Abstract:
The disclosure depicts an adjustable square device with a body having a substantially uniform cross-section at planes orthogonal to a longitudinal axis, the cross-section having a generally rectangular outline. A first groove extends inwardly from a first end of the body and oriented generally parallel a bottom surface of the body. A second groove extends inwardly from the first end and is orthogonal the first groove, the first and second grooves intersecting at a vertex. The device also has a tunnel extending from the vertex to a second end of the body, and a blade slidably engagable into one of the first or second grooves.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an improvement on the conventional square, which has a centered blade position and common leg lengths of approximately a half-inch. The conventional square however, is not well-suited for odd-shaped, large-radius, or round-shaped surfaces, as the traditional square cannot reach over or within depths and still provide an accurate, reliable squared line or reference. 
     The invention improves upon the traditional square by enabling one to reach greater distances into materials and assemblies by having a greater-proportioned reach from the blade. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     My invention is an adjustable square device having a body with a substantially uniform and rectangular cross-section at planes orthogonal to a longitudinal axis. A first groove extends inwardly from the first end of the body such that it is generally parallel to the bottom surface of the body. Similarly, a second groove extends inwardly from the first end. The second groove is perpendicular the first groove, and intersects it at a vertex. A blade is insertable into (and within) either of the grooves. 
     The square device also has a tunnel extending from the vertex to a second end of the body. The invention will also have a retaining stem positioned within the tunnel such that an initial end extends outside the body and a terminal end passes through the vertex to engage and retain the blade in a selected position. A rectangular void is formed along the bottom surface of the body. The top surface and each of the side walls (along the longitudinal axis), however, are generally planar. 
     Preferably, the generally rectangular outline of the body is square-shaped. In another preferred embodiment, the inventive square device will have a trapezoidal furrow that extends inwardly from the rectangular void. In this embodiment, the furrow and the void may be each symmetric about the second groove (or a plane passing through it). 
     Additionally, a channel may be formed on the blade and the retaining stem may bear a protuberance adjacent its terminal end. In this embodiment, the protuberance is formed to engage within the channel when the blade is positioned within one of the first or second grooves. Moreover, the retaining stem may be threaded so that a nut can engage the threading; in this embodiment, the blade is securable to the body by tightening the nut on the retaining stem. 
     The first end of the body may also have cut-out portions that are angled with respect to the second groove. Preferably, the angled portions are offset at a forty-five degree angle with respect to a plane passing through the second groove. Preferably, the first and second angled portions are symmetric about the second groove as well. 
     The foregoing summary gives background of the invention so that its best mode of use can be generally understood. The specific details of the invention, however, will be better understood when described in conjunction with the following drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are comparative views showing end views of the prior art square device and the inventive adjustable square device, respectively. 
         FIG. 2A  is an overhead, plan view of the adjustable square device, accoding to the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the adjustable square device. 
         FIG. 3  showed a bottom view of the adjustable square device. 
         FIG. 4  shows an end view of the adjustable square device. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are comparative views showing the adjustable square device in use, with a blade in a first selected orientation. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are comparative views showing the adjustable square device, with the blade in a second preferred position. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are comparative views showing the adjustable squared device in use, shown without the use of a blade. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the adjustable square device, shown using the angled portions of the front end of the inventive adjustable square device. 
         FIGS. 9A-9D  are comparative views of the stem  34  that passes through the device 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1A  is an end view showing a typical prior art square device  10 ′ in combination with a workpiece  49 . The device  10 ′ included a body (of a generally rectangular cross-section) and a blade  44 ′ passing through a groove in the body. The device  10 ′ of the prior art encountered problems when used with odd-shaped pieces such as workpiece  49 , and especially with rounded corners or round pipes because the short end of its rectangular cross-section did not reach from the blade  44 ′. 
