Template for remodeler lighting application

Abstract

A template and methods of using the template to form an aperture in a planar member. The template comprises a thin material having a center aperture, written indicia on one side and an adhesive means on the other side. Other embodiments include at least one perforation means operatively formed at a predetermined distance from the center thereof, for allowing at least one portion of the template to be readily removed from the other portion. Further embodiments include a backing member operatively positioned in contact with the side of the template having the adhesive means for maintaining the effectiveness of the adhesive means until removal of the backing member from contact with the adhesive means.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for use as a guide for locating and forming an opening of a desired set of dimensions at a predetermined location in a planar member, said device comprising: 
 a template shaped to said desired dimensions of said planar member opening, said template having: 
 a front side;  
 a back side opposite said front side; and  
 a centering hole through said template, said centering hole being centrally located on said template; and  
   an adhesive coating operatively positioned on said back side of said template.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said adhesive coating is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  further comprising a protective backing sheet being releasably secured to said template by said adhesive coating.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein said template further has graphic instruction indicia illustrating use of the template for forming said opening in said planar member.  
     
     
         5 . A device for use as a guide for locating and forming an opening of a desired set of dimensions at a predetermined location in a planar member wherein said planar member has a mark at the center of said predetermined location, said device comprising: 
 a template shaped to said desired dimensions of said planar member opening, said template having: 
 a front side;  
 a back side opposite said front side; and  
 a centering hole through said template, said centering hole being centrally located on said template such that said template may be aligned with said planar member center mark; and  
   an adhesive coating operatively positioned on said back side of said template such that said template may be adhered to said planar member.    
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said adhesive coating is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising a protective backing sheet being releasably secured to said template by said adhesive coating such that said template and said adhesive coating may be peeled apart from said protective backing sheet.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein said template further has graphic instruction indicia illustrating use of the template for forming said opening in said planar member.  
     
     
         9 . A device for use as a guide for locating and forming either a first opening of a first desired set of dimensions or a second opening of a second desired set of dimensions, at a predetermined location in a planar member, wherein said first opening is larger than said second opening, said device comprising: 
 a template shaped to said first desired set of dimensions, said template having: 
 a front side having indicia of said second desired set of dimensions;  
 a back side opposite said front side; and  
 a centering hole through said template, said centering hole being centrally located on said template; and  
   an adhesive coating operatively positioned on said back side of said template.    
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein said adhesive coating is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising a protective backing sheet being releasably secured to said template by said adhesive coating.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said template further has graphic instruction indicia illustrating use of said template for forming said opening in said planar member.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9  further comprising perforations through said template, said perforations shaped to said second desired set of dimensions along said second desired set of dimensions indicia.  
     
     
         14 . A device for use as a guide for locating and forming either a first opening of a first desired set of dimensions or a second opening of a second desired set of dimensions, at a predetermined location in a planar member, wherein said first opening is larger than said second opening, said device comprising: 
 a template shaped to said first desired set of dimensions, said template having: 
 a front side;  
 a back side opposite said front side;  
 a centering hole through said template, said centering hole being centrally located on said template;  
 a set of perforations through said template, said set of perforations shaped to said second desired set of dimensions; and  
   an adhesive coating operatively positioned on said back side of said template.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein said adhesive coating is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  further comprising a protective backing sheet being releasably secured to said template by said adhesive coating.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said template further has graphic instruction indicia illustrating use of said template for forming said opening in said planar member.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising indicia of said second desired set of dimensions along said perforations.  
     
     
         19 . A device for use as a guide for locating and forming either a first opening of a first desired set of dimensions, a second opening of a second desired set of dimensions, or a third opening of a third desired set of dimensions, at a predetermined location in a ceiling, wherein said first opening is larger than said second opening and said second opening is larger than said third opening, and wherein said ceiling has a mark at the center of said predetermined location, said device comprising: 
 a template shaped to said first desired set of dimensions, said template having: 
 a front side;  
 a back side opposite said front side;  
 a centering hole through said template, said centering hole being centrally located on said template such that said template may be aligned with said ceiling center mark;  
 a first set of perforations through said template centered around said centering hole and shaped to said second desired set of dimensions;  
 a second set of perforations through said template centered around said centering hole and shaped to said third desired set of dimensions; and  
   an adhesive coating operatively positioned on said back side of said template such that said template may be adhered to said ceiling.    
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein said adhesive coating is a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  further comprising a protective backing sheet being releasably secured to said template by said adhesive coating such that said template and said adhesive coating may be peeled apart from said protective backing sheet.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said template further has graphic instruction indicia showing said second desired set of dimensions and said third desired set of dimensions, and illustrating use of said template for forming said opening in said ceiling.  
     
     
         23 . A template for forming a first sized opening in a planar member, said template comprising: 
 a thin material shaped to the dimensions of a first opening size, having: 
 a front side;  
 a back side, opposite to said front side;  
 a coating, said coating being adhesive, said coating being operatively positioned on said back side for securing said template to said planar member; and  
 a centrally located centering hole.  
   
     
     
         24 . The template of  claim 23 , said thin material further having perforations creating at least one interior removable section shaped to the dimensions of a second sized opening to be formed in a planar member.  
     
     
         25 . The template of  claim 24 , said front side further having at least one perimetric indicia, said perimetric indicia located along said perforations.  
     
     
         26 . The template of  claim 25 , said thin material front side further having graphic instruction indicia illustrating use of said template for forming an opening of a desired size in a planar member.  
     
     
         27 . The template of  claim 23  wherein said coating is a releasable type adhesive coating such that said template may be repositioned as necessary.  
     
     
         28 . A template for use in locating and forming an opening of a desired shape and size in a planar surface, said template comprising a thin planar member including at least one removable section having the desired size and shape of the opening, and an adhesive carried by one side of said planar member for releasably securing said planar member to the planar surface at the location of the opening.  
     
     
         29 . The template of  claim 28 , in which said planar member includes a central location, said removable section being defined by a scored perimeter at a specified distance from said central location.  
     
     
         30 . The template of  claim 29 , in which said removable section is circular in shape and is equidistant from said central location at a predetermined distance corresponding to a standard opening size for the installation of a lighting fixture.  
     
     
         31 . The template of  claim 30 , in which said planar member includes first and second removable sections located at predetermined first and second distances from said central location.  
     
     
         32 . The template of  claim 31 , further including an opening formed in said member at said central location.  
     
     
         33 . The template of  claim 32 , further including a backing sheet removably secured to said adhesive-containing side of said planar member.  
     
     
         34 . The template of  claim 28 , in which said removable section is circular in shape and is equidistant from said central location at a predetermined distance corresponding to a standard opening size for the installation of a lighting fixture.  
     
     
         35 . The template of  claim 34 , in which said planar member includes first and second removable sections located at predetermined first and second distances from said central location.  
     
     
         36 . The template of  claim 35 , further including an opening formed in said member at said central location.  
     
     
         37 . The template of  claim 28 , further including a backing sheet removably secured to said adhesive-containing side of said planar member.