Patent Publication Number: US-4584780-A

Title: Layout template for electrical panel

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a template useful, for example, in laying out the entrances for electrical conduits into an electrical panel, junction box, or the like. 
     Electrical conduits leading into an electrical panel or the like may vary in diameter, and if the entrances for such conduits into the panel are to be laid out in an organized and efficient manner, the task of arranging such a layout may take an electrician up to a half an hour or more. The present invention provides a template and method of using same which, by contrast, allows a comparable layout job to be accomplished in a matter of minutes. 
     STATEMENT OF PRIOR ART 
     The following U.S. patents disclose various set-up tools, templates, drafting instruments and the like which are constructed for particular uses to facilitate installation of various devices. However, none of the patents discloses a template capable of functioning in the manner of the present invention, nor do any of the patents disclose the manner of using a template in accordance with the invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,407,368 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,637,110 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,233 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,672 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,775,857 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,728 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,263,717 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a template for laying out electrical conduit entrances to an electrical panel or the like, the template comprising a sheet of suitable material such as metal, plastic, fiberboard or the like, having a pair of orthogonally disposed straight edges, a plurality of small openings in the sheet spaced at different distances respectively from the respective straight edges for marking the centers of different diameter conduits, the spacing of each opening from the respective edges being related to the diameter of the respective conduit, so as to space the center of the conduit a suitable distance from a line on which the respective edge of the sheet is placed, and the sheet having marks along one of said edges related to the respective openings for indicating distances to which the outer diameters of the respective conduits will extend in one direction from their respective centers. The other of said edges of the sheet may be marked as a ruler. 
     In laying out an electrical panel using a template in accordance with the invention, a datum line parallel to the top of the panel may, for example, be chosen from which the centers of the conduits are to be spaced, and the template is then used step-by-step from one side of the panel to mark off the centers of successive conduits, with a measured spacing therebetween, the successive steps comprising positioning the template with said one of the edges along the datum line and the other edge at a position on the datum line a selected distance from one side of the panel, marking the center of a first conduit through the opening in the template representing a conduit of requisite diameter, marking the position on the datum line corresponding to the mark to where the outer diameter of the first conduit will extend, measuring a suitable location along the datum line from said marking for the outside of a second conduit, moving the template along the datum line until said other edge aligns with said location, marking the center of the second conduit through the opening in the template representing the requisite diameter conduit, and, as required, repeating the measuring, template moving, and marking steps along the datum line for successive conduits. 
     One surface of the template may, for example, be marked for use in proceeding through the above steps from the right hand side to the left hand side of a panel, and the other surface of the template may be a mirror image of the one surface for use in marking a panel from left to right. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a surface of an electrical panel illustrating a manner in which it may be marked with a template in accordance with the invention, for laying out suitable entry positions for electrical conduits. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one surface of a layout template in accordance with the invention. 
     It is to be understood that the drawings are not to scale either in the absolute sense, or relatively as between FIGS. 1 and 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a rectangular template 10 of suitable sheet material, such as metal, plastic, cardboard or the like, the template in the illustrated embodiment being 41/2 inches long and 3 inches wide having linear upper, lower and side edges 12, 14, 16, 18. 
     The template is provided with a series of holes 20-38 for marking the centers respectively of conduits of different diameter, as will be described, each hole being, for example, about 1/8 inch diameter. Further, the visible surface of the template has a series of right angled markings 40-58 leading from the respective holes along the surface of the template away from edge 18 and up to edge 12, to represent on edge 12, the points to which the outside diameters of the respective, conduits extend to the left of the respective centers. A ruler scale 60, which may measure in sixteenths of an inch, is provided along edge 18. 
     The illustrated surface of the template is used for laying out conduit positions, for example on an electrical panel 62 (FIG. 1) starting from the right side 64 of the panel and working toward the left, as will be described. The opposite surface of the template (not shown in the drawings) may be marked as a mirror image to the illustrated surface, with a scale like ruler scale 60 along edge 18, and markings corresponding to markings 40-58. The opposite surface of the template may be used for laying out conduit positions on the electrical panel starting from the left and working to the right. 
