US2182027A

US2182027A - Ruler

Info

Publication number: US2182027A
Application number: US62144A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles H Little
Original assignee: CHARLES HUBBARD LITTLE
Current assignee: CHARLES HUBBARD LITTLE
Priority date: 1936-02-03
Filing date: 1936-02-03
Publication date: 1939-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1956-12-05
Also published as: FR835970A; US2182028A; GB495010A; US2247157A; DE707834C

Description

Dec. 5, 1939.lc, H. LITTLE I 2,182,027

RULER Filed Feb. 3,- 1956 mmm , '7.5 7 F/G. 2 /=/G.l 3 op g? 561.4 FG' 5 INVENTOR. CHARLES H f7-71E M140@ fsm ma AT TORNEYSW n iPatented Dec. 5, 1939 signor of one-tenth to Charles Hubbard Little, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application February 3, 1936, semi No. 62,144

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to drafting devices or instruments employed. in drafting, and more particularly to a drafting ruler, either scale or straight edge.

Numerous attempts have been made in the past, as evidenced by my own prior art patents and otherwise, to produce a stiff, durable, light, easily readable ruler for drafting purposes which would not warp and which would be otherwise satisfactory. At a very great expense I have made hundreds of experimental rulers from Celluloid, various kinds of Wood treated in numerous ways, different metals and alloys, specially drawn tubing or bars, and various kinds of stampings. In addition thereto, I have made numerous compound rulers comprising metallic and non-metallic coresencased or enclosed in Celluloid, etc". But prior to the present inven- Ifion neither I nor others working along the same 20 line have been able to produce an entirely satisfactory drafting ruler embodying the aforesaid advantages. l

An object ofthe present invention is the provision of a novel drafting device or ruler which will be light, stiff, durable, and easily readable in t'ne event graduations are marked thereon, which will not warp, and which will be otherwise satisfactory for the purpose intended.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel drafting device or ruler comprising a metal body having edge strips formed of a plastic molded thereon and mechanically interlocked therewith.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention'will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a drafting device or ruler embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the ruler in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive are views similar to Fig.'

2, each showing a different modified construction of the ruler shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception of Fig. 4a which is an enlarged partial section of the ruler shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 9, 1,1, 13 and 15 are fragmentary perspective views of one end of a drafting device or ruler similar to that shown in Fig. 6, each figure showing a different modified construction thereof.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is asection on the lline I4-I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a section on the line lli- I6 of Fig. 15.

The drafting ruler A shown in Fig.A 1 is of the type ordinarily referred to as a drafting scale and is especially adapted for use with drafting machines of the type shown in either of my United States Patents No. 1,909,289 or 1,909,291. Theparallel or 'ruling edges of the scale are beveled as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and provided with suitable graduations, etc. Provision is made for chucking the device to the chuck or ruler supporting arm of a drafting machine, by providing opposite rends thereof with chucks I0 adjustably secured thereto as by screws Il. The two chucks shown permit the ruler to be reversed, that is, either end may be chucked to the chuck-arm of the drafting machine, as is the usual practice.

The chucks are preferably made of duralumin 20 and given an oxide coating by a well known elec- `trolytic process which gives the surface a coating that is free from glare and has a pleasing appearance-and which will not soil the v,drawing paper or surface.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the drafting device or ruler A is made entirely of a polymerization product of a vinyl compound, such as vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, or vinyl benzine. These plastics have characteristics which adapt them peculiarly to the present use Rulers made therefrom do not shrink or warp, are light in Weight, durable, and easy to clean. The vinyl acetate is permanently nearly Water white and when the ruler is made therefrom the edges can be readily made transparent, in which event the graduations, if employed, may be placed on the under side. Commercially known plastics sold under the trade names Vinolyte, Vietro, Galva, etc., which are for the most part polymerization products of vinyl compounds, are suitable for the present Aio ' 1f .gi-'eatersunness ie desired in the drafting ruler or. device it can be obtained by providing the same with a metal core. Such a construction is'shown'in- Fig. 3 which shows a drafting ruler designated enerally by the reference .char- I be made in one piece, as shown, or comprises a plurality of pieces or members.

` Instead of the entire ruler -being made ofthe vinyl compound as illustrated in Fig. 1, or provided with a core as illustrated in Fig. 3, it may comprise a metal body, preferably duralumin, provided .with edge "stripslpreierably made of a polymerization product of a vinyl compound 'molded thereto. In this event the ruler is prei?-v erably so constructed that there is a mechanical interlock between the edge strip or strips and thev metal body. Fig. 4 shows a ruler designated generally by the reference character C comprising edge strips I6 and I1 formed of a plastic and molded in position on the beveled edges of the body portion I8 and interlocked therewith by a plurality of rectangular tongues or projections I9 and 20 at right angles to each other formed integral with the edge. strip and'engaging within suitable grooves in the upper side of the ruler body, anda tongue 2| also on the edge strip which projects inwardly and upwardly into an inclined groove in the underside vof the body portion I8. The aforesaid construction provides a mechanical interlock between the ruler b ody and the edge strips so as to prevent movement in a number 'of directions.

