US3678588A

US3678588A - Wall outlet box locater

Info

Publication number: US3678588A
Application number: US121436A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond O Isola; Norman R Isola
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-03-05
Filing date: 1971-03-05
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25

Abstract

A wall outlet box locater apparatus for use where gypsum and other type wall board panels are used to cover walls in a structure comprising: a T-square shaped member, a lip member extending across the top head portion of the T-square member, and a sliding box shaped member positioned for movement of the leg of the T-square member and with said box shaped member capable of being fixed in various positions for the purpose of tracing a cut out area in the wall panel.

Description

United States Paten Isola et al.

[151 3,678,588 [4s] July 25,1972

[54] WALL OUTLET BOX LOCATER [22]- Filed: March 5,1971

[21] Appl.No.: 121,436

[52] U.S. Cl ..33/l80 R, 33/174 G, 33/197, 33/DIG. l0 [51] Int. Cl. ..G0lb 5/14 [58] Field of Search ..33/180 R, 197, DlG. 10,174 B, 33/174 G [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,990,172 6/1961 Gianotta ..33/DIG. 10

q jj

3,246,399 4/1966 Southern ..33/1 97 X Primary Examiner-William D. Martin, Jr. Attorneyl-larness, Dickey & Pierce [5 7] ABSTRACT A wall outlet box locater apparatus for use where gypsum and other type wall board panels are used to cover walls in a structure comprising: a T-square shaped member, a lip member extending across the top head portion of the T-square member, and a sliding box shaped member positioned for movement of the leg of the T-square member and with said box shaped member capable of being fixed in various positions for the purpose of tracing a cut out area in the wall panel.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures I PATENTEnJuLzsmz WALL OUTLET BOX LOCATER.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention broadly relates to a locating apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to a wall outlet box locator apparatus for use in determining an area to be cut outin a wall panel, with said cut out area being adapted to accommodate a previously mounted electrical outlet box.

The state of the prior art is indicated by the following references, which were located in a preliminary search, and which are cited here of record suchas U.S. Pats. to: Grennan, No. 503,045; Duffy, No. 1,489,933; No. Houts 1,787,313; Lutz, No. 2,203,992; Phair, No. 2,919,913; Kelley, No. 2,994,351; Crawford, No. 3,154,304; and Howell, No. 3,522,658.

The mainobject of the inventionis to simplify the locating of installed electrical and other outlet boxes in wall panels during the installation of the wall panels, with the wall panels being generally of the type which are installed in either a horizontal or vertical manner.

Another objectof the present invention is to provide an improved wall outlet box locator apparatus.

. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended-claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an elevation view of the apparatus in accordance withthe invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a wall outlet box locater apparatus for use where gypsum and other wall board panels and the like are used to cover walls in a structure, said apparatus comprising: a T-square shaped member including a slot at one end thereof, a centering point member located within the slot to assist in visually positioning the T- square member, a lip member extending generally across the top head portion of the T-square member for use in squaring the T-square member by bringing the lip member into close relationship with a predetermined edge of a wall panel, a sliding box shaped member positioned on the leg portion of the T- square member and with said box shaped member including two way guide means enabling the box shaped member to slidably positioned on the leg portion in horizontal orientation and in vertical orientation relative to the leg, said box member being'shaped such that when it is properly positioned an area to be cut out can be traced on a predetermined wall panel in a properly located position to accommodate vertically and horizontally mounted wall outlet boxes.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A description of the embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is made below, however, it is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment shown in that variations therein may be fairly apparent after having the advantage of the disclosure made herein.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the wall outlet box locater apparatus generally designated and which includes a T-square shaped member 12 generally comprised of a head portion 14 and an extended leg portion 16. The head portion 14 includes a centering point member 18 positioned within a slot 20 formed in the head portion 14.

The head portion 14 also includes one or more prongs 22 which are capable of being inserted into the edge of an adjacent wall panel to stabilize the apparatus 10 during use thereof as will be explained below.

A lip member 23 extends generally across the top head portion 14 of the T-square member and the lip member 23 serves the purpose of facilitating squaring of the T-square member relative to the edge of-a wall panel which is to receive the cut out marking ortracing for an outlet box layout.

