Work supporting apparatus

1. A device ( 10 ) for receiving and supporting a first length of material ( 11 ) adjacent to a first ( 13 ) member, said device ( 10 ) comprising:

a first substantially flat element ( 20 ) defining first ( 22 ) and second ( 24 ) opposed substantially flat surfaces and first ( 26 ), second ( 28 ), third ( 30 ) and fourth ( 32 ) perimeter edges;

a first ( 34 ) substantially right-angle bracket connected to said second ( 24 ) surface;

a second ( 36 ) substantially right-angle bracket connected to said second ( 24 ) surface;

said first ( 34 ) and second ( 36 ) brackets positioned in cooperating relationship with each other and with said flat element ( 20 ) for removably supporting said device ( 10 ) on said first member ( 13 );

a third ( 38 ) substantially right-angle bracket connected to said first ( 22 ) surface;

a fourth ( 40 ) substantially right-angle bracket connected to said first ( 22 ) surface;

said third ( 38 ) and fourth ( 40 ) brackets positioned in cooperating relationship with each other and with said flat element ( 20 ) for removably receiving and supporting said first length of material ( 11 ) adjacent to said first member ( 13 );

wherein said first ( 34 ) bracket defines a first ( 34 ′) part substantially perpendicularly connected to said second ( 24 ) surface and a second ( 34 ″) part substantially perpendicularly connected to said first ( 34 ′) part;

wherein said second ( 36 ) bracket defines a third ( 36 ′) part substantially perpendicularly connected to said second ( 24 ) surface and a fourth ( 36 ″) part substantially perpendicularly connected to said third ( 36 ′) part;

wherein said second ( 34 ″) and fourth ( 36 ″) parts extend inwardly of said device ( 10 ) with respect to said second ( 28 ) and said fourth ( 32 ) edges, respectively;

wherein said third ( 38 ) bracket defines a fifth ( 38 ′) part substantially perpendicularly connected to said first ( 22 ) surface and a sixth ( 38 ″) part substantially perpendicularly connected to said fifth ( 38 ′) part;

wherein said fourth ( 40 ) bracket defines a seventh ( 40 ′) part substantially perpendicularly connected to said first ( 22 ) surface and an eighth ( 40 ″) part substantially perpendicularly connected to said seventh ( 40 ′) part;

wherein said sixth ( 38 ″) part extends inwardly of said device ( 10 ) with respect to said third ( 30 ) edge and wherein said eighth ( 40 ″) part extends in a direction away from said first ( 26 ) edge and toward said third ( 30 ) edge;

wherein said first ( 13 ) member is a substantially vertically oriented structural wall stud ( 13 ) and wherein said first ( 34 ) and said second ( 36 ) brackets are sized and positioned on said flat element ( 20 ) for removably receiving said stud ( 13 ) between said second ( 34 ″) part and said flat element ( 20 ) and between said fourth ( 36 ″) part and said flat element ( 20 ), respectively, when said device ( 10 ) is positioned on said stud ( 13 );

wherein said first ( 34 ′) part and said third ( 36 ′) part are positioned on said flat element ( 20 ) to simultaneously engage said stud ( 13 ) when said device ( 10 ) is positioned on said stud ( 13 );

wherein said third ( 38 ) and said fourth ( 40 ) brackets are positioned with respect to each other on said flat element ( 20 ) to cooperatively receive and support said first length of material ( 11 ) when said first length of material ( 11 ) is positioned between said third ( 38 ) and said fourth ( 40 ) brackets;

wherein said first length of material ( 11 ) is a length of lumber of predetermined dimensions;

wherein said first ( 34 ) bracket is connected in adjacent relationship with said second ( 28 ) and said third ( 30 ) edges and wherein said second ( 36 ) bracket is connected in adjacent relationship with said first ( 26 ) and said fourth ( 32 ) edges;

wherein said third ( 38 ) bracket is connected in adjacent relationship with said second ( 28 ) and said third ( 30 ) edges; and

wherein said fourth ( 40 ) bracket is connected in adjacent relationship with said fourth ( 32 ) edge and wherein said seventh ( 40 ′) part is connected to said flat element ( 20 ) substantially midway between said first ( 26 ) and said third ( 30 ) edges.

2. A device ( 10 ) as in claim 1 wherein each of said first ( 34 ′), second ( 34 ″), third ( 36 ′), fourth ( 36 ″), fifth ( 38 ′), sixth ( 38 ″), seventh ( 40 ′) and eighth ( 40 ″) parts are flat.

3. A device ( 10 ) as in claim 2 wherein said fifth ( 38 ′) and said seventh ( 40 ′) parts extend equal distances from said first ( 22 ) surface.

4. A device ( 10 ) as in claim 3 wherein said first ( 34 ′) and said third ( 36 ′) parts extend equal distances from said second ( 24 ) surface.

5. A device ( 10 ) as in claim 4 which is comprised of metal and wherein said brackets are welded to said flat element ( 20 ).

6. Work supporting apparatus, comprising:

first and second of said receiving and supporting devices ( 10 ) as recited in claim 1 positioned on neighboring ones of said first members ( 13 );

each of said devices ( 10 ) supporting one of said first lengths of material ( 11 ) as received in claim 1 for receiving and supporting work ( 42 ) or a work surface 42 on said first lengths of material ( 11 ).