US2786274A

US2786274A - early

Info

Publication number: US2786274A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1957-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 1974-03-26

Description

March 26, 1957 w, F, EARLY 2,786,274

SCRIBING TOOL Filed Oct. 19, 1955 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. EARLY ATTORNEY United States Patent SCRIBING TOOL William F. Early, Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 19, 1955, Serial No. 541,335

3 Claims. (Cl. 33-41) This invention relates to a scribing tool and more particularly to a combined tool for line and pattern scribing.

The invention finds particular usefulness in the installation of floor and wall coverings, countertop and sink coverings, and the like. With the advent of widespread installation of surface coverings by home mechanics, a need has developed for a relatively simple and low-cost scribing tool, for the home mechanic is not generally sufiiciently skilled in the field of installation to properly use the precision type scribing tools provided for the trained installation mechanic. Also, the home mechanic has relatively little need for a scribing tool, his efforts usually being limited to one or two noncomplicated installations which would not justify the expense of a precision unit.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a simple scribing unit with a minimum number of parts which may be produced at low cost and which will be simple and easy to operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a single tool line and pattern scribers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a scriber which includes a divider portion adapted for pattern scribing and a dual-point-of-contact guide for line scribing of arcuate surfaces.

An additional object is to provide a scriber which when held in one position may be used as a divider in pattern scribing and when held in another position may be used as a guide in line scribing without injuring or defacing the surface against which the scriber is placed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable scriber with a combined scribing point and clamping arrangement which will permit ready adjusting and positioning of the scribing point, without the use of any tools.

The invention is illustrated in the attached drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view partly in section, illustrating the scriber of the present invention in use in a line scribing operation;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the scribing tool shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the scribing tool used in scribing a pattern;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the scribing tool employing the pattern of Figure 3 and transferring the scribed line to a section of surface covering;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the scriber taken along the line 55 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 illustrating the line scribing of a curved surface with a dual-point-ofcontact guide.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the scribing tool cornprises a body member 2 which is preferably made from a metal stamping. A projection 3 is formed on one end of the body 2 and terminates in a rounded point 4 for engagement with a surface to be followed in line scribing. This is called a tracing point. A bifurcated projection 5 is provided on the other end of the body member 2 and terminates in a pair of spaced fixed points 6 and 7. These are called divider points.

The body member 2 is provided with a central slot 8 which extends throughout substantially the whole length of the body portion. The slot 8 is provided to receive scribe 9. A clamping plate 10 is provided which is screwthreaded to receive the scribe 9. The scribe 9 is in the form of a winged screw having a finger engaging portion 11, a central screw-threaded shank portion 12, and a clamping flange 13. The member terminates in a point 14. This is called a scribing point.

The clamping plate 10 is preferably provided with

flanges

15 and 16 disposed to engage the opposite

parallel edges

17 and 18 of the body member 2 to prevent any lateral movement of the scribe when it is clamped in its adjusted position.

In use of the scribing tool in line scribing, as illustrated in Figure 1, the central portion of the body member 2 is grasped by the workman, and the tracing point 4 is brought into engagement with the surface against which the covering is to be fitted. In Figure 1, a wall 19 which projects vertically from the floor 20 has secured to it a door frame trim member 21 of curved outline at its base where the frame member 21 abuts against the floor 20. The flooring material 22 which is to be installed so as to fit closely around the frame member 21 and against the wall 19 is positioned on the floor 2i), and the scribe 9 is clamped in the desired position on the body member 2. The tool is held in a substantially horizontal position with the tracing point 4 engaging the surface to be traced and the scribing point 14 pressed into engagement with the upper surface of the flooring material 22. The mechanic then moves the scribing tool along the surface to be traced and scribes a line 23 on the surface of the covering 22 corresponding to the outline of the frame member 21, as in dicated in Figure 1. The mechanic then trims the covering material 22 along the scribed line and then positions it around the frame member 21. In many instances, the covering will be adhesively secured in such position.

