GB2507973A

GB2507973A - Drilling template for curtain rail support holes

Info

Publication number: GB2507973A
Application number: GB201220509A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lucy Lord
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-11-14
Filing date: 2012-11-14
Publication date: 2014-05-21
Also published as: GB201220509D0

Abstract

A template 1 for marking the location of part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess in a surface, such as a wall, door or window frame, has at least one edge, preferably two linear edges 6, 7 forming a right angle at an inner corner 5 and preferably comprising a chevron shape. The template also comprises at least one hole, preferably a plurality of holes 9 forming a grid 8 and spaced 1 cm apart. There may be numerals 10 indicating distances between the holes and an edge of the template. A method of manufacturing the template is also disclosed, which may comprise moulding template 1 from a clear plastic, for example poly(methyl methacrylate). Template 1 may be formed in two symmetrical sections 2, 3 which may be flexibly bonded to form a fold line 4.

Description

A Template The present invention relates to a template for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in the surface, use of a template for marking on a surface a location of at least pad of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in the surface, and a method for manufacturing a template for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in the surface. In particular, the invention relates to a drill hole template for marking on a surface a proposed drill hole location with respect to a recess provided in the surface.

At present, when wishing to put up curtain rails, individuals and tradesmen alike use a number of different methods for determining the location of drill holes in particular or other parts of curtain rail supports. These methods involve a certain amount of guesswork, simple measuring or just eye-alignment to decide upon the correct position(s) with respect to a corner or edge of a recess for a door or window, and the ceiling. Of course, curtain rails are typically supported at, at least, either end of the recess and, whilst those methods can provide one curtain rail support in a reasonable position, it is often very difficult to replicate a corresponding position at the other end of the recess. Unfortunately, symmetry is important with curtain rail* supports and a lack of symmetrical positioning of the supports at each end of the recess, and their vertical positioning with respect to the recess and ceiling, has a detrimental effect on the rail itself -for example it may not be level, or may extend further at one end of the recess than it does at the other. This often reduces the eye-appeal of the new rail and shows that it has not been put up correctly.

Measuring and marking in two planes, at each end Of the recess can improve the symmetrical location of drill holes and the like. However, it is more time consuming.

There is, therefore, a need for a device which allows simple, easy and quick location of a drill hole at each end of a recess, and which provides symmetrical location of curtain rails supports.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a template, for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in said surface, the template comprising: an edge of the template, for aligning with at least part of said recess; and an aperture through the template, for marking said location of at least part of said curtain rail support.

Preferably, the edge comprises a linear edge, and, most preferably, the edge comprises two linear edges which are provided in a transverse relationship.

Preferably, the two edges form an inner corner at their intersection, and are, preferably, provided at about a right angle to each other. Most preferably, the template comprises a cross-sectional shape of a chevron.

A plurality of apertures may be provided. The plurality of apertures may be provided in a grid-like arrangement, preferably comprising regularly-spaced apertures in two planes, for example rows and columns. The apertures in the grid-like arrangement may provide different apertures at different distances from the edge or from the inner corner. Apertures are preferably provided every centimetre from the edge or from the inner corner or, alternatively, every 1.5 centimetres or every 3 centimetres. Numerals may be provided by at least every other aperture along at least one row andIor at least one column of apertures. Preferably, a numeral located by an aperture indicates a distance of that aperture from the edge.

The surface against which the template may be used is, preferably, a wall, panel or the like, or a door or window frame. The recess, which is provided in the surface, is, preferably, a recess for a window or a recess for a door.

Preferably, the template is foldable and, most preferably, the template is foldable along an axis of symmetry.

The template is, preferably, manufactured from clear plastics material, for example poly(methyl methacrylate). The material may be flexible like a shatter resistant material or may be more rigid. Optionally, the material may be translucent, if not fully transparent. Advantageously, a clear plastics material allows a user to gain a better perspective of the proposed location of the mark with respect to the recess and/or the ceiling. Transparent materials are, therefore, preferred, although translucent materials may also provide some of this advantage.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drill hole template for marking on a surface a proposed drill hole location with respect to a recess provided in said surface, the template comprising any one or more of the features of the first aspect. *2

According to a further aspect, the present invention provides use of a template for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in the surface, the template comprising: an edge of the template; and an aperture through the template, the use comprising aligning the edge of the template with at least part of the recess and marking the surface through the aperture.

Preferably, use comprises aligning the edge of the template with an opposing at least part of the recess and marking the surface through the same aperture, so as to provide two markings having the same distance from respective at least parts of the recess. Preferably, use comprises aligning the edge of the template with an upper corner of the recess.

Most preferably, the recess is a recess for a window or a recess for a door.

Most preferably, the surface is a wall, panel or the like, or a door or window frame.

Preferably, the location of at least part of a curtain rail support is the location of a drill hole for fixing the curtain rail support to the surface.

Preferably, the template comprises any one or more of the features of the first aspect.

