 of the second half 20 .

A pair of cross braces 76 is provided. Each of the cross braces 76 extends between the first arm 34 of the second half 20 and the second arm 58 of the second half 20 . The cross braces 76 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along the corresponding first arm 34 and the corresponding second arm 58 . The second lateral surface 28 of the plate 24 corresponding to the first half 18 has a well 78 extending inwardly therein. The well 78 is centrally positioned on the first half 18 .

The urging unit 22 comprises a plurality of bearings 80 . Each of the bearings 80 is coupled to an associated one of the cross braces 76 and the second lateral surface 28 of the plate 24 corresponding to the second half 20 . Each of the bearings 80 may comprise a ball bearing or the like. A rod 82 extends between the second lateral surface corresponding 28 to the first half 18 and the second lateral surface 28 corresponding to the second half 20 . The rod 82 has an outer surface 84 and the outer surface 84 is threaded. The rod 82 extends through each of the cross braces 76 and each of the bearings 80 . The rod 82 threadably engages each of the bearings 80 and the rod 82 extends into the well 78 .

A ratchet 86 is rotatably coupled to the second lateral surface 28 corresponding to the first half 18 . Thus, the ratchet 86 may be manipulated. The rod 82 extends through the ratchet 86 such that the ratchet 86 threadably engages the rod 82 . The ratchet 86 selectively urges the rod 82 to rotate in a first direction. Thus, the plate 24 corresponding to the first half 18 is urged away from the plate 24 corresponding to the second half 20 . The lateral arms 14 of the construction frame 12 are urged away from each other when the spreader 16 is positioned between the lateral arms 14 .

The ratchet 86 selectively urges the rod 82 to rotate in a second direction. Thus, the plate 24 corresponding to the first half 18 is urged toward the plate 24 corresponding to the second half 20 . The rod 82 extends into the well 78 when the rod 82 is urged to rotate in the second direction. The ratchet 86 may be a ratcheting handle of any conventional design.

In use, the spreader 16 is positioned between the lateral arms 14 . The spreader 16 is horizontally oriented between the lateral arms 14 . The ratchet 86 is manipulated to rotate the rod 82 in the first direction. The feet 30 corresponding to each of the first half 18 and the second half 20 engage an associated one the lateral arms 14 . The ratchet 86 is manipulated to rotate the rod 82 in the first direction until the pointer 56 is aligned with a selected point on the ruler 52 . Thus, the lateral arms 14 are spaced a selected distance apart from each other. The lateral arms 14 are secured in the convention of construction framing. The ratchet 86 is manipulated to rotate the rod 82 in the second direction and the spreader 16 is removed from between the lateral arms 14 .

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, system and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.