Holder for framing members and method of use

1. A tool for spacing and holding a first framing member relative to a second framing member at a predetermined distance, the tool comprising:

an elongated first bar having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the first bar having a bottom surface and an opposed upper surface;

a first stop interconnected with the first end portion of the first bar and extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the first bar, the first stop having an inwardly facing surface;

a second stop interconnected with the second end portion of the first bar and extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the first bar, the second stop having an outwardly facing surface;

an elongated second bar having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the second bar having a bottom surface and an opposed upper surface;

a first counter-stop interconnected with the first end portion of the second bar and extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the second bar, the first counter stop having an outwardly facing surface;

a second counter-stop interconnected with the second end portion of the second bar and extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the second bar, the second counter-stop having an inwardly facing surface;

the first bar and the second bar being slidably interconnected such that the second bar is longitudinally movable with respect to the first bar and such that the inwardly facing surface of the first stop is directed toward and spaced from the outwardly facing surface of the first counter-stop and the outwardly facing surface of the second stop is directed toward and spaced from the inwardly facing surface of the second counter-stop, the first stop and the first counter-stop defining a first jaw and the second stop and second counter-stop defining a second jaw, the first jaw and the second jaw each having an open position and a closed position, the stops and corresponding counter-stops being spaced further apart in the open position than in the closed position; and

a mechanism for moving the second bar relative to the first bar, the mechanism including a handle that is pivotally interconnected with one of the bars and a link having a first end pivotally interconnected with the handle and a second end pivotally interconnected with the other of the bars;

wherein movement of the handle from an open position to a closed position moves the first and second jaws from the open position to the closed position.

2. The tool in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first bar is at least partially hollow and the second bar is slidably received in the first bar.

3. The tool in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the first bar has at least one window defined in the bottom surface thereof, the first counter-stop extending through the window.

4. The tool in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

a third stop interconnected with the first bar between the first and second stops, the third stop extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the first bar and having a surface;

a third counter-stop interconnected with the second bar between the first and second counter-stops, the third counter-stop extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the second bar and having a surface;

the third stop and the third counter-stop defining a third jaw, the surface of the third stop directed toward and spaced from the surface of the third counter-stop, the third jaw having an open position and a closed position; and

movement of the handle from the open position to the closed position further moving the third jaw from the open position to the closed position.

5. The tool in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the handle in the closed position extends along the bars.

6. The tool in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the handle is formed such that a second end portion of the handle is spaced away from the first and second bar when the handle is in the closed position.

7. The tool in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is configured such that the handle is in an over-center position when in the closed position.

8. The tool in accordance with claim 1 , wherein when the jaws are in the closed position, the stops and corresponding counter-stops being spaced apart by approximately the thickness of a framing member.

9. The tool in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the stops and corresponding counter-stops are spaced apart by approximately 1.5 inches when the jaws are in the closed position.

10. A tool for spacing and holding a first framing member relative to a second framing member at a predetermined distance, the tool comprising:

an elongated first bar having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the first bar having a bottom surface and an opposed upper surface;

a first stop interconnected with the first end portion of the first bar and extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the first bar, the first stop having an inwardly facing surface;

a second stop interconnected with the second end portion of the first bar and extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the first bar, the second stop having an outwardly facing surface;

a third stop interconnected with the first bar between the first and second stops, the third stop extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the first bar and having a surface;

an elongated second bar having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the second bar having a bottom surface and an opposed upper surface;

a first counter-stop interconnected with the first end portion of the second bar and extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the second bar, the first counter stop having an outwardly facing surface;

a second counter-stop interconnected with the second end portion of the second bar and extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the second bar, the second counter-stop having an inwardly facing surface;

a third counter-stop interconnected with the second bar between the first and second counter-stops, the third counter-stop extending downwardly beyond the bottom surface of the second bar and having a surface;

the first bar and the second bar being slidably interconnected such that the second bar is longitudinally movable with respect to the first bar and such that the inwardly facing surface of the first stop is directed toward and spaced from the outwardly facing surface of the first counter-stop and the outwardly facing surface of the second stop is directed toward and spaced from the inwardly facing surface of the second counter-stop and the surface of the third stop is directed toward and spaced from the surface of the third counter-stop, the first stop and the first counter-stop defining a first jaw, the second stop and second counter-stop defining a second jaw, the third stop and the third counter-stop defining a third jaw, the first, second and third jaws each having an open position and a closed position, the stops and corresponding counter-stops being spaced further apart in the open position than in the closed position; and

a mechanism for moving the second bar relative to the first bar such that the first, second and third jaws are moved simultaneously between the open and closed positions, the mechanism including a handle that is pivotally interconnected with one of the bars and a link having a first end pivotally interconnected with the handle and a second end pivotally interconnected with the other of the bars;

wherein movement of the handle from an open position to a closed position moves the first and second jaws from the open position to the closed position.