The foregoing type of scribing is known as line scribing, for a line is traced on the surface covering corresponding to the outline of the room projections against which the covering is to be fitted. In Figures 3 and 4, pattern scribing is illustrated. In Figure 3, the floor has been indicated by the numeral 24 and an upstanding projection in the form of a column of curved outline has been indicated at 25. In this embodiment a layer of cushioning felt 26 is to be installed on the floor 24 and a linoleum or similar flooring material 27 is to be adhesively secured to the cushioning felt. In this type of installation, the cushioning felt may be cut roughly to the outline of the room projections, as the column 25 in Figure 3 and is used as a pattern from which a line may be scribed on the surface covering to closley fit the contour of the room projections. In pattern scribing, the scribing tool will be grasped by the workman in the body portion 2 and will be held in a generally vertical position as contrasted with the horizontal position shown in Figure 1. The divider points will be used. The mechanic will bring the point 6 into engagement with the projection 25 and the point 7 into engagement with the felt sheet 26. He will tilt the scribing unit slightly so that the edge of the point 7 will form a sharp projection which will scribe a line 28 on the surface of the felt sheet 26.

After the line 28 has been scribed, the piece of felt 26 will be laid on the surface of the linoleum sheet 27 (Figure 4) to be installed over the felt, the felt sheet 26 now serving as a pattern. The mechanic will grasp the scribing tool in the body portion 2 and will bring the point 7 into position on the line 28. The line 28 will be followed, with the scribing tool so positioned that the point 6 is in scribing relationship with the surface of the linoleum 27, and a line 29 will be scribed which will exactly correspond to the outline of the projection 25. The mechanic, upon severing the linoleum 27 along the line 29, will then be prepared to cement the felt 26 to the floor 24 and then cement the linoleum 27 to the felt 26 with the linoleum properly engaging the projection 25.

It is obvious, of course, that instead of using the cushioning felt as a pattern, a separate piece of pattern paper or the like may be used", but where the installation is to be made with a felt underlayment, the simplest procedure, of course, is to use the felt as a pattern.

Figure 6 illustrates the use of the scribing device in line scribing where the floor 30 has a column 31 or the like projecting thereabove. With arcuate surfaces such as the column 31, it is difficult to properly line scribe with the tracing point 4 in the manner described in connection with Figure 1, for it is practically impossible to maintain proper radial alignment of the tool as scribing proceeds around such a curved surface. In this case, the divider points 6 and 7 are brought into engagement with the curved surface 31 and serve as a dual-point-of-contact guide, insuring proper radial alignment of the tool as the line scribing proceeds. The operation is generally the same as in line scribing with the tracing point as discussed above in connection with Figure l, the tool being disposed in a horizontal position with the scribing point 14 pressed into engagement with the surface of the flooring material 32 which is to be fitted around the column 31. The line 33 which is scribed will correspond exactly to the contour of the column; and when the mechanic severs the flooring 32 along the line 33, the flooring may be secured in position with the severed edge lying in good close contact with the column 31.

It will be clear from examination of Figures 1 and 2 that when the divider points are positioned as shown in Figure 6 they will not scratch or mar the surface of the column 31, for it is necessary to tilt the tool as shown in Figures 3 and 4 to present a sharp edge for scribing.

The scribing tool is simple to use and is as accurate and as universal as necessary for the average installation which the home mechanic may be expected to undertake successfully.

I claim:

1. A scribing tool for line and pattern scribing comprising an elongated fiat body member provided with a longitudinally extending slot therein, said body member providing a central portion for digital engagement, a projection on one end of said body portion terminating in a point for engagement with a surface to be followed in line scribing, a bifurcated projection on the other end of said body portion terminating in a pair of spaced, fixed scribing points for pattern scribing and for engagement with curved surfaces in line scribing, a clamping member engageable with the under surface of said body member and slidable along the length of said body member, said clamping member having a screw-threaded opening therein, and a combined scribing point and fastening member threaded into said clamping member and engageable with the upper surface of said body member to fix said scribing point in adjusted position with respect to the projections on the ends of said body member in line scribing.

2. A scribing tool in accordance with claim 1 in which the clamping member is provided with laterally directed flanges engageable with said body member along the longitudinal edges thereof.

3. A scribing tool in accordance with claim 2 in which the combined scribing point and fastening member is in v the form of a screw-threaded bolt having a scribing point at one end thereof and a flanged wing portion on the other end thereof providing a member for digital engagement and a surface for clamping engagement with the body member when the threaded portion thereof is received within said clamping member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,576,800 Tibony Mar. 16, 1926 2,104,515 Golden Jan. 4, 1938 2,274,727 Neiss et a1 Mar. 3, 1942 2,541,808 Cahill et a1 Feb. 13, 1951