According to a yet further aspect, the present invention provides a methpd for manufacturing a template, for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in said surface, the method comprising providing a template comprising an edge of the template, for aligning with at least part of said recess; and an aperture through the template, for marking said location of at least part of said curtain rail support.

Preferably, the method comprises manufacturing the template from clear plastics material, for example poly(methyl methacrylate).

Preferably, the method comprises manufacturing the template using a mould.

The method may comprise providing an aperture in the template after moulding of the template. Alternatively, the mould comprises a protrusion forforming an aperture in the template during moulding.

The template may be formed in two halves of same size and shape, and the two halves may be bonded together along an axis of symmetry. Preferably, the bonding is flexible, allowing the template to be folded along the axis of symmetry.

Advantageously, symmetrical positioning of a pair of curtain rail supports at either end of a recess is made simpler, easier and quicker. The likelihood of having to reposition either support, following providing non-symmetrical positioning, is reduced. Level curtain rails are thus easily provided. Advantageously, curtain poles can be positioned uniformly throughout a house or building. Further advantageously, the template may be used to correctly position other objects with respect to a recess, for example a mantle shelf with respect to a fireplace or a sign with respect to a doorway.

The invention will now be disclosed, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a template; Figure 2 is a plan view of the template of Figure 1 folded; Figure 3 is an elevation of the template of Figure 1 in use around a recess of a window.

Figure 1 shows a template, identified generally by reference 1, which has an approximate cross-sectional shape of a chevron. The template I is thin having a depth of only a few millimetre& The template I is provided by two limbs 2; 3, each providing approximately half of the chevron and longitudinal axes of the limbs 2; 3 are oriented at approximately a right angle to each other. The two limbs 2; 3 are connected along an axis of symmetry 4 of the template 1 and form an inner corner 5.

Limb 2 has an inner edge 6, oriented to run parallel to a horizontal edge of a recess (not shown). Limb 3 has an inner edge 7, oriented to run parallel to a vertical edge of a recess (not shown). The inner corner 5 is the intersection of the inner edges 6; 7. The template I includes a grid of apertures 8 and each individual aperture 9 extends through the depth of the template I. Each aperture 9 is sized to allow a pencil (or the like) to mark through the aperture 9 upon a surface (not shown) against which the template can be placed. The grid 8 provides many different apertures at different distances from the inner cornerS. In one example, apertures 9 are provided at centimetre intervals and are numbered 10 in X and V axes every other aperture 9, up to twenty. The template 1 is foldable along the axis of symmetry 4.

The template 1 may be used as a drill hole template, for marking on a surface (not shown) a proposed drill hole location with respect to a recess (not shown) provided in the surface (not shown).

Figure 2 shows the template 1 in a folded condition 1', as it would likely be for storage. In the folded condition 1', limb 2 and limb 3 rest together. Limbs 2; 3 have rotated about 180 degrees with respect to each other around the axis of symmetry 4 from the condition shown in Figure 1 to arrive at that now.shown in Figure 2. As each limb 2; 3 is approximately half of the template I and, when in the folded condition 12, the template 1 is approximately half the size of the unfolded template 1.

Figure 3 shows the template I in use around a recess 20 of a window 21.

The template 1 is located in the region of an upper corner 22 of the recess. Figure 3 also shows, in stippled lines, a location of the template I once flipped for use on an opposing upper corner 23 of the recess. The recess includes an upper horizontal edge 24 and vertical edges 25 and 26 from left to right. The recess is provided within a wall 27.

In use of the template 1, the edge 6 of the template 1 is located along the horizontal edge 24 of the recess 20 and the edge 7 of the template is located along the vertical edge 26 of the recess, which provides the inner corner 5 at an intersection of the edges 24 and 26 of the recess 20. Once the template 1 is aligned as described, a location of a drill hole can be decided upon by simply choosing how far along the X and Y axes of numbers 10 and apertures 9 to go before, using a pencil for example, making a mark on the wall 27 through a specific aperture 11.

Once marked, the template 1 may be removed. A correspondingly positioned mark can easily be made by flipping the template 1, 180 degrees about its vertical axis, and positioning it in a corresponding manner in the opposing corner 23, and making a mark on the wall 27 through the same specific aperture 11, from the other side of the template. Once one or more marks are made on the wall 27 for each curtain rail support, one or more holes may be drilled, and the curtain rail be affixed to the wall in a conventional manner. Of course, if affixing the curtain rail support to plasterboard for example, self-drilling fixings may be used, which would not require specifically drilled holes.

The template is manufactured from clear plastics material, for example poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). It is preferably manufactured through a moulding process which provides apertures at the same time as moulding. The mould may be arranged to include various protrusions for providing the apertures.

Alternatively, apertures may be provided after moulding, for example by drilling.

Further alternatively, the template may be manufactured from polycarbonate or from a polystyrene copolymer. Further alternatively, a more robust template may be manufactured from metal, for example aluminium, and parts of the template may be hinged together.

