US1980765A - Roof framing tool - Google Patents

Description

A. G. SLOPER RooF' FRAMING TOOL Filed June 9. 1930 La 1 re/7723 q 463679567" I Patented Nov. 13, 1934 ,1,980,76 5 ROOF FRAMING TOOL Alfred George Sloper, Wagga Wag'ga,: New South- Wales, Australia Application June 9, 1930; Serial No. 460,032'

In Australia September 6, 1929 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved tool for use by Carpenters and others in the setting out of roof frames and the like. v

The invention has been designed to permit I quick and easy determination of the lengths and the setting of the Various angles or cuts required for different rafters of a roof and provides for the simultaneous setting of three different angles, namely, the head and foot cuts of a common 10 rafter and the side or creeper cut of an associated jack rafter, and likewise the head and foot cuts of hip and valley rafters and the side cut of associated jack rafters.

The invention comprises as its main features ll a slotted set square or plate and a straight-edged bar which is angularly adjustable on and relative to a face of the plate and is guided in the slots thereof. This straight-edged' bar is provided with sidewardly or outwardly projecting hinged or folding wings which are automatically adjusted in accordance with the angular adjustments of the straight-edged bar so as to assume different angles relatve to the face of the plate to thereby indicate the proper side cuts for jack and hip or valley rafters. These hinged wings of the straight-edged bar may also be set for use as a mitre when the plate is used as a square.

Referring to the drawing which forms part of this specification- Figure 1 is a plan of a device according to the invention.

r Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary edge view of the device, parts being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a plan of the device showing the straight-edged bar L set in a position different from that of Figure 1. The set square or plate 21 may consist of comparatively thin sheet of metal preferably alumnium or alumnium alloy, or other suitable material which is light yet strong and rust proof, and is preferably of substantially right angled triangular shape. The right angled edges 22, 23, are provided with suitable graduations 24, 26,

' preferably in inches and fractions thereof, and

which commence from the junction of the edges 22, 23. The graduations 24 of one of these edges (hereinafter referred to as the base edge 22) are preferably continued or projected so as to intersect diagonal pitch lines 27 which may converge from the graduations 26 on the other of said right angled edges, (hereinafter referred to as the side edge 23), to a common point, preferably the twelve inch graduation, on the base edge at or near the junction of the base edge and the third edge or hypotenuse 28 of the triangle. The pitch lines are inclined relatve to the base edge in conformity with standard or usual pitches or angles of common rafters of a roof.

Eormed in the plate are three-slots, 31, 32, 33, 69 ene cf which 31 may extend substantially parallel with and'comparatively close to the side edge 23, whilst the other two slots are disposed nearer the junction of the base and the hypotenuse. The slots 32 and 33 preferably diverge from slot-31 towards the base edge 22 and all the slots may be slightly curvedas'shown.

In' any case the relationshipof the slots 31 and 32 is preferably such as topermit the straightedged bar to be angularly adjusted on the plate within a range including all likely pitch angles and so that the inner extremity of the straightedged bar will coincide with the side edge of the plate at all such positions whilst the straightedged bar will intersect the base edge at a common point for all pitch angles.

The straight-edged bar may comprise two straight edged bars 36 adapted to' lie flat one against each face of the plate 21. These bars may be united by two bolts or s'crews 37, 38, which pass through the slots in the plate whereby the straight-'edged bar is guided in said slots and may be fixed in any desired position by tightening, the nuts 39 of the bolts or screws. The nuts may have milled heads 41 and screw driver slots 42 to facilitate their tightening and loosening.

' The screw 38' may be attached to one of the straight-edged bars 36 and project through coaligned holes in the bars and either of the slots 32, 33. The other screw 37 passes through the slot 31 and is adapted to slide longitudinally in coaligned slots, 43 extending lengthwise of the straight-edged bars. This screw also passes through opposite slidable feet 44 to which are connected by hinge or pivotal means 46 the inner ends of a pair of outwardly'projecting arms 47 of the aforesaid folding wings on the StraigE-edged bar.

