GB2218205A

GB2218205A - Device for defining a profile

Info

Publication number: GB2218205A
Application number: GB8810776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Samuel Rose
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-05-06
Filing date: 1988-05-06
Publication date: 1989-11-08
Also published as: GB8810776D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a device 1 for defining a desired profile by being placed against an existing structure to reproduce the profile of that structure for replacement purposes, e.g. in the manufacture of replacement windows for existing bay windows, and which comprises a number of elongate members 2, 3 and 4 each pivotally connected at each end thereof to an adjacent elongate member such that the angle between adjacent members can be adjusted, and locking means is provided for locking adjacent members in any desired relative angular orientation. The elongate members may be extendable 10, 11, 20, 21. Linear and angular scales may be provided, and the device may include a spirit level 22. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR DEFINING A PROFILE The present invention relates to a device for defining any desired profile.

In the construction industry and engineering trades it is often necessary to reproduce the profile of an object having a number of straight sides which intersect each other at various different angles. It is also occasionally required to define a particular profile to a customer's own requirements, for example when planning a structure which is to be built.

Current methods involve the manufacture of costly patterns and jigs, and it is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide a much simpler and cheaper device for this purpose.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for defining a desired profile, the device comprising a plurality of elongate members, each member being pivotally connected at each end thereof to an adjacent elongate member such that the angle between adjacent members can be adjusted, and means for locking adjacent members in any desired relative angular orientation.

Preferably, at least some of the elongate members are adjustable in length so that the distance between the two pivot points of the member can be varied.

This may conveniently be achieved by making each member in two pieces each having slots running along the longitudinal axis of the member with one of the pieces being arranged to overlap and slide over the other piece with the respective slots aligned. Locking means are preferably provided which pass through both slots and can be tightened up to prevent one of the pieces from sliding relative to the other piece or loosened to allow one of the pieces to slide longitudinally relative to the other piece.

The locking means for locking two adjacent members in a particular relative angular orientation preferably takes the form of a threaded bolt which passes through both members to form the pivot axis, and a wing nut which is screwed down over the bolt against one of the members to prevent relative pivotting between the two members.

Alternatively a simple screw fixing could be used.

It is envisaged that the device will be used for placing against an existing structure to reproduce the profile of that structure for replacement purposes. One example of this would be the manufacture of replacement windows for existing bay windows. In such an application, each member would be adjusted in length and then locked to the correct length for the individual sections of the bay, and the angles between the adjacent members would similarly be adjusted and locked to match the angles defined by adjacent sections of the bay.

Once the device has been correctly adjusted and the locking means tightened, it may then be used as a guide for the manufacture of a replacement window, or alternatively detailed measurements may be taken from the device from which a working drawing or plan can be produced.

To enable measurements to be made easily from the device, each member preferably includes markings along at least a part of its edge to enable the distance between the two pivot points of the member to be read off. Also, the end of each member bears radial markings in the form of a 3600 protractor, so that the angle between adjacent sections can easily be read.

It should be appreciated that the device is not limited to this single application however, and can be used simply to define any desired profile, for example to define the line of a wall or other structure to be built.

Conveniently, a spirit level may be incorporated in to one of the members so that the user can check to see that the device is kept in the desired plane.

An embodiment of the present invention will now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of part of a device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a number of similar elongate members of which three, designated 2,3 and 4, are illustrated.

Each member is pivotally mounted at each end to an adjacent member at pivot points 5,6 such that each member can pivot freely through almost 3600 relative to its neighbouring member. The desired angular orientation of adjacent members 3,4 is maintained by a bolt 7 which passes through both members 3,4 and a wing nut 8 which is screwed down over bolt 7 against washer 9. Instead of the bolt and wing nut, a screw could be used.

At least some of the members are in a two piece configuration, a lower piece 3a and an upper piece 3b arranged such that the other piece 3b slides relative to the lower piece 3a. The two pieces are held together by means of bolt and wing nut arrangements 10,11 or equivalent locking means, which pass through align slots 20,21 in the two pieces.

By loosening the nuts and bolts 10,11, the length between pivot points 5,6 can be adjusted, and by tightening nuts and bolts 10,11 the desired length can be maintained.

The upper surface of at least some of the members include angular markings 12 in the form of a 3600 protractor so that the angle between adjacent members can be read off.

Also, at least one of the two pieces 3a,3b have markings 13 along the edge to enable the distance between pivot points 5,6 to be read.

For accurate measuring, the basic length L between pivot points 5,6 is defined as a distance between two lines drawn through the pivot points and intersecting the elongate axis of the member at right angles. In use, as adjacent members are pivotted relative to each other, the actual length measured along the external face increases by the sum of the two arcs 11,12 through which pivotting has occurred. At the same time, the actual length on the internal face decreases by the same amount, so that the actual length is equal to L plus 11 plus 12 for the external face and L minus 11 minus 12 for the internal face.

Not all of the members need be manufactured in a two piece arrangement, and typically the first and last members of the device would be simply formed in a single unslotted piece. One or more of the members may include a spirit level 22 to ensure that the device is kept in the desired plane during its use.

Claims

1. A device for defining a desired profile, the device comprising a plurality of elongate members, each member being pivotally connected at each end thereof to an adjacent elongate member such that the angle between adjacent members can be adjusted, and means for locking adjacent members in any desired relative angular orientation.

2. A device according to Claim 1, in which at least some of the elongate members are adjustable in length so that the distance between the two pivot points of the member can be varied.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which each member is made in two pieces, each piece having slots running along the longitudinal axis of the member with one of the pieces being arranged to overlap and slide over the other piece with the respective slots aligned.

4. A device according to Claim 3, in which locking means are provided which pass through both slots and which can be tightened up to prevent one of the pieces from sliding relative to the other piece or loosened to allow one of the pieces to slide longitudinally relative to the other piece.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the locking means for locking two adjacent members in a particular relative angular orientation takes the form of a threaded bolt which passes through both members to form the pivot axis, and a wing nut which is screwed down over the bolt against one of the members to prevent relative pivoting between the two members.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the locking means for locking two adjacent members in a particular relative angular orientation comprises a simple screw fixing.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which each member includes marking along at least a part of its edge to enable the distance between the two pivot points of the member to be read off.

8. A device according to Claim 7, in which the end of each member bears radial markings in the form of a 360 degree protractor, so that the angle between adjacent sections can be read.

9. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which a spirit level is incorporated in one of said members so that the user can check to see that the device is kept rn a desired plane.

10. A device according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.