CEILING UTILITY ALIGNMENT TEMPLATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention;

The present device relates to measurement devices and, more specifically, to a template for aligning a ceiling utility. Description of the Prior Art:

Ceiling utilities requiring direct access to a room extend below a ceiling frame and through the center of a tile to add to the aesthetic appearance of the room. In order to extend through the center of a ceiling tile, the position of the utility extension needs to be aligned with the center of a grid opening in the ceiling frame. Once the utility is aligned with the center of the grid opening, a ceiling tile with a hole cut out at its center can be placed within the grid opening so that the utility extension extends through its center.

A variety of methods to calculate the center of a tile opening are exemplified in the following United States Patents.

United States Patent Number 5,979,068 issued to Andrews on November 9, 1999 describes a gauge to be installed before the completion of the overhead system and before the ceiling tiles are installed. Once the gauge is installed, the arms can be extended to find the center of the tile. An extendable arm can then extend upwards to help define the center of the tile and where to position the fire sprinkler head.

United States Patent Number 6,249,238 issued to Harvey et al. on June 19, 2001 describes a laser marking device for marking a reference point with laser light so that accurate measurements can be made to that point. The laser marking device has a support bar whose ends are adapted to slidably rest on an adjacent pair of bars of the grid. Thus, once

the user positions the device at the center of the tile, a laser can shine a light towards the ceiling indicating the axis along which to drop the sprinkler head through the tile grid.

United States Patent Number 6,158,519 issued to Kretschmer on December 12, 2000 describes a sprinkler head support bracket which is installable immediately above a ceiling tile. The assembly is the size of a plurality of tiles, roughly fifteen, and is secured in place above the grid by nylon straps. The bracket contains a flexible arm mover connected to a pipe clamp that is secured above a tile opening in the support bracket. A pipe is then routed through one of the openings in the pipe clamp which represents the center of the tile.

United States Patent Number 6,1 17,514 issued to DeMarc on June 8, 1999 describes a ceiling tile system with interlocking plastic ceiling tiles for covering a ceiling. Each tile has a side ridge on each side and corner tabs at each corner. The tabs and ridges are configured such that the ridges fit within the ridges of an adjacent panel and the corner tabs of the second panel are placed over the corner tabs of the first. Each tile is decorative with a star-shaped design forming a relief on one face of the tile and a raised shape on the other face. The shape is generally in the shape of a star with a circular portion at its center. Within the raised circular center, there is a circular depression at its center creating another detail to add to the tile's aesthetic quality. From the center portion, arms extend to make the shape of a star.

The patents discussed above describe complex positioning devices to find the center of a grid opening within a frame or disclose decorative tiles with designs in the center. However, these devices and systems for finding the center of a grid opening within a frame are difficult to work with and time consuming.

In addition, the patents discussed above describe methods for finding the center of a tile opening that are costly and expensive to implement. Specifically, the methods require substantial hardware and measuring devices. Summary of the Present Invention

A template fitted to a ceiling tile frame and having a boss attached thereto for the alignment of a ceiling utility is described herein.

It is an object to provide an alignment template for quickly and easily positioning an extension of a ceiling utility through a grid opening. Specifically, a boss may be located at a desired predetermined position of a first face of a template having dimensions that allow it to fit within a grid opening in the ceiling frame. When the template is placed within the grid, the boss extends in the direction towards the ceiling utility. Thus, when positioning an extension of a utility to extend through a predetermined position within the grid, one can position the extension of the utility to extend to the boss of the template identifying the predetermined position of the grid opening.

It is a further object to provide a system for aligning a utility with a predetermined position within a grid opening that is inexpensive and disposable. Specifically, the template may be constructed as a simple plastic blow mold or cast disposable device. A boss may be glued or affixed to the template at a desired position.

It is another object to provide a ceiling utility alignment template having a base and a boss extending from a first side of the base. The base has dimensions substantially similar to dimensions of a grid opening within a ceiling frame. The boss may be used to align a ceiling utility located above the ceiling frame.

It is a further object to provide a method of positioning a ceiling utility. The method includes positioning a template within a grid opening of a ceiling frame, with a boss of the template extending above the ceiling frame. A ceiling utility is positioned to rest atop the boss. The ceiling utility is then secured in its position resting atop the boss. The template is removed. A ceiling tile is positioned within the grid opening such that the utility extends above a predetermined position of a ceiling tile placed within the grid opening.

It is a yet further object to provide a system of finding a predetermined position of a tile opening that is both inexpensive and disposable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In order that the device may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling frame;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a utility extending through a tile of a ceiling frame;

FIGURES 3a and 3b are aerial views of ceiling utility alignment templates of different dimensions;

FIGURES 4a and 4b are side cross-sectional views of the ceiling utility alignment template with a boss connected thereto or molded therein;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the ceiling utility alignment template in use within a ceiling frame;

FIGURE 6a is a perspective view of the ceiling utility alignment template placed over a ceiling tile for cutting a hole in the center of the tile;

FIGURE 6b is a perspective view of the ceiling tile with a hole cut in its center matching the location of the stub of the template; and

FIGURE 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for aligning a ceiling utility using the ceiling utility alignment template.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes the device. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the device to that particular embodiment. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.