The said wings also comprise a second pair of arms 48 which are connected by hinge or pivotal means 49 at their outer ends to the outer ends of the iirst mentioned arms 47 and are connected by hinge or'pivotal means 51 at their inner ends to the inner ends of the straight-edged bars 36.

The inner extremities 3;6a of the straight-edged the straight-edged bars are automatically adno justed in their angular attitudes, the angles between the arms 48 and the faces of the plate conforming to the angles of the side cuts of jack rafters as will be referred to hereinafter.

' Either or each straight-edged bar is provided with suitable graduations 52, preferably in inches and fractions thereof, so that by setting the straight-edged bar along one of the pitch lines 27 of the blade which determines the pitch of roof, the proper length of a common rafter according to the run of rafter, which is half the width'o'f the building and is found on the base edge of plate 22, is indicated by the graduations 50' cn the plate coinciding with the graduations 52 cn the straight-edged bar. may be ascertained by reading the inch and fractional graduations on the straight-edged bar as representing feet and inches, and the length thus ascertained may be measured on the rafter by=a straight edge or rule and suitably marked cn the rafter. Or alternatively the length of "the straight-edged bar from its inner or zero end'to;

run of the rafter is eight feet (8') the distance from the zero end of the straight-edged bar to the point where it meets the base edge may be measured eight times along the rafter,

The angles of the proper head and foot cuts of a common rafter Will conform to the angles between a side edge of the straight-edged bar and the side and base edges respectively of the plate and may be correctly marked on the rafter. by placing the plate thereon with a side edge of the straight-edged bar against a side edge of the rafter and drawing a knife, pencil or marking the slot 32 and passed through the slot 33, whereupon the bar 36 is set in the'proper inclined attitude by keeping the inner end of the bar at the l point where it was for the common rafter and moving the bar about its inner end so that it intersects the base edge 'at the marking 17. To

obtain the length of the hip or valley rafter, the distance from the inner end of bar-36 to the point where it intersects the mark to 17 on the base edge 22 may be measured end to end along the rafter as many times as there are feet inthe run of the common rafter.

Thus, for example, if the run of the common rafter is 11 feet 3 inches, the distance from the inner end of bar 36 to the point where it intersects the mark 17 would be measured along the hip bar, the distance between the inner end of the latter and its intersection with the 4 graduation from'the base edge giving the additional distance .to be addedto the distance already measured on the hip rafter. Alternatively, the length of the hip or valley, rafter may be arrived at partly by proportion andpartly by scale. For instance, if

The length of the rafter r the run of the common rafter is 11 feet, the run of the hip rafter will be eleven twelfths of 17 feet, namely, 15 feet 7 inches. The length of the hip or valley rafter will thenbe found by reading from the inner end of the bar to the point where it intersects the 15 7/12 graduation of the base edge, such measurement being read as feet and inches. simultaneously With the setting of the straight-edged bar in such position the arms 48 cn the straight-edged bar willbe set in positions indicating the proper angle for the side cut of hip and valley rafter. The proper angles for head and foot cuts of the hip orvalley rafter will also be indicated by the side and base edges of the plate.

To enable the device to be used as square or as a-mitre gauge, provision may be made for setting the straight-edged bar so that it overlies the base or' the side edgeportion of the plate and has its arms 48 disposedat anglesof 45' to the straight edged bar and plate. For this purpose the hypotenuse edge 28 may be provided near the side edge witha relativly short right angle portion 28a having an open mouth recess 53 to receive screw 38, whilst'another recess or a hole 54 may be formed in the side edge portion of the plate to receive the screw 37. The hole 54 is preferably spaced such a distance from the base edge as to ensure that when the screw 37 is applied to the hole and the straight edged bar, the arms 48 will beset at angles of 45 to the plane faces of the plate'as indicated by unbroken lines in Figure 2.

