Template for locating holes for faucet and basin in vanity-type sink counters

A template has a base formed with a hole and a cylinder aligned with the hole and detachably connected to the base. Prior to applying cement and tile, the base is located over an enlarged hole in the counter with the cylinder projecting up. The cylinder maintains a clear hole through the cement and tile through which a faucet fits. If necessary, the cylinder may be detached from the base and removed. A single template may accommodate three cylinders for two faucets plus the spout of a water mixer. Further, a large template may fit into the space of a removed section of the counter and have a large hole for a basin plus one or more cylinders.

This invention relates to a new and improved template for locating holes 
for faucets and basins in vanity-type sink counters. At present, a popular 
fixture for bathrooms is a counter usually of plywood covered with cement 
and tile into which fit a basin, faucets and the spout for a water mixer. 
Beneath the counter are cabinets. The present practice is to drill holes 
in the counter slightly larger than the outside diameter of water pipes, 
insert short sections of water pipe in the holes at the location of the 
faucets and spout and also cut a hole smaller than the basin. All this 
work is usually done by the plumber after a carpenter has installed the 
counter. The tile setter then applies the cement to the counter and sets 
the tile. The pipe stuck in the hole prevents the cement from blocking 
holes. After the tile has set, the plumber returns to install the faucets. 
If the cement and tile have been applied too thick, the faucet cannot be 
attached without cutting away the underside of the counter. This is a very 
difficult operation to perform without damaging the tile. 
Accordingly, the present invention has for its principal purpose to provide 
means to prevent cement from filling holes cut in counters and to permit 
easy installation of faucets. The present device enables a very large hole 
as compared with the diameter of a water pipe to be cut into the counter, 
and this permits subsequent easy access to the faucet even though the tile 
and cement are quite thick. 
A further feature of the invention is the device provides a guide to enable 
the tile man to judge the thickness of cement to be applied. 
Another feature of the invention is to provide a template which 
accommodates a variety of patterns of faucet and spout spacings. 
In one version of the invention a single template accommodates a 
multiplicity of faucets. 
In still another modification of the invention, means is provided to locate 
both a basin and faucets by means of a single large template which 
replaces an entire counter section.

Directing attention first to FIG. 1, a simplified template 11 is 
illustrated. Template 11 has a base 12 preferably of a plastic material 
and here shown to be square. A cylinder 13 is located within the perimeter 
of an enlarged hole 14 in base 12 being connected to the base by a 
plurality of integral connectors 16 (here shown as four in number). Nail 
holes 17 may be formed in base 12 near the outer margins thereof or the 
holes 17 may be formed by the user located as required. 
In the use of the template 11, the first step is to form a hole 22 in the 
plywood counter 21. A simple way to locate the hole 22 is to position the 
base 12 on the counter 21 in a location so that the cylinder 13 is in 
alignment with the eventual position of the faucet. A line is then drawn 
around the four sides of the base 12 and the hole 22 is sawed in the 
counter having a size less than the size of the base. Nails 23 through 
holes 17 nail the base 12 to the counter 21 overlying the hole 22. Hence 
the hole 22 cannot be blocked. 
The tile setter then applies a layer of cement 24 over the counter 21 and 
the base 12 up to the cylinder 13 and then sets the tile 26 over the 
cement 24. The cylinder 13 functions as a guide to the tile man as to the 
proper thickness of cement 24 and also prevents the cement from filling 
the hole 14. In many installations, the cylinder 13 may be maintained in 
place. However, if it projects too high, merely by tapping the top of the 
cylinder 13 with a hammer, the connectors 16 are fractured, permitting the 
cylinder to drop out, as shown in FIG. 3. To install a faucet 27, the 
valve body or hold-down nipple 28 thereof is placed through the hole in 
the tile 26 and the cement 24 and the hole 24 in the base 12. Nut 29 is 
then threaded over the threaded end 31 of valve body or hold-down nipple 
28 and drawn tight against the underside of base 12, drawing the faucet 27 
down tightly against the top of the tile 26. Since the hole 22 is quite 
large, easy access to the nut 29 with a faucet wrench is provided. It is 
unnecessary, therefore, to have to cut away the underside of the counter 
21 if the tile man has placed too much cement 24 on the counter. 
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a modification wherein there is a cylinder 13a 
upstanding from the base 12a and also two other cylinders 36 and 37 
positioned in holes 14a and held in place by connectors 16a. The 
cylinders 13a, 36 and 37 provide for the hot and cold water faucets and 
the spout of the water mixer or the pop-up rod respectively. It will be 
understood that the number of cylinders and the pattern thereof is subject 
to variation. 
Thus, as shown in the modification of FIG. 6, the pattern of the cylinders 
13b, 36b and 37b is arcuate. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 show a further modification. In this modification, the 
template 11c is considerably enlarged over that of the preceding 
modifications and is intended to replace an entire section of counter 21c. 
A large hole 41 corresponding to the shape of the basin which is installed 
in the counter is cut into the base 12c or, preferably, precut at the 
factory. Because of the weight which the base 12c must support, gussets 42 
are preferably integrally formed therein to strengthen the base 12c. 
Cylinders 13c, 36c, 37c in any desired pattern are located in the base 12c 
adjacent the margin of the hole 41. 
In use of the device in FIGS. 7 and 8, a hole is cut in the counter 21c and 
the template base 12c is nailed to the top thereof by nails 23c. The 
flange 44 of basin 43 is then set on top of the base 12c with the basin 43 
extending down through the hole 41. Cement 24c and tile 26c are then laid. 
The faucets and spout may be installed in the hole surrounding cylinders 
13c, 36c, 37c as in the preceding modification. 
In many respects, the modifications of FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 resemble those of 
preceding modifications, and the same reference numerals followed by the 
subscripts a, b and c, respectively, are used to designate corresponding 
elements.