US1683065A - Plumb rule - Google Patents

Description

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UNITED STATES WILLIAM J'. CARPENTER `ANI) vFRANCIS SHANLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PLUMB RULE.

Application led August 14, 19725. Serial No. 50,156.

Our invention relates to level devices for indicating horizontality and verticality, and more particularly to a ycombined rule and level :indicator especially adapted to be used by carpenters, bricklayers and stonernasons.

Heretofore it has been the eneral pra`ctice to provide plumb rules with a number of bubble tubes stationarily mounted at intei-vals along the frame, a pair of longitudinal tubes being usually mounted centrally of the frame, and a pair of transverse tubes near each end. This duplication of tubes has been for the purpose of affording convenience to the user in permitting him to observe the indication on the tube most readily accessible and to obviate the necessity of turning the rule to bring a bubble tube to the upper side or end, as the case may be. Suchduplication,v however, increased the cost of the level and also increased the possibility` of breakage because of the greater number of tubes.

It has been proposed to'mount a bubble tube for adjustment longitudinallyof a rule, but the arrangement-,has been such that the tube andcits containing slide were exposed to accidentaldamage. j y

The general object yof our invention is to provide a combined rule and level .indicator of new and improved construction particu-1 larly adapted to afford convenience to the user, while at the same time having a minimum number of bubble tubes mounted thereon. construetion'wherein the bubble vtubes are mounted for adjustment longitudinally of and within the rule, where they are effectively protected from injury.

`In the accompanying drawings,

y Figure 1 is a side View, partly in section7 of one form of our invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof.

Fig.y 3 is an enlarged view of the slide containing the bubble tubes, a portion of the frame being shown in section. y

Fig. 4 is a reduced sectional view approximately along the line L1*-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification.

lVhile our invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, we have This objective attain by providing a shown inthe drawings and will herein describe in detail two such forms with the understanding that the present` disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not insi tended to limit the invention to these forms. The scope of the invention willV be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, our invention in .the form illustrated in Figs. 1` to 4 comprises a rectangular metal frame 1 having graduated straight edges 2 and 3 with integral cross bars 4 and 5 on one side of the frame. The end bars 5 are preferably of substantial width so that together with front plates 6 and end plates 7 (hereinshown as secured to the edges 2 and 3`by screws) pockets 8 are formed at each end of the frame. As shown in Fig. lythe frame l'provides a passageway 9 between the edges 2 and 3 through which a rectangular block or slide 10 may pass. The edges 2 and 3 have longitudinal grooves 11 on the inner sides thereof adapted to engage in sliding contact with the,r correspondinglyy formed i'i edges 12 of the slide 10. The guide grooves 11 preferably have recessesl at t-he bottom thereof, said recesses at one side of the frame communicating with the outside of the laty ter as through holes 141 to provide outlets for anyforeign matter which may collect in the guide grooves. c

In the exemplary form illustrated, the adj j ustable sli delO has a diamond-shaped aperture 15 across the `corners ofwhich a set of four bubble tubes '16 are mounted in the slide parallel to the sides ofthe rectangular :trame 1 as shown in Fig.y 1. On each side ofthe slide is suitablyy framed a glass '10 which effectively prevents accumulation of foreign matter on the tubes 16.

Although any suitable `means may be provided to securethe slide in its adjusted position in the frame 1 the preferredconstruction isas follows: Below the aperture 15 and in front of the slide 10 a fiat spring 17 is mounted between two projecting portions `18L of the slide. Secured to the spring in an upright position is a plunger 19 normally under tension of the spring and bearing downthat when either operating handle depressed the tension which the spring l( enerts on the plunger is counter-balanced and the slide l0 is tree to move. It may then be slidl to any desired position in the trame i l after which by releasing the operating handle the slide Will be etl'ectively secured in the adjusted position.