Currently there are many ways to build a ceiling. One can have exposed beams, sheetrock, concrete or ceiling tiles. In commercial facilities, ceiling tiles are most popular. The ceiling tiles are positioned within a frame, defined by intersecting metal supports that form a grid, which is suspended from the ceiling. One benefit of ceiling tiles is that they provide better insulation from heat and/or noise. Another benefit is that by using relatively inexpensive lightweight tiles, portions of the ceiling can be easily replaced upon the occurrence of damage to the ceiling tiles. Yet another benefit is that many utilities are accessible in the ceiling above the tiles. In other types of ceilings, one would have to deconstruct or break through the ceiling to access those utilities. Alternatively, an opening (like an attic) would need to be created to access the ceiling utilities. However, with ceiling tiles, a user merely removes a lightweight tile at any position to gain access to the ceiling portion thereabove. Thus, both utilities and wires can be accessed and positioned through ceiling tiles residing in a frame with relative ease.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame forming a grid for receiving ceiling tiles. The frame 4 is suspended from the ceiling 2 using wires 6. The frame 4 is defined by intersecting metal supports forming a grid. Ceiling tiles 18 are placed within openings (herein referred to as "grid opening") of the frame 4 to provide insulation. Ceiling tiles 18 are generally of the same dimensions as the tile openings in the frame so that they can easily fit within and reside therein. Ceiling tiles 18 are generally lightweight, and can be tailored for a variety of uses. For instance, tiles may provide thermal insulation, sound absorption and fire protection. Utilities, such as a water utility pipe 8, run between the ceiling and the frame 4.

As illustrated in Figure 2, sometimes it is desirable for utilities to have direct access to the room below. For instance, a fire sprinkler system requires that the water utility has direct access to the room to extinguish fires therein. Thus, an extension 14 is connected to the water utility pipe 8 that runs between the ceiling 2 and the frame 4. A sprinkler head 16 is attached to the extension 14 and extends down into the room through a hole cut into a ceiling tile 18 resting within the frame 4.

Figures 3a and 3b are aerial views of ceiling utility alignment templates of different dimensions. Ceiling frames can have openings of any geometric shape forming a grid. The template 10 has dimensions able to be received within a grid opening of the ceiling frame. For illustrative purposes, Figures 3a and 3b describe templates 10 for use in ceiling frames with grid openings of popular shapes — squares and rectangles. However, templates may be formed of any shape able to be received by a grid opening of a frame in which it may be placed.

A boss 12 protrudes from the template 10 at a desired position of a first face. The boss 12 may be molded to the template (as will be described in Figure 4b) or simply glued or attached onto the first face of the template 10 (as will be described in Figure 4a) in any manner that will secure the boss to the template. In a preferred embodiment, the boss 12 is positioned at a center of the template 10. One reason for this is the aesthetically pleasing appearance of utility extensions protruding into the room through the center of a tile. Additionally, placement of a ceiling utility at a center of a grid opening, and thus a removable ceiling tile, provides a greatest amount of space for working on a utility in need of repair so as to cause minimal damage to the frame. However, it should be noted that the boss 12 may be placed in any position on the template 10, corresponding to a desired position in which an extension of the utility is to extend and/or enter the room. Thus, in a square template 10, as illustrated in Figure 3a, the centered boss 12 may be located equidistant from each edge of the template 10. In a rectangular template 10, as illustrated in Figure 3b, the centered boss 12 may be located equidistant from opposing edges of the template 10.

Figures 4a and 4b show side cross-sectional views of ceiling utility alignment templates with a boss connected thereto or molded thereon. The cross-section is taken along the dashed line 4-4 of Figure 3a. The template 10 may have a thickness similar to a ceiling tile for more accurately fitting within a grid opening of the frame. As illustrated in Figure 4a, the boss 12 extends from the template 10. In this way, the template 10 can be easily constructed/manufactured as a simple flat shape or may even simply be a ceiling tile 18 (see Figure 1 ) and the boss 12 maybe be formed integrally with the template or connected thereto after production of the template. The boss 12 may be composed of any material, however

the material should preferably be simple and inexpensive. The boss 12 may be connected to a first face of the template 10 using glue, screws or any other method of fixation.

As illustrated in Figure 4b, the boss 12 may be molded integrally with the template 10. In this way, boss 12 may be constructed/manufactured together in mass quantities out of reliable materials that are inexpensive, such as plastic. In addition, the boss 12 will be more reliably fixed to the template 10 when it is molded integrally with the template. Specifically, a recess 1 1 is located at the center of the template 10 or a predetermined position thereof. The boss 12 is molded over the recess 1 1. A diameter of the recess 1 1 may be substantially the same as a diameter of both the boss 12 and a pipe extending from the utility which may extend through a ceiling tile positioned within the grid opening (see Figure 5). Additionally, the boss 12 may be raised from the template 10 for supporting the pipe placed over it (see Figure 5).

