US3460261A

US3460261A - Drafting device

Info

Publication number: US3460261A
Application number: US700091A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arnold J Frey
Original assignee: ARNOLD J FREY
Current assignee: ARNOLD J FREY
Priority date: 1968-01-24
Filing date: 1968-01-24
Publication date: 1969-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1986-08-12
Also published as: DE1900278B2; DE1900278C3; FR1595065A; SE345416B; DE1900278A1; GB1232776A

Description

Aug. 12, 1969 A. J. FREY DRAFTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1968 H rxriilxllnirl! l l lllll ll INVENTOR.

ARNOLD J. FREY TT R N YS United States Patent 3,460,261 DRAFTING DEVICE Arnold J. Frey, 7434 Craigmere Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44130 Filed Jan. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 700,091 Int. Cl. B431 13/02 U.S. Cl. 33-75 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A drafting device including a frame-like support member having an opening, and an elongated rotatable member mounted on the support member and extending transversely of the opening for relative rotational movement with respect to the support member. The support member and rotational member include indicia adapted for selective registration for drawing and/ or determining angles. Both the support member and rotatable member include means associated therewith for drawing and/or determining circles and straight lines, respectively. Measuring indicia is provided for determining the size and length of the circles and lines, respectively. The rotational member can be flexed for insertion in or removal from the support member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to drafting devices, and more particularly to protractors, rulers and circle drawing instruments.

Heretofore, many types of protractors, rulers and circle drawing instruments have been provided, but have not been found to be entirely satisfactory. Some devices have been provided which may be used in drawing or determining angles, while other devices have been provided which may be used solely for drawing circles. Some other devices have been provided which serve as combined rulers and/or protractors and/or circle drawing instruments, but these devices have been either extremely bulky, mechanically complex in construction, or have been relatively limited in their use due to their structural arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates providing a multipurpose drafting device which is extremely simple in construction having an extremely wide range of use and which comprises a frame-like support member having an opening defined by an endless marginal edge and an elongated rotatable member mounted on the support member and adapted for rotational movement with respect to the support member. The support member includes indicia means disposed adjacent the marginal edge which are adapted for registration with indicia means disposed on the rotatable member for selectively positioning the rotatable member with respect to the support member. The rotatable member extends transversely of the opening having the opposite ends thereof adapted for detachable connection to the support member. The rotatable member includes web-like portions adjacent the opposite ends which are adapted to slidably engage the support member, thereby permitting the rotatable member to be rotated over an angle of 360. The web portions include arcuate-shaped outer edges which define a circle having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the opening. In addition, the maximum thickness of the rotatable member is preferably less than the maximum thickness of the support member adjacent the opening, thereby to enable the rotatable member to be rotated freely without inference as a result of engaging a drafting table or the like. The support member and the 3,460,261 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 'ice rotatable member include at least one linearly extending edge for drawing straight lines, and both are provided with a plurality of apertures for inscribing circles of varying diameter. Measuring indicia is associated with the apertures and the linearly extending edges for determining the size and length of the circles and straight lines, respectively. The rotatable member is provided with an undercut portion which may be utilized for lifting the device.

As will be seen, the drafting device of the present invention provides a simple, multipurpose instrument which is adaptable to a wide range of uses. There is provided a single instrument which may be used for drawing and/ or determining angles from zero to 360 without repositioning the instrument and/or drawing or measuring linear lines, and/or drawing or determing circles having an extremely wide range of diameters, and/or plotting navigational courses. Furthermore, the novel construction permits the rotational member to be rotated relatively unobstructed throughout an angle of 360 in addition to permitting the ready removal and replacement of the rotational member without the necessity to use external implements or devices, while eliminating the necessity of fastening screws, clips, or the like, which have a tendency to become lost or misplaced, rendering the device inoperable until such are found or replaced. The device is preferably made from a polymeric material for economic, quality production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the drafting device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partly cut away view of the connections between the support member and rotatable member of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partly cutaway view of the rotatable member shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drafting device of the present invention is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1, and preferably comprises a support member 12 having an opening 14 therein. An elongated rotatable member 16 is provided which is mounted on the support member 12 and extends transversely of the opening 14, The opening 14 is defined by an end- 1 e ss marginal edge 17 (FIG. 1) which is arranged to slidably engage the opposite ends of the rotatable member 16 to enable rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the support member 12, and which when flexed is readily removable from and replaceable on the support member 12, as desired. The rotatable member 16 is provided with a linearly extending edge 20 which extends approximately through the geometric center, as at 22, of the opening 14, permitting the inscribing of a line which extends diametrically across the opening. The support member 12 and rotatable member 16 have indicia means 24 and 26, respectively, disposed thereon which are adapted for selective registration with one another upon rotation of the rotatable member 16 with respect to the support member 12 so that the angular relationship of at least one pair of lines may be either drawn or determined. Aperture means, such as at 27 and 28, are provided in both the support member and rotatable member, respectively, for drawing circles. As dimensional relationships are often critical when drafting or determining the size of an angle or a circle, both the support member 12 and the rotatable member 16 are provided with linear measuring indicia, as at 29 and 31, respectively, to accomplish this end.