       FIG. 1B  is an end view of the inventive device  10  in combination with the same workpiece  49 . The device  10  has sides  16  that extend outwardly from the blade  44 , thereby enabling a greater engagement surface with the workpiece  49 . The configuration of the device  10  is well-suited to handle odd-shaped or rounded surfaces because it allows the user a deeper reach. While the device  10  shown has a deep reach in a single direction, the deep reach could be symmetric about the blade  44  as well. To wit, the device  10  shows that the bottom of the device is more distal the blade groove than the top of the device  10 . Although this embodiment is not shown, the body of the device may have a rectangular (not square) cross-section wherein the blade groove is equidistant the top and bottom ends, or even a configuration wherein the blade groove is closer to the bottom than the top. 
       FIG. 2A  is an overhead, plan view of the top of the adjustable square device  10 . The device  10  comprises a top  12 , a right side  14 , a left side  16 , and a first end  18 . The device  10  will bear a generally uniform cross section taken at plans perpendicular to its longitudinal axis L. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2A , a second groove  28  extends inwardly from first end  18  along the longitudinal axis L. The second groove  28  is formed to receive and engage a blade (as shown hereinafter) insertable into the adjustable square device  10 . A stem  34  passes through a tunnel  33  formed within the body of the device from its first end  18  and extends outwardly from its second end to engage a nut  32 ; conversely, the stem  34  is formed to engage the blade (shown aft) at its first end. A cavity  15  is formed in the top  12  surface and concludes at the tunnel  33 ; while the opening of the cavity is formed on the top surface  12 , its configuration and function are better understood with regard to the side view. 
       FIG. 2B  shows a side view of the adjustable square device  10 . The device  10  will include a bottom  20  and a planar side  16 . First groove  26  extends inwardly from the first end  18  of the device  10 , and is parallel to the bottom  20  of the device  10 . The cut out portion  22  of the first end  18  is angled with respect to side  16 . As with the second groove  28  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), the first groove  26  is formed to receive a blade (shown aft) that may slidingly engage with in the first groove  26 . 
     Referring still to  FIG. 2B , the cavity  15  is formed to receive a means for retaining the stem  34  within the tunnel when the blade is not removed from the device  10 . The means may include a spring and plunger, or a biased ball that is formed to fit within the cavity  15  and engage the stem  34  and keep it within the tunnel when the blade is removed or being replaced. 
       FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of the device  10 . The bottom  30  of the device will include coplanar bottom surfaces  40 ,  42 . Preferably, the bottom is formed to be generally symmetric about planes through the second groove  28 , which extends inwardly from the first end  18  of the device  10 , from the top  12  to the bottom  30 . (see also  FIG. 1 ) 
       FIG. 4  shows a detailed end view of the device  10 , as viewed from first end  18 . The first end  18  will include a first groove  26  extending inwardly with a generally horizontal direction. Conversely, a second groove  28  extends inwardly from with in a general vertical direction, intersecting first groove  26  at a vertex  27 . In a preferred embodiment, the first groove  26  is perpendicular the second groove  28  such that first groove  26  is parallel the bottom and top surfaces of the device  10 , and second groove  28  is parallel the sides  14 ,  16  of the device  10 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the device will have a void  36  carved from its bottom. Preferably, the void  36  is rectangular shaped, and extends the length of the device. Additionally, a trapezoidal furrow  38  extends inwardly from the rectangular void  36 . Preferably, the void  36  and furrow  38  are formed symmetric about a plane through second groove  28 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the first end  18  will bear angled portions  22 ,  24  cut away from the first end  18  and disposed at an angle with respect to longitudinal axis L (see  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ). Preferably, the angled portions  22 ,  24  are disposed at 45 degree angle with respect to longitudinal axis L. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , a tunnel passes through the entire length of the device  10  and terminates at vertex  27 . 
       FIG. 5A  shows the adjustable square device  10  in combination with a blade  44  engaging within first groove  26  (see  FIG. 4 ). In this embodiment, the device  10  in use to ascertain a square relationship between a round bar  48  and flat piece  50  the unique configuration of the device  10  enables one to set the device  10  atop a round bar  48  and bring the blade  44  into contact the piece  50 , thereby ascertaining and assuring a right-angle relationship between round bar  48  and the piece  50 . 
