US2404911A

US2404911A - Mechanic's square

Info

Publication number: US2404911A
Application number: US572293A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer I King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-01-11
Filing date: 1945-01-11
Publication date: 1946-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1963-07-30

Description

July 30, 1946. E. l. KING MEcHANIos SQUARE Filed Jan. 11, 1945 Illl xllllllllllllllLlllllllrhhhltllhll INVENTOR Elm er l. King Patented July 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICS SQUARE Elmer I. King, Jeannette, Pa. Application January 11, 1945, Serial No. 572,293

7 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to tools of the type used by artisans and mechanics and generally known as a universal square.

The conventional universal square comprises a metal straight edge or rule with a groove along one face thereof. There is a slide movable along the rule with right angle and 45 angle faces thereon. This slide is adjustably locked in place in any position to which it may be adjusted along the rule by turning a nut which puts tension on a locking pin, the locking pin having a lug or nib which rides in the groove of the straight edge. When the lug is thus put under tension, it binds in the groove, holding the slide from moving. Sometimes it is desirable to remove the slide entirely from the rule, and if this happens, the locking pin may rotate, moving the lug to a position where it interferes with putting the slide back on the rule.

According to the present invention, a locking device is provided which is much more simple and convenient to operate, simple to manufacture, and the lug on the locking pin may not, under normal conditions, obstruct the application of the slide to the rule, enabling the slide to be removed and applied with no difficulty.

My invention may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tool embodying my invention, parts being broken away to better illustrate it;

Figure 2 is a transverse section in the plane of line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the several parts comprising the novel locking mechanism;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to Figure 1 showing a slight modification; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper part of the locking pin assembly, showing still another modication.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, 2 designates the usual metal rule or straight-edge employed in devices of this kind and 3 is a narrow groove extending along the middle of one edge thereof.

The slide may be made as an integral casting with a base portion. 4, perpendicular arm 5 having a machined face 6 at right angles to the straight-edgel It also has an arm 1 with a machined faceB at a 45 angle to the straightedge. A brace or frame 9 connects the outer ends of the two arms and there is a bubble-level at I9 on the arm 5.

Formed on the base 4 and extending between 2 the two arms 5 and 1 is a boss or projection II with a central bore therethrough. the outer O I upper end of this bore being internally threaded. The base 4 is slotted longitudinally on a mid plane to receive and straddle the rule or straight,- edge 2. The base l is also formed with a borse or counter-sunk opening I2 which forms an enlarged continuation or extension of the hole in the boss II, and this counter-bore is internally threaded. Y

Screwed into the counter-bore I I is a threaded plug i3 that is bifurcated from its ared lower end inwardly toward the other end, the slot I4 therein being of a width to receive and snugly straddle the rule 21 and when the plug I3 is screwed in to its fullest limit this slot I4 is in register with the slit along the base, and its flared lower end is flush with the bottom of base 4.

A pin I5 is slidably received in the plug I 3 and extends up through the boss II. The lower end of the pin I5 has a thin extension I6 thereon with an overhanging lug I'I at its terminal, the lug being entered in groove 3 of the rule and the thin extension I5 iitting against one face of the rule.

Surrounding the pin I5 inside the boss Il .is a relatively stiff coil spring i8, the lower end of this spring resting on the end of the plug I3, which provides an abutment for the spring.

At the top of the post or extension lI is a head or cap element I9 having a downwardly extending tubular extension 20 that is screwed into the top of the post. The top portion rof the cap is bifurcated, providing two ears 2l and the top of the pin I 5 projects through the cap and terminates in the space between these two ears. A transverse pin 22 passing through pin 2| forms an abutment for the upper end of spring I8, so that the spring I8 tends to force the pin upwardly as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. while the inner end of the tubulation on the cap limits such outward movement, and the tubulation may have a transverse groove or notch 20a, at its lower end into which this pin may be projected to hold the main pin I5 from rotation.

Received between the ears, and retained in place by a pivot pin 24 is an operating member 23 having a flat surface isa bearing against the top of pin I5, an operating extension 23h. and a lug 23e that limits the arcuate movement of the lever in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 1) by contacting the cap in the space between the ears 2|.

With the assembly as herein described, the

spring I8 exerts a relatively strong pressure through abutment 22 to urge pin I5 upwardly or outwardly, causing the lug I1 to bind against the upper edge vor the groove 3 in the rule 2, rmly locking the slide against free sliding movement. However, if pressure is applied to lever 22h, tending to rotate it in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 1) thereby depressing pin I5 and releasing the lug Il from binding engagement with the edge of the groove, permitting the slide to move freely along the rule 2. Upon release of the pressure on lever 23h, spring I8 acts to push the pin I5 up and again lock the slide.

If the slide is removed from the rule, cross pin 22 is forced up into notch 25a to hold pin I5 from turning so that when the slide is next put back on the rule, the lug will be in proper position.

The plug I3 is used to facilitate the assembly of the parts as without such a plug, machining and assembly would be more difficult.

After long usage some slight wear may take place between the outer end of the pin and the surface 23a of the operating member. rThis can be compensated for by either of the two arrangements indicated in Figure 4 or 5.

In Figure 4, all of the parts are identied by reference numerals as used in Figures 1 to 3, but ln addition there is shown a set screw 25 in the operating member which has an innner terminal portion projecting through surface 23d to engage the pin, and if Wear develops this pin may be turned down. In this gure operating extension 23h is provided with a button 23d against which the thumb or nger may be pressed.

