GB2196438A

GB2196438A - Angle indicating device

Info

Publication number: GB2196438A
Application number: GB08624743A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-15
Filing date: 1986-10-15
Publication date: 1988-04-27
Also published as: GB8624743D0

Abstract

The indicating device comprises a pair of limbs (11 and 12) which are pivotally interconnected, and a bracing element (13) which is pivotally connected to one of the limbs (11) and adjustably connected to the other limb (12) at its other end 15. The limbs are pivotable between a collapsed position in which they lie alongside one another so as to present a minimum volume for storage of the device, and an operating position with a predetermined angular inclination (e.g. perpendicular) when the bracing element is connected to the second limb. Each limb has at least one bubble tube (16, 17) so as to permit initial setting of the angle of the limbs by locating one of the limbs in a predetermined attitude as determined by its bubble tube, and then angularly adjusting the other limb until the predetermined angle is obtained. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Angle indicating device This invention relates to an angle indicating device for use in the building industry, and also in carpentry.

The invention has been developed primarily, though not exclusively, in relation to a set square device which, as is well-known, is used to indicate a right angle and, as such, can check the perpendicularity of existing adjoining frame members, or be used to set-out perpendicular guide lines.

In the building industry, it is important to be able to set-out accurate perpendicular guide lines, along which building walls can be erected, and the set squares presently in use necessarily are very large, having two perpendicularly extending limbs which are used to define the required guide line. To enable as accurate as possible setting-out of the guide lines, it is important for the limbs to be of substantial length i.e. the greater the length, the more readily can accurate alignment of the guide lines be achieved with respect to the guide edges of the limbs. Typically, set squares used in the building industry can have limbs of about one metre in length.

The set squares used in the building industry are large, and robust in construction having regard to the operating environment, and are assembled in a factory with the required degree of angular precision, and are rigidly secured together prior to despatch to a customer or retail outlet. There are therefore considerable handling problems, and also storage problems, in view of the large amount of space required to accommodate a set square.

There is therefore a clear need to provide an angle indicating device, which may be used as a set square device if required, and which can take up less space than equivalent existing constructions when not in use.

According to the invention there is provided an angle indicating device which comprises a pair of elongate limbs which are pivotally interconnected, and a bracing element which is pivotally connected to a first of the limbs and is adapted to be connected to a second of the limbs so as to form a rigid assembly with the first and second limbs, in which: the first and second limbs are pivotable between a collapsed position, in which they lie alongside each other so as to present a minimum volume suitable for storage of the device, and an operative position at a predetermined angular inclination to each other, when the bracing element is connected adjustably to said second limb; and bubble tubes are provided one on each of said first and second limbs, the arrangement of the bubble tubes relative to the longitudinal extent of the limbs being such as to permit initial setting of the predetermined angular inclination of the limbs to be achieved by locating one of the limbs in a predetermined attitude as determined by its bubble tube, and then angularly adjusting the other limb until the predetermined angular inclination is obtained as determined by the bubble tube on the other limb.

Therefore, the device can occupy a minimum storage volume when the bracing element is disconnected from the second limb and the limbs lie alongside each other, and this will be a considerable convenience to the manufacturer for storage and despatch purposes, and will also be of advantage to the user. Whenever the device is required to be operated on site, it will be a simple matter, by appropriate manipulation of the limbs and observation of the bubble tubes, to set up the limbs at a required predetermined angle.

Of course, the device is not limited to use in the building industry, but may also be used in other situations in which a predetermined angular indication is required, including use in carpentry.

For many intended uses of the device of the invention, and particularly for building use, it will be preferable for the predetermined angular inclination to be a perpendicular inclination.

In order to enable either limb to be used as the reference limb, it is preferred that a pair of bubble tubes be provided on each limb, one of which can be used when that particular limb is used as the reference limb, and the other of which can be used when that particular limb forms the angularly adjustable limb.

Preferably, means is provided for adjusting the relative inclination of each bubble tube to its limb. This may be required to permit ready adjustment of the predetermined angular inclination which may be required. Alternatively, and particularly for perpendicular indications, it may from time to time be necessary to check the alignment of the bubble tubes relative to the limbs, against reference vertical and horizontal surfaces.

One embodiment of angle indicating device according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the device, when adjusted to a position of perpendicularity between its two limbs; Figure 2 is a side view of the device, when adjusted to a storage position; Figure 3 is a side view of the device, in the collapsed position, and extending horizontally, to enable accuracy adjustments of bubble tubes provided on the limbs; Figure 4 is a side view, in the collapsed position, of the device in a vertical attitude, to permit accuracy adjustments of the bubble tubes relative to a vertical datum surface; and, Figure 5 is an enlarged view, showing in more detail, the device in its operative posi tion.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, an angle indicating device according to the invention is designated generally by reference 10 and serves to provide a predetermined angular indication, which will be of use in the building industry, and also in carpentry.

In the illustrated embodiment, the predetermined angular inclination is a perpendicular indication, but it should be understood that other predetermined angular indications may be provided, by suitable adjustment of bubble tubes (described in more detail below) which are provided on the limbs of the device 10.

