GB2209222A

GB2209222A - Dividing device

Info

Publication number: GB2209222A
Application number: GB8820178A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Derek Cooper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-08-27
Filing date: 1988-08-25
Publication date: 1989-05-04
Also published as: GB8820178D0; GB8720174D0

Abstract

A device by means of which a given length or distance eg of an area 21, may be divided equally into a number of sub-divisions comprises a length of an elastic material which has a number of indicators distributed uniformly along its length. In one form, the device is a flat tape of fabric, which may have indicators in the form of transverse lines distributed along its length. <IMAGE>

Description

Dividing Device.

The present invention is a device by means of which a given length or distance rray be divided equally into a number of subdivisions. It may also be used for determining multiples of given shorter lengths or distances.

In many situations it is desired to divide a length equally into shorter subelengths. For example, it may be desired to distribute items such as garden plants or walL decorations uniformly along a given length. Conventionally, this exercise entails measuring sufficiently accurately the length to be divided, dividing the measured length by an appropriate factor and then finally measuring each of the sub-lengths Thus a calculation is entailed which may be scmewhat laborious if the measured length is not an easy multiple of the number of divisions required and which may readily give rise to errors which may be difficult to rectify.When a particular activity involves several such exercises, the measurements and calculations entailed may be unduly time-consuruog.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device by means of which such dividing of lengths may be carried out without the need to measure the overall length or to carry out any calculations.

The dividing device according to the present invention comprises a length of an elastic material having a plurality of indicators distributed uniformly along its length.

As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the device is used by extending the elastic material until an appropriate number of divisions of the tape between indicators corresponds to the length to be divided and then marking off the desired sub-divisions as required. Thus it is desirable that the elasticity of the material of the device be uniform along its length, to a greater or lesser extent depending upon the degree of accuracy of sub-division required.

For example, a dividing device dedicated exclusively to distributing garden plants or shrubs along a length may require less accuracy, and therefore a less uniform elasticity, than rray be required for interior decorating purposes. However, in either case it is highly desirable that the uniformity of elasticity of the device should not deteriorate significantly with use or age.

It is a feature of the device that the precise extent of stretching of the elastic material is not itself important. Thus a material which loses some of its elasticity or stretches to a lesser or greater extent with use or age is acceptable, provided only that its elasticity is and ranains uniform throughout its length.

Provided that the elastic material meets the desired criteria of uniform elasticity, then its precise nature is less important.

Thus any natural or synthetic rubber or similar material may be used. The elastic material may be in the form of a length of the elastic compound, for example a synthetic rubber, as such, for example a length of circular or flat cross-section, or a fabric or other elastic material incorporating both the elastic capound and one or more inelastic materials.As an alternative, the elasticity of the elastic material may lie, not in the natural elasticity of the coppound itself but in the physical form of the compound or in the constructlnn of a fabric frsm which the device is formed. For example, the material may comprise crimped filaments woven or knitted into a fabric or the material may be a fabric having an elastic construction.

A particularly preferred form of the dividing device according to the invention comprises a flat tape formed fran a woven fabric having elasticity in the direction of the length of the tape.

The extent of stretch of the. dividing device may be selected according to the particular use or range of uses envisaged for the device. Thus the device may, for example, be capable of increasing its length by, say, 30 or 40 per cent or by as much as 150 per cent.

Particularly satisfactory results have been achieved experimentally using a device in which the maxinrm increase in length lies within the range fran 50 to 100 per cent of the unstretched length.

The indicators distributed uniformly along the length of the device may be incorporated within the construction of the device or may be added in a subsequent step. By way of example, the indicators may consist of markings, for example transverse lines, printed or otherwise applied to one or both surfaces of the device. As a preferred alternative, when the elastic material is a wDven fabric, the indicators may be woven into the fabric during its formation, again oonseniently in the form of transverse lines visible on one or both surfaces of the fabric.In yet another form of the invention, the indicators are studs or other markers, in particular studied eyelets which latter allow the desired sub-divisions to be marked off by means of a pencil or similar marker applied through the holes.

The spacing-apart of the indicators along the length of the device, though necessarily uniform, may be arbitrary since no specific measurements are made with the device. device. . The interval between adjacent indicators may therefore be chosen in the light of the intended or likely use(s) of the device. In general, for outdoor uses, the device is likely to be longer and to have longer intervals than for indoor uses.By way of example, for domestic indoor purposes, the device may typically be fran 800 to 200Qmm long, with indicators at intervals of 25 to lOSmm. For outdoor use, the device may typically be 2 to 10 or more metres long, with indicators at intervals of 50 to 200mm. A third version of the device, for educational or table-top use, may conveniently be from 150 to 500m long, with indicators at intervals of 5 to mtt. All the foregoing figures refer to the device in its unstretched condition.