Whilst Figure 1 exemplifies apertures having centimetre spacing, this could obviously be altered and, alternatively, spacing could be every 1.5 centimetres, every 2 centimetres, every 3 centimetres, or even every five centimetres and/or combinations of those spacings. For smaller devices, a spacing of a half centimetre may be more appropriate, or for larger devices, a spacing of 3 centimetres or 5 centimetres may be more appropriate. If non-SI units are used, then spacing may be provided at regular fractions of an inch, for example. Further, whilst Figure 1 shows X and Y axes having 20 apertures and numerals from 2 up to 20, the X and Y axes could have up to 50 apertures and numerals could be from 2 to 50, although preferably from 10 to 30. Although Figure 1 shows a numeral every other aperture, numerals could be provided every aperture or every five apertures, for example. In an alternative, a different numeral could be provided for each aperture. As such, once the aperture is chosen for a first mark, it is easy to remember which aperture should be used for the second mark. In this scenario, the numerals have no link to the distance the aperture is provided from the edge or the inner corner. The invention is described as positioning the template and aligning it with at least part of a recess; however, a similar advantage may be provided by aligning the template with something surrounding the recess, for example a frame, in particular a door frame. The template may be provided in various sizes, for example large and small so as to accommodate for different room proportions and allow for space restrictions.

Claims

Claims: 1.) A template, for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in said surface, the template comprising: an edge of the template, for aligning with at least part of said recess; and an aperture through the template, for marking said location of at least part of said curtain rail support.
2.) A template as claimed in claim 1 wherein the edge comprises a linear edge.
3.) A template as claimed in claim 2, wherein the edge comprises two linear edges which are provided in a transverse relationshIp.
4.) A template as claimed in claim 3, wherein the two edges form an inner corner at their intersection.
5.) A template as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the edges are provided at about a right angle.
6.) A template as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the template comprises a cross-sectional shape of a chevron.
7.) A template as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of apertures are provided.
8.) A template as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures are provided in a grid-like arrangement.
9.) A template as claimed in claim 8, wherein the grid-like arrangement comprises regularly-spaced apertures in two planes.
10.) A template as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein apertures in the grid-like arrangement provide different apertures at different distances from the edge or from the inner corner.
11.) A template as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein apertures are provided every centimetre from the edge or from the inner corner or, alternatively, every 1.5 centimetres or every 3 centimetres.
12.) A template as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein numerals are provided by at least every other aperture along at least one row and/or at least one column of apertures.
13.) A template as claimed in claim 12, wherein a numeral located by an aperture indicates a distance of that aperture from the edge.
14.) A template as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said surface is a wall, panel or the like, or a door or window frame.
15.) A template as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recess is a recess for a window or a recess for a door.
16.) A template as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the template is foldable.
17.) A template as claimed in claim 16, wherein the template is foldable along an axis of symmetry.
18.) A template as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the template is manufactured from clear plastics material, preferably poly(methyl methacrylate).
19.) A template, for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in said surface, substantially as herein described, with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings and/or any example described herein.
20.) A drill hole template for marking on a surface a proposed drill hole location with respect to a recess provided in said surface, the template comprising any one or more of the features of claim 1 to 19.
21.) Use of a template for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in the surface, the template comprising: an edge of the template; and an aperture through the template, the use comprising aligning the edge of the template with at least part of the recesá and marking the surface through the aperture.
22.) Use of a template as claimed in claim 21 comprising aligning the edge of the template with an opposing at least part of the recess and marking the surface through the same aperture, so as to provide two markings having the same distance from respective at least parts of the recess.
23.) Use of a template as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22 comprising aligning the edge of the template with an upper corner of the recess.
24.) Use of a template as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the recess is a recess for a window or a recess for a door.
5.) Use of a template as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein said surface is a wall, panel or the like, or a door or window frame.
26.) Use of a template as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein said location of at least part of a curtain rail support is the location of a drill hole for fixing the curtain rail support to the surface.
27.) Use of a template as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the template comprises any one or more of the template features from claims 1 to 20.
28.) Use of a template, for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in said surface, substantially as herein described, with refer!nce to the accompanying description and/or any example described herein.
29.) A method for manufacturing a template, for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in said surface, the method comprising providing a template comprising an edge of the template, for aligning with at least part of said recess; and an aperture through the template, for marking said location of at least part of said curtain rail support.
30.) A method as claimed in claim 29 comprising manufacturing the template from clear plastics material, preferably poly(methyl methacrylate).
31.) A method as claimed in claim 29 or claim 30 comprising manufacturing the template using a mould.
32.) A method as claimed in claim 31 comprising providing an aperture in the template after moulding of the template.
33.) A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the mould comprises a protrusion for forming an aperture in the template during moulding.
34.) A method as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 33, wherein the template is formed in two halves of same size and shape, and the two halves are bonded together along an axis of symmetry.
35.) A method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the bonding is flexible, allowing the template to be folded along the axis of symmetry.
36.) A method for manufacturing a template, for marking on a surface a location of at least part of a curtain rail support with respect to a recess provided in said surface, substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying description and/or any example described herein.