Patent Publication Number: US-2013227846-A1

Title: Rafter Angle Square With Scribe Guide Notches

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/605,482 filed on Mar. 1, 2012 and entitled  Rafter Angle Square with Scribe Guides,  the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by explicit reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a rafter angle square and, more particularly, to a rafter angle square including a number of aligned scribe guide notches. 
     Rafter angle square tools, sometimes colloquially referred to as speed squares, are triangularly shaped tools combining the features and functions of a combination square, try square, and framing square into a single tool. A rafter angle square allows the user to quickly mark rafter angles without making the necessary mathematical calculations, and is commonly employed by framers and carpenters. 
     A rafter angle square is typically constructed of a generally planar body in the form of an isosceles right triangle with a ruler on one of the short sides and a pair of flanges, forming a fence, on the other. The rafter angle square is marked with the word “pivot” at the right angle of the triangle, which corresponds to a pivot point of the tool during use. Degrees are displayed along the hypotenuse side and common and/or hip/val marks on its midsection. The degree markings indicate an angle in degrees from 0-90 degrees. The common markings indicate the rise in inches over a 12-inch run for common rafters from 1-30 inches. The hip/val markings indicate the rise in inches over a 12-inch run for hip or valley rafters from 1-30 inches. Some rafter angle squares include notches or divots for accommodating a writing utensil such as a pencil to mark the workpiece to which the tool is applied. 
     A base defined by the fence side of the rafter angle square may be generally T-shaped, formed by the pair of flanges extending in opposite directions from the body, for holding the rafter angle square tool flush against an edge of the workpiece. To mark the workpiece with a desired angle, the body is placed on the surface of the workpiece and one of the flanges of the fence is brought into engagement with the edge of the workpiece. To make a cross-cut mark on the workpiece, a marking instrument is moved along the hypotenuse edge of the rafter angle square to mark a 45 degree angle or along the short, ruler edge of the rafter angle square to mark a 90 degree angle. To create marks of varying angles, the tool is rotated about its pivot point until the desired angle is aligned with the edge of the workpiece and then the marking instrument is moved along the ruler edge to mark the desired angle. 
     The rafter angle square is similarly used to make common and hip/valley rafter markings on the workpiece. To do this, one of the flanges of the fence of the rafter angle square is held against the workpiece, and the rafter angle square is pivoted about its pivot point until the appropriate measurement for the rise/run of the common or hip/val markings is aligned with the edge of the workpiece. The marking instrument is then moved along the edge of the rafter angle square to mark the workpiece. 
     A rafter angle square also typically includes scribe guide notches to enable a user to draw straight lines parallel to an edge of the workpiece. The scribe guide notches are typically defined by a number of teeth formed in a slot formed in the body of the rafter angle square that extends parallel to the ruler side of the body. To mark a line using the scribe guide notches, one of the flanges of the fence is held against the edge of the workpiece. A marking instrument is then inserted into the desired notch of the scribe guide on the side of the slot toward which the line is to be marked, and the rafter angle square tool is slid along the workpiece while holding the flange of the fence firmly to the edge of the workpiece and the marking instrument in the desired notch. This moves the marking instrument along with the rafter angle square, and results in a line that is parallel to the edge of the workpiece. 
     However, common rafter angle squares suffer from a number of known disadvantages. In particular, the scribe guide notches on one side of the scribe guide slot are arranged in an offset manner relative to the scribe guide notches on the opposing side of the slot. While this arrangement allows scribe guide notches to be placed at relatively fine increments, it has a significant practical drawback. Specifically, the offset nature of the scribe guide notches makes it difficult for a user to mark lines using the scribe guide notches in both directions without flipping the rafter angle square over. That is to say, if a line is to be scribed at a distance that corresponds with a notch that is located on the side of the slot away from the direction in which the rafter angle square is to be drawn, the square must be flipped over so that the notch is positioned on the correct side of the slot, i.e. the side of the slot toward the direction in which the rafter angle square is to be moved. The offset nature of the opposing scribe notches also does not allow a user to first mark by moving the square in a first direction and then mark a second line, coincident with the first line, in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     Accordingly, a rafter angle square including aligned scribe guide notches on opposing sides of the scribe guide notch is desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to a square, such as a rafter angle square having generally triangular body, which may be in the form of an isosceles triangle. The square has a fence element configured to assist the user in positioning the square flush against the edge of a workpiece, such as a board, piece of lumber, or the like. The square defines a ruler edge extending perpendicularly relative to the fence, and a hypotenuse edge extending opposite the intersection of the ruler edge and the fence element. The square further has a scribe slot formed in the body, which may extend generally parallel to the ruler side. The scribe slot has opposing sides defining a number of inwardly extending projections, which define a number of scribe guide notches between adjacent projections. The scribe guide notches of the opposing sides are aligned with one another, which enables a user to mark a line with the same distance from the edge of the workpiece by moving the square in either a first direction or in a second direction without flipping or otherwise repositioning the square and while maintaining the fence of the square in engagement with the edge of the workpiece. 