Referring to FIG. 1, the support member 12 comprises a frame-like struture 13 which may be of any suitable configuration, but is preferably generally rectangular in configuration when viewed in top elevation, as shown in FIG. 1, being defined by the linear top, bottom and

side edges

30, 32, 34 and 36, respectively. Preferably the frame 13 is substantially uniform in cross section, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, having an upper surface 37 and lower surface 38 which extend substantially parallel to one another. An opening 14, preferably circular in configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, may be provided in the frame 13 which may have a geometric center 22 that is positioned equidistant between opposed of the

respective edges

30, 32, 34 and 36. The opening 14 is defined by an endless annular projection 17, which extends between the upper and

lower surfaces

34 and 36, respectively. Preferably, the projection 17 is generally V-shaped in configuration, as shown in FIG. 4. The projection 17 may include an upper inclined edge surface 18 and a lower inclined edge surface 19 which are inclined toward one another in a direction toward the opening 14 so as to merge and form an endless marginal edge 41 for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

The rotatable member 16 comprises an elongated crossbar 42 which extends transversely of and substantially entirely within the opening 14. The crossbar 42 includes an upper surface 64 and a lower surface 66 which are substantially parallel to one another, as shown in FIG. 2. The crossbar 42 may be further defined by a first diametrically extending edge 20 and a second edge 57 (FIG. 1) which extends generally parallel to the first edge 20 and spaced laterally therefrom. Preferably, the crossbar 42 includes web-

like portions

47 and 48 disposed adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and which are adaptable for detachable connection to the projection 17 of the frame 13. Each of the web-

like portions

47 and 48 is preferably arcuate-shaped adjacent the opposed distal ends with such arcs together defining a circle concentric with the opening 14.

As the

recesses

54 and 56 are identical, only one, such as 54 (FIGS. 2 and 4) of the web 47, will be described for purposes of illustration with corresponding features of the recess 56 being designated by like numerals with the suffix prime being added thereto. Preferably, the recess 54 is disposed between the upper and

lower surfaces

64 and 66, and is defined by the angularly disposed

walls

40 and 50 which may commence adjacent the upper and

lower surfaces

64 and 66, respectively. The

walls

40 and 50 may be inclined toward one another in a direction toward the opposite end of the rotatable member 16 and merge with one another to form a pair of generally V-

shaped projections

44 and 46 adjacent the upper and

lower surfaces

64 and 66, respectively, when viewed in side elevation (FIG. 4), with each having an

arcuateshaped edge

35 and 45, respectively, defining the upper and lower extremities of the recess 54. The angle of inclination between the

surfaces

40 and 50 may be approximately the same as the angle of inclination of the

inclined edge surfaces

18 and 19. Preferably, the

edges

35 and 45 are disposed in the plane of the upper and

lower surfaces

64 and 66, respectively, and extend generally parallel to one another and with the diameter of the circle formed by the

opposed arcs

35, 35' and 45, 45' of the

web portions

47 and 48, respectively, being greater than the circle formed by the endless edge 41 of the projection 17. Preferably, the dimensional difference in the aforementioned diameter should be such that the

surfaces

40 and 50 will be disposed in confronting relation to the

inclined edge surfaces

18 and 19 respectively, and be spaced apart a sufiicient distance therefrom to permit relatively easy sliding engagement therebetween. Each of the

webs

47 and 48 is provided with

annular recesses

54 and 56, respectively, which are disposed between the upper and

lower surfaces

64 and 66, and which are adapted to slidably receive portions of the projections 17 of the frame 13. Preferably, the

recesses

54 and 56 are generally V- shaped in configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, and extend over a substantial portion of the arcuate length of the distal ends of the

web portions

47 and 48. The

edges

35, 35, 45 and 45' are arranged to extend over only a segmental portion of the opening 14 having a cord length between the

opposite end edges

49, 51 and 53, 55 of the

web portions

47 and 48, respectively, greater than the transverse width of the crossbar 42 between the