In Figure 5 the top of the pin I5 is provided with a set screw |59: the head of which bears against the operating member, and if wear develops, operating member 23 is removed, screw I 5a: adjusted, and the operating member then replaced.

While I have shown my invention as applied to one specic form of slide having a right angle arm and a forty-live degree arm, implements of this kind use various other slides with different arm arrangements, and my invention is applicable to all of these.

I claim:

l. In a tool having a rule which is longitudinally grooved and a slide having a face at an angle to the rule characterized by the provision of a locking means on the slide cooperating with the groove in the rule wherein the locking means comprises a pin in the slide movable transversely of the longitudinal axis of the rule, the pin having a terminal portion at one end to engage in the groove, a spring exerting pressure on the pin to move its said terminal into locking engagement With the walls of the groove, said spring and pin constituting the sole locking means for the rule, and means for moving the pin against the pressure of the spring to release the terminal of the pin from such locking engagement.

2. In a tool having a slide member into which a rule is set edgewise with the slide straddling the rule, the rule having a groove along one i'ace thereof, the invention comprising means for adjustably holding the slide and rule against rela- -z' tive movement comprising a pin carried by the slide member movable transversely of the longitudinal axis of the rule, the pin having an extension on its inner end with a lug that is received in the groove and which is adapted to bind against the walls of the groove to hold the slide member movable transversely of the longitudinal axis of the rule, a spring in the slide surrounding the pin for yieldably urging it to a position where said lug is in locking engagement with the groove, the tension of said spring exerting the sole locking force against said rule, and an operating lever at the outer end of the pin for moving the pin against the pressure of the spring to release the lug from locking engagement with the groove.

3. In a tool having a slide member into which a rule is set edgewise with the slide straddling the rule, the rule having a groove along one face thereof, the invention comprising means for ad justably holding the slide and rule against relative movement comprising a pin carried by the slide member movable transversely of the longitudinal axis of the rule, the pin having an extersion on its inner end with a lug that is received in the groove and which is adapted to bind against the walls of the groove to hold the slide against movement, a spring in the slide surrounding the pin for yieldably urging it to a position where said lug is in locking engagement with the groove, the tension of said spring exerting the sole locking force against said rule, and an operating lever at the outer end of the pin for moving the pin against the pressure of the spring to release the lug from locking engagement with the groove, the operating lever being pivotally carried by the slide and having an operating extension thereon.

4. In a tool having a slide member into which a rule is set edgewise with the slide straddling the rule, the rule having a groove along one face thereof, the invention comprising means for adjustably holding the slide and rule against relative movement comprising a pin carried by the slide member movable transversely oi the longitudinal axis of the rule, the pin having an extension on its inner end with a lug that is received in the groove and which is adapted to bind against the walls or" the groove to hold the slide against movement, a spring in the slide surrounding the pin for yieldably urging it to a position where said lug is in locking engagement with the groove, the tension of said spring exerting the sole locking force against said rule, and an operating lever at the outer end of the pin for moving the pin against the pressure of the spring to release the lug from locking engagement with the groove, and adjustable means for compensating for wear between. the lever and the pin.

5. In a tool having a slide member into which a rule is set edgewise with the slide straddling the rule, the rule having a groove along one face thereof, the invention comprising means for adjustably holding the slide and rule against relative movement comprising a pin carried by the slide member movable transversely of the longitudinal axis of the rule, the pin having an extension on its inner end with` a lng that is rei ceived in the groove and which is adapted to bind against the walls of the groove to hold the slide against movement, a spring in the slide surrounding the pin for yieldably urging it to a position where said lug is in locking engagement with the groove, the tension of said spring exerting the sole locking force against said rule, and an operating lever` at the outer end of the pin for moving the pin against the pressure ci the spring to release the lug from locking engagement with the groove, and means for holding the pin against rotation.

6. A slide for universal squares andthe like comprising a base which is slotted to set edgewise of a straight edge, a plug screwed transversely into the base of the slide and Which is slotted to also straddle the straight edge, the slot in the plug and in the base of the slide being continuous, a boss on the base and having a hole'therein in alignment with the plug, a cap member on the boss, a pin passing through the plug, boss and cap member, the pin having a reduced extension at its inner end with a lug for engaging a groove in the straight edge, a spring around the pin having one end abutting against the plug, an abutment on the pin against which the other end of the spring bears, said spring exerting the sole locking force against said straight edge, and a lever on the cap bearing against the top of the pin for moving the pin axially in opposition to the spring.

'7. A slide for universal squares and the like comprising a base which is slotted to set edge- Wise of a straight edge, a plug screwed transversely into the base of the slide and which is slotted to also straddle the straight edge, the slot in the plug and in the base of the slide being continuous, a boss on the base and having a hole therein in alignment with the plug, a cap member on the boss, a pin passing through the plug, boss and cap member, the pin havingv a reduced extension at its inner end With a lug for engaging a groove in the straight edge, a spring around the pin having one end abutting against the plug, said spring exerting the sole locking force against said straight edge, an abutment on the pin against which the other end of the spring bears, and a lever on the cap bearing against the top of the pin for moving the pin axially in opposition to the spring, the abutment on the pin and the cap being intertted to restrain the pin from rotation.

ELMER I. KING.