WO1982002856A1

WO1982002856A1 - Device for drawing equidistant,parallel lines

Info

Publication number: WO1982002856A1
Application number: PCT/FI1981/000012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Veijo Hietala
Original assignee: Veijo Hietala
Priority date: 1981-02-20
Filing date: 1981-02-20
Publication date: 1982-09-02
Also published as: EP0072790A1

Abstract

A device for drawing equidistant, parallel lines, comprising a ruler plate (1) resting on a roller axis (2) and moving maintaining its direction, and a toothing (4) located on the roller axis (2) and functioning as a pedometer, against which toothing is fitted to be pressed the clutch (5b) of a spring clip (5), the said spring clip retaining the rotating movement of the roller axis at steps conforming to the gaps in the toothing. In order to release the spring clip (5) from the toothing, the device comprises a release mechanism, which can be for example a lever (6) lifting the spring clip (5) off the toothing, or a means for turning the spring clip (5) aside, apart from the toothing (4).

Description

DEVICE FOR DRAWING EQUIDISTANT, PARALLEL LINES

The object of the invention is a device for drawing equidistant, parallel lines. The said device is suited for example in mechanical drawing for hatching, outlining columns and other similar type of drawing.

For the above mentioned purpose there exist various dividers in the prior art, wherein for example by pressing a lever, the ruler can be made to move. forward with equidistant steps. The German Patent Publication no. 839 007 introduces a drawing device comprising a cylindrical ruler member and two gable members geared at its both ends. In the cylindrical member are formed longitudinal grooves, into which grooves are pressed the arrester springs located in the gable members. Thus the cylindrical member can be moved on the paper step by step.

The above described device has, however, several drawbacks. First of all, a ruler having a cylindrical form is very inaccurate. Moreover, it is difficult to keep it in the desired direction while the line is drawn. It will also be notified that the device introduced in the said publication has a clumsy appearance. The use of both hands is required when handling the ruler, which causes difficulties in the drafting operation. In addition to this, the device cannot be used as a normal ruler.

The purpose of the present invention is, among other things to eliminate the above described drawbacks and to create a drafting device which is simple, light and handy to operate with one hand. This is achieved by -the novel features of the invention, which are mainly enlisted in the Patent Claim 1.

The present invention brings about remarkable advantages compared with the above described German device. It has already been pointed out that the device of the present invention is light and easy to handle. The invention inables the drafting device to be turned from a normal rolling ruler to a stepping ruler and the other way round just by a slight movement with the fingers. Thus the device of the present invention allows for noticeable time-saving in the drafting work.

In the following the invention is described in detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an illustration of the ruler plate and Figure 2 is an elevation view of the ruler plate along the line A-A of Figure 1.

The figures illustrate the ruler plate 1 comprising the drawing edge lb, provided with a millimeter scale, on, the opposite side of which edge is geared the axis 2 parallel to the drawing edge. At the two ends of the axis are fixedly installed the rollers 3, which rollers have the same size and stick out somewhat from under the ruler plate. Resting on the said rollers the ruler moves on the drafting board maintaining its direction, in vertical position to the axis. The ruler is guided to the desired spot by holding the handle knob with one hand, whereafter the ruler is locked in its place by pressing the drawing edge 1b against the paper, and the line is drawn with the other hand along the drawing edge.

In order to make the ruler move forward with equidistant steps, the device comprises, according to the invention, a pedometer placed on the roller axis 2. It is formed for instance by the equidistant toothing 4 or other similar arrangement located on the roller axis, and against it is pressed the clutch 5b of the spring clip 5 attached to the ruler. The spring clip locks the axis in its place by focusing the power of the spring in a gap between the teeth. When the ruler is pulled or pushed further, the spring clip 5 is released, the clutch springs up from between the teeth and clicks into the next gap, and so on.

By suitably measuring the power of the spring 5 and the form of the toothing 4, and by providing the rollers with fraction-increasing profiling or coating, the device can be employed for drawing equidistant lines easily and rapidly. During the drawing of the lines it is even possible to return several steps backwards, to a position exactly the same as before.

The spaces between the lines can be enlarged by moving 2, 3 or more steps after each line.

The pedometer can be swithched off operation for example by releasing the spring clip form the toothing by the lever 6, or simply by turning the spring clip aside, off the toothing.

Now the device can be used as a normal rolling ruler.

On the roller axis can also be placed several pedometers for creating spaces fo different sizes between the lines.

Moreover, the ruler can be provided with various auxiliary devices. For example, by employing the millimeter scale 1c, placed at right angles to the drawing edge, it is possible to choose other desired spaces of various sizes between the lines by visual estimation. The dial scale 1d is necessary if it is required that the lines have a given bevel with respect to some other line. Furhermore, the conventional plotting openings 1e located in the ruler plate can also be used in a more versatile manner in connection with the pedometer, for instance when drawing block diagrams, flow charts and surface symbols.

The handle knob If located in the middle of the ruler, on top of the axis, ensures an equally great fraction power for both of the rollers. In every respect it is preferable to manufacture the ruler of transparent material, for the ideal use of the various scales and plotting openings.

In the above there has been explained some preferred embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that various modifications thereof can be carried out. For example, the spring clip can touch the toothing either from upwards or from below. The release mechanism of the spring clip can be a turning arrangement, a lever or a wedge system. The spring can be replaced by a lever clip provided with a separate spring, etc.

The substantial characteristic is, that essentially on the roller axis is located as a pedometer a mechanism, by which mechanism the rotating movement of the axis can be stopped at regular intervals with sufficient certainty in order to draw the equidistant lines.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A device for drawing equidistant, parallel lines, comprising a ruler plate (1) resting on a roller axis (2) and moving maintaining its direction, and a toothing (4) located on the roller axis (2) and functioning as a pedometer, against which toothing is fitted to be pressed the clutch (5b) of a spring clip (5) , the said spring clip retaining the rotating movement of the roller axis at steps conforming to the gaps in the toothing, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that in order to release the spring clip (5) from locking the toothing, the device is provided with a release mechanism, so that the device can also be used as a normal rolling ruler.

2. The device of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the release mechanism is a lever (6) lifting the spring clip (5) off the toothing.

3. The device of claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the release mechanism comprises means to turn the spring clip (5) aside, off the toothing (4).