Abstract:
An insulation work tool is disclosed that is marked for measurement and comparison with charts thereon for different ratios and grades of pipes, clamps, and insulation as used in the insulation industry, and includes other devices for determination of the proper relationships of dimensions of the insulation, pipes, clamps, and sheet metal, as well as other functions.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Catalogues or rule books for calculating appropriate relationships among various components in construction are known in the art. Typically, such catalogues are printed in paper books or booklets and are used in conjunction with measurements made by other calculators. The insulation industry has a particular need for measuring and calculating relationships relating pipes, clamps, and insulation which have their own standards and labels. These measurements can be for various sizes of these items, not necessarily in standard units of measure, and often are utilized for measurements of pipes, the appropriate measurements of clamps, and thicknesses of insulation relative to and among each other. 
     While these various measurements can be calculated, it takes a significant amount of time on the job to make such calculations. Additionally, errors may be made in the calculations. Consulting catalogues can cause an unnecessary waste of time and limit overall productivity, as does having to work back and forth between consulting catalogues and utilizing separate measuring devices. 
     SUMMARY 
     A work tool approximately one foot in length is disclosed that is marked for measurement and comparison with charts thereon for different ratios and grades of pipes, clamps, and insulation as used in the insulation industry, and including charts as well for determination of the proper relationships of dimensions of the insulation, pipes, clamps, and sheet metal, as well as other information, as well a being able to function as a convenient measuring device. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment, a similar but larger work tool approximately two feet in length is disclosed for measuring and comparing larger dimensions of the different measures and functions involved. This larger tool comprises two segments with a pivoted connection at the end of each, so that when opened the segments are aligned with each other so as to provide a continuous measure of the different comparisons up to and including the larger distances involved. The pivot is provided so that this larger tool may be folded upon itself for ease of carrying. It also performs other functions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows an exemplary front view of a work tool. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exemplary rear view of the work tool of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows an exemplary view of another work tool. 
         FIG. 4  shows an exemplary rear view of the work tool of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an expanded view of a section of the work tool of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is an expanded view of a section of the work tool of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
     As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a work tool  100 . Work tool  100  may be about one foot in length and may be formed out of any rigid or semi-rigid material, for example wood, metal, plastic, any combination thereof or any other material as desired. A front portion  FIG. 1  of the work tool  100  may have any desired units of measurement disposed thereon, for example regular numbered inches. The units of measurement are to scale, so that, for example, regular numbered inches on the front left portion may be conveniently be used for measurement of elements such as pipe diameter so that such measurements may then be employed in conjunction with calculation features of the work tool. Holes  107  may be positioned at a bottom portion and may act as, for example, center points for a compass or divider. Such center points on a compass or divider may be used to pick out a fraction where the other end is a whole number. This can allow for tool  100  to be used in a process for cutting a circumference into four equal parts in certain patterns. 
     Letters A-W in exemplary  FIG. 1  may be indicated as at  102 . These letters can indicate distances as measured from the lines  104  extending from letters  102  to the hole  105  at a center bottom of the tool  100 . In one exemplary embodiment, the lines  104  may be slightly curved, for example as seen with the smaller distances, so as to facilitate a measurement by a compass or divider. The letters  102  can indicate an insulation thickness size in an exemplary embodiment. Additionally, the letters  102  can refer to a chart  203  on an upper portion of the back side  200  (as shown in exemplary  FIG. 2 ) of work tool  100  as correlation indicators to certain thicknesses of standard insulation that may be used with certain thicknesses of pipe. Additionally, at an end of lines  104  there may be indicated numbers  106 . Numbers  106  can refer to pipe sizes. These pipe sizes may also, with the lines  104 , be measured from center hole  105 , and may be used with certain patterns. Thus, the use of work tool  100  may provide for rapid calculations and measurement. 
     A right side  108  of the front of the work tool  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , can be ruled with certain numbers. The numbers, in one exemplary embodiment, can refer to a circumference, in inches, or any desired unit of measurement, of a pipe with a radius that may be at listed on the left side  109 , and which may be multiplied by 2 pi, or a factor of about 6.28. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, and now referring to  FIG. 2 , the letters  102 , shown as elements  209  in  FIG. 2 , may also refer to chart  207  at a bottom back part of the work tool  100 , further described below. 
     As may be seen in exemplary  FIG. 2 , chart  207  can refer to the letters  102 , there-identified at  209 . Chart  207  can also list values for bands  208  and sheet metal  201 , as well as a close measurement of the circumference  202  of the insulation listed in the top chart  203 . The sheet metal value  201  and circumference value  202  may be standard increments for lap on the sheet metal and bands. In still other exemplary embodiments, any values or correlations described herein may be utilized in any other desired measurements or calculations. 
     Exemplary  FIGS. 3 and 4  can refer to another embodiment of a work tool, for example one being about two feet in length. This exemplary embodiment may similar to the embodiment of the one-foot work tool described in the exemplary embodiments referred to in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Exemplary  FIGS. 3 and 4  can show a front of work tool  300  and back  400  of work tool  300 . Work tool  300  can further have two rectangular flat elements  301 ,  401  and  302 ,  402 , that may be pivoted at a mechanical pivot  310 . Mechanical pivot  310  may allow the work tool  300  to fold and decrease the effective length, for example to reduce the carrying size or increase the convenience of handling work tool  300 . Other exemplary manners of reducing the length of work tool  300 , for example sliding portions  301 / 302  and  401 / 402  together and locking them in place, may also be contemplated and utilized, as desired. Further, on the front face  302  shown in exemplary  FIG. 3 , the lower segment  311  may be substantially similar to the front face  100  of the one-foot work tool of  FIG. 1 . The upper segment  301  may further be an extension of the lower segment  311  for larger distances, and can operate similarly. 
     Referring now to exemplary  FIG. 4 , the back face  400  at the upper segment  413  can have the same or similar charts as those which appeared on the back face  200  of the work tool shown in exemplary  FIG. 2 . For example similar numbering can be utilized, albeit on a larger scale, depending on the length of work tool  300 . Additionally, in this exemplary embodiment the charts may not be located on the back face  414  of the lower segment  402 . However, if desired, charts may be provided there or any other desired information may be disposed in that location. 
     Still referring to exemplary  FIG. 4 , the bottom segment  414  of the tool  300 , as well as a small portion of the bottom portion of the top segment  413 , can have four different, or any other desired number, of measurements. For example, each letter may have a number that indicates order. These can be pre-measurements of a “TEE”, or cross pattern. These elements may be further shown in exemplary  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Exemplary  FIGS. 5 and 6  can show the work tool  300  in a partially folded position, for example folded around mechanical pivot  310 . Additionally, exemplary values for the units and measurements described herein may be shown in greater detail. 
     The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variants of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.