Patent Abstract:
The technology of the present application provides a system and method for marking opposing surfaces of varying sizes, shapes, and materials. This system and method allow a user to transfer the outline or location of a relevant feature such as, for example, a fastener, utility outlet, architectural feature, or window or door, from one surface to another through the use of a transferable marking substance, thereby eliminating the need for complicated and limited fixtures or time consuming and often inaccurate manual measurements.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The technology of the present application relates generally to construction and building systems and methods, and more specifically, to systems and methods for marking the outline or location of an object on an opposing surface. 
     2. Background 
     Marking where to cut or drill construction materials is a common component of all building and construction. For example, marking and locating utility outlets or window and door openings on the blind side of drywall panels is a task required of virtually every building project. Manually measuring and marking where to locate these cuts, openings, or holes requires transposing measurements previously made from desired features to the blind side of a panel. This process is time consuming and inaccurate because points of reference are often irregular, uneven, and/or difficult to reach. 
     To address this problem, several devices exist for marking the outline or location of an object, such as an electrical outlet box, window or door, water or gas line, or similar features, on an opposing panel. That said, these devices are cumbersome and their applications are limited to marking outlines or locations of one or a few different types of objects on an opposing drywall panel. There is therefore a need in the art for a simple, accurate, and versatile method of marking the outline or location of nearly any object on a variety of opposing surfaces. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments disclosed herein address the above stated needs by providing a system and method for marking opposing surfaces of various sizes, shapes, and materials through the use of a transferable marking substance. The foregoing, as well as other features, utilities, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus for applying a marking substance to a template surface; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side plan view of another potential embodiment of an apparatus for applying a marking substance to a template surface; 
         FIG. 3  shows a flowchart for a method of marking opposing surfaces; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of a method of marking opposing surfaces; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of another potential embodiment of a method of marking opposing surfaces; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of another potential embodiment of a method of marking opposing surfaces; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a front plan view of another potential embodiment of an apparatus for applying a marking substance to a template surface; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The technology of the present application will be further explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 7 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the methods and apparatuses disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  shows a front perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus  100  for applying a marking substance  112  to a template surface  101 . The marking substance  112  may be transferred to an opposing blank surface (not shown), as explained further with reference to  FIGS. 3 through 6 . Transferring marking substance  112  from template surface  101  to the opposing blank surface allows the user to make accurate cuts in the newly marked blank surface. 
     In this embodiment, apparatus  100  may comprise a hollow tube  103  having a chamber  102 , a plunger  104 , a handle  106 , and a tip  108 . Chamber  102  may be filled with marking substance  112  formulated to imprint upon any surface pressed against it. In addition, tip  108  may feature an offset  114 , which elevates an opening  116  of tip  108  above the template surface  101 . Thus, apparatus  100  may dispense a bead of marking substance  112  with a consistent diameter, while at the same time, offset  114  may stay in constant contact with the template surface  101  to guide apparatus  100  and facilitate the accurate application of marking substance  112 . Opening  116  of tip  108  may be sized to accommodate the necessary marks to the blank surface. For example, in one embodiment, opening  116  may be sized to dispense a bead of marking substance  112  that is approximately 1/16 inch in diameter. Of course, the size of opening  116  is largely a matter of design choice, environment of use, and viscosity of marking substance  112 . 
     Generally, marking substance  112  may be a highly viscous liquid or semi-solid material that is impregnated with a visible ink, dye, or other coloring agent as is generally known in the art. Marking substance  112  may also be impregnated with a machine readable medium such as a radio-opaque substance, magnetic substance, metal filings, or other materials to facilitate the automated detection of marking substance  112 . Preferably, marking substance  112  is washable, slow to dry, and does not spread or distort after application. Also, marking substance  112  should be compatible with most construction equipment, including drills, saws, nailers, routers, and other common building tools. Marking substance  112  may be formulated as generally known in the art or it may be purchased commercially. 