     As shown, the device  10  engages the round bar  48  such that at least a portion of the round bar  48  enters the rectangular void  36  and the blade  44  (inserted into first groove  26 ) engages the flat piece  50 . The rectangular void  36  formed in the bottom of device  10  allows one to more deeply and securely engage round bar  48  so that a more accurate square relationship can be ascertained between round bar  48  and flat stock  50 . Once a stable and square relation is established, the parts  48 ,  50  can be clamped or welded together. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  showed comparative views of the adjustable square device  10  are in use with a round bar  48  and flat piece  50 . In contrast to  FIGS. 5A and 5B ,  FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a blade  44  is oriented generally perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , the device  10 , engages a round bar  48 , and brought into contact with a flat portion  50 . However, as shown in  FIG. 6A , note that first groove  26  is empty, but blade  44  engages the first end  18  of the device  10  in a perpendicular orientation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6B , the device  10  engages round bar  48  by allowing a portion of the bar  48  to enter the rectangular void  36  formed along the bottom  30  of the device  10 . The blade  44  engages within a second groove  28  (see.  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ), such that the blade  44  engages flat piece  50 . One may ascertain a square relation between round bar  48  and flat piece  50  by tightly engaging the device  10  with round bar  48 , and the blade  44  with flat surface  50 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show comparative views of yet another use for the inventive square device. 
     In  FIG. 7A , the device  10  is shown in use with a round bar  48  and flat bar  50  in this embodiment, the device  10  works well to establish a square relation between round bar  48  and flat bar  50  without the requirement of a blade  44  (see  FIGS. 5A ,  6 A). Specifically referring to  FIG. 7B , the device  10  engages both round bar  48  and the flat surface  50  by positioning the rectangular void  36  of the device  10  into contact with the round bar  48 . Next, the flat bar  50  is brought into contact with the first end  18  of the device. When the flat bar  50  is brought flush into contact with the planar surface of the first end  18  of the device, a square relation between round bar  48  and flat surface  50  is ascertained. 
       FIG. 8  shows a plan view of the adjustable square device  10  in combination with a pair of planar surfaces such as a flat bar  50  and a plate  54 . In this embodiment, the device  10  can be used to ascertain a 45 degree angle between flat bar  50  and plate steel  54  by bringing the flat bar  50  into contact with angle portion  24  of the device  10 , plate  54  flush into contact with the side  14  of the device  10 . When used in this manner, the square device  10  may be used to ascertain a 45 degree angle with relationship to different bars or surfaces, such as flat bar  50  and steel plate  54  as shown. Although  FIG. 8  shows the device  10  being used to establish an angled relationship without a blade, one may establish additional square relationships by inserting the blade into the either the first of the second groove. This type of orientation enables one to ascertain proper angles in not merely two dimensions (as shown in  FIG. 8 ) but in three dimensions, too. 
       FIGS. 9A-9C  are comparative views of the stem  34  that passes through the device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , the stem  34  bears threading  35  at one end, and a chamfered portion  37  at its second end. Comparing  FIG. 9A  to  FIG. 1 , the threaded portion  35  of the stem  34  extends outwardly from a back end of the device, enabling one to tighten a nut onto the threaded portion  35 . 
       FIG. 9B  shows an alternate, side view of the stem  34 , showing the relation of the chamfered portion  37  of the stem  34 . 
       FIG. 9C  shows a greater detail of the chamfered portion  37 , as circled in  FIG. 9B . A protuberance  39  extends upwardly from a flat area of the chamfered portion  37 . The protuberance is formed to engage within a channel or groove formed on blade  44 . When the stem  34  is inserted into the device  10  (supra), one tightens the nut to engage protuberance  39  within the groove on the blade  44 , thereby securing the blade  44  to the device  10  in a selected position. 
     Although the invention and drawings are described in detail, this description has been made for illustrative and example purposes only. The scope and breadth of the described invention is limited only by the terms of patent claims that particularly point out and distinctly claim the metes and bounds of the invention.