FABRIC MEASURING DEVICE

Abstract: A device for measuring the length of a fabric material wound on a roll (12) includes two jaw members (1, 2) pivotally connected at a pivot point (3) and spring-biassed toward each other by a spring (4). Mounted on jaw member (1) is a pointer (7) which moves over a calibrated scale (10) fixed to the other jaw member (2). In use the device is pushed over a roll (12) so that the ends (5) of the jaw members are moved apart. The pointer (7) moves over the calibrated scale (10) and the length of fabric wound on the roll may be read off. Preferably the ends (5) of the jaw members are round and formed of a smooth plastic material to reduce friction.

Description: Fabric Measuring Device This specification relates to a fabric measuring device, and in particular to a device for measuring the length of fabric wound on a roll. In the past the accurate determination of the length of fabric wound on a roll has posed particular problems to the fabric manufacturing and retailing trade, especially during stock-taking. Conventionally in order to determine the length of fabric on a roll it has been necessary to either unroll the fabric and measure the length directly, a very impractical and awkward operation, or else to make a rough estimate of the length of fabric, perhaps by eye alone, with the fabric still wound on the roll. This latter method is unreliable since it relies on the judgement and experience of the persons concerned. Clearly it would be desirable to provide a device by means of which the length of a roll of fabric could be measured, accurately and reliably, while the fabric is in the rolled condition. There is known from GB 175904 a device which enables the length of a roll of fabric to be measured. This hand-held device comprises a head and a prong which are spring-biassed together, but which may be moved apart by operation of a handle which is connected to the head. Also connected to the head is a pivotally mounted pointer which moves over a calibrated scale as the head and prong are moved relative to each other. In use the device is gripped by the handle and the head and prong are moved far apart from'each other. The prong is then inserted into the centre of the roll of fabric and the head allowed to move towards the prong so that a thickness of fabric from the centre of the roll to the circum¬ ference thereof is held between the head and prong. The scale is calibrated so that the pointer indicates the length of material on the roll when it is held in the above described fashion. Although this device provided a more accurate method for determining the length of fabric than was previously known, it is not without certain limitations and disadvantages. The prong must be inserted into the core of the roll at one end thereof which means that the measurement of the roll length must be carried out at an end of the roll, which is not always the best place to get an accurate measurement. In addition the device must be applied to the roll along the longitudinal axis of the roll, a direction which is often incon¬ venient. Furthermore the device is awkward to use ill that effort must be expended to hold the head and prong apart from each other before applying the device to a roll of fabric. Viewed from one broad aspect there is herein disclosed a measuring device for measuring the length of a fabric material wound on a roll, comprising two jaw members arranged for relative pivotal movement and spring-biassed toward each other, said jaw members having distal ends adapted so that said jaw members are moved apart by engagement of the distal ends with a roll of fabric as the measuring device is applied to the roll in a radial direction, and means for indicating the length of fabric material wound on said roll. in response to the separation of said jaw members after the measuring device has been applied to the roll. With this arrangement the measuring device is applied to -a roll of fabric in the convenient radial direction, i.e. normal to the axis of the roll, at any suitable position along its length in one simple pushing operation. Preferably the distal ends of the jaw members have convex facing surfaces which curve away from each other. For example, the ends may be of circular or part circular cross-section, being cylindrical or spherical for example. In one form the indicating means may comprise a pointer mounted for movement with one of the jaw members and a calibrated scale fixed relative to the other jaw member, the pointer moving over the calibrated scale as the jaw members are moved relative to each other. In a preferred form there may be a series of scales, each scale being calibrated for a different fabric material, such as cotton, PVC, upholstery material, chintz etc. Alternatively the indicating means may be an electronic device, with perhaps a liquid crystal display unit or similar digital read-out device, suitable sensors being provided to detect the degree of displacement of the jaws. One or more switches or the like could be used to select the fabric type. The jaw members are preferably directly pivotally secured together. The jaw members may be shaped so that they diverge from the pivot and then in the rest condition converge towards the distal ends. A handle is preferably