Flexible guide for identifying a mounting hole

An apparatus for identifying a mounting hole on a wall surface, said apparatus comprising:

• a substantially planar flexible guide having a first end and a second end, said first end having portions that are capable of overlapping one another, said guide defining a slit having an open end adjacent said first end of said guide and a closed end adjacent said second end of said guide, said slit capable of receiving and temporarily retaining a mounting device of an article to be hung on the wall surface;
• and
• a tab integral with a portion of said first end of said guide;
• wherein another portion of said first end of said guide defines an opening, said opening configured to receive said tab when said portions of said first end of said guide are flexed and extended to a position adjacent to one another.

A one-piece flexible guide for identifying a mounting hole on a wall surface, said flexible guide comprising:

• a substantially rectangular first section having a first end and a second end, said first section defining at least one opening positioned between said first and second ends of said first section;
• a substantially rectangular second section having a first end and a second end, said second section defining at least one opening positioned between said first and second ends of said second section, said respective second ends of said first and second sections connected to one another;
• and
• a tab integral with said first end of said first section;
• wherein said first end of said second section defines an opening for receiving said tab when said first and second sections are flexed and extended across one another;
• wherein said opening in said first section and said opening in said second section are configured to correspondingly align with one another when said tab engages said tab receiving opening;
• wherein said first and second sections define a slit having an open end adjacent said respective first ends of said first and second sections and a closed end adjacent said respective second ends of said first and second sections;
• wherein said respective second ends of said first and second sections define an opening in communication with said slit.

A method for marking a wall surface to identify a mounting hole for an article to be hung, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a flexible guide having a first end, a second end, a first section, and a second section, the first and second sections each defining at least one opening that are capable of corresponding alignment when the first and second sections of the guide are flexed and extended against one another;
• supporting an article with the flexible guide;
• and
• positioning the guide and article against a desired wall surface to thereby identify a mounting hole for the article.