US941492A - Rule. - Google Patents

Description

P. F. minus.

7 BULB. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1908.

Pathted Nov. 30,1909.

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P. F. BURNS.

RULE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1908.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Y E N R 0 T T A PATRICK F. BURNS, 0F NISBE I', PENNSYLVANIA.

RULE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30 19%).

Application filed September 19, 1908. Serial No. 453,881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK F. BURNS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nisbet, county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rules, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in rules under that class of rules which may be used as a level, plumb rule, square, or ordinary straight rule, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this character in which the parts may be securely held together and one which may be easily and quickly changed from a rule to any one of the other combinations.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of the rule open. Fig. 2, a side elevation showing the rule folded. Fig. 3, a similar view showing the rule used as a level by the use of a plumb bob instead of spirits. Fig. ft, a perspective View of a portion of the rule, showing it used as a square. Fig. 5, a side elevation showing it used as a plumb rule, portions being shown in section to illustrate how the parts are connected. Fig. 6, a sectional view of a portion of the rule, the hinge being in elevation. Fig. 7, a perspective view of the hinge, and Fig. 8, a face view thereof.

To put my invention into use and thereby form a combination tool for mechanics use I provide a suitable number of strips and connect them together by hinges in the manner shown.

The first and last sections A and B consist of short strips of wood, metal or other suitable material, and in these are formed the openings C the ends of which are formed on an angle to the sides of the strips as ShOWIl at D. V

The turn plate E is pivoted in the opening C by the nail or screw F and when using the rule as a level these plates are turned at right angles to the rule sections which will cause the level to stand alone.

G and H represent two longer strips which are hinged together and to which the smaller strips are hinged by the hinge plates I, said hinge plates being placed in the openings I formed in the ends of the sections and secured to said sections by the screws or rivets I I denotes a flat spring which is formed by cutting parallel slots therein and bending the metal between them upward. The central portion of this spring being curved away from the hinge plates I so that it rests against one side of the openings I will cause a drag or friction upon the sections so that when they are placed in any one position they will not readily leave said posi tion.

On the ends of the strips are placed or formed the teeth J which will also assist in forming a drag between the sections of the rule. In the abutting ends of a number of the strips are placed the slides K so that when the rule is used as a square these slides may be pulled out until they come in contact with one another thus forming a square corner as will be readily seen in Fig. I, and these slides are dove-tailed as indicated by K and these dove-tails fit in the dove-tail opening formed in the strips so that said slides may be moved in or out, but when all the way in will not become disengaged from the strips.

The semi-circular protractor L has one end secured to one of the strips the opposite end being free and resting against the side of the other strips so that any angle may be found between two of the strips.

M represents a plumb bob and N the cord to one end of which it is fastened, the opposite end of which is tied to one of the hinge plates I or the hinge plate may have a notch N in which the cord can be inserted for holding it to the plate, so that when the device is used as a plumb rule the cord will hang, down the side of the strips as 'is clearly shown in Fig. 3.

0 represents a number of catches pivoted at P to one section of the rule, the opposite end being adapted to engage with the pin Q, on one of the other sections of the rule so that when the sections are brought together and this catch is engaged with the pin said sections will be held together.

In practice the strips may be folded one upon the other as shown in 2 thus tak ing up very little space so that it may be placed in a mans pocket or tool chest or it may be folded as shown in Fig. 5, so as to be used as a plumb rule or again as shown in Fig. 3 to act as a level the protractor giving the right angle between the two strips, or again it may be used as a square as shown in Fig. 4 at which time the slides are pulled out to form a square corner or by unfolding each strip until they are in alinement with one another it may be used as an ordinary rule.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction here shown as these may be varied within certain limits without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, is-

In a rule of the character described, short and long strips having suitable openings formed therein, hinge plates for joining said strips together movably secured in a number of these openings, springs, formed with the hinge plates, the center portion of each spring bulging downward until it rests against one side of the openings in which the hinge plates are secured, the end strips having other openings formed therein the catch is adapted to engage for holding the strips together, a plumb bob, and a cord for securing the plumb bob to one 01": the hinge plates, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK F. BURNS. Witnesses:

E. J. MoNAonAN, GRANT STANLEY.

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