US2863605A

US2863605A - Metal slide rule

Info

Publication number: US2863605A
Application number: US562142A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roswell C Pickett
Original assignee: SUSAN ANN PICKETT
Current assignee: SUSAN ANN PICKETT
Priority date: 1956-01-30
Filing date: 1956-01-30
Publication date: 1958-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-09

Description

Dec. 9, 1958 R. c. P`|cKETT METAL SLIDE RULE Filed Jan. 5o, 195e A @www ATTURNEYS.

United States Patent O METAL -SLIDE RULE Roswell C. Pickett, Alhambra, Calif., assignor to Susan Ann Pickett, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application January 30, 1956, Serial No. 562,142

6 Claims. (Cl. 23S-70) This invention relates to a slide rule, preferably made of metal which is simple in construction and can be made with extreme accuracy yet manufactured economically.

One object of the invention is to provide a slide rule of sheet metal construction having such characteristics that it permits ready, accurate formation and accuracy of operation.

Another object is to provide an arrangement in which there is a slider base that is slidable relative to the body of the slide rule and on which the slider is oatingly mounted so as to avoid binding and permit self adjusting of the slider to the guide edges of the body of the rule as the slider base and thereby the slider are manipulated.

Still another object is to provide the body of the rule with connecting end members formed integral therewith and folded over for reinforcement and to provide clearance for the slider, and at the same time hold the scales along opposite sides of the body member in accurate alignment with each other.

A further object is to provide modified forms of the body member which eliminate the connecting'members at its ends and provide a single sheet of metal across the back of the slider base having its side edges folded inwardly to form guides for the slider and the slider base, and faces on which the body scales may be printed.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my slide rule, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in detail on the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a slide rule embodying my present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views on the lines 2-2 and 3 3 respectively thereof;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one end of the slide rule;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5 5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is a layout view of one end of the body before it is bent to shape;

Fig. 7 shows a modification in the construction with respect to the slider and the slider base and their manner of connection together so as to permit the slider to oat relative to the base;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view similar to one end of Fig. l showing a modified construction;

Fig. 9 is a similar perspective View of another slide rule showing a similar modified construction; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional View on the line lll-10 of Fig. 9.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference character B to indicate in general the body of my slide rule, S the slider thereof and C the cursor thereof. The body B is provided with upper and lower body faces 12 and 14 on which the body scales are printed. The body B is formed of sheet metal in the initial shape shown in Fig. 6 wherein dotted lines indicate bend lines for the sheet metal and it will be noted that portions 16 form lateral extensions of the body faces 12 and 14 and when Patented Dec. 9, 1958 Connecting end portions 18 are bent `over at the bend lines indicated at 18a in Fig. 6 to offset these connecting members in a different plane relative to the body faces 12 and 14 so that-the slider S in the same plane as the body face members may slide under the connecting end connectors 18. Where the thickness of the metal for the slider S is the same as that used in the body B the portion of the end member 18 over the slider may be olfset slightly as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The slider base 20 is a rectangular strip of sheet metal having a pair of holes 22 adjacent the ends thereof and the slider S has tongues 24 that loosely t in these holes and are bent under the slider base to retain the slider on thebase as shown in Fig. 5. A loose fit between the -holes 22 and tongues 24 permits floating of the slider on the base so that the base can slide in the backstrips 16 and the slider can slide independently thereof between the body faces 12 and 14 without any binding action. At the same time, slide rule manipulation involving the slider is possible by manual movement of the slider base. As shown in Fig. 7, the slider base 20a may be shortened and provided at each end with a notch 22a instead of a hole 22 for the loose reception of the tongue 24 of the slider S.

The cursor C may be `formed of transparent plastic material consisting of a cursor body 26, and top and bottom cursor guides 28 and 30 in the form of the marginal ends of the body 26 being bent to tit around the body faces 12 and 14 and the backstrips 16 with some lateral play as illustrated in Fig. 2 to receive a cursor spring 32. This spring serves to hold the cursor guide 30 against the lower edge of the body B and thus retain the cursor C and the hairline 34 thereof at right angles thereto.

If desired, the end connectors 18 may be omitted and a body B provided as shown in Fig. 8 which is a rectangular piece of sheet metal passing completely under the slider base 20 and having its marginal edges bent over to provide the body faces 38 and 40. A similar construction is shown in Figs. 9 and l0. In Fig. 8 the body back 36 is provided with a channel 42 to reinforce the body and provide clearance for the bent-over ends of the tongues 24 of the slider base 20a. Fig. l0 illustrates a wider rule for additional scales as 9 or 10 may be provided all on one side of the rule. In this instance two

channels

44 and 46 are shown and the tongues 24 in the notches 22a may be provided in pairs at the ends of the slider.