Fig. 5 shows a ruler D wherein the edge strips 23 and 24 are connected to theruler body 25 by a single dovetail tongue and groove supplemented. by a rectangular tongue and groove adjacent the ruling edge of the plastic edge strip. The body portion 25 has achannel formed in the underside thereof for the purpose of reducing the weight of the ruler. Fig.. 6 shows a ruler E wherein the edge strips 26 and 21 are connected to the`ruler body 28V by a Aplurality of dovetail grooves. As shown in Fig. 7 the entire beveled portions of the ruler F are made of edge strips 30 and 3| likewise formed of a plasticA and me- I chanically interlocked with the ruler body 32 by a single dovetail groove. Fig. 8 shows a ruler G, the construction of which is similar to that shown in Fig. 7 except a straightedge type of ruler is illustrated instead of the scale type shown in the other'gures.

In the foregoing figures the mechanical interlock between the edge strips and the body portion consist ofv tongues `and grooves running longitudinally of the ruler, thereby holding-the strips. against movement particularly crossw'ise ofthe ruler body, but it will be apparent that other forms of mechanical interlock can be employed either alone or to supplement those shown. Figs. 9 and 10 show a ruler H` similar in construction to the ruler E shown in Fig. 6, except that the body of the' rulerisV provided with two transverse dovetail slots 36 adjacent the ends of the ruler in addition to the longitudinally extending slots, thereby positively holding the strips against lengthwise movement. If desired the longitudinal slots may be omitted entirely and transverse slots employed alone. They may be formed along the entire length of the ruler rather than at the ends only, as shown.

i Another method of securing the edge Empa' tothe beveled parts of the niler body is by riveting the same thereto, either with orwihout the addition of vother means forfmechanically interlocking the parts. Figs. 11 andv12 show a ruler I, the edge strips 4l and 4I of which are riveted to the beveled edges of the ruler body by metal rivets 42 located adjacent the ends of the ruler. As shown, the rivets 42 are supplemented by a mechanical interlock similar vto that shown Y in Fig. 6.. In some instances it may be desirable to have the heads of the rivets embedded in the edge strip as shown'in Figs. 13 and 14, wherein the ruler is designated generally by the reference character J, and' the rivets, the upper ends of which are-embedded in the

edge strips

43 and 44, by the reference character 45.

A still further modified construction is shown' in Figs. 15 and 16. The ruler K shown in these figures is similar in construction. to that shown in Fig. 6 except that the mechanical interlock shown in Fig. 6 -is supplemented by projections .46 formed integral with the edge strips 41 and 48 adjacent the ends thereof, which projections extend into holes in 'the beveled edges 'of the ruler body. The'holes are counterbored or beveled from the Vbottom and the result is a rivet formed integralwith the edge strips. .It will be understood that, inthe present instance as well as in themodiflcations illustrated in Figs. 11 and 13, rivets may b e employed throughout the en- In the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and

9 to 16, the edges of the ruler bodies extend .or project to some extent underneath the edge strips. .This construction gives added support to the .edge strip and protects the under metal surface of the body portion therebetween, but is not Asuitable when it is desired to employ transparent edge strips having graduations on the under surface. Inthe latter event the construction shown in Figs. '7 vand 8 is preferred.

The edge strips which are made of a plastic are A,with all formscf my invention applied to the ruler bodiesv by molding under heat and pres,- sure, and as previously stated, the graduations can be simultaneouslyf molded therein during their formation. During the molding operation the plastic flows into the interlock grooves, etc. in the ruler body and becomes cemented thereto forming a strong mechanical connection therebetween. d Y l From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention it will be apparent 'that the objects heretofore enumerated have been accomplished, and that a novel drafting ruler has been,V provided. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, I do not wish to be limited to the construction shown which may be varied within the scope of this invention.

It is my intention to cover all variations, adapta'- tions and uses thereof that come within the' mismos? 3 body having a top beveled edge portion tapering of said edge strip engaging within the groove on v outwardly and provided with grooves in the upper the upper side of said beveled edge portion, and

and the lower sides thereof, s V-shaped edge a tongue on the upper side of the under prong strip engaging around said beveled edge portion of said edge strip engaging within the groove on 5 and formed from a plastic molded in position, the underside of said beveled edge portion.

a tongue on the underside oi the upper prong CHARLES H. LITTLE.