WO2007113310A1

WO2007113310A1 - Measurement and/or guide tool comprising two branches in the form of a t and a moving slider that can be placed in a clear position

Info

Publication number: WO2007113310A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/053285
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Auffret
Original assignee: Sarl Ar. Innov
Priority date: 2006-04-05
Filing date: 2007-04-04
Publication date: 2007-10-11
Also published as: FR2899504B1; FR2899504A1

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a measurement and/or guide tool of the type comprising two branches (1), (2) mounted one with respect to the other in such a way as to occupy at least one position in which the said branches form a T, one of the said branches, termed the measurement branch (1) having a measurement portion (11) extending from the other branch, termed the support branch (2), characterized in that it comprises at least one slider (3) mounted such that it can move along the measurement branch (1) between a position of use along the said measurement portion (11) and a clear position in which it is placed beyond the said measurement portion (11) and falls at least partially within the width of the said support branch (2).

Description

Measuring and / or guiding tool comprising two branches forming a T and a movable slider capable of being placed in the disengaged position.

The field of the invention is that of professional tools. More specifically, the invention relates to a measuring tool for facilitating the measurement, tracing and cutting operations carried out in particular by the plasterers.

More generally, the tool according to the invention is intended for professionals such as: - plaquistes;

- carpenters;

- carpenters fitters; decorators staffeurs; glaziers; - cut glass dispensers;

- roofers; formers; cooks (preparation of the walls, fitting of the cladding, ...);

- floor coverings in sheets; - manufacturers of light leisure homes (wood panels and insulation); special coachbuilders (vehicle insulation); boat manufacturers; do-it-yourselfers (home improvement work, and various uses). Plasterers (plasterboard and prefabs), like all the professionals who, in the course of their business, cut sheet or sheet material, must now carry out a series of operations to measure, trace , then cut the plates. These plates can be, for example, formwork, suspended ceiling panels, plasterboard, cardboard, glass and other rigid or semi-rigid materials.

To carry out these operations, a traditional method consists of taking the measurements using a tape measure, applying a rule, and finally drawing and / or cutting along a straight line.

Other tools, widely used, are also available for making traces, and in particular: plasterboard plasterboards, which have the disadvantage of not allowing to trace more than a few tens of centimeters from the edge of plates;

- the trusquins generally, but which are for the most part small, and not specifically adapted to the work of thin plates (dimensions, tools associated with the trusquins, ...); - the draftsman's T, which alone allows only plots in the direction of the great branch.

For the plaquistes, all these tools impose successive operations of taking measurement, tracing and cutting, and require the recourse to complementary tools. Such tools therefore involve loss of time and, for some, accuracy.

Moreover, in the case of drawing rules, mobile slider systems have been proposed along a branch (or on each of the branches) to facilitate measurement. However, these systems can be a hindrance during tracing operations along the branch on which they are mounted.

The invention particularly aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide a measuring and tracing tool incorporating a cursor system that avoids any hindrance in the tracing phase. Another object of the invention is to propose a tool that makes it possible to carry out measuring and / or tracing and / or cutting operations more quickly than with the tools of the prior art.

In this sense, an object of the invention is to provide such a tool that allows measurement, tracing and / or cutting in a single operation.

The invention also aims to provide such a tool that provides a satisfactory accuracy, or even greater than that of conventional tools.

The invention also aims to provide such a tool that allows, depending on its association with another tool (cutting tool or tracing), a variety of operations such as:

- take action; to draw perpendiculars to the edges of plates with straight edges; draw and cut parallels or perpendicular to edges of straight edge plates (without having to move the tool);

- draw or cut parallels to a reference plane on plates placed near this plane; draw or cut circles or arcs on plates. Another object of the invention is to provide such a tool that is easy to use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a tool which is simple in design, easy to implement and inexpensive to produce.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear later, are achieved thanks to the invention which has for object a measuring and / or guiding tool of the type comprising two branches mounted with respect to each other. to occupy at least one position in which said branches form a T, one of said branches, said measuring arm, having a measurement portion extending from the other branch, said support branch, characterized in that it comprises at least one slider movably mounted along said measurement branch between a position of use along said measuring portion and a clearance position in which it is placed beyond said measurement portion and is at least partially in the width of said support leg.

Thus, during tracing operations along the measurement branch, the entire portion extending from the support branch can be exploited, the cursor being in a retracted position in which it does not constitute any inconvenience to the layout.