.Vhen the plumb rule is not in use the slide l() may be iiloved into either ot the pockets 8 which are ot suilicient depth to provide an effective housing tor the block and thereby protect the tubes 16.

ln Fig. 5 is illustrated a modiiie'd form of the invention which is particularly adapted tor iise in plumbing or leveling horizontal and vertical corners, the form illustrated comprising' an "elongated trzune la 'o'l' l.- shaped cross-section, each flange 2l of the traine being constructed similar to the rule illustrated in Figs. l to d and having a slide 10 containing tour bubble tubes movable longitudinally therein.A This lorm o1' our invention readily permits leveling or plumbing tivo surfaces concurrently, the rule being placed lupon rthe ivorli so that the corner is Within the angle between the flanges the trame. rl`h'e` edges of the trame are prefer ably beveled at 25 on a d50 angle with the flanges, thereby providing a substantial bearing sui-tace should it be desirable to use the rule in a position such that these beveled edges Contact the iv'orlr. The rule in this torni has other advantages, one being that 'if positioned on a horizontal 'surface With the beveled portions 25 contacting the ivorlt it is lar more stable and-less likely to be accidentally tipped over than rule el the torni shoi'vn in Flos. l to fi because in such a posiion the rule sh'oivi'i in Fig; 5 has a relatively great Width at the` base, i. e., the distance bctiveen the outer edges of the beveled portions 25. Another advantage results in that in such position the indications ot the bubble tubes in the tivo slides l0 may be checked against 'each other to checlr the yacc'siiracy of theviirdications ot the rule. i j

The frame la is Valso beveled on 450 angle at 25a to provide a substantial surface to make contact vvith a vertical or .other surface and to permit the use or" the rule in plumbing interior corners Where the adjacent sui-faces have a fillet therebetween.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that We have produced a new and improved plumb rule whereby ivith a set of four bubble tubes the level indicated may be observed from any point along the enti e length ol the rule. lll ien the rule is placed against a Wall,

iloor or other structure, to be plumbedor leveled, the user may readily adjust the slide which carries the bubble tubes to that position in the frame in which the tubes are most readily observed, thus minimizing the .necessity for stooping to read the indication. lt vvill also be apparent that We have provided simple and effective means to protect the bubble tubes :trom injury when the rule not in use. j

Vile claim as our invention:

l. A plumb rule having, in combination, a rectangular metal frame comprising spaced parallel straight'edges having longitudinal guide grooves therein on their adjacent sides, an apertured slide adjustable Within said ifri'n'ie in said grooves, said slide carrying four bubble tubes parallel to the sides of' said frame, said frame having' end 'portions adapted to house said slide, a spring pressed plunger mounted on said slide bearing against said frame to hold the slide in its adjusted position, and means operable to release said plunger.

2'. A plumb rule having, in combination, a rectangular metal frame comprising spaced parallel straight edges having longitudinal guide grooves therein on their adjacent sides, an ap'ertur'd slide adjustable Within said frame in said grooves, said slide carrj'fin'g a plurality of bubble tubes, and spring 'means' mounted on said slide adapted to hold the slide in its adjusted position,'said ramehaving end portions adapted to house said slide, said frame also having a longitudinal re'cess'in the botton of one oit said guide grooves which communicates With the outerfedge of the frame.

3; A plumb rule having, in combination, an elongated traine 'comprising spaced par# allelstraight edges', 'and an apertured slide carrying a plurality Voit bubble tubes and adjustable longitudinally Within said frame from end to end, said trame having Ifixed end portions adapted to house said slide. y

e'. A plumb rule havirig, in combination, an elongated frame of L-shaped "cross section, a slide adjustable longitudinally in each ot ythe flanges ofs'aid frame, said slides each ycarrying),` 'a plurality of level indicating means in a lined angular relation With the edges of said traine. e

5. A plumb rule having, in combination, a rect-angular frame comprising pair of spaced parallel straight edges and Va pair of transverse ends fixed thereto, said frame having a rectangular aperture therethrough and a rectilinear" guidei'vay ralong one side of the 'aperture parallel 'to' th'c ,said edges, `a relatively short slidev adjustable longitudinally i'vithin `said aperture on said guidevvay between the ends ot said traine, 'and a plu# rality of bubble `tubes in ,closely nested relation carried ixe'dly on said slide parallel to the sides of said frame.

lili* lll) 6. A plumb rule having in combination, a relation, said slide being adjustable longiframe comprising a pair of straight edges tudinally in said frame between the ends 10 secured rigidly together in spaced relation thereof on said guidewa by means of a pair of longitudinally spaced Inr testimony whereo We have hereunto 5 transverse members, one of said edges having ailixed our signatures.

a' rectilinear guideway on the inner side thereof and a relatively short slide carrying FRANCIS SHANLEY. bubble tubes in closely nested right angle VWILLIAM J. CARPENTER.

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