edges

20 and 57 forming

flange members

58, 59, and 60, 62 of the

web portions

47 and 48, respectively. This arrangement provides for additional contact surface between the frame 13 and rotatable member 16 for supporting engagement therebetween. Furthermore, the foregoing arrangement permits the rotatable member 16 to be readily removed from or replaced on the support member, when desired. As the material of the crossbar 42 is resilient, removal may be accomplished by pulling or pushing the crossbar 42 intermediate the

opposed web portions

47 and 48 so as to cause the projection 17 to be pulled out of the

recesses

54 and 56. To replace the rotatable member 16, the projection 17 may be disposed in one of the recesses, such as 54, and than the arm 42 may again be bent until the recess 56 is positioned inside the opening so as to clear the projection 17 and in alignment therewith. When the arm 42 is released, the resiliency in the arm will cause the arm to straighten and the projection 17 may then be guided into the recess 56.

As previously indicated, the rotatable member 16 is substantially uniform in cross section, except as will be described hereinafter, having generally parallel upper and

lower surfaces

64 and 66, respectively. Preferably, the maximum thickness of the rotatable member 16 is less than the thickness of the support member 12 adjacent the projection 17, to enable the rotatable member 16 to be rotated freely throughout the entire circumferential length of the opening 14 without frictional interference, except for the frictional engagement of the projection 17 in the

recesses

54 and 56, when the device 10 has the upper surface 37 or lower surface 38 in engagement with a supporting or working surface, such as a drafting table or the like (not shown).

To indicate the size of an angle to be drawn or determined, indicia means 24 and 26 are disposed on a frame 13 and the rotatable member 16 adapted for selective registration with one another. The indicia means 24 on the frame 13 preferably comprises any suitable scale to indicate the 360 of a circle or any portion thereof. As shown, the marks or lines, such as at 67, extend radially outwardly adjacent the opening 14, and are circumferentially spaced in equal increments thereabout. A reference or zero

degree lines

68 and 69 may be provided on opposite sides of the opening 14 defining an imaginary line which extends parallel to the top and bottom edge of the frame 13. The rotatable member 16 may be provided with

reference lines

70 and 72 adjacent the

edges

35, 45 and 35 and 45' of the

web members

47 and 48, respectively, adapted for simultaneous registration with the

lines

68 and 69, respectively.

Lines

70 and 72 may be positioned on the rotatable member 16, such that a line drawn along the edge 20 will extend diametrically through the geometric center 21 of the opening and the reference or zero

degree lines

68 or 69 when the

lines

70 and 72 are in registration with the

lines

68 and 69, respectively. The point 21, indicated by the point of the arrow 74 on the rotatable member -16, is preferably positioned equidistant from the endless marginal edge 17, therefore, the point of the arrow 74 will always be positioned at the geometic center 22 of the circle regardless of the angular displacement of the rotational member 16. By the foregoing arrangement, when the rotatable member 16 is rotated clockwise so that the reference line 70 is brought into registration with the line 67, the crossbar 42 will be rotated through an angle of 45, as indicated by the scale 24. As previously indicated, the crossbar 42 may be rotated 360, and therefore, by placing the arm 42 along one side of an angle with the point of the arrow 21 positioned at the apex thereof, any angle from zero to 360 may be readily drawn or determined.

To determine the length of any particular line or distance, measuring indicia, such as at 33, may be disposed on either the top or bottom surface and adjacent the

linear edges

30, 32, 34 or 36 of the support member 12, and may comprise any suitable scale, such as inches or centimeters, disposed along the

edges

30 and 32, respectively (FIG. 1). As it may be necessary to measure the length of the line, such as the side of a triangle or the like without disturbing the position of the drafting device 10, linear measuring indicia may, such as at 31, also be provided on the crossbar 42 adjacent the edge 20. Preferably, the upper surface of the support member 12 is tapered, as at 78 and 80, adjacent the edges having measuring indicia associated therewith in a direction toward the lower surface 38. Likewise, the upper surface 64 of the crossbar 42, having linear measuring indicia 31 disposed thereon, may be tapered adjacent the edge 20 in a direction away from the edge 57 and toward the lower surface 66 to facilitate measuring accuracy.