The device 10 comprises first and second limbs 11 and 12 which are pivotally interconnected, and a bracing element 13 which is pivotally connected at its end 14 to the first limb 11, and is adapted to be adjustably connected at its end 15 to the second limb 12, thereby to form a rigid assembly with the first and second limbs.

The first and second limbs 11 and 12 are pivotable between a collapsed position, as shown in Figure 2, in which they lie alongside each other so as to present a minimum volume suitable for storage of the device, and the operative position, shown in Figure 1, at a predetermined angular inclination to each other when the bracing element 13 is connected to the second limb 12.

At least one bubble tube is provided on each of the first and second limbs and, in the illustrated embodiment, each limb has a pair of "vertical" bubbles 16, and a horizontal bubble 17. The arrangement of the bubble tubes 16 and 17 relative to the longitudinal extent of the limbs 11 and 12 are such as to permit initial setting of the predetermined angular inclination (perpendicular) of the limbs to be achieved by locating one of the limbs (the first limb 11) in a predetermined attitude as determined by its (horizontal) bubble tube (17), and then angularly adjusting the other limb (the second limb 12) until the predetermined angular inclination is obtained as determined by the bubble tube (vertical bubble tube 16) on the other- limb.

Therefore, the device 10 can occupy a minimum storage volume when the bracing element 13 is disconnected from the second limb 12 and the limbs lie alongside each other as shown in Figure 2, and this will be a considerable convenience to the manufacturer for storage and despatch purposes, and also will be of advantage to the user. When the device is required to be operated on site, the limbs are set at the required predetermined angle of indication to be provided by the device, by appropriate manipulation of the limbs 11 and 12 and observation of the bubble tubes provided thereon.

In the illustrated embodiment, each limb 11 and 12 has a pair of mutually perpendicular bubble tubes, whereby either of the limbs 11 and 12 can be used as the initial reference limbs, from which the angular adjustment takes place.

If it should be required to permit adjustment in the predetermined angular indication to be provided by the device, means may be provided for adjusting the attitudes of the bubble tubes relative to the general longitudinal extent of the associated limbs 11 and 12, Alternatively, it may be required to permit periodic checking of the accuracy of the device, particularly when it is to be used to provide a perpendicular indication, and also to be used as a device for checking the verticality or the horizontal extent of walls and support surfaces, such as concrete slabs, used in the building industry. Figure 3 illustrates how the device may be used for checking purposes with reference to a horizontal reference surface 18. The device is in the collapsed position, and a pair of adjusting screws 19 are used, arranged one at each end of the limb 11.One of the screws 19 is adjusted until the bubble in the bubble tube 17 settles between the usual lines marked on the glass tube when the device 10 is placed across the screws 19.

The device 10 is then reversed from end to end, and replaced on the screws 19. If the bubbles in the tubes 17 (in limb 11 and 12) remain between the guide lines, then the device has been accurately set. However, if an error is noticed, this is half corrected by adjusting one of the screws and the other half by adjusting the bubble tube, and then rechecked by reversing the instrument as before.

In a somewhat similar way, the vertical bubbles on the limbs 11 and 12 can be checked, with reference to a vetical reference surface 20, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 5 shown an enlarged view of the device 10, when adjusted to a perpendicular indicating position, and illustrates a hinge 21 at the adjoining ends of the limbs 11 and 12, and a bolt and wing nut fastening 22 at the (permanent) connection end 14 of the bracing element 13 to the first limb 11, and an adjustable connection at the end 15 of the bracing element 13, which comprises a bolt and wing nut arrangement 23, and a slot or groove 24 in the end of the element 13 to permit minor adjustment of the fixing.

Claims

1. An angle indicating device which comprises a pair of elongate limbs which are pivotally interconnected, and a bracing element which is pivotally connected to a first of the limbs and is adapted to be connected to a second of the limbs so as to form a rigid assembly with the first and second limbs, in which: the first and second limbs are pivotable between a collapsed position, in which they lie alongside each other so as to present a mini mum volume suitable for storage of the device, and an operative position at a predetermined relative angular inclination, when the bracing element is connected adjustably to said second limb; and at least one bubble tube is provided on each of said first and second limbs, the arrangement of the bubble tubes relative to the longitudinal extent of the limbs being such as to permit initial setting of the predetermined angular inclination of the limbs to be achieved by locating one of the limbs in a predetermined attitude as determined by its bubble tube, and then angularly adjusting the other limb until the predetermined angular inclination is obtained as determined by the bubble tube on the other limb.

2. An angle indicating device according to claim 1, in which said predetermined angular inclination is perpendicular.

3. An angle indicating device according to claim 1 or 2, in which a pair of said bubble tubes is provided on each limb.

4. An angle indicating device according to any of claims 1 to 3, which is further provided with means for adjusting the relative inclination of each bubble tube with respect to the limb on which it is provided.

5. An angle indicating device according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which said bracing element is reversibly detachable from said first limb.

6. An angle indicating device according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which said first and second limbs are pivotally interconnected by means of an internal hinge.

7. An angle indicating device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.