GB2282888A - Measuring ruler - Google Patents

Abstract

A measuring ruler has an elongate body divided into two strips 4, 5 by a central slot 7. A common scale is marked on both strips for ease of viewing. Alternatively, separate scales, to be read from the same end of the body, are marked on respective ones of the strips. <IMAGE>

Description

MEASURING INSTRUMENT The invention relates to a measuring instrument, such as a measuring ruler, a protractor, a thermometer or a weighing device having an elongate scale, the scale having numbered graduation lines extending perpendicularly to the length of the scale. In the case of a ruler or protractor, linear or angular measurements are made from a datum. In the case of a thermometer or weighing device, the mercury meniscus or pointer may move along the scale to stop opposite to a value to be read off the scale. While there is sufficient room for each of the graduation lines corresponding to integral numbers of centimetres, inches, degrees, kilograms, pounds, etc. to be numbered, difficulty arises with the graduation lines and their numbering for the sub units, such as millimetres, tenths of an inch or of a degree, grams, ounces, etc.Excellent vision is required to discriminate between closely spaced sub unit graduation lines and the separation between adjacent sub unit graduation lines is so small that either their numbering is so small as to be very difficult to read, or only some of the lines are numbered, which can lead to confusion and mistakes.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a measuring instrument comprises a body divided by an elongate slot into two side by side parts each having an inner edge adjacent to the slot; and a common elongate scale for making measurements in a direction parallel to the length of the slot, the scale having numbered graduation lines extending perpendicularly to the length of the slot and being marked on the two side parts so that a majority of adjacent numbered graduation lines in the scale are on different ones of the side parts.

With this arrangement, the numbered graduation lines of one part of the scale are to be found on one of the side parts of the body while the intervening numbered graduation lines are to be found on the other side part of the body.

Numbered graduation lines corresponding to full units, such as centimetres, inches, degrees, kilograms, and pounds may be marked on both side parts of the body, the alternating numbered graduation lines appearing on respective ones of the ruler side parts, representing sub units such as millimetres, etc. This separation ensures there is twice the width otherwise available to accommodate the sub unit graduation lines and their numbers, making reading of the scale much easier.

The visual discrimination of the numbered graduation lines may be improved if the numbers on each side part of the body are arranged in at least two rows extending along the slot, the numbers of a majority of the adjacent numbered graduation lines, for example substantially all of the adjacent sub unit graduation lines, on that side part, being in different rows.

The invention is particularly useful when applied to a measuring ruler of the kind comprising an elongate, substantially flat body having the scale for making measurements in the direction parallel to the length of the body. The side parts of the body are then two side by side strips. The graduation lines on at least one of the strips then preferably run from the inner edge of that strip i.e.

adjacent to the slot.

The graduation lines on the other strip may terminate at the inner edge of that strip, in which case the two parts of the scale will be closely adjacent to one other across the slot to enable a measurement to be taken along the slot at one or other side of the slot. Alternatively, the numbered graduation lines on the other strip may terminate at the outer edge of that strip, in which case the ruler may be used seen with its length horizontal and that outer edge of the other strip uppermost, in which case measurements along different parts of the scale may be readily taken along the upper edge, forming the outer edge, of the upper strip, and the upper edge, forming the inner edge, of the lower strip. Both alternatives can be accommodated if the numbered graduations lines extend to both edges of each strip.

In all cases, the numbers may be arranged in respective rows extending along the length of the body, with the numbers oriented such that when they are read upright, the sides of the numbers face along the respective row. However for thermometers, weighing devices such as fish scales and in some cases rulers, it may be useful if the numbers are oriented such that when they are read upright, the sides of the numbers face transversely to the respective row.

It is common for measuring rulers to be provided with a scale in inches along one edge and a scale in centimetres along the other edge. However, the scales start from opposite ends of the ruler body and the ruler has to be turned around through 1800 when changing over from reading a linear measurement in inches and centimetres.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a measuring ruler comprises a substantially flat body divided by an elongate slot into two side parts each having an inner edge adjacent to the slot, each side part being marked with a separate elongate scale for making measurements in a direction parallel to the length of the slot, each scale having numbered graduation lines extending perpendicularly to the length of the slot, and the graduation lines of at least one of the scales running from the inner edge of that side part, and the numbering of both scales increasing from datum positions adjacent at the same end of the slot.

With this arrangement distance can be measured in the different units of the two scales, for example in inches or centimetres, without turning the ruler around through 1800.

If the graduation lines of both scales terminate at the inner edge of the respective side part, all that is necessary in moving from one scale to the other is to align the two points between which the measurement is being made along one or other edges of the slot. Alternatively, if the graduation lines of the other scale terminate at an outer edge of the respective side part remote from the slot, in which case that outer edge will be parallel to the inner edge of the first side part,the ruler can be used with the inner edge of the first side part and the outer edge of the second side part uppermost so that when changing over from measuring on one scale to measuring on the other scale, it is merely necessary to bring the points between which the measurement is being made into alignment with the upper edge of one or other of the side parts.

In either case it is preferred if the numbers of the two scales are similarly oriented, so that all are seen upright in the same orientation of the ruler either as seen with the slot extending horizontally or vertically.

As with the first aspect of the invention, the ruler according to the second aspect of the invention, may benefit from the numbers of at least one of the scales, on the respective side part of the body, being arranged in at least two rows extending alongside the slot, the numbers of the majority of the adjacent numbered graduation lines on that side part being in different rows.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 3 are plan views of centimetre rulers to an enlarged scale; Figure 4 is a plan view of an inch/centimetre ruler to an enlarged scale; and, Figures 5 to 7 show different shapes of slotted instrument body.

As shown in Figure 1, a measuring ruler has an integral body consisting of strips 4 and 5, joined at their ends by bridges 6, thereby leaving a central slot 7. Each strip is marked with graduation lines and a row of numbers representing integral numbers of centimetres. Sub units or millimetres are also marked by graduation lines with corresponding numbers. The graduation lines and the numbers representing 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 millimetres of each centimetre are marked on the strip 5 while the intervening graduation lines and numbers representing 2, 4, 6 and 8 millimetres of each centimetre, are marked on the strip 4.

All the graduation lines extend to both edges of the respective strip so that measurements can be taken along the inner or outer edge of each strip. In taking a measurement between two points, the edge of the strip 4 may be used. If it is found that the distance to be measured terminates between two graduation lines, the measurement can be retaken using an edge of the strip 5 to determine whether one of the intervening millimetres represents a more accurate measurement.

The modification shown in part in Figure 2 differs only from that of Figure 1 in that the graduation lines marked on the strip 4 run from the outer edge of the strip but not beyond the numbers to the inner edge of the strip, whereas those marked on the strip 5 run from the inner edge of that strip but not beyond the numbers to the outer edge.

This is all that is necessary when the ruler is used in the orientation shown in Figure 2 as a measurement may be taken using the upper edge of one or other strip.

The modification shown in part in Figure 3 differs from that Figure 1 only in that the numbers representing millimetres are separated alternatively into two rows extending along the respective strip 4 or 5 thereby providing even less congestion between adjacent numbers.

Figure 4 shows a ruler with a centimetre scale on the strip 4 and an inch scale on the strip 5. In both cases, the graduation lines extend to both the inner and outer edges of the respective strip with the number corresponding to adjacent sub unit graduation lines in different ones of two rows. Both scales are to be read from left to right as seen in Figure 4.

In the Figures, the rows of numbers are oriented such that their sides face along the rows, except at the left hand end of Figure 1, where they are shown rotated through 900.

In the case of a thermometer or weighing device, a meniscus or pointer movable in dependence on the temperature or weight would be arranged to move along the slot 2.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show alternative protractor and ruler body shapes, each with a slot or slots 7, to which the invention may be applied.

Claims (11)

1. A measuring instrument comprising a body divided by an elongate slot into two side parts each having an inner edge adjacent to the slot; and a common elongate scale for making measurements in a direction parallel to the length of the slot, the scale having numbered graduation lines extending perpendicularly to the length of the slot and being marked on the two side parts so that a majority of adjacent numbered graduation lines in the scale are on different ones of the side parts.

2. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein numbered graduation lines corresponding to full units are marked on both side parts of the body, the alternating numbered graduation lines appearing on respective ones of the side parts representing sub units.

3. An instrument ruler according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the numbers on each side part of the body are arranged in at least two rows extending alongside the slot, the numbers of the majority of the adjacent numbered graduation lines on that side part being in different rows.

4. A measuring ruler according to any one of the preceding claims, of the kind comprising an elongate, substantially flat body having the scale for making measurements in the direction parallel to the length of the body, the side parts forming two side by side strips, and the graduation lines on at least one of the strips running from the inner edge of that strip adjacent to the slot.

5. A ruler according to claim 4, wherein the graduation lines of the other strip terminate at the outer edge of that strip.

6. A ruler according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the numbers are arranged in respective rows extending along the length of the ruler body with the numbers orientated such that when they are read upright, the sides of the numbers face along the respective row.

7. A measuring ruler comprising a substantially flat body divided by an elongate slot into two side parts each having an inner edge adjacent to the slot, each side part being marked with a separate elongate scale for making measurements in a direction parallel to the length of the slot, each scale having numbered graduation lines extending perpendicularly to the length of the slot, and the graduation lines of at least one of the scales running from the inner edge of that side part, and the numbering of both scales increasing from datum positions adjacent to the same end of the slot.

8. A ruler according to claim 7, in which the graduation lines of the other scale terminate at an outer edge of the respective side part remote from the slot.

9. A ruler according to claim 7 or claim 8, in which the numbers of the two scales are similarly oriented, so that all are seen upright in the same orientation of the ruler either as seen with the slot extending horizontally or vertically.

10. A ruler according to any one of claims 7 to 9, in which the numbers of at least one of the scales, on the respective side part of the body, are arranged in at least two rows extending alongside the slot, the numbers of the majority of the adjacent numbered graduation lines on that side part being in different rows.

11. A measuring instrument as described with reference to any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.