According to an advantageous solution, said slider comprises locking means in position along said measurement branch. Thus, the tool makes it possible to carry out width reports without dimension measurement, in the case, for example, where the tool and the cursor are positioned in correspondence with a space to be filled, and then by transferring this width (the cursor being blocked) on a cutting board.

In this case, said blocking means are preferably actuated by at least one push button.

This gives a simple cursor to handle.

According to a particular embodiment, said blocking means comprise two press buttons, each press button being extended by a movable finger inside said cursor, said fingers being able to be moved towards each other at the against the action of a spring, or spaced from each other under the action of said spring, said fingers each having a ramp capable of cooperating with a member to allow or block the movement of the cursor.

Note that the cursor blocking means may take another form in other possible embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, said slider has, on at least one side extending parallel to said measurement rule, at least one guide notch for a tracing or cutting tool. Thus, once the cursor is positioned at the desired measurement, the user can directly draw the plot by moving the tool along the edge of the plate. In the case of a cut, the tracing operation can be deleted: just place the cutting tool in the notch of the cursor, then move the tool to make the cut, without having to perform a preliminary layout as is the case with conventional tools

Moreover, it is possible to envisage, thanks to a tool according to the invention, gains in precision, insofar as one avoids postponements of dimensions and / or successive changes of instruments (which is the case with the solutions of the prior art which involves the use of a measuring tool, then an instrument for tracing and possibly to yet another instrument to guide the cutting operation).

Advantageously, at least one of said branches has at least one housing for receiving an independent part forming an axis of rotation of said tool so that said tool can be placed in abutment against said part and pivot around it.

The tool is thus designed to facilitate circular cuts.

In this case, the device preferably has two housings for an independent part, said housings being provided at the ends of the longitudinal edges of said measurement branch, on the side of said support branch.

According to an advantageous solution, said measurement branch has a median longitudinal protrusion.

Such an outgrowth on the one hand facilitates the handling of the tool and, on the other hand, to encourage the fingers to move away from the cutting tool during the movement of the measuring tool.

According to an alternative embodiment, said branches are articulated with respect to each other so as to be able to form together a false-square.

According to an advantageous solution, at least one of said branches carries at least one spirit level. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and some of its variants, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, and annexed drawings among which:

- Figure 1 is an overall view of a measuring tool and / or guide according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are views of the cursor of a measuring tool and / or guide according to the invention, respectively in side view and in cross section; Figure 4 is a view of the cursor illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, in a longitudinal section; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the support leg of a measuring tool and / or guide according to the invention; - Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments of the support branch illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 8 is a view for illustrating an alternative embodiment of the measurement arm of a measuring tool and / or guide according to the invention; FIGS. 9 to 16 are each a view of an exemplary phase of use of a measuring and / or guiding tool according to the invention;

- Figures 17 and 18 are top and side views of a spirit level for fitting a measuring tool and / or guide according to the invention; - Figures 19 and 20 are views of a stop system associated with the cursor of a measuring tool and / or guide according to the invention. As mentioned above, the principle of the invention lies in the fact of equipping a tool whose two branches form a T of a slider that can occupy a release position. This tool is also designed to perform measurement and tracing and / or cutting operations in a single pass. According to the embodiment embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a measuring and / or guiding tool comprises a large branch, called measuring branch 1, and a small branch, called a supporting branch 2, these two branches 1, 2 being assembled to form a T (the measuring leg 1 being centered on the length of the support leg 2 forming a right angle therewith).

As it appears each of the branches 1, 2 carries graduations allowing the taking of measure.

According to the principle of the invention, the tool further comprises a cursor 3

(shown in broken lines) movable along the measurement branch 1. The slider 3 is movable between a position of use (for taking a measurement and / or a cutting guide) along the portion 11 of the branch 1 extending from the support branch 2, and a release position (in the upper position in Figure 1) in which the slider 3 is set back from the portion 11 and is essentially in the width the support branch 2 (with a possible overshoot as shown in Figure 1).

In addition, the slider has, on each of its sides parallel to the longitudinal axis of the measuring branch 1, a guide notch 34.

This notch consists of a recess 341 in which the end of a scribing tool can take place and, in the extension of the recess 341, a slot dimensioned so as to receive the blade of a cutting tool.

It is noted that the section of the measurement branch and the inclination of the slots 342 allow sufficient inclination of the cutting tool to obtain a clean cut (for example, a cutter blade). In addition, the cavities 35 are provided at the end of the measuring arm 1, on the side of the support leg 2, these cavities being intended to form a housing in which one comes to place for example a screw or a tip reported previously on the plate to work. Thus, it is possible, while maintaining the tool according to the invention against this screw or this point, to make pivoting the tool around an axis corresponds to that of the screw or the tip, this in order to operate a circular path or cut.

