US588129A

US588129A - Combination tape-rule and circle-marker

Info

Publication number: US588129A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1914-08-17

Description

UNITED STATES Y PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH EDXVIN CLOUGH, OF ROCKLAND, DELA\VARE.

COMBINATION TAPE-RULE'AND CIRCLE-MARKER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 588,129, dated August 17', 1897. Application filed April 12, 1897. Serial No. 631,684. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH EDWIN CLoUcH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rockland, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combination TapeRule and Circleilarker; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a combination instrument to be used as an ordinary tape-rule and circle-marker; and my object is to provide a simple, cheap, and durable device and at the same time one that can be quickly and easily adjusted to mark a true and complete circle of any diameter.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tape by means of which a scale of onehalf inch to the inch can be very readily obtained without the trouble usually experienced in work of thiskind, and is also used in connection with the indicator to mark a circle of any desired diameter without computation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device in readiness to be used as a circle-inscriber. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the spring-band and indicator. Fig. 3 is a perspective View in detail of tape and pencil-holder. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the center or pivot pin, and Fig. 5 is adetail view of the indicator-lifting device.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates the casin g or housing for the tape, having protruding flanges 0r rims 2 for the purpose of holding the spring-band 3 in place and to prevent it from slipping laterallyfrom the casing. I This hand does not entirely encircle the casin g, but has the appearance of being severed near the center of one side, the lower end being bent down from a point at, forming a straight horizontal plate 5. This plate serves as a hearing for the indicator 6, and has on its under surface a center or pivot pin 7, to be used when marking circles. This pin is fastened to the plate 5 by means of cars 8 and is held open or closed by means of a leaf-spring 9. The upper end of the band 3 is bent up from a point 10 and forms the horizontal platform 11, having upon its upper surface cars 12, between which is fastened, by means of a bearing-pin 13, the lifting-arm 14. At the outer end of the lifting-arm 14 andat right angles thereto is the upright arm 15, which is provided with a button 16 at its upper end. The outer end of the lifting-arm 14 is bifur cated to receive the upper end of the indicator-rod 17, and is held thereto by means of a pin 18, passing through the head 19 of the rod 17. Fastened to the under side of the platform 11 is a cylinder or tube 20, through which passes the rod 17 and serves as a bearing or guide therefor. The lower end of the tube also serves as a bearing for the upper end of the coil-spring 21. Fastened to the lower end of the rod 17 is the indicator 6, by means of which, together with the spring 21, the tape 22 is held at any point desired. The indicator also serves as a bearing for the lower end of the spring 21. The tape 22 is provided upon one half of its upper surface with a scale of standard measure and upon the other half with a scale of one-half inch to the inch, as shown in Fig. 3. At the outer end of the tape is fastened a thimble or pencil-holder 25.

In operation the indicator 6 is raised by pressing the thumb or finger down upon the button 16, allowing the tape 22, which is spring-actuated, to pass in or be pulled out to the point desired. Then removing the thumb from the button the spring 21 forces the indicator down again and clamps the tape firmly between the indicator and the plate 5. Then by placing the pivot-pin 7 in a vertical position and inserting a pencil in the thimble 23 the device is ready for use. Should the diameter of an object be three inches and it is desired to reduce this scale to one-half inch tothe inch, it will be seen that by placing the indicator at 3 on the side of the tape marked one-half inch to the inch the reduced diameter is accurately obtained without inconvenience, or should it be desired to mark a circle four inches in diameter it is only necessary to set the indicator 6 at at on the half-inch side of the tape, which is equal to the twoinch mark, which will give a circle four inches in diameter.

It will be understood that the casing 1 incloses the ordinary spring-wound tape,which tape may be either of fabric or steel, with the markings, as described.

In use the point 7 is used as a center pin, the casing being held in the left hand, while the right grasps the pencil and swings the outer end of the tape around to form a circle or any segment thereof.

When not in use, the pivot-pin 7 is to be folded up against the bottom of the plate 5, and should it be necessary to use the tape without the circle device it can easily be removed by simply pushing the lower end of the spring-band 3 down far enough to allow the casing 1 to pass out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A combined tape-rule and circle-marker, comprising a casing to receive the tape 22,- the tape having markings as shown, and a pencil-holder 23, upon its outer end, a band 3, adapted to surround said casing, one end thereof forming the bottom plate 5, having a hinged point 7, secured to the bottom thereof; the other end upturned to form the horizontal plate 11, said plate provided with the ears 12, upon the upper side, andthe tube 20, upon the lower side; a bifurcated lever let, pivoted between said ears 12, a rod 17, pivoted between the bifurcated ends of the lever 14, and passing through the tube 20, and having an indicator 6, upon its lower end, and a coilspring 21, surrounding said rod between said tube and indicator, all substantially as shown and described.

2. In a combined tape rule and circlemarker, the combination with the tape-rule and case thereof, of a band 3, having upper and lower horizontal ends 5, and 11, the lower end 5, having a folding pivot-point 7, secured to the lower face thereof, the upper face being smooth for the tape 22, to slide upon; the

upper end 11, having a suitably-pivoted leverarm 14, pivoted to the rod 17, by which said rod may be raised and lowered, a tube 20, secured to said end 11, to serve as a guide for the rod 17, a spring 21, surrounding said rod, having its bearing against the indicator 6, at

the lower end of said rod, and against the lower end of the tube 20, and adapted to hold band 3, having the lower plate 5, carrying the point 7, between ears 8, and held by the spring 9, upon its lower face, and the horizontal upper plate 11, provided with the ears 12, on its upper face, and the tube or rod-guide 20, upon its lower face; a bifurcated lever 14, pivotally mounted between the cars 12, and having the upturned end 15, provided with a butten 16, and the rod 17, pivotally secured to the lever 14, at its upper end, passing through the tube 20, carrying the spring 21, and provided with the indicator (5, at its lower end, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH EDW'IN OLOUGH.

WVitnesses:

JOSEPH A. BUCK, XVILLIAM HAGAN.