Pre-molded monolithic design ready for installation niche

Abstract

A premolded plastic, monolithic design, decorative, and inexpensive niche packaged with all tools and supplies required for installation into a home or office by any professional or do-it-yourselfer with very little if any construction background. Said niche does not require affixing to wall studs. Once installed, the niche is designed to display urns, vases, sculptures, trophies, collectables, and other works of art.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A niche apparatus comprised of 
 a monolithic design;    said monolithic design including an exterior lip, a recessed interior display area, and a mantle;    composed of plastic;    said plastic is shaped into said monolithic design through a mold forming process.    
     
     
         2 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said monolithic design exterior lip is two to three inches in width.  
     
     
         3 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said monolithic design exterior lip has at least one dimple molded into the backside of said exterior lip.  
     
     
         4 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said monolithic design interior display area has a depth of three to three and one-half inches.  
     
     
         5 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said monolithic design interior display area is no more than twenty-four inches in width.  
     
     
         6 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said plastic is composed of polystyrene.  
     
     
         7 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said plastic is composed of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.  
     
     
         8 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said mold forming process comprises a vacuum forming method to create said monolithic design.  
     
     
         9 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said mold forming process comprises a pressure forming method to create said monolithic design.  
     
     
         10 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said mold forming process comprises plastic injection to create said monolithic design.  
     
     
         11 . The niche apparatus as described in  claim 1  wherein said mantle includes a cornice under said mantle.  
     
     
         12 . A method for installing a niche comprising the steps of locating studs within a wall; 
 placing a niche template upon the wall surface;    verifying the template is positioned level with the horizon and essentially parallel with the wall studs;    securing the niche template upon the wall;    tracing the edge of the template;    cutting a hole in the wall along line created by the template tracing;    applying an adhesive to appropriate contact areas of the niche with the wall;    pressing the niche into the hole cut into the wall such that said adhesive makes proper contact with the wall; and    waiting an appropriate amount of time required for said adhesive to cure thereby firmly securing the niche into the wall.    
     
     
         13 . The method for installing a niche as described in  claim 12  wherein said step of locating studs within a wall comprises utilization of a capacitive stud finder moved across the wall surface.  
     
     
         14 . The method for installing a niche as described in  claim 12  wherein said step of locating studs within a wall comprises utilization of a magentic stud finder moved across the wall surface.  
     
     
         15 . The method for installing a niche as described in  claim 12  wherein said step of securing the niche template upon the wall surface comprises application of at least one of double-sided adhesive tape and tacks to the template surface and the wall.  
     
     
         16 . The method for installing a niche as described in  claim 12  wherein said step of verifying said template position comprises utilization of a level placed at an edge of the template.  
     
     
         17 . The method for installing a niche as described in  claim 12  wherein said step of tracing the edge of said template comprises utilization of a writing instrument that leaves a legible mark on the wall.  
     
     
         18 . The method for installing a niche as described in  claim 12  wherein said step of cutting a hole in said wall comprises utilization of a handheld drywall saw to cut the traced area out of the wall.  
     
     
         19 . The method for installing a niche as described in  claim 12  wherein said step of applying an adhesive comprises applying a bead of adhesive from an adhesive container onto an appropriate surface of the niche that makes contact with the wall surface.  
     
     
         20 . The method for installing a niche as described in  claim 12  wherein said step of pressing said niche into the cut hole in the wall comprises placing by hand the niche sufficiently into the cut hole and applying essentially even hand pressure onto the niche outer surface such that the adhesive makes firm contact with the wall surface.  
     
     
         21 . The method for installing a niche as described in  claim 12  wherein elapsed time to complete all said steps is accomplished in under seven minutes.  
     
     
         22 . A system for installing a niche into a wall comprising the steps of a means for determining a desired position for said niche to be located in the wall without impinging on internal studs of the wall; 
 a means for tracing the outline of said niche onto the wall;    a means for cutting out traced area on the wall;    a means for securing said niche into cut-out area of the wall; and    all of said means contained within a single package means.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the means for determining the desired position for the niche without impinging on the internal studs of said wall comprises a portable sensor working on a principal of changing capacitance for determining stud locations within the wall.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the means for determining the desired position for the niche without impinging on the internal studs of said wall comprises a portable sensor working on a principal of magnetism for determining stud locations within the wall.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the means for tracing the outline of the niche onto the wall further comprises: 
 a portion of the package material, whose outline form is consistent with the form of the niche, used as a template;  
 a means for securing the template to the wall; and  
 a means for tracing the perimeter of the template onto the wall.  
 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the means for cutting out traced area of the wall comprises a drywall saw.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the means for securing said niche into the wall comprises an acrylic caulk.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the means for securing said niche into the wall comprises a polyseam sealant.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said package means further comprises: corrugated cardboard shaped into a box form suitable for shipping said system; 
 a corrugated cardboard insert into said box form possessing a cut-out void within said insert used to secure the niche into insert void area, and secure said niche into the box form such that the niche is immobilized within the box form; and  
 the cut-out structure of the insert is used for immobilizing within the box form the means for determining desired position for niche, the means for tracing, the means for cutting, and the means for securing the niche into the wall.