A sliding box shaped member 30 is positioned on the leg portion 16 of the T-square member. and the box shaped member includes two way guide means or channels designated 32 and 34. As shown in FIG. 2 the box shaped member 30 is mounted for sliding movement-on the leg portion 16 by means of the guide channel 34. The box shaped member 30.may also be positioned transversely on the leg portion 16 for sliding movement thereon throughuse of the other guide channel32 which is oriented at an angle of relative to the positioning of the guide channel 34. By proper selection of sliding either with the guide channel 32 or the guide channel 34 it is possible touse the box shaped member as a template for a vertically or horizontally positioned aperture in a. wall panel to correspondingly accommodate an outlet box which is mounted in its length-wise dimension either vertically or horizontally, for example, on a wall stud.

The sliding box shaped member 30 is held in any desired position on the leg portion 16 by tightening a set screw 40 against the leg portion 16.

The usage or operation of the wall outlet box locator apparatus 10 is as follows.

The double acting template or sliding box shaped member 30 may be moved along the leg 16 of the T-square member to locate the outlet boxes mounted on wall studs (not shown). The outlet box may be either vertically or horizontally mounted on the wall studs, and depending on their orientation the sliding box shaped member is properly positioned using either guide channel 32 or guide channel 34. The T-square member is secured into position against any useable reference level, such as the adjacent edge of an. already mounted wall panel, or ground level. Securing the Tsquare is performed by properly positioning the surface 23a against the chosen reference level from which the measurement to the outlet box on the wall stud is to be made.

For example, it is common in mounting wall panels on the wall studs to mount a first group of wall panels across the wall at the top thereof in a horizontally oriented position. Once this group of wall panels is in position the wall studs on the bottom half of the wall are still exposed and the outlet boxes are also exposed. Surface 23a of the T-square member is then pressed against the edge of a wall panel which is already mounted above an exposed wall outlet box. If the mounted wall panel is of a soft material such as gypsum, then the prongs 22 would be pressed into the gypsum to help stabilize the apparatus 10. Then the sliding box template 30 is moved vertically along the leg portion 16 until it covers the stud mounted outlet box. The set screw 40 is tightened to fix the template or box shaped member 30 in position. The T-square member is then removed from pressing engagement with the edge of the mounted wall panel and it is transferred over to an unmounted wall panel. The lip member 23 is then overlapped on the edge of the unmounted wall panel, which latter mentioned edge is the one to be engaged with the edge (reference level) of the already mounted panel which was engaged by the prongs 22 and surface 23a for the purpose of measuring the position of the outlet box. The tracing or penciled layout for the outlet box is then made on the all panel after measuring the proper horizontal dimension from the adjacent edge of the unmounted wall panel. The area traced with the template formed by the box shaped member 30 is then cut out to form an aperture in the unmounted wall panel which will accommodate the outlet box upon subsequent mounting of the wall panel.

The above usage or operation of the apparatus 10 may of course be carried out to locate either a single wall outlet box aperature in a wall panel or a series of several wall outlet box apertures in one or more panels prior to mounting thereof.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A wall outlet box locater apparatus for use where gypsum and other wall board panels and the like are used to cover walls in a structure,

said apparatus comprising:

a T-square shaped member including a slot at one end thereof, a centering point member located within the slot to assist in visually positioning the T-square member, a lip member extending generally across the top head portion of the T-square member for use in squaring the T- .square member by bringing the lip member into close relationship with a predetermined edge of a wall panel, a-sliding box shaped member positioned on the leg portion of the T-square member and with said box shaped member including two way guide means enabling the box shaped member to be slidably positioned on the leg portion in horizontal orientation and in vertical orientation 'elative to the leg, s' aid box member being shaped such that when it is properly positioned an area to be cut out can be traced on a predetermined wall panel in a properly located position to accommodate vertically and horizontally mounted wall outlet boxes. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, said guide means are found by intersecting channel means at a 90 angle relative to one another to enable the slidable positioning of the shaped member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein,

at least one prong type projection extends from said top head portion of the T-square member, with said prong being insertable into an adjacent wall panel when moving and positioning the box shaped member.

4. A wall outlet box locater apparatus for use where gypsum and other wall board panels and the like are used to cover walls in a structure,

said apparatus comprising:

a T-square shaped member,

a centering point located on the T-square shaped member to assist in visual positioning,

means extending generally across the top head portion of the T-square member for us in squaring the apparatus by bringing the means into close relationship with a predetermined edge of a wall panel,

sliding box shaped means positioned on the leg portion of the T-square member and with said box shaped means including guide means enabling the box shaped member to be slidably positioned on the leg portion in horizontal orientation and in vertical orientation relative to the leg, said box means being shaped such that when it is properly positioned an area to be cut out can be traced on a predetermined wall panel in a properly located position to accommodate vertically and horizontally mounted wall outlet boxes.