A cavity 35 is thus provided at both ends of the longitudinal edges of the measuring arm 1. According to another characteristic of the invention, the device has locking means in position of the cursor on the measurement branch 1.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, these locking means comprise two push buttons 33 extending by two fingers 31 each having a ramp 311 each intended to cooperate with a cylinder 32. A spring 34 acts in compression between the two fingers 31.

Thus, in the absence of action on the push buttons 33, the spring 34 spreads the two fingers 31 which causes the ramps 311 to bear on the cylinders 32, blocking them in rotation against the branch 1. the cursor is blocked .

In practice, to unlock the cursor, the user presses the two push buttons 33, compressing the return spring 34 located between the fingers

31. The movement of the ramps towards the slider releases the rollers 32 from the clamping caused by the ramps.

The user can then move the cursor from one side or the other, keeping the push buttons pressed. To prevent the cylinders 32 from coming to lock under the end of the ramps, their movement towards the center of the cursor is limited by the push buttons which abut against the cursor.

To re-lock the cursor, the user just has to release the keys.

The return spring 4 separates the fingers 31, causing the jamming of the cylinders 32 between the ramps 311 and the flat of the branch 1. This clamping is allowed on the one hand by the slope of the ramps and, on the other hand, by the upper bearing surface of the ramps on the body of the slider, and finally the system of restraint of the slider on the rail which prevents its lifting. If a lateral effort tends to move the slider one side, the cylinder on the same side will try to roll, and amplify the jamming, and vice versa on the other side.

To allow jamming without "blur" positioning, on the one hand the spring puts all components in the clamping position as soon as the push buttons are released, and secondly, the cylinders are held laterally which limits all risk of displacement of the cylinders to the ends of the cursor (which would require a large displacement of the cursor to cause the desired blocking). Thus, the slider lock operates in all positions for the reasons mentioned above.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the support branch 2 has a longitudinal groove 21 open towards the measurement branch 1. Thus, the edge of a plate 5 to be cut is introduced into the groove 21 of the tool, which can then be slid along the plate 5 (Figure 5).

The reading area of the slice size or cursor plot makes it possible to adapt the reading of the dimension to this use.

This groove 21 guides the tool along the semi-rigid plates shaped, and protects the user from shifting and risk of cutting the hand (sharp edges of the plates).

As an indication, the groove 21 is designed to receive plates with a thickness of about 7mm, and has a depth of about 3mm.

Moreover, the surface of the field 211 of the support branch which slides along the plates is subjected to frictional wear with the abrasive materials of the thick plates (cardboard, plaster, ...).

According to one conceivable variant, the support arm 2 is equipped with a sliding pad 22 removably attached to the support arm to allow it to be replaced in case of excessive wear (FIG. 6).

In addition, to allow guiding of the tool according to the invention on thick plates, it can be provided according to another variant to allow the fixing a plate 23 bearing against the field of the thick plate (Figure 7).

Figure 8 shows yet another variant of the tool according to the invention. As it appears, the measuring branch 1 has a cylindrical bead 14 carried by an inverted T-shaped base. In this version, the gripping of the tool can be done by the cylindrical part of the measurement branch. This shape also allows to move away and protect the rights of the cutting tool during certain uses of the tool according to the invention (Figure 8).

Note that the tool which has just been described is in the form of a T formed by two branches, they may, according to an advantageous variant, be mounted hinged together to form a false square.

An angle measurement system between the two branches is then preferentially integrated into the tool.

Other tools may also be integrated into the tool according to the invention. By way of example, a three-axis spirit level, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, can be associated with one or the other of the branches of the tool, or even with the two branches.

Various examples of uses of the tool are described below.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the tool according to the invention is used for tracing or cutting according to an inclined plane 6: the plate is placed in front of the inclined plane, the tracing or parallel cutting is carried out while maintaining the branch of 2 against the inclined plane 6, positioning the cursor on the measuring arm 1 to the desired dimension, then moving the tool according to the invention and the tracing tool or cutting (represented symbolically by a triangle on Figures 9 to 12) housed in the notch 34 described above.

