MAGNETIC STUD FASTENER FINDER

• US 20130093417A1
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian J. Huffer, Emmett J. Ebner
• Original Assignee: Brian J. Huffer, Emmett J. Ebner
• Inventors: Ebner, Emmett J., Huffer, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,069,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/228
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/007 Environmental aspects, e.g. temperature variations, radiation, stray fields G01R33/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0076 Protection, e.g. with housings against stray fields

Abstract

Provided is a stud finder for determining the location of a stud within a wall. The stud finder includes a body having an internal compartment formed therein which is sized and configured to house a magnetic element therein. The stud finder is moveable along the wall to place the magnetic element in magnetic attraction with metallic fasteners (i.e., nails, screws, etc) disposed within the stud, such as for securing drywall to the stud. The magnetic attraction urges the magnetic element toward the metallic element to provide a visual indication as to the precise location of the metallic element, as well as the underlying stud.

Claims

1. A stud finder for use in locating a stud having a metallic element disposed therein, the stud finder comprising:

a body having an internal compartment; and

a magnetic element disposed within the internal compartment and moveable therein along at least two axes, the internal compartment being configured to confine the magnetic element therein;

the body and magnetic element being configured such that the magnetic element is magnetically attracted to the metallic element when the internal compartment is disposed adjacent the metallic element.

2. The stud finder as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the body includes a plurality of internal compartments formed therein; and

the magnetic element includes a plurality of magnetic elements, each magnetic element being disposed within a respective one of the plurality of internal compartments.

3. The stud finder as recited in claim 2, wherein each internal compartment is spaced from an adjacent one of the plurality of internal compartments.

4. The stud finder as recited in claim 2, wherein each internal compartment is spaced from an adjacent one of the plurality of internal compartments such that the magnetic elements disposed in adjacent compartment are substantially magnetically isolated from each other.

5. The stud finder as recited in claim 2, wherein the body defines a longitudinal axis, each internal compartment defining a longitudinal center along the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal centers of adjacent internal compartments being spaced less than six inches.

6. The stud finder as recited in claim 1, wherein the body includes a transparent wall having an inner surface defining at least a portion of the internal compartment and an outer surface defining at least a portion of an external surface of the body.

7. The stud finder as recited in claim 1, wherein the body includes a first end and an opposing second end to define a body length therebetween, the body length being approximately sixteen inches.

8. The stud finder as recited in claim 1, wherein the body includes a planar exterior surface configured to be disposable adjacent the wall.

9. The stud finder as recited in claim 1, wherein the body and magnetic element are configured to emit an audible detection signal and a visual detection signal in response to the stud finder being aligned with the metallic fastener.

10. The stud finder as recited in claim 9, wherein the audible detection signal is generated by contact between the magnetic element and the body.

11. The stud finder as recited in claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a transparent material.

12. The stud finder as recited in claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a plastic material.

13. The stud finder as recited in claim 1, further comprising a level connected to the body, the level configured to indicate one of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

14. The stud finder as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic element is detached from the body.

15. A stud finder for detecting the location of a stud within a wall, wherein the stud includes a metallic fastener inserted within the stud, the stud finder comprising:

a body having an internal compartment formed therein; and

a magnetic element moveably disposed within the internal compartment, the magnetic element being magnetically attractable to the metallic fastener such that the magnetic element remains substantially stationary relative to the metallic fastener as the body is moved adjacent the metallic fastener.

16. The stud finder as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the body includes a plurality of internal compartments formed therein; and

the magnetic element includes a plurality of magnetic elements, each magnetic element being disposed within a respective one of the plurality of internal compartments.

17. The stud finder as recited in claim 16, wherein each internal compartment is spaced from an adjacent one of the plurality of internal compartments such that the magnetic elements disposed in adjacent compartment are substantially magnetically isolated from each other.

18. The stud finder as recited in claim 15, wherein the magnetic element is moveable relative to the body about at least two axes.

19. The stud finder as recited in claim 15, wherein the body is formed from a transparent material.

20. A stud finder for use in locating a stud having a metallic element disposed therein, the stud finder comprising:

a body having an internal compartment; and

a magnetic element disposed within the internal compartment and moveable within the body along at least two axes, the magnetic element being configured to be magnetically attracted to the metallic element when the internal compartment is disposed adjacent the metallic element;

the body and magnetic element being configured to provide a visual confirmation of magnetic attraction between the magnetic element and the metallic element.

21. The stud finder as recited in claim 20, wherein the body and magnetic element are configured to provide an audible confirmation of magnetic attraction between the magnetic element and the metallic element.