       FIG. 2  shows a side plan view of another embodiment of an apparatus for applying marking substance  112 . Apparatus  200  may be used to discharge marking substance  112  from a cartridge  202  having a chamber  203 . In this embodiment, apparatus  200  may comprise a shell  204  and a plunger  206  operably connected to a handle  208  through a ratchet system (not shown) configured as generally known in the art. Apparatus  200  may operate similarly to a caulking gun by causing plunger  206  to move through chamber  203  to discharge marking substance  112  from cartridge  202 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a front plan view of another embodiment of an apparatus for applying marking substance  112 . Apparatus  700  may be used to discharge marking substance  112  from a pressurized container  702  having a valve  704  and a nozzle  706 . When a user presses nozzle  706 , valve  704  opens, allowing marking substance  112  to flow from the highly pressurized environment within the container to the outside air. Apparatus  700  may operate similarly to pressurized containers used to dispense products such as SILLY STRING®, EASY CHEESE®and others. Alternatively, container  702  may be connected to a pressure source  708 , such as an air compressor or the like, instead of being pressurized. 
     While three embodiments of an apparatus for applying a marking substance have been described, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that the apparatus can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for the purpose of illustration rather than limitation. 
       FIG. 3  shows a flowchart for a method  300  of marking an opposing surface using, for example, apparatus  100 ,  200 ,  700  and marking substance  112  described above. Method  300  may be used to mark opposing surfaces having any size or shape and being formed of virtually any material. First, the user may apply a bead of marking substance to a template surface to be transferred to an opposing blank surface, step  302 . This bead may comprise a continuous or discontinuous channel that outlines the perimeter of a construction feature such as an electrical box, piping outlet, architectural feature, window or door, or other similar feature to be transferred to an opposing blank surface. The bead may also be a single dot marking the location of a drill hole, wall stud, or otherwise. Once the marking substance has been applied, the user may either press the blank surface against the template surface, step  304 , or press the template surface against the blank surface, step  306 , to transfer the marking substance from the template surface to the blank surface. Pressing the template and blank surfaces together may be accomplished manually or through the use of equipment such as a press or other suitable device. After pressing the template and blank surfaces together, the user separates the surfaces, step  308 . The outline or marks for accurate cutting are now reflected on the blank surface, and the user may cut or drill holes in the blank surface that accurately reflect the size, shape, and location of the corresponding template features, step  310 . These cuts may be made manually or through the use of automated machinery. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the above described method. In this embodiment, method  400  may be used to prepare drywall for mounting over features like electrical outlets, HVAC vents, gas and water pipes, and more. As shown in  FIG. 4 , surface  402  may comprise various construction features  403  such as, for example, light switch  404 , electrical outlet  406 , gas pipe  408 , and similar features, to be reflected on a blind side  410  of a sheet of drywall  412 . After applying marking substance  112  to outer perimeters  405 ,  407 ,  409  of features  404 ,  406 ,  408 , the user may press blind side  410  against features  404 ,  406 ,  408 , and outlines  404 ′,  406 ′, and  408 ′ of features  404 ,  406 ,  408  will be transferred to blind side  410  where cut-outs are required. The user may then cut appropriately sized and accurately located holes in the drywall panel without the need for time consuming and error prone measurements. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of another exemplary embodiment of the above described method. Method  500  may be used to accurately locate drill holes for mounting appliances, lighting, equipment, and the like, under wall cabinets. For example, in this embodiment, a user may apply beads of marking substance  112  to the tips of mounting fasteners  502  before pressing an appliance  504  and attached mounting fasteners  502  against a cabinet base  506 . Marking substance  112  is transferred from mounting fasteners  502  to cabinet base  506 , allowing the user to set appliance  504  aside and drill mounting holes accurately on outlines  502 ′. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of yet another exemplary embodiment of the above described method. Method  600  may be used to prepare toe kicks for installation under level base cabinets that sit above uneven floors. In this embodiment, a user may apply a bead of marking substance  112  along an outer bottom edge  602  of a base cabinet  604  and press a toe kick  606  against outer bottom edge  602 . Marking substance  112  is transferred to toe kick  606 , which can then be cut along a line A reflecting the slope or sag of the uneven floor  608 . 
     While three specific embodiments of the disclosed method are provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the present invention could be used in multiple environments, and that the specific examples described above are used for illustrative purposes only. For example, the method described above could also be used to hang wall art or mount window treatments or for a variety of other applications. Various modifications to the described embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8