The foregoing disclosure is of a construction that is particularly adapted for sheet metal fabrication of an inexpensive slide rule. Accordingly a slide rule of this character may be manufactured at less cost and meet the needs of secondary schools and similar markets. Being made of metal the slide rule will not warp and is so constructed as to be dimensionally stable and always accurate. The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is suitable for small rules of 6 inch length whereas those shown in Figs. 8, 9 and l0 are suitable for 10 inch rules and larger ones.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my slide rule without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a sheet metal slide rule, a body formed to provide a pair of spaced body faces, spaced-apart guide channels along the top and bottom of said faces and marginal end members constituting the only means for connecting said channels together, a slider base comprising a strip of sheet metal having its marginal edges Vs lidably in said IguidechannelsLa slider comprising a ylloating relationship therewithsand for propulsion of said slider by manipulating said ,slider base, said means comprising tongues at the ends of said slider, said slider base having openings to loosely receive said tongues and said tongues being projected there-through and bent over to retain said slider on said slider base.

2. In a sheet metal slide rule, a body formed to provide ap pair of spaced body faces, guide channels along the topA and bottom of the vbody and end membersrconnecting said channels together, a slider base comprising a single strip of sheet metal having its marginal edges slidable in said guide channels, a slider comprising a single strip of sheet metal slidable between said body faces and coacting edge to edge therewith whereby scales on said body faces may coac't with scales on said slider, and means to loosely but permanently connect said slider to said slider base for floating relationship therewith and for propulsion of the sliderby manipulating the slider base.

3. In a slide rule, a body having a'pair of spaced-apart body faces and guide channels along the top and bottom of the body, the ends of said guide channels being connected by an integral end member which is folded over on top of lsaid body faces to thus assume an elevated yplane to accommodate a slider, a slider base comprising a strip having its marginal edges slidable in said guide channels, a slider comprising a strip slidable between said body faces and coacting edge to edge therewith e whereby scales on said body faces may coact with scales on said slider, and means to loosely connect said slider to said slider base for floating -relationship therewith and for propulsion of the slide by manipulating the slider base, said means comprising tongues of said slider, said slider base having means to loosely receive said tongues and said tongues being projected therethrough and bent over to permanently retain said slider on saidvslider base.

4. In a sheet metal slide rule, a body formed to provide a pair of spaced body faces and guide channels along the top and bottom of the body, the ends of said guide channels being connected by lan integral end member which is folded over on top of said body faces to thus assume an elevated plane to accommodate a slider, a slider base comprising a strip of sheet metal having its marginal edges slidable in said guide channels and under said end members, a slider comprising a strip of sheet metal slidable between said body faces in edge to edge relation therewith, and means to loosely connect said slider to said slider base for floating relationship therewith.

5. In a slide rule, a body of sheet metal comprising a rectangular sheet forming a back and a pair of returnbent body faces whereby guide channels are provided between said back and said body faces, a slider base comprising a strip of sheet metal having its marginal edges slidable in said guide channels, a slider comprising a strip of sheet metal slidable between said body faces and coacting edge to edge therewith whereby scales on said body faces may coact-'with scales on said slider, means to loosely connect said slider to said slider base for oating relationship therewith, said means comprising tongues of said slider entering openings of said slider base, said tongues being projected `therethrough and bent over to retain said slider on said slider base, and a channel formed in said back longitudinally thereof to receive and clear -the bent-over portions Aof saidftongues as said slider and slider ybase are moved relative to said body.

6. In a sheet metal slide rule, a body formed to provide a pair of spaced body faces and guide channels along the top and bottom of the body, said body comprising a rectangular sheet of metal forming a back and a pair of return-bent Vbody faceswhereby guide channels are provided between said back and said body faces, a slider base comprising a strip having its marginal edges slidable in said guide channels, a slider comprising a strip slidable `between said body faces and coacting edge to edge there with, tongues on said slider to loosely connect it to said slider base for floating relationship therewith, said tongues extending through perforations of said slider base and Lbeing bent over to retain said slider against dislodgement from said slider base when it `is withdrawn from -said guide channels, and a channel formed in said back longitudinally thereof to reinforce said back and to receive and clear said bent-over portions of said tongues as said slider and slider base are moved relative to said body.

References Cited in the `file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS `982,876 Richardson 1.-- Jan. 31, 1911 1,021,484 Richardson Mar. 26, 1912 1,260,454 Richardson Mar. 26, 1918 1,892,012 Seehase Dec. 27, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 129,600 Great Britain `Iuly 17, 1919