Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02768950 2012-02-22
I
TITLE
Adjustable Template for Locating Mounting Holes in Cabinet
Doors or the Likes
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates to cabinet door installation.
[0002] More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an
adjustable template for locating the mounting holes in cabinet door or the
likes.
[0003] Presently, most cabinet door installers locate the mounting
holes for the door knobs or handles by taking the same measures over and
over again on each panel.
[0004] Such a procedure is of course time consuming.
OBJECTS
[0005] An object of illustrated embodiments is to provide a device
that allows readily locating holes positions on a series of identical doors or
the
likes.
[0006] Another object is to provide such a device that is adaptable
for different doors or the likes.
SUMMARY
[0007] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, there is
provided an adjustable template for locating mounting holes on a first surface
of
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a structure further having second and third adjacent surfaces that are both
also
adjacent to the flat surface; the second and third surfaces defining an angle
therebetween; the template comprising:
[0008] two arms interconnected so as to define the angle
therebetween; each of the two arms having a side edge for abutting a
respective one of the second and third sufaces of the structure;
[0009] a rule mounted to one of the two arms for slidable and
pivotable movements relative to the one of the two arms; and
[0010] a locking mechanism secured to both the rule and the one of
the two arms for selectively preventing the slidable and pivotable movements.
[0011] The use of the word "a" or "an" when used in conjunction with
the term "comprising" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one",
but it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more", "at least one",
and
"one or more than one". Similarly, the word "another" may mean at least a
second or more.
[0012] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words
"comprising" (and any form of comprising, such as "comprise" and
"comprises"), "having" (and any form of having, such as "have" and "has"),
"including" (and any form of including, such as "include" and "includes") or
"containing" (and any form of containing, such as "contain" and "contains"),
are
inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements.
[0013] Other objects, advantages and features will become more
apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of
illustrative
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embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In the appended drawings:
[0015] Figure 1 is a top perspective view of an adjustable template
for locating mounting holes in cabinet doors according to a first embodiment;
[0016] Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the adjustable template
from Figure 1, shown on a cabinet door in position for locating two handle
mounting holes;
[0017] Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the adjustable template from
Figure 1, shown on a cabinet door in the same position as in Figure 2;
[0018] Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable
template from Figure 1, shown on a cabinet door in the same position as in
Figure 2;
[0019] Figures 5 and 6 are is a top perspective and bottom plan
views of the adjustable template from Figure 1, shown on a stair step in
position for locating two ramp mounting holes; and
[0020] Figure 7 is a top perspective view of an adjustable template
for locating mounting holes in cabinet doors according to a second
embodiment, the template having a single rule and being shown on a cabinet
door in position for locating a handle mounting hole.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] An adjustable template 10 for locating mounting holes in a
cabinet door 11 according to a first illustrative embodiment will be described
with reference to Figures 1 to 4.
[0022] The template 10 comprises first and second integral arms 12
and 14, first and second rules 16 and 18 mounted to the first and second arms
12 and 14 for slidable and pivotable movements relative thereto; and first and
second locking mechanisms 20 and 22 that mount respective rules 16 and 18
to the arms 12 and 14 for selectively preventing the slidable and pivotable
movements.
[0023] The arms 12 and 14 are mounted together so as to be
perpendicular to one another, yielding a try square. They are assembled from
two appropriately cut identical generally L-shaped pieces of thin stainless
steel 24.
[0024] The two identical pieces 24 are distanced by aluminium
spacers 26 and 28, yielding a gap 29 between the two pieces 24 where there
are no spacers 26 or 28. The two L-shaped thin pieces 24 and spacers 26-28
are mounted in a three-ply assembly using rivets 30. Other fastening means
such as fasteners and glue can also be used in place of rivets 30. The
resulting
try-square assembly is both lightweight and stiff. The spacers 26 and 28 are
shaped so as to maximize the range of movement of the rules 16-18 as will be
described hereinbelow in more detail.
[0025] The two L-shaped thin pieces 24 includes enlargement
portions 32-36 that are folded perpendicularly so as to form, for each
registered
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pairs, abutment elements 38-42 respectively. The abutment elements 38-42
facilitate the abutment positioning of the template against the door panel 11.
[0026] The rules 16 and 18 are mounted to the arms 12 and 14 in
the gap 29 via respective locking assemblies 20 and 22.
[0027] The rules 16 and 18 are in the form of elongated members,
each having a respective longitudinal slot 44 and 46 therein and respective
hole-position indicator 48 and 50. The hole-position indicators are in the
form of
circular aperture 48 and 50 near the respective distal ends 52 and 54 of each
rule 16 and 18.
[0028] The rules 16 and 18 are shaped and sized so as to have a
thickness smaller than the height of the gap 29 and so as to movements of the
rules 16 and 18 therein. According to the first embodiment, the rules 16 and
18
are configured and sized to snugly fit in the gap.
[0029] The distal ends 52-54 and proximate ends 56-58 of the rules
16 and 18 are rounded for comfort of use. The rule 18 is shorter than the
other
rule 16 since it is positioned at the intersection of the two arms 12-14,
which, in
operation, is mounted at the corner 57 of the door panel 11 where less range
is
believed to be required.
[0030] The rule 16 is mounted to the arm 12 at about one third the
length of the arm 12 from the distal end 59 thereof via a fastener 60 that
further
allows the rule 16 i) to slide along the length of the slot 44 and ii) to
pivot about
the fastener 60.
