Outlet box locator

An outlet location device for marking the location of an outlet box or the like sealed behind a panel comprises a first plate and second plate slidably mounted to one another. Each plate carries a locator pin extending normally from one side of the plate, and a marking pin extending normally from the other side of the plate and opposite the locator pin. The first and second plates are slidably affixed to one another so that the distance between the first and second locator pins may be adjusted to fit into the cover plate mounting holes of an installed outlet box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to building construction and more 
particularly is directed to a device for facilitating cutting of access 
openings for electrical outlet and switch boxes and the like in wall and 
ceiling covering panels such as sheets of wallboard or so-called drywall, 
wood paneling and the like. The invention will be described in connection 
with the construction of homes, although it will be understood that the 
invention also may be advantageously used in connection with the 
construction of commercial buildings such as stores and offices in which 
electrical wiring is run behind finished walls. 
In the construction of homes, after framing, the electricians secure to the 
upright studs the electrical outlet and switch boxes. The wiring is then 
run, and the interior wall panels are affixed to the upright studs after 
first providing cutouts in the wall panels for the outlet and switch 
boxes. Accurately locating the cutouts is time consuming, and errors in 
locating cutout holes may result in substantial additional finishing costs 
and/or scraping of panels. 
Several devices have been proposed in the art for assisting in locating 
cutout holes and are exemplified, for example, by U.S. Pat. Nos. 
1,612,455, 3,950,857, 4,059,905, 4,126,941, 4,202,388, 4,259,785, 
4,285,135 and 4,802,284. However, the various prior art devices are 
somewhat cumbersome to use, and/or are single use devices requiring the 
carpenter to carry a set of devices for single and multiple outlets, high 
hats, etc. Also, due to variations in mounting hole spacings amongst 
outlet boxes, etc., from different manufacturers, single use devices have 
proved to be less than satisfactory. And prior art adjustable devices are 
relatively complicated in construction and accordingly relatively 
expensive. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is thus a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved panel marking tool which overcomes the aforesaid and other 
disadvantages of the prior art outlet location devices. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a low cost outlet 
location device that is simple and easy to use. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an outlet 
location device which is adjustable to fit a variety of size and shape 
boxes or the like. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an outlet location device for marking the 
location of an outlet box or the like which overcomes the various 
disadvantages of the prior art. More particularly, the marking device 
provided by the present invention comprises, in combination, a two piece 
adjustable bracket comprising a first plate and a second plate mounted to 
one another. Each plate carries a locator pin extending normally from one 
side of the plate, and a marking pin extending normally from the other 
side of the plate and opposite the locator pin. The first and second 
plates are slidably affixed to one another so that the distance between 
the first and second locator pins may be adjusted to fit into the cover 
plate mounting holes of an installed outlet box. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent 
from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with 
accompanying drawings in which like numerals depict like parts, and 
wherein:

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an outlet locating device in accordance with the 
present invention comprises a bracket 1 of generally rectangular plan. 
Bracket 1 comprises a two piece assembly consisting of a first plate 2 and 
a second plate 3, which plates are slidably mounted to one another as will 
be described in detail hereinafter, so that the length of bracket 1 may be 
changed, for example, to adopt to different size outlet boxes. Referring 
in particular to FIG. 2, the locating device in accordance with the 
present invention has two combination locator/marking pins 5/6 mounted 
adjacent the distal ends of plates 2 and 3, respectively, and extending 
perpendicularly from both sides of the plates. Preferably pins 5 and 6 are 
circular in cross-section and may be drawn to a point, i.e. as shown in 
FIG. 2. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, locator pins 5a and 6a may be 
blunted, e.g. for safety purposes. Pins 5 and 6 may be fixed to plates 2 
and 3, respectively, by welding or by any other convenient manner, for 
example, threading into an internally threaded hole provided in the 
plates, or by threading onto nuts 4 and 7, respectively, which nuts also 
act as spacers. 
Elongated slot 11 provided in plate 2 provides in cooperation with 
adjusting screws 8 and 9 which are threaded into spaced, internally 
threaded holes 14 and 16, respectively, provided in plate 3, means for 
adjusting the length of bracket 1 and thus the spacing between pins 5 and 
6, respectively, for different mounting hole spacings. The screw and nut 
fasteners may take other forms. For example, screws 8 and 9 may comprise 
thumbscrews. 
Referring to FIG. 5, in use, the locating device in accordance with the 
present invention is adjusted so that pins 5 and 6 fit the mounting hole 
spacings of the outlet boxes used in the construction. Generally, boxes 
from a single manufacturer may be used throughout a construction project 
so it is typically necessary to adjust the locating device only once. 
However, adjustments readily may be made in the field. The locating device 
is then positioned with one end of pins 5 and 6 extending through the 
mounting holes of an installed outlet box 20 and the wallboard 22 moved 
into position and gently tapped so that the other end of pins 5 and 6 
penetrate the board. The worker may then locate an identical sized box 24 
on the protruding pins, and using the box as a template draw and/or 
directly cut an outline of the box. In the case of a ganged outlet, 
multiple locating devices made in accordance with the present invention 
may be employed, if desired. However, it is generally sufficient to mark 
only a single box, and the marking from that one box may then be used to 
mark the opening for the multiple ganged outlets. 
Alternatively, in using a locating device as shown in FIG. 4, the pins will 
not penetrate the board, but merely leave indentations. The wallboard is 
then taken down, and the markings used to locate a loose box. The box 
outline is then drawn as before, and cutout holes may then be made in 
normal manner. 
As will be seen from the foregoing, the outlet locating device made in 
accordance with the present invention facilitates construction. Moreover, 
the device is simple to use, and may be employed advantageously with a 
variety of electrical outlet boxes of various source and size. 
Various modifications may be made to the above-described invention without 
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, screw 8 
may be replaced by a pin which is affixed to plate 3 to maintain alignment 
of the plates, in cooperation with screw 9. Also, nuts 24, 26 (FIG. 4) may 
be provided for cooperation with screws 8 and 9, and, if desired, both 
plates 2 and 3 may be slotted. Still other modifications will be apparent.