US 5,692,357 AGranted

Adjustable template and jig

OwnerMaurice McCaininventor

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Abstract

An adjustable template and jig that covers a wall area of 32 square feet, or less, the size of a standard sheet of rigid wall covering, that can be adjusted to an infinite variety of configurations to simulate the exact shape said sheets of rigid wall coverings must be cut before installation. The cutting information included in the completed configuration include, but is not limited to, openings for ducts, electrical outlets, forming around doorways and windows, angles required because of stairs, or sloping ceilings, out of plumb and out of square openings and comers, exact width and length panels must be cut, and allowance for all other objects that may protrude beyond the plane of surfaces being covered. The completed configuration can the be fixed by tightening knobs provided for that purpose, removed from the wall location, and laid on the surface of the panel to be installed, for use as a template for marking, or a jig for cutting.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An adjustable template and jig for reducing measuring requirements while installing rigid wall coverings on a wall from a floor to a ceiling, said adjustable template and jig comprising:

a vertical bar including a leveling device for plumbing said vertical bar with said wall, said vertical bar further including means to adjustably extend the length thereof to engage said floor and ceiling in a manner to establish the length of panels to be cut,
a secondary bar,
a housing bracket with a fastener to attach to and slide vertically along said vertical bar to become fixed at a desired height between said floor and ceiling said housing bracket including a conduit for slidably receiving said secondary bar and a locking mechanism for locking said secondary bar at various lateral positions,
a first set of adjustable arms adapted to form a cutout template with a secondary bracket slidably attached to said secondary bar and including means to lock said first set of adjustable arms at a desired location along said secondary bar,
a second set of adjustable arms,
a tertiary bracket pivotally attached to one end of said secondary bar and including a mechanism for receiving and fixedly positioning said second set of adjustable arms,
said second set of adjustable arms including slotted arms and pivoting connections that enable formation of templates that conform to shapes of panel cutouts for doorways or windows.

4 more elements

A configurable template for forming a jig for guiding a cutting tool for cutting a variety of shapes in a rigid wall covering for a doorway, a window or a wall-mounted utility outlet, said configurable template comprising:

a longitudinal member including an adjustable shoe having a tension-loaded mechanism that enables said longitudinal member to fixedly engage at least one of a floor and a ceiling in proximity to said wall,
a primary bracket which slidably engages said longitudinal member, said bracket including a fastener for fastening said bracket at various longitudinal positions along said longitudinal member and a receiving guide for slidably receiving a lateral member,
said lateral member including a first set of adjustable arms for forming a cutout template and a secondary bracket for fixedly positioning said adjustable arms at various lateral positions along said lateral member, and
a tertiary bracket located at one end of said lateral member and including a locking mechanism for pivotally positioning a segmented member at various pivotal positions, said segmented member including a plurality of segments and pivotal locking joints between said segments for enabling the member to fixedly conform to the shape of a rigid wall covering cutout for a doorway or window.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/446,004Filed 19 May 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 10 Jun 1993
Granted: 2 Dec 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B25H 7/02
Marking-out or setting-out work: plates having a flat surface
B25B 11/02
Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders: assembly jigs
E04F 21/0076
Implements for finishing work on buildings: for marking and cutting tiles
E04F 21/18
Implements for finishing work on buildings: for setting wall or ceiling slabs or plates