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[0031] Similarly, the rule 18 is mounted at the intersection of the two
arms 1 2-1 4 thereto via fastener 62.
[0032] The rules 16 and 18 are made of metal, plastic or composite
material.
[0033] In operation, reference positions of mounting holes (not
shown) in the door 11 are obtained by abutting the two adjacent side edges 64
and 66 of the door panel 11 onto the abutting elements 38-42 and moving the
reference aperture 48 and 50 at the desired two (2) positions on the panels
11.
[0034] It is believed to be within the reach of a person skilled in the
art, to modify any one or any combination of the lengths of the first and
second
arms 12-14, the lengths of the first and second rules 16-18, and their
mounting
positions along the arms 12-14, yielding an adequate range of positions for
the
two rules 16-18 for a predetermined door size or application.
[0035] Once the reference positions of the mounting holes are
located with the template 10 as described hereinabove, the position of the
rules
16 and 18 are locked using the locking mechanisms 20 and 22. The template
can then be use to readily and precisely locate and or mark the
corresponding positions on another similar door panel 11.
[0036] The locking mechanisms 20 and 22 are respectively located
on the longer arm 12 and at the intersection of the two arms 12-14.
[0037] Since both locking mechanisms 20-22 are similarly
configured and identical in their functionalities, only the mechanism 20 will
now
be described furtherin.
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[0038] The locking mechanism 20 includes a half-moon arc
element 68 integral the first arm 12 and protruding therefrom from the edge
side thereof opposite the enlargement portion 32. The arc element 68 yields a
semi-circular arc-shaped cut 70 that is centered on the fastener 60. The
locking
mechanism 20 further includes a handle screw 72 removably mounted in both
the cut 70 and slot 46 so as to prevent pivotal movements of the rule 16 about
the fastener 60.
[0039] In operation, the handle screws 72 are initially loosened so as
to allow sliding and pivoting movements of the rules 16 and 18 about
respective
fasteners 60 and 62. A user can then sequentially register the reference
apertures 48 and 50 at measured positions corresponding to the mounting
holes in the board 11 and then clamp the handle screws 72.
[0040] Since the rules 16-18 are sandwiched between the two
pieces of thin stainless steel, mounting and tightening the hand screws 70
and 72 thereon cause the arc elements 68 to grip the rules 16 and 18 so as to
lock them in place.
[0041] Once the positions of the rules 16 and 18 are fixed, a user
(not shown) can then use the template 10 to readily locate and mark the
mounting holes therein in other similar panel 11.
[0042] According to other embodiments (not shown), the locking
mechanisms take another form allowing to secure both rules 16 and 18 at
selected positions relative to the two arms 12 and 14 and so as to selectively
prevent the slidable and pivotable movements. For example, clamp or gripper
tools or mechanisms (not shown) can be provided.
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[0043] Also, the arms 12-14 are not limited to the illustrated three-ply
structure including the spacers. According to other embodiments (not shown),
the arms are full bodies. According to such embodiments, the rules are
movably mounted to the arms thereonto, and similar or different locking
mechanisms than those described hereinabove are used.
[0044] Even though templates according to the above embodiments
have been described in operation for locating mounting holes in a cabinet
door 11, they can be used for locating mounting holes or any other elements on
a first surface of a structure that further has second and third adjacent
surfaces
that allow receiving in abutment the two arms of the template.
[0045] For example, Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the use of the
template 10 for locating two ramp mounting holes in a stair step 74 prior to
mounting the ramp (not shown).
[0046] According to a further embodiment, the template has more or
less than two (2) rules. Figures 7 shows a template 76 for locating mounting
holes according to a second illustrative embodiment including a single arm 18.
[0047] It is to be noted that other modifications could be made to the
templates described hereinabove, for example:
[0048] ¨ the template can include one or a plurality of fixed rules in
additions to one or a plurality of adjustable rules;
[0049] ¨ the arms can be made of another metal than stainless
steel, from a polymeric material such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE),
from wood, etc.;
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[0050] ¨ each arm or the whole try-square assembly can be made
from a one-piece body or assembled from a plurality of pieces;
[0051] ¨ one of the two arms can be pivotally mounted to the other
so that the angle therebetween can be adjusted to a cabinet door or another
object having non-orthogonal side edge surfaces;
[0052] ¨ the abutment elements 38-42 are not limited to result from
folded enlargement portions 32-36 of the arms 12 and 14. They can be in the
form of flat or irregularly shaped elements (not shown) that are attached to
the
arms 12 and 14. Such attachable elements can be made of a material, such as
HDPE, that do not scratch or marks most door;
[0053] ¨ the inner facing edges of the arms are further not limited to
any shape or to be straight . The arms can have any shape and sizes allowing
at least a portion thereof to be abutted onto the adjacent side surfaces of
the
door 11;
[0054] ¨ the arms or rule(s) of the template can be provided with
scales, angle references or any markings that allows readily measuring the
distance of the mounting holes from the edge of the door:
[0055] ¨ the fasteners that partly mount the rules to the arms can be
replace by a pin or any other pivot element;
[0056] ¨ the template can be adapted to locate and reproduce in
series the position of other marking elements than holes, such as without
limitation grooves, drawings of any kind, etc. According to such further
embodiment, the distal ends of the rules are adapted accordingly.
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[0057] It is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the
accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention is capable
of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be
understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose
of description and not limitation.