Referring to Figure 11, there is described a use in which the tool is used to draw or cut along an edge of the plate 5: the tracing or the parallel cut is carried out while maintaining the interior of the support branch 2 against the edge of the plate 5, positioning the cursor 3 on the measuring arm 1 to the desired dimension, then moving the tool according to the invention and the tracing tool or section (symbolized by a triangle) housed in the notch 34 described above.

Referring to Figures 12 and 12a, there is described a use in which the tool is used to draw or cut perpendicularly to an edge of the plate 5: the tracing or perpendicular cutting is carried out while maintaining the interior of the branch of pressing on the edge 2, by moving the slider 3 on the measuring branch 1, so instead in the release position, and then moving the drawing or cutting tool along the measurement branch 1.

With reference to FIG. 13, a use is described in which the tool is used to draw or cut in a circular arc: the drawing or cutting of an arc is done by maintaining one of the cavities 35 described previously in FIG. support on an axis 7 (a screw or a tip for example), by positioning the cursor 3 on the measuring arm 1 to the desired dimension, then moving the tool according to the invention and the tracing tool or cutting (symbolized by a triangle) housed in the notch 34, this following a rotational movement about the axis 7.

Referring to Figures 14 and 15, there is described a use in which the tool is used to operate a dimension transfer, without dimension measurement, a space to fill with the plate. The outside of the small branch 2 is supported on one of the edges of the space 140 to fill. The inner face of the slider 3 is aligned with the other edge of the space 140.

The tool is placed on the plate to be cut or scribed, the inner face of the branch 2 pressed against the edge of the plate. A drawing or cutting tool is positioned in the notch 34. The tool guides the movement of the tool to the distance necessary to trace or cut the piece of plate to be laid. This feature is improved by the addition of two retractable stops 8 under the cursor 3.

These stops 8 are automatically erased when the slider 3 is positioned on the branch 2 or when the tool is placed on a cutting plate. These stops are unfolded by a return spring when the tool is used to postpone the dimension of a space to be filled between two plates. It is then enough to bring the cursor in abutment with the edge of the second plate to copy the dimension (the removable stops make it possible to align the face of the cursor with the plate).

Referring to Figure 16, there is described a use in which the tool is used to operate a plate adjustment rampants.

For this, a level 7 such as that illustrated in Figures 17 and 18 is integrated in the branch 2 of the tool for example.

Such a level is designed to allow the displacement of the bubble 71 along the X, Y (Figure 17) and Z (corresponding to the thickness of the level, Figure 18). This level also has reference features 72.

Thus, using the level 7, one locates on the edge of the plate one of the ends of the cut to be made, and this mark is marked. The cursor is then adjusted, the outside of the leg 2 resting on the plane to be copied, aligning the guide of the tool with the mark made. Then cut by moving the tool along the plane to be copied.

Claims

1. Measuring and / or guiding tool of the type comprising two branches (1), (2) mounted relative to each other so as to occupy at least one position in which said branches form a T, the one of said branches, called measuring branch (1), having a measurement portion (11) extending from the other branch, said support branch (2), characterized in that it comprises at least one slider (3) movably mounted along said measurement arm (1) between a use position along said measuring portion (11) and a release position in which it is located beyond said measuring portion (11) and is at least partially in the width of said support leg (2).

2. Measuring tool according to claim 1, characterized in that said slider (3) comprises locking means in position along said measurement branch.

3. Measuring tool according to claim 2, characterized in that said locking means are capable of being actuated by at least one push button (33).

4. Measuring tool according to claim 3, characterized in that said locking means comprise two push buttons (33), each push button (33) extending by a movable finger (31) inside said cursor (3). ), said fingers (31) being movable towards each other against the action of a spring (34), or spaced from each other by the action of said spring (34), said fingers (31) each having a ramp (311) capable of cooperating with a member (32) to allow or block the movement of the slider (3).

5. Measuring tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said slider (3) has, on at least one side extending parallel to said measurement rule (1), at least one notch guide (34) for a tracing or cutting tool.

6. Measuring tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one of said branches (1) has at least one housing (35) for receiving an independent part forming an axis of rotation said tool so that said tool can be placed in abutment against said part and pivot around it.

7. Measuring tool according to claim 6, characterized in that it has two housings (35) for an independent part, said housings being provided at the ends of the longitudinal edges of said measurement branch, on the side of said branch of support.

8. Measuring tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said measurement arm (1) has a median longitudinal protrusion.

9. Measuring tool according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said branches (1), (2) are articulated with respect to each other so as to be able together to form a false square.

10. Measuring tool according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one of said branches (1), (2) carries at least one spirit level.