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the ceiling utility alignment template, in use within a grid opening in a frame. A frame 4 is suspended from the ceiling 2 using wires 6. A utility pipe 8 runs between the ceiling 2 and the frame 4. The frame 4 contains multiple grid openings for receiving ceiling tiles 18. The ceiling utility alignment template 10, having a boss 12 located at a center or other designated position of a first face thereof, may be positioned within a grid opening in the frame 4 in place of a tile 18. When positioned within a grid opening, the boss 12 of the template 10 represents a center or desired position of the grid opening and thus also of a tile to be placed within the grid opening.

An extension 14 of the utility pipe 8 may then be positioned to extend to the center or desired position of the template 10. Specifically, the extension 14 is positioned to extend over the boss 12. The extension 14 has an opening that fits directly over the boss 12 and the

boss 12 is of a substantial height to support the extension 14 a desired distance above the frame. As such the extension, may be position at a desired location at which it may extend through a grid opening. Alternatively, the extension 14 of a utility pipe 8 may extend to touch the boss 12 instead of being placed over the boss 12. Thus, a user can simply position an extension 14 of a utility 8 to extend across a center or other desired position of a grid opening by placing the template 10 within the grid opening and extending the extension 14 to the boss 12. It should be appreciated that the template 10 provides a method of aligning the utility extension 14 that is simple and requires very little training. In addition, the template 10 allows a user to save a significant amount of time in positioning a utility extension 14, as compared with the methods of the prior art.

Figure 6a is a perspective view of the ceiling utility alignment template placed over a ceiling tile for use in cutting a hole in the center of the tile. The boss 12 may be aligned with a desired position of ceiling tile for aiding in cutting a hole in the center or other desired position of a ceiling tile 18. Specifically, a user can place a ceiling tile 18 over the first face of the ceiling utility alignment template 10 (having the boss 12). Pressure is applied to the ceiling tile 18, forcing the ceiling tile 18 and the ceiling utility alignment template 10 closer together. However, the ceiling tile 18 and the ceiling utility alignment template 10 will remain separated by the height of the boss 12. The ceiling tile 18 will exert a small amount of flexibility at all locations except at the position of the boss 12. The force applied by the boss 12 indicates to the user the position at which to cut a hole. A hole can then be cut that has substantially the same diameter at the boss 12 and is centered within the ceiling tile and aligned with the position of the utility. In a first variation, the boss 12 may have marking material around its edges. In this way, when a pressure is applied to the ceiling tile 18 in a

direction towards the boss 12 in a cookie-cutter fashion, an outline of the boss 12 will be marked on the ceiling tile 18 indicating the dimensions and location needed to cut a hole in a position of the ceiling tile corresponding to the aligned ceiling utility extension 14. In a second variation, the boss 12 may have raised edges such that when a pressure is exerted on a ceiling tile 18 towards the aligned template and the boss 12, an outline of the boss 12 will be created by the pressure exerted. The outline of the boss 12 indicates the dimensions and location for cutting a hole in a ceiling tile corresponding to the ceiling utility extension 14 positioned using the template.

Alternatively, instead of a user cutting a hole in the ceiling tile 18 based on the flexibility caused by the boss 12, a user can cut a hole in the ceiling tile 18 based on the flexibility in a portion of the ceiling tile that is positioned over the recess 1 1 of template 10. Specifically, as illustrated in Figure 4b, a recess 11 may be molded into the template 10 with a boss 12 molded over, such that the boss 12 protrudes from a first face of the template 10 and the recess 1 1 is accessible from a second face of the template 10. A ceiling tile 18 may be placed over the second face of the template 10 having the recess 1 1. Pressure is then applied to the ceiling tile 18, forcing the ceiling tile 18 and the ceiling utility alignment template 10 together. The pressure applied to the ceiling tile 18 will then cause flexibility in the ceiling tile 18 at the portion positioned over the recess 1 1 of template 10 due to the lack of opposing force by the recess 1 1. Based on this flexibility, a hole can be cut with substantially the same diameter as the recess 1 1 , which has substantially the same diameter at the boss 12.

Figure 6b is a perspective view of the ceiling tile with a hole cut in its center matching the location of the stub of the template. By utilizing markings created by the boss

12, pressure exerted by the raised boss 12 or pressure exerted towards the recess 11, a user may produce a hole that is centered within the ceiling tile and aligned with the extension of the utility pipes.

Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for aligning a ceiling utility using a template. A user begins by positioning the ceiling utility alignment template in a grid opening of the frame in step SlOO. A ceiling utility, located above the frame and below the ceiling, is then positioned to rest atop a boss of the ceiling utility alignment template in step S I lO. The boss is located substantially at the center of the ceiling utility alignment template. The ceiling utility is then secured or positioned atop the boss of the ceiling utility alignment template in step S 120. Once secured, a user can install the utility so that it is centered with respect to the ceiling utility alignment template. The ceiling utility alignment template is then removed in step S 130. With the ceiling utility aligned with the center of the grid opening, a ceiling tile is placed in the grid opening where the ceiling utility alignment template once was — replacing the ceiling utility alignment template in step S 140.

While certain novel features of this device have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the device and method for using the device.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting

features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic aspects of this device and method for using the device.