Abstract:
An angle measuring tool having pivotally connected members and an angle measurement index with and off center portion positioned so that upon the rotation of one member with respect to the other the angle between the two members can be accurately determined with no possibility of slippage of the angle measurement index due to the off center portion mating with one of the members.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]    This application is related to Provisional Application No. 60/360,523, filed Feb. 28, 2002 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,238 B1, issued to Applicant on May 29, 2001. The benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) is hereby claimed for Provisional Application No. 60/360,523. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention has to do with a measuring tool for use in the construction profession with particular applicability to finish carpentry, piping layouts, floor and ceiling installations and cabinetry. It also has direct applications in the graphic arts field, the engineering and drafting fields and other manufacturing situations where angle measurements are performed.  
           [0003]    This invention is used in the fitting of trim and decorative pieces to the surface of wall surfaces which meet at an angular junction commonly referred to as a miter joint. A miter saw/miter box is used to cut the trim and decorative pieces in a precise manner so that a clean and accurate miter joint is established.  
           [0004]    Without an adequate tool the craftsman must eyeball the setting of the miter saw.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of this invention to provide an easy to use tool to transfer angle readings from a work place surface to a miter saw in a one-step operation.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of this invention to measure an angle, its complementary angle and its supplementary angle simultaneously.  
           [0007]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention an angle measurement tool is provided that in its final form is limited to two parts. At least one of the parts has a plurality of scale measurements scribed upon it. The tool is so constructed that the movement of the two parts relative to each other will result in an angle being formed there between that will be measured by referring to a setting on the scale so provided.  
           [0008]    The tool can be utilized to measure the miter joint angle, the actual angle made by the legs of the tool, the complementary angle of the actual angle and the supplementary angle of the actual angle simultaneously. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 1A, 1B, and  1 C are plan views of the dial  12 .  
         [0010]    [0010]FIGS. 2A, 2B, and  2 C are plan views of top leg  14 .  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 3A, 3B, and  3 C are plan views of the O-ring  16   
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 4A, 4B, and  4 C are plan views of bottom leg  18 .  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a plan view of bolt  20 .  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of all of the components as assembled with the legs forming an acute angle.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a top view of the tool.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tool in a closed position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a side cut-away view of the tool.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 10A, 10B, and  10 C are exploded views of the tool.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the tool in a closed position.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the tool in a closed position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    As can be seen in Figures the preferred embodiment of angle measurement tool  10  is constructed from several components including dial  12 , top leg  14 , O ring  16 , bottom leg  18  and bolt  20  Legs  14  and  18  are the same width and both have a circular shaped end  22 . It should be understood that circular end  22  of both leg  14  and leg  18  is a semicircle of a circle having a diameter equal to the width of leg  14  and leg  18 . Openings  24  and  26  in legs  14  and  18  respectively, are provided at the center of the circle of which ends  22  are a part. Dial  12  is circular in shape and has a diameter equal to the width of legs  14  and  18  as shown in the drawings. It should be understood that dial  12  could have a diameter less than the width of legs  14  and  18  in order to facilitate placing indcia on that surface and further, does not have to be in the shape of a circle in order for tool  10  to operate in the fashion described. Sockets  28  and  32  are recessed in to leg  18  around the perimeter of hole  26  as shown. The bottom surface of socket  28  has an off-center socket  32  for reasons that will be apparent below. In an alternative embodiment socket  32  can be on-center and in that case should hasve a non-circular shape.  
         [0022]    When the components of tool  10  are assembled O-ring  16  is placed within the outer circumference of the recessed opening  30 . Leg  14  is positioned over leg  18  so that the recessed opening  30  and O-ring  16  in leg  14  are concentric with opening  26  and socket  28  in leg  18 .  
         [0023]    Bolt  20  is then used to tighten and compress O-ring  16  between leg  14  and leg  18 . The presence of O-ring  16  provides a frictional force between legs  14  and  18  that maintains dial  12  in a steady position for an accurate reading of the measured angle. It should be understood that O-ring  16  may not be necessary in all applications. Other position adjustment mechanisms are contemplated in alternative embodiments of the invention.  
         [0024]    Leg  18  is provided with a positionally unique indexing socket  32  formed off the center of socket  28 . In the preferred embodiment a circular projection  34  and off-center round peg  29  having the same shape as indexing socket  32  and socket  28  are provided on the bottom surface of dial  12  as shown in the drawing. When the components are assembled projection  34  and off-cente peg  29  fits snugly in socket  28  and socket  32  so that dial  12  and leg  18  never move in relation to each other.  
         [0025]    Leg  14  is also provided with a flat recess  36  on the top surface thereof which results in the top surface of dial  12  being coplanar with the top surface of leg  14  after the components of tool  10  are assembled. It should be understood that the top surface of dial  12  does not have to be co-planer with the top surface of leg  14 . Countersunk flathead bolt  20  is passed through the bottom of leg  18  into locking threads in the center of extension  34  on the bottom of dial  12  resulting in legs  14  and  18  compressing O-ring  16  in a sandwich-like manner. This provides precisely pivoting legs  14  and  18  with a friction adjustment. In the use of tool  10  no further friction adjustment is necessary. It is recognized that leg  14  is the only moving part of the tool  10  when being used to measure an angle for a miter joint reading.  
         [0026]    Arrow  13  is provided on the ton surface of leg  14  as shown in the figures. Arrows  38 ,  40  and  42  are provided on the radial surface of leg  14  as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.  
         [0027]    In operation tool  10  simultaneously provides the miter joint angle measurement, the actual angle made by the legs  14  and  18 , the complementary angle measurement of the actual angle and the supplementary angle measurement of the actual angle. In the preferred embodiment dial  12  is provided with indexing markings that are representative of the miter joint angle reading. Specifically arrow  13  points to the marking on dial  12  that is the miter joint reading. The indexing provided on the radial surface of leg  18  measures the actual angle reading via arrow  38 ; the complementary angle reading via arrow  40  and the supplementary angle reading via arrow  42 . Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12 it is noted that the indexing markings representing the complementary angles readings are located on the bottom row of numbers printed on the radial surface of leg  18  and the supplementary angle readings are located on the top row of numbers.  
         [0028]    Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described it should be recognized that additional modification and other alternative embodiments may be apparent by those skilled in the art.