The indicators may be numbered consecutively from one end of the device or may be unnumbered. In general, numbered indicators are preferred. The end of the device may be provided with a metal lip to hook over a workpiece or other object and optionally to form the zero position on the device. Alternatively, a zero position may be marked at a point spaced from the end of the device. The device may be attachable to an object by means of one or more suction pads or by pins or nails passing through eyelets in the device.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the acoompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example only, two uses of one preferred embcdiment of the dividing device according to the present invention and wherein Fig. 1 shows the device in unstretched oondition; Fig, 2 shows the use of the device of Fig. 1 to divide a length into equal sub-divisions; and Fig. 3 shows the use of the device of Fig. 1 to indicate multiple lengths.

The illustrated device comprises a flat tape 20 of woven material incorporating elastic filaments in its length and capable of stretching uniformly until its length is morse than double its unstretched length. The tape is marked with consecutively numbered transverse lines, woven into the fabric at regular intervals along its length.

Fig. 2 shows an area 21, for example a floor or garden area, which it is desired to divide into five equal divisions. Tb achieve this dividing simply and accurately, the tape 20 is placed with its "zero" marking against one edge of the area 21 and then stretched until the "5" marking coincides with the opposite edge of the area.

The intermediate markings now indicate the positions of division of the area 21 into five equal parts.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it is assumed to be desired to determine the linear extent of the area occupied by several widths of paving stones similar to that indicated by the reference numeral 22. Tb make this determination, the tape 20 is placed with its "zero" marking at one edge of the paving 22 and is then stretched until the "1" marking coincides with the other edge of the paving. The other markings now indicate directly the positions of the outer edges of multiple widths of paving. For example, the arrows Th, V and Vll respectively indicate the outer limit of twos, five and seven parallel widths of paving.

It will be understood that, since the markings on the tape represent wholly arbitrary equal divisions, the number of divisions required need not oorrespond to the numbers on the tape. For example, an area may be divided into five equal areasby reading off markings corresponding to multiples of five if desired or itore convenient.

The e dividing device according to the invention may be used for a very wide range of purposes requiring division or multiplication of lengths. It may be used on flat, curved or irregular surfaces, for example in marking off equal spacings around the cured surface of a cylindrical body. On a larger scale, it may be used for spacing fence posts or shrubs, while on a much smaller scale it may be used for dividing up the width or length of a page of paper.

Claims

MAIMS

1. A dividing device which comprises a length of an elastic material having a plurality of indicators distributed uniformly along its length.

2. A dividing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic material comprises a natural or synthetic rubber.

3. A dividing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the elastic material comprises a length of an elastic compound, of circular or flat cross-section.

4. A dividing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the elastic material comprises crimped filaments woven or knitted into a fabric.

5. A dividing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the elastic material is a fabric having an elastic construction.

6. A dividing device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the elastic material is in the form of a flat tape.

7. A dividing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic material is able to stretch by between 30 per oent and 150 per cent of its unstretched length.

8. A dividing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elastic material is able to stretch by between 50 per cent and 100 per cent of its ulstretched length.

9. A dividing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the indicators are printed upon one or both surfaces of the device.

10. A dividing device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, Wherein the elastic material is a fabric and the indicators are woven into the fabric.

11. A dividing device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the indicators are studded eyelets.

12. A dividing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompany drawings

12. A dividing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacing between adjacent indicators lies within the range fram 5 to 200run.

13. A dividing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the indicators are numbered consecutively fray one end of the device.

14. A dividing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A dividing device which comprises a length of an elastic woven or knitted fabric having a plurality of indicators distributed uniformly along its length.

2. A dividing device as claimed in claim I, wherein the elastic fabric comprises crimped filaments.

3. A dividing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elasticity of the fabric lies in its constructicn.

4. A dividing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in the form of a flat tape.

5. A dividing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic fabric is able to stretch by between 30 Fer cent and 150 per cent of its unstretched length.

6. A dividing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elastic fabric is able to stretch by between 50 per cent and 100 per cent of its unstretched length.

7. A dividing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the indicators are printed upon one or both surfaces of the device.

8. A dividing device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the iddicators are woven into the fabric.

9. A dividing device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the indicators are studded eyelets 10. A dividing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacing between adjacent indicators lies within the range fran 5 to 200 urn.

11. A dividing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the indicators are numbered consecutively fram one end of the device.