Template system for locating and cutting wall or ceiling openings

Abstract

A template system for guiding drywall cutouts has at least one control box incorporating a stud-finder, and a system of interconnecting extensions attached to the control box, the extensions forming a predetermined geometrical shape. The template system is characterized in that, with the template system positioned against a drywall, individual edges of the interconnecting extensions serve as guides for a cutting tool to cut out a portion of the drywall in the predetermined geometrical shape formed by the interconnecting extensions.

1 . A template system for guiding drywall cutouts, comprising: 
 at least one control box incorporating a stud-finder; and    a system of interconnecting extensions attached to the control box, the extensions forming a predetermined geometrical shape;    characterized in that, with the template system positioned against a drywall, individual edges of the interconnecting extensions serve as guides for a cutting tool to cut out a portion of the drywall in the predetermined geometrical shape formed by the interconnecting extensions.    
   
   
       2 . The template system of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined geometrical shape is rectangular.  
   
   
       3 . The template system of  claim 1  wherein the stud-finder incorporates a radar subsystem to locate a stud.  
   
   
       4 . The template system of  claim 1  wherein individual ones of the interconnecting extensions are extensible to establish different lengths, such that the overall size of the predetermined geometrical shape may be adjusted.  
   
   
       5 . The template system of  claim 4  further comprising lock/unlock mechanisms to fix lengths of extensions after adjustment.  
   
   
       6 . The template system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one control box further incorporates sensors to determine the dimensions of the predetermined geometrical shape, and an alert mechanism to inform a user of different dimensions.  
   
   
       7 . The template system of  claim 6  wherein the at least one control box further comprises a memory system for a user to set one or more dimensions, and wherein the alert mechanism alerts the user when adjustment of the dimensions of the extensions equals the set dimension or dimensions.  
   
   
       8 . The template system of  claim 7  wherein the alert mechanism is one or both of an audio alert or a light.  
   
   
       9 . The template system of  claim 6  wherein the control box comprises a display, and displays dimensions of the predetermined geometrical shape.  
   
   
       10 . The template system of  claim 1  comprising two control boxes situated on opposite sides of the geometrical shape formed by the interconnecting extensions, each one of the control boxes comprising a stud finder.  
   
   
       11 . The template system of  claim 1  comprising four control boxes, each having a stud finder, and a system of interconnecting extensions, each extension pivotally attached at opposite ends of the extension to two of the four control boxes.  
   
   
       12 . The template system of  claim 11  wherein the extensions are attachable to and detachable from the control boxes.  
   
   
       13 . The template system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one control box comprises at least one sensor for determining distance from a wall or floor, and an alert system for informing a user at a predetermined distance.  
   
   
       14 . The template system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one control box further comprises a memory system for a user to set one or more distances, and wherein the alert mechanism alerts the user when the distance from the wall or floor equals a set distance.  
   
   
       15 . The template system of  claim 1  further comprising a level indicator system for indicating to a user when one or more extensions of the interconnecting extensions are level or plumb.  
   
   
       16 . The template system of  claim 15  wherein the level indicator system incorporates a magnetometer system.  
   
   
       17 . The template system of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting system for temporarily mounting the template system to a drywall.  
   
   
       18 . A method for making a cutout in a drywall, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing a template system against the drywall, the template system having at least one control box incorporating a stud-finder and a system of interconnecting extensions attached to the control box, the extensions forming a predetermined geometrical shape;    (b) moving the template system until positioned to a stud according to the stud finder; and    (c) using individual edges of the interconnecting extensions as guides for a cutting tool to cut out a portion of the drywall in the size and predetermined geometrical shape.    
   
   
       19 . The method  claim 18  wherein the predetermined geometrical shape is rectangular.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the stud-finder incorporates a radar subsystem to locate a stud.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein individual ones of the interconnecting extensions are extensible to establish different lengths, such that the overall size of the predetermined geometrical shape may be adjusted, and further comprising a step for adjusting the lengths.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising lock/unlock mechanisms to fix lengths of extensions after adjustment, and further comprising a step for using the lock/unlock mechanisms in the adjustment.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the control box further incorporates sensors to determine the dimensions of the predetermined geometrical shape, and an alert mechanism to inform a user of different dimensions.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the at least one control box further comprises a memory system for a user to set one or more dimensions, and wherein the alert mechanism alerts the user when adjustment of the dimensions of the extensions equals the set dimension or dimensions.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the alert mechanism is one or both of an audio alert or a light.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the control box comprises a display, and displays dimensions of the predetermined geometrical shape.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 18  comprising two control boxes situated on opposite sides of the geometrical shape formed by the interconnecting extensions, each one of the control boxes comprising a stud finder.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 18  comprising four control boxes, each having a stud finder, and a system of interconnecting extensions, each extension pivotally attached at opposite ends of the extension to two of the four control boxes.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the extensions are attachable to and detachable from the control boxes.  
   
   
       30 . The template system of  claim 18  wherein the control box comprising at least one sensor for determining distance from a wall or floor, and an alert system for informing a user at a predetermined distance.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the at least one control box further comprises a memory system for a user to set one or more distances, and wherein the alert mechanism alerts the user when the distance from the wall or floor equals a set distance.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising a level indicator system for indicating to a user when one or more extensions of the interconnecting extensions are level or plumb.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the level indicator system incorporates a magnetometer system.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising a mounting system for temporarily mounting the template system to a drywall.