AU2005201420A1

AU2005201420A1 - A Measuring Tool For Sheet Building Materials

Info

Publication number: AU2005201420A1
Application number: AU2005201420A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christopher John Mcpherson
Original assignee: CHRISTOPHER MCPHERSON
Current assignee: CHRISTOPHER MCPHERSON
Priority date: 2004-04-05
Filing date: 2005-04-05
Publication date: 2005-10-20

Description

PATENTS ACT 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention title A Measuring Tool For Sheet Building Materials The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me.

IP Australia

SYD

E 0 5 APR 200 DOW 1 This invention relates to work tools. More particularly, although not exclusively, it discloses a measuring or cutting device for sheet materials used in construction.

Wall board such as for example Gyprock or Plasterboard is normally sold in sheets measuring about 2400 mm x 1200 mm.

Often it is necessary to cut down these sheets along a line parallel to one edge. In order to mark the line of cut the worker currently grasps a retractable measuring tape in the palm of one hand so that a length of said tape extends out from between his index finger and thumb and across the sheet at a right angle from the reference edge. By holding a pencil or other marker at the free end and then moving tape measure along the sheet so that the index finger slides against said reference edge a parallel line can be quickly drawn. While this method is fast and provides an acceptably accurate measurement severe skin abrasion to the index finger can result if large numbers of sheets are to be cut.

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantage and accordingly a marking or cutting tool for use with a sheet of material is disclosed, said tool including a slide member with a finger grip and first and second surfaces angularly disposed for engaging said sheet along a reference edge and an adjacent side face whereby in use the tool can be located on a user's middle finger and slid along said reference edge so that the moving free end of a measuring tape held between the user's adjacent index finger and thumb to extend out over said sheet defines a parallel cutting line at a selected distance from said reference edge.

Preferably said first and second surfaces are substantially at a right angle.

It is further preferred that the finger grip comprises an arcuate flange shaped to comfortably engage the underside of the user's middle finger.

The currently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which:figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a marking or cutting tool according to this concept, figure 2 shows a close-up side view of the tool of figure 1 when locatedon the edge of a sheet, and figures 3 and 4 show the tool in a position of use.

Referring first to figure 1 the tool may comprise a slide member 1 with intersecting panels 2, 3 which form sheet engaging surfaces 2A and 3A. Preferably the slide member is elongated in the direction A of intended movement and further includes a finger grip 4 extending out to one side from the interesection 4A of said panels. The grip is preferably

I

curved or arcuate in shape through about 1800 and is of a size and width to comfortably engage a user's middle finger.

The grip is also contoured so that connecting support ribs smoothly merge into the top panel 3 of the slide member and provide a comfortable rest point for the user's index finger as described later.

As shown in figures 2, 3 and 4. the tool in use is placed along a reference edge 6 of a sheet 7 (ie. Gyprock, Plasterboard board or the like) which requires cutting. The user's bent middle finger 8 is positioned under the grip 4 and the index finger 9 is placed across the ribs 5. A retractable measuring tape 10 of any suitable type is also held in the user's palm with the free end 11 extending out between said index finger 9 and the thumb 12. This arrangement provides a reasonably comfortable and stable grip on both the measuring tape and tool. Furthermore, it allows sliding movement along the reference edge 6 without any portion of the user's hand rubbing against the sheet 7.

During this sliding movement the free end 11 of the tape is held so that it extends out across the sheet at right angles from the reference edge 6 whereby a cutting line 13 is defined parallel to said edge. This line can be marked for a later cut by holding a pencil or the like against the end as it is moved or alternatively a knife edge may be used for an immediate cut.

Preferably the panel 2 and edge engaging surface 2A of the slide member are no greater than about 6 mm in width. This is less than the thickness of commonly used building sheets and ensures that the tool when it is slid along the reference edge runs clear any support surface behind the sheet.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment disclosed provides a novel and useful marking tool for building sheets. Clearly however the example described is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the shape of the slide member and the configuration and placement of the finger grip may be changed according to design preference. Also, while it is currently preferred to construct the tool from a low cost mouldable plastic the invention extends to the use of any other suitable material such a metal or even wood.

Claims

2. The marking or cutting tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second surfaces are substantially at a right angle and are formed by intersecting panels.
3. The marking or cutting tool as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said finger grip includes an arcuate flange shaped to engage the underside of the user's middle finger.
4. The marking or cutting tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said finger grip is curved or arcuate in shape through about 180 degrees. The marking or cutting tool as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein connecting support ribs extend between said finger grip and one of said intersecting panels.
6. The marking or cutting tool as claimed in claim 5 wherein said connecting support ribs are contoured to provide a rest point for the user's index finger.
7. The marking or cutting tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein one of said intersecting panels which forms the reference edge engaging surface is no greater than about 6 mm in width.
8. A marking or cutting tool for use with sheet material, said tool being substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. Dated this 4th day of April, 2005 Christopher John McPherson By His Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR