GB2498186A

GB2498186A - Tool for marking out lines and spacing in construction work

Info

Publication number: GB2498186A
Application number: GB1200025.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Madden
Original assignee: DEANIE ROWLEY
Current assignee: DEANIE ROWLEY
Priority date: 2012-01-03
Filing date: 2012-01-03
Publication date: 2013-07-10
Also published as: GB201200025D0

Abstract

A marking tool is provided for transferring regularly spaced deposits of a marking medium, such as chalk, to a surface to be marked. The marking tool comprises: a dispenser body 1; a reel 2 wound with an inelastic line 3; regularly spaced marker carriers 4; and a reservoir 6 for the marking medium. When the line 3 is unwound from the reel 2 to extend from the dispenser body 1, the marking mediÂum is transferred from the reservoir 6 to the marker carriers 4. A resiliently-mounted clamping device 9-15 enÂgages and clamps the line 3 to prevent further unwinding thereof from the reel. The extended line held taut against a surface to be marked is deflected and then released causing the marker carriers 4 to snap against the surface thereby depositing the marking medium. The line 3 may be a wire such as a twisted strand wire. The marker carriers 4 may comprise bodies of absorbent fibres secured in or on the line 3. The reel 2 may be provided with a rewind mechanism. The clamping device may be carried on elastic members mounted within the body 1.

Description

CONSTRUCTION MARKING TOOL

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a tool for use in marking out lines and spacing in construction work.

Background to the Invention

The use of plumb lines is well-known for marking vertical lines. By apply-ing chalk dust to the line, an accurate vertical line can be marked by snapping the line against a vertical surface to deposit chalk from the line on to the sur-face, thus avoiding the need to mark separately with a pencil or the like. While it is possible to use a line for marking horizontal lines, for example across a ceil-ing, in practice this is difficult, because holding the line in the correct position while tensioning it, and then marking the line cannot be done by one person, and if it is necessary to mark accurate intervals along the lone, for example joist centres, this requires a separate stage and the use of a tape measure or the like.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a construction marking tool comprising a dispenser body having mounted therein: a reel wound with an inelastic line provided with regularly-spaced marker carriers therealong adapted to carry a marking medium; a reservoir for the marking medium configured such that, when the line is unwound from the reel to extend from the dispenser body, marking medium is transferred from the reservoir to the marker carriers; and a resiliently-mounted clamping device selectively operable to engage and clamp the line to prevent further unwinding thereof from the reel, the resilient mounting of the clamping device being such as to permit the extended line, while held taut against a surface to be marked, to be deflected and then re- leased, thereby causing the marker carriers to snap against the surface, trans-ferring regularly-spaced deposits of the marking medium to the surface in a straight line.

Preferably, the marker carriers comprise bodies of absorbent fibres se- cured in or on the line. For example, the line may be a wire, and more prefera-bly a twisted-strand wire, and the carriers may then be held between the twisted strands.

The marking medium is suitably a powder, for example chalk, although it would be possible to use an ink or dye, possibly in gel form.

The reel may be provided with a re-wind mechanism, for example com-prising a spring which is tensioned as the line is unwound from the reel.

The clamping device may be carried on elongate elastic members mounted within the body.

The marking tool of the invention is simple to use, and permits accurate marking of spaced centres by two people, and even permits single-handed use where the free end of the line can be temporarily anchored.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the inven-tion: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the tool; and Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation on line A-A in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

The tool has a moulded body 1 containing a conventional spring rewind-ing mechanism (not shown) of the type used in steel tape measures, on which is detachably mounted a reel 2 wound with a steel wire 3 having at predeter-mined intervals therealong cotton balls or pads 4 for marking out joist centres at 400mm, for example. It will be appreciated that different spacings can be pro-vided for by replacing one reel with another. The wire is guided by a roller 5 and through a reservoir 6 containing powdered chalk and guide rollers 7 and 8 which are caused to rotate as each pad 4 passes between them, thereby trans-ferring chalk on to the pad. The reservoir 6 may be configured to be re-tillable when empty, or to be replaced with a new reservoir.

The wire passes from the reservoir between a pair of clamping members 9 and 10, each of which is mounted on a pair of resiliently flexible arms 11 and 12. The lower pad 10 carries a push button 13 via a stem 14 which extends through a slot 15 in the body 1. Pressing the push button 13 causes the clamp-ing members 9 and 10 to clamp the wire 3 between them. Latching means (not shown) may be provided to hold the clamping members firmly together until re-leased by the user. The flexible arms 11 and 12 are mounted at their ends on a respective elastic member 16 or 17 extending in a slot 18 or 19 in the wall of the body 1. The elastic members thus allow limited elastic movement of the clamp-ing members longitudinally of the body 1, when clamped. This permits the wire to be held taut and to be pulled away by a short distance from the surface against which it is extended and then released to snap the pads, coated in chalk powder, against the surface to provide a series of accurately spaced marks on the surface, extending in a straight line.

The end of the wire 3 is suitable provided with a tab or hook to permit it to be manipulated conveniently, and in particular held in position while the wire is extended.

While the tool may conveniently incorporate a spring winding mecha- nism, it will be appreciated that, as an alternative, a manual winder may be pro-vided.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A construction marking tool comprising a dispenser body having mounted therein: a reel wound with an inelastic line provided with regularly-spaced marker carriers therealong adapted to carry a marking medium; a reservoir for the marking medium configured such that, when the line is unwound from the reel to extend from the dispenser body, marking medium is transferred from the reservoir to the marker carriers; and a resiliently-mounted clamping device selectively operable to engage and clamp the line to prevent further unwinding thereof from the reel, the resilient mounting of the clamping device being such as to permit the extended line, while held taut against a surface to be marked, to be deflected and then re- leased, thereby causing the marker carriers to snap against the surface, trans-ferring regularly-spaced deposits of the marking medium to the surface in a straight line.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A tool according to Claim 1, wherein the marker carriers comprise bodies of absorbent fibres secured in or on the line.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A tool according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the line is a wire.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A tool according to Claim 3, wherein the wire is a twisted-strand wire.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the marking me-dium is a powder.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A tool according to Claim 5, wherein the powder is chalk.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the reel is pro-vided with a re-wind mechanism.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A tool according to Claim 8, wherein the rewind mechanism com-prises a spring which is tensioned as the line is unwound from the reel.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamping de-vice is carried on elongate elastic members mounted within the body.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A construction marking tool, substantially as described with refer-ence to, and/or as shown in, the drawings.</claim-text>