5. A wall outlet box locater apparatus for use where gypsum and other wall board panels and the like are used to cover walls in a structure,

said apparatus comprising:

a squared off member including a centering means to assist in visually positioning the member,

means extending generally across the top head portion of the squared off member for use in squaring the member by bringing the means into close relationship with a predetermined edge of a wall panel,

a sliding shaped member positioned on the leg portion of the squared off member and with said shaped member including guide means enabling the shaped member to be slidably positioned on the leg portion in horizontal orientation and in vertical orientation relative to the leg, said sliding member being shaped such that when it is properly positioned an area to be cut out can be traced on a predetermined wall panel in a properly located position to accommodate vertically and horizontally mounted wall outlet boxes. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein, said guide means are found by intersecting channel means at a angle relative to one another to enable the slidable positioning of the shaped member. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized as including a single set screw perpendicular to said leg portion, a slot in the head portion of the T-square, a centering point member mounted within said slot, at least one prong extending from the head portion to assist in stabilizing the apparatus during usage thereof said means extending generally across the top head portion of the squared off member being comprised of a lip member which is coordinate in length with the head portion.

Claims

1. A wall outlet box locater apparatus for use where gypsum and other wall board panels and the like are used to cover walls in a structure, said apparatus comprising: a T-square shaped member including a slot at one end thereof, a centering point member located within the slot to assist in visually positioning the T-square member, a lip member extending generally across the top head portion of the T-square member for use in squaring the T-square member by bringing the lip member into close relationship with a predetermined edge of a wall panel, a sliding box shaped member positioned on the leg portion of the T-square member and with said box shaped member including two way guide means enabling the box shaped member to be slidably positioned on the leg portion in horizontal orientation and in vertical orientation relative to the leg, said box member being shaped such that when it is properly positioned an area to be cut out can be traced on a predetermined wall panel in a properly located position to accommodate vertically and horizontally mounted wall outlet boxes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, said guide means are found by intersecting channel means at a 90* angle relative to one another to enable the slidable positioning of the shaped member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein, at least one prong type projection extends from said top head portion of the T-square member, with said prong being insertable into an adjacent wall panel when moving and positioning the box shaped member.

4. A wall outlet box locater apparatus for use where gypsum and other wall board panels and the like are used to cover walls in a structure, said apparatus comprising: a T-square shaped member, a centering point located on the T-square shaped member to assist in visual positioning, means extending generally across the top head portion of the T-square member for us in squaring the apparatus by bringing the means into close relationship with a predetermined edge of a wall panel, sliding box shaped means positioned on the leg portion of the T-square member and with said box shaped means including guide means enabling the box shaped member to be slidably positioned on the leg portion in horizontal orientation and in vertical orientation relative to the leg, said box means being shaped such that when it is properly positioned an area to be cut out can be traced on a predetermined wall panel in a properly located position to accommodate vertically and horizontally mounted wall outlet boxes.

5. A wall outlet box locater apparatus for use where gypsum and other wall board panels and the like are used to cover walls in a structure, said apparatus comprising: a squared off member including a centering means to assist in visually positioning the member, means extending generally across the top head portion of the sQuared off member for use in squaring the member by bringing the means into close relationship with a predetermined edge of a wall panel, a sliding shaped member positioned on the leg portion of the squared off member and with said shaped member including guide means enabling the shaped member to be slidably positioned on the leg portion in horizontal orientation and in vertical orientation relative to the leg, said sliding member being shaped such that when it is properly positioned an area to be cut out can be traced on a predetermined wall panel in a properly located position to accommodate vertically and horizontally mounted wall outlet boxes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein, said guide means are found by intersecting channel means at a 90* angle relative to one another to enable the slidable positioning of the shaped member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized as including a single set screw perpendicular to said leg portion, a slot in the head portion of the T-square, a centering point member mounted within said slot, at least one prong extending from the head portion to assist in stabilizing the apparatus during usage thereof said means extending generally across the top head portion of the squared off member being comprised of a lip member which is coordinate in length with the head portion.