Floor Joist Square with 3D Lips for Marking I-Joists
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marking tools fail to accurately mark straight lines along the multiple planes of engineered I-shaped floor joists with a single stroke, often requiring complex adjustments that are prone to jamming or breaking.
Innovation Solution
A floor joist square comprising a flat rectangular blade member, a perpendicularly affixed tongue member, and a handle forming a triangular shape, which allows for easy alignment and marking along the flanges and web of the joist in a single continuous motion, with hatch marks for measurement increments, and fabricated using 3D printing for unitary construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional marking squares are used on engineered I-shaped floor joists, then marking can be performed on flat surfaces, but the raised flanges above the web prevent accurate single-stroke marking across multiple planes
Solution Approach 1:
The marking square extends into the third dimension by incorporating lips that protrude from the blade surface. These lips allow the marking tool to simultaneously contact and mark all three surfaces (first flange, web, second flange) of the I-shaped joist, transforming a two-dimensional marking problem into a three-dimensional solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is segmented into distinct functional zones: a first lip for marking the first flange, a central blade portion for marking the web, and a second lip for marking the second flange. Each segment is positioned to contact a specific surface of the joist, enabling comprehensive marking across multiple planes in one operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustment mechanisms are added to marking tools to accommodate multiple planes, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to potential jamming or breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the adjustment mechanism entirely from the marking tool. Instead of using movable or adjustable components to adapt to different joist configurations, the tool employs a fixed blade design with pre-positioned lips that inherently accommodate the I-shaped geometry, eliminating sources of failure while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking square's geometry is designed to self-adjust to the joist dimensions. The lips and blade automatically position themselves relative to the flanges and web based on the joist's shape, requiring no manual adjustment or complex mechanisms while maintaining adaptability across different joist sizes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex adjustment mechanisms are used to enable multi-plane marking, then marking capability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the adjustment mechanism entirely from the marking tool. Instead of using movable or adjustable components to adapt to different joist configurations, the tool employs a fixed blade design with pre-positioned lips that inherently accommodate the I-shaped geometry, eliminating sources of failure while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking functionality for multiple surfaces is merged into a single integrated blade structure. The lips and blade portion work together as one unified component, eliminating the need for separate adjustment mechanisms or multiple marking tools, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining multi-plane capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A floor joist square is provided. A floor joist square for facilitating marking a straight-line along a face of an engineered I-shaped floor joist, the floor joist square comprises a blade member, a tongue member, and a handle. The blade member is flat and rectangular in shape and comprising a substantially thin first lip extending out from a first end of the blade member and a substantially thin second lip extending out from a second end of the blade member. The tongue member is flat and rectangular in shape and is perpendicularly affixed to the blade member at an end of the tongue member above the second lip. The handle is affixed to the blade member and the tongue member such that the handle, the blade member, and the tongue member form a triangular shape.