Referring to FIG. 5, the crossbar 42 of the rotatable member -16 may be beveled adjacent the edge 57 to provide a beveled surface 84. The beveled surface 84 may extend in a direction away from the lower surface 66 and the diametrically extending edge 20 toward the upper surface 64 terminating adjacent the edge 57. Preferably, the beveled surface 84 terminates at the edge 85 between the upper surface 64 and the lower surface 66 to provide an undercut portion which will enable the device to be readily lifted.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the aperture means 27 and 28 may be provided in the support member 12 and rotatable member 16, respectively, to draw circles. The aperture means 27 on the support member 12 comprises a plurality of circular holes, a typical hole being designated at 86, which vary in diameter in any suitable increments, as desired. For example, and as shown in FIG. 1, ten holes may be provided in random arrangement varying in diameter from inch, as at 86, to inch, as at 88. The aperture means 28 on the rotatable member 16 may comprise a plurality of apertures, such as at 89, which preferably are identical in size and are disposed in laterally spaced relationship lengthwise along the crossbar 42. To use the apertures 89, the rotatable member 16 may be flexed and removed from the support member 12. Then a pointed instrument may be inserted in one of the apertures to serve as the center of a circle and a pencil point may be inserted in any other selected aperture for drawing a circle by rotating the member 16.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intension in the use of such terms and descriptions of excluding any equivalents of any of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A multipurpose, two-piece protractor-like drafting device for use in determining and/or scribing angles, arcs and/or linear measurements comprising, a generally flat frame-like support member, said support member having a centrally disposed circular opening defined by an interior endless marginal edge disposed entirely within the confines of said support member, an elongated, resilient rotor-like bar member extending radially across and detachably mounted for rotation through 360 within said Opening, said support member including an upper planar surface and a lower planar surface adapted to be disposed in engaged relation on a working surface, the minimum transverse thickness of said support member adjacent said marginal edge being greater than the maximum thickness of said bar member to enable said bar member to be held in spaced relation with respect to said working surface for free rotation thereof without substantial frictional interference with said working surface, said bar member including a pair of laterally spaced, oppositely disposed web-like portions made integral at the opposite ends thereof, said web-like portions extending generally at right angles with respect to the longitudinal central axis of said bar member and each having a segmental arcuate outer end edge for detachable interlocking sliding engagement with the interior marginal edge of the opening in said support member, the arcuate outer end edges of said web-like portion and said interior marginal edge being of a complementary construction to provide a tongue and groove connection between said support and bar members and with said bar member being sufficiently resilient as to be bent and spring into snap action interfitting relation to provide said connection, the maximum widthwise dimension of said bar member being less than the corresponding widthwise dimension of said web-like portions to facilitate said snap action, said bar member having an inner side edge and an outer side edge extending transversely between said web-like portions with said side edge disposed to extend linearly through the geometric center of said opening, said inner and outer side edges extending in continuous and uninterrupted relation between said web-like portions so that said bar member is supported in said opening solely by said web-like portions, said support member having scaled and circumferentially spaced indicia disposed adjacent the interior marginal edge of said opening, and said bar member having indicia elements thereon adapted for correlatable registration with the indicia on said support member upon selective rotation of said bar member for scribing angles and angular measurements in the assembled portion thereof, and adapted for use in bisecting angles when removed from such assembly, indicia means disposed adjacent said inner linear extending edge for drafing lines of selective length, said cross-bar member includes uniform diameter apertures therein adapted to receive the marking end of a transcribing member, said uniform diameter apertures disposed in spaced relation lengthwise of said cross-bar member for inscribing circles upon rotation thereof and wherein an undercut portion is provided on the outer side edge of the bar member for lifting the device.

2. A drafting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said web-like portions each include a pair of spaced,

oppositely disposed flange portions disposed inwardly of the respective arcuate end edges thereof, said flange portions made integral and extending outwardly from opposed sides of said cross-bar member and in laterally offset relation with respect to one another, and the junctures of the respective flange portions with said cross-bar member adjacent said outer side edge being substantially greater in a width-wise direction as compared to the corresponding junctures of the other respective flange portions adjacent the inner side edge of said cross-bar member. 3. A drafting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the indicia means on said cross-bar member includes an indicia element disposed adjacent said inner side edge at the geometric center of said opening, and at least one other indicia element disposed on a respective one of said web-like portions disposed in generally parallel alignment with said inner side edge for selective registration with the indicia means on said support member. 4. A drafting device in accordance with claim 1, including aperture means disposed in said support member for inscribing circles,

said aperture means comprising circular holes of vary- 2,428,699 10/1947 Ebert et a1. 33110 ing diameter. 2,560,736 7/1951 Olson 33104 References Cited 7 6 FofElGN PATENTS 4 ,099 3/ 195 Great Britain. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 6,291 4/1893 Switzerland. 411,741 9/1889 Dow 3375 507,216 10/ 1893 Colby 3375 HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner 509,335 11/1893 Stowell 33107 556,582 3/1896 Maier 33107 U.S. Cl. X.R. 1,058,474 4/1913 Sharpe 3397 10 3327, 104

1,154,673 9/1915 Vanness 3375