provided and this can be an extension of one of the jaw members. An embodiment of some of the broad aspects discussed above will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a plan view of an embodiment of the measuring device. Referring to the drawing the measuring device comprises a fixed jaw member 1 and a moving jaw member 2 pivotally connected at a pivot point 3. The jaw members are biassed toward each other by means of a spring 4 the ends of which are fixed to the jaw members. Each of the jaw members 1,2 is provided with a rounded distal end 5, these distal ends being designed to engage a roll of fabric material in use as will be described herein- below. The distal ends are in the form of cylinders of e.g. plastic material having smooth surfaces to reduce friction. Connected to moving jaw member 2 at the pivot point 3 is an indicator member in the form of a disc β to which is secured an associated pointer 7. Mounted on fixed jaw member 1 by screws 8 is a plate 9 on which is provided a series of calibrated scales 10, each of the scales being calibrated for a different fabric material. An extension of fixed jaw member 1, on the other side of pivot part 3, is formed as a handle 11. Between the pivot point 3 and the distal ends 5, the jaw members 1 and 2 are shaped so that, in the rest position, they are divergent -convergent. In use the measuring device is held by the handle 11 and is applied to a roll 12 of fabric material radially, i.e. normal to the axis of the roll. Because of the shape of the distal ends 5 of the jaw members 1,2 which are curved away from each other, as the device is applied to the roll 12, the jaw members are smoothly pushed apart against the bias of the spring 4 as the distal ends 5 follow the surface of the roll. The measuring device is finally held in a position wherein the jaws of the device are separated to the greatest extent, as is shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. _. . This position corresponds to the distal ends 5 being separated by the full diameter of the roll 12. As the jaw members are moved apart on application of the device to a fabric roll, the indicator disc 6 and its associated pointer 7, which are fixed to the jaw member 2, turn in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig.l and the pointer 7 is moved over the calibrated scales 10. The scales 10 are calibrated according to fabric thickness, each for a different material such as cotton, PVC, upholstery material, chintz etc., so that the pointer 7 indicates the length of material on a roll of a particular width. The measuring device may be made of any suitable materials. The jaw members could for example be made of aluminium which is light but sufficiently strong that the members are not likely to be bent, and thus the calibration affected, if the device is dropped or receives a blow. The distal ends of the jaw members are preferably formed of a smooth plastic material such as nylon or the like. Modifica ions to the specific embodiment and to the broad aspects discussed may be apparent to thos.e skilled in. the art.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A measuring device for measuring the length of a fabric material wound on a roll, comprising two jaw members arranged for relative pivotal movement and spring-biassed toward each other, said jaw members having distal ends adapted so that said jaw members are moved apart by engagement of the distal ends with a roll of fabric as the measuring device is applied to the roll in a radial direction, and means for indicating the length of fabric material wound on said roll in response to the separation of said jaw members after the measuring device has been applied to the roll. 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the distal ends of said jaw members have convex facing surfaces that curve away from each other. 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said distal ends have a circular cross-section. 4. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the distal ends of said jaw members are formed of a smooth plastic material. 5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein said indicating means comprises a ' pointer mounted for movement with one of said jaw members and a calibrated scale fixed relative to the other said jaw member, the pointer moving over the calibrated scale as the jaw members are moved relative to each other. 6. A device according to claim 5 including a series of scales, each scale being calibrated for a 1 different fabric material. 7. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said indicating means comprises an electronic device. 8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein said jaw members are directly pivotally secured together. 9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said jaw members diverge from the pivot and then, in the rest condition, converge towards the distal ends. 10. A device according to any preceding claim wherein a handle is provided as an extension of one of the jaw members.

Inventors: HOLBROOK GRAHAM REDVERS, ROBERTSON STUART MARK, HOLBROOK, GRAHAM, REDVERS, ROBERTSON, STUART, MARK
Applicants: ASHLEY LAURA LTD, LAURA ASHLEY LIMITED
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G01B3
IPC codes: G01B3