Patent ID: 6973736

Claim:
A method for tracing a contour of an obstruction onto a tile prior to cutting said tile including the steps of: (a) providing a tool having a base member including a retaining lip, said retaining lip extending a predetermined distance below a plane of said base member and including a thickness that approximates the thickness of a joint intermediate two tiles and wherein no portion of said base member other than said retaining lip extends below said plane, and a first extension member having a first end and a second end and which is pivotally attached to said base member and wherein said first extension member is adapted to pivot around an axis with respect to said base member, and means attached to said first extension member for determining at least one point of an obstruction, and including means for retaining said first extension member in a position relative to said base member, and wherein said means for retaining includes providing a first longitudinal slot in said base member and a second longitudinal slot in said first extension member, said retaining lip being parallel with respect to said first longitudinal slot and including a first fastener assembly that is adapted to cooperate with said first longitudinal slot and said second longitudinal slot sufficient to retain said first extension member with respect to said base member, and wherein said first fastener assembly includes a base retainer that includes a narrow side and a long side, said narrow side being adapted to fit into a portion of said first longitudinal slot and adapted be displaced along a length thereof and wherein said long slide prevents said base retainer from rotating when it is disposed in the first longitudinal slot and including a threaded rod that is attached to said base retainer and which is adapted to extend through said second longitudinal slot and including a threaded nut that is adapted to cooperate with said threaded rod sufficient to secure said first extension member to said base member when said threaded nut is sufficiently tightened and wherein said first longitudinal slot includes a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion including a width that is less than said bottom portion; (b) placing said tool proximate an installed tile; (c) adjusting said first extension member sufficient to permit at least a portion of said tool to contact at least one point of said obstruction; (d) removing said tool from said obstruction; and (e) placing said tile prior to cutting proximate said tool and tracing a location of said portion of said tool onto said stile prior to cutting.