     Each of the holes 20-38 and the associated markings 40-58 are respectively designated by the internal diameters of the conduits they represent. Thus, hole 20 and marking 40 has the designation &#34;1/2&#34; as indicated, adjacent the marking to designate a half inch I.D. conduit, and likewise for the remaining holes and markings up to a four inch I.D. conduit represented by hole 38 and marking 58 (which is at edge 16 of the template). Also, each of the holes 20-38 is spaced both from edge 12 and from edge 18 by an amount corresponding to the radius of the particular conduit plus its wall thickness. Thus, hole 20 for example, representing a one half inch I.D. conduit is 1/2 inch in from edge 18 and 1/2 inch down from edge 12 (1/4&#34; for the radius and 1/4&#34; for the wall thickness in each case). Similarly, hole 38 representing a 4&#34; I.D. conduit is 21/4&#34; in from edge 18 and 21/4&#34; down from edge 12 (2&#34; for the radius and 1/4&#34; for the wall thickness in each case). Similarly, the vertical portion of each of the markings 40-58 leading up to edge 12 is spaced a distance to the left of its respective hole 20-38 by an amount equivalent to the inside radius of the respective conduit plus the wall thickness. Thus, the distance to the left of hole 20 of the vertical portion of marking 40 is also 1/2&#34; (1/4&#34; plus 1/4&#34;) and the distance to the left of hole 38 of the vertical portion of marking 58 is also 21/4&#34;(2&#34; plus 1/4&#34;). 
     It will be appreciated that the above measurements are given by way of example only and may be varied to suit different conduit diameters and wall thicknesses. 
     In laying out the electrical panel using the template, first a distance from the top edge 66 of the panel is chosen at which the tops of the respective conduits will be located and a datum line 68 is drawn along the panel at this distance parallel to edge 66. In the illustrated example, the distance of line 68 from edge 66 is 3/4&#34;. Next, the distance in from right edge 64 of the panel is chosen for the right edge of the first conduit, and a mark 70 is made on line 68 at this point (1&#34; from edge 64 in the illustrated example). Then, the template 10 is placed on the surface of the panel with edge 12 of the template along line 68 and edge 18 of the template at mark 70. A mark 72 is formed on the panel through one of the holes 20-38 corresponding to the I.D. of the first conduit, to indicate the center of the first conduit, and another mark 74 is made on line 68 where it is met by that one of the markings 40-58 of the template leading from the respective hole to indicate the distance from its center to which the left edge of the first conduit will extend. In the illustrated example, the first conduit is a 1/2&#34; diameter conduit so that hole 20 and marking 38 of the template are used. (If cross-hairs are required on the panel to indicate the conduit center, the template can be used to provide a horizontal hair line by making a second mark 76 through hole 20 displaced from mark 72 and, to provide a vertial hair line using the template as a square from line 68.) 
     After the center of the first conduit and its left edge have been located by marks 72 and 74, the second conduit can be positioned and marked in similar manner, first measuring a suitable distance (e.g. 1&#34;) along line 68 for spacing the right edge of the second conduit from the left edge of the first conduit, making a mark 78 at this point, and using mark 78 to position the edge 18 of the template for marking the center 80 and left termination 82 of the second conduit as previously (the second conduit being in this case a 2&#34; diameter conduit). The procedure may then be repeated to make marks 84, 86 and 88 for the right edge, center, and left edge of a third conduit (a 1&#34; diameter conduit as illustrated) and so forth. 
     It will be understood that the above procedure can be repeated for further conduit rows, and can equally well be effected with the reverse side of the template commencing from the left side of the electrical panel. The procedure is simple, effective, and more rapidly carried out than taking manual measurements for each conduit. Further, templates in accordance with the invention can be economically manufactured from readily available materials and using conventional manufacturing techniques. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.