If desired, a spirit bulb may be attached to one side of the straight-edged bar so that the latter may be used as a spirit level when detached from the plate or when positioned on the plate tc be used as a square or' mitre gauge.

The various graduations 24, 26, 52 and the pitch lines 27 may, if desired, be provided on both faces of the blade and cn both outer faces of the trammel bars 36 so that the device may be used in reverse.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- I 1. A device of the character described comprising a right angled plate provided with a number of slots, a straight edged bar lying against a face IOC of said plate and having a longitudinally elonv,

gated slot near one end extending crosswise of one of said slots in said plate, guide members spaced longitudinally of said bar and projecting into said slots, one of said guide members'extending through said slot in the bar, whereby the bar may be angularly adjusted on said plate, an arm pivotally attached to said bar by the guide member which passes through the slot in the bar so that the arm outstands from the face of the plate, and a second arm pivoted at one end to the outer end of said iirst arm and pivoted at its other end tc the adjacent end of said bar.

2. A device as claimed in claim l, wherein said guide members consist of screws provided with nuts adapted to retain the bar'in any of its ad justed positions on the plate. u

3. A device of the character described comprising a plate having edges extending at right angles to each other and meeting at' a corner of the plate, a straight edged bar on a face of said,

plate, adjustable positioning means whereby said sect the other right angled edge at a common point for a11 such positions, and articulated arms hingeably connected to said bar and to said adjustable positioning means and. projecting out- Wardly from the plate and bar whereby the setting of the bar in a position corresponding to the pitch angle of a common rafter will cause one of said arms to assume a position corresponding to the proper angle of a side or creeper cut of an associated jack rafter.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bar and the last mentioned edge of the plate are provided with graduated markings indicative of lineal measurement.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said articulated arms comprise an intermediately jointed arm hinged at one end directly to said bar and connected at the other end to the bar by a connection which is adjusted lengthwise on the bar according to the angular adjustment of the bar upon the plate.

6. A device of the character described comprising a right angled set square provided with slots, a straight edged bar, two guide members on said bar adapted to enter said slots and enable the bar to be set in various angular positions on said square, with the bar, extending laterally of said slots, the bar having a longitudinally elongated slot through which one of said guide members passes, an arm hingeably connected at one end to said bar, and a second arm pivoted to the other end of the first mentioned arm, the other end of said second arm being connected to said guide member which passes through the elongated slot of said bar, for the purpose specified.

7. A device of the character described comprising a plate having base and side edges extending at right angles to each other and meeting at a corner of the plate, said plate being provided with at least two slots, one of which is nearer to the side edge than the other and is approximately parallel with said side edge, a straight edged bar, screw members projecting from said bar,

one into each of the slots of the pIate in order that the bar may be set in desired angular positions on the plate, the bar having a longitudinally elongated slot through which one of said screw members passes into the slot nearer the side edge of the plate, an arm hingeably connected to said screw member and outstanding from the bar, and a second arm hingeably connected at its ends to the outer end of the first mentioned arm and the adjacent end of the bar, for the purpose specified.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the base and side edges of the plate are provided with markings indicative of lineal measurement to be read from said corner of the plate, some of the base edge markings being continued across the plate parallel with said side edge, said bar being provided With similar markings reading from its inner extemity which coincides with said side edge, for the purpose specified.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein markings are provided on a face of said plate and extend from a common point along said base edge to various points along said side edge to indicate various pitch angles of common rafters.

10. A device of the character described comprising a plate having right angled base and side edges meeting at a corner of the plate, said plate being provided with first, second and third slots spaced at different distances from said side edge, a straight edged bar having a longitudinal slot, iirst and second guide members associated with said bar, the first guide member passing through the slot of the bar into said first slot of the plate, the second guide member being detachably applied to the bar so that it may be passed through the second and third slots as occasion requires, an arm connected to said bar by said first guide member and outstanding from saidbar and the adjacent face of said plate, and another arm pivoted at one end of said first mentioned arm and pivoted at its other end to said bar.

ALFRED G. SLOPER.

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