     A method of using a square, such as a rafter angle square having a scribe guide slot, is also contemplated. The method involves providing a square with a scribe guide slot that includes first and second opposing edges including a number of projections defining aligned scribe guide notches, in which the scribe guide notches of the first edge are aligned with the scribe guide notches of the second edge. In the method of using the square, the user positions a marking instrument in one of the scribe guide notches of the first edge and slidably move the rafter angle square along the edge of the workpiece to mark a line in a first direction parallel to the edge of the workpiece. The user may also position the marking instrument in the opposing scribe guide notch of the second edge and slidably move the square along the edge of the workpiece to mark a second line in a second direction opposite the first direction but still parallel with the edge of the workpiece and coincident with the first line. 
     Various other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate preferred representative embodiment presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a square, in the form of a rafter angle square, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the rafter angle square of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the rafter angle square of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view showing a fence side of the rafter angle square of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view showing a hypotenuse side of the rafter angle square of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view showing a ruler side of the rafter angle square of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is an end elevation view of the rafter angle square of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and  FIGS. 1-7 , according to at least one construction of the present invention, a square, which may be in the form of a rafter angle square, is illustrated at  10 . The square  10  is configured for measuring, drawing straight lines, and/or laying out angles on workpieces such as boards for use in constructing roofs, stairways, decks, and the like. The rafter angle square  10 , may be constructed from plastic, metal, or any other suitable material. The square  10  is in the form of a body defining an isosceles right triangle including a first or ruler side  12  and a second or fence side  14  of equal length and a third or hypotenuse side  16 . The fence side  14  may include a pair of flanges that extend in opposite directions from the edge of the body to form a fence element  18  arranged 90 degrees relative to the fence side  14  and configured to enable the user of the square  10  to position the square  10  flush against an edge of the workpiece. The fence element  18  forms a T-shaped base with the ruler side  12 , wherein the fence element  18  serves as the horizontal portion of the T-shaped base and is configured to at least partially overlap an edge of the workpiece with a segment of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped base. 
     The square  10  includes a face side  20  and an opposing bottom side  22 . The face and bottom sides  20  and  22  may include a number of markings for use in carrying out operations using the square  10  as will be described herein. 
     The square  10  defines a number of apertures or slots configured to enable the user to make a number of markings for carrying out a number of operations as will be explained. The square  10  includes a scribe guide slot  24 , which may be formed so as to extend parallel to and adjacent the ruler side  12 . The square  10  may further include a rafter slot  26 , which may be formed so as to extend parallel to the hypotenuse side  16  and which may be formed in a midsection of the body of square  10 . The square  10  also includes a fence slot  28 , which may be formed so as to extend parallel to and generally adjacent the fence side  14 , and an auxiliary slot  30 , which may be formed at any number of locations on the square  10  as long as it does not interfere with operation of the square  10 . As will be described in further detail herein, the scribe guide slot  24  enables the user of the square  10  to draw lines parallel to fence side  14  and the edge of the workpiece. The rafter slot  26  enables the user to mark the workpiece at a desired slope with respect to either common or hip/val rafter construction. The fence slot  28  enables the user to measure and/or mark lines parallel with the fence side  14 . The auxiliary slot  30  may be configured with an element for carrying out an auxiliary operation, which may be related or unrelated to the primary function of the square  10  as will be described herein. 
     The scribe guide slot  24  includes a pair of opposing edges  32  and  34 . The edges  32  and  34  include a number of teeth or projections  36  extending from the respective edge  32  or  34  toward the opposing edge  32  or  34  and perpendicular to an axis defined by the ruler side  12 . The projections  36  define a number of scribe guide notches  38  along each of the edges  32  and  34  between the adjacent projections  36  for marking lines on a workpiece. The projections  36  are spaced relative to one another a predetermined distance such as, for example, 0.25 inches, or any other similarly suitable distance. The spacing between the projections  36  extending from the edge  32  and between the projections extending from the edge  34  is identical and the scribe guide notches  38  on the edges  32  and  34  are aligned with one another. Accordingly, the user of the square  10  may easily make a number of markings using the scribe guide notches  38  when moving the square  10  in opposite directions. The scribe guide notches  38  may have varying depths for quick identification by the user. For example, the scribe guide notches  38  at 3.5 and 5.5 inches may be larger than the other scribe guide notches to correspond to the standard widths of 4 and 6 inch wide lumber stock, respectively, and therefore may be frequently used. Of course, it is understood that the scribe guide notches  38  at other locations may be enlarged or otherwise differ from the rest of the scribe guide notches  38  as may be desired. Other means of quickly identifying given scribe guide notches  38  may be employed such as by application of certain indicia to the front and rear surfaces  20  and  22 , respectively, of the 10 adjacent the scribe guide notches or by forming scribe guide notches  38  in another configuration that differentiates them from the surrounding scribe guide notches  38 . 
     The user may use the scribe guide notches  38  to mark lines on a given workpiece by positioning the fence element  18  flush against the edge of the workpiece. The fence element  18  includes a pair of flanges  40  and  42  configured to enable the user to arrange the square  10  relative to the workpiece. In particular, one of the edges  40  and  42  may be placed flush against a side of the workpiece while the other may be grasped by the user to maintain the square  10  flush against the edge of the workpiece. Thus, the user may easily maintain the square  10  in a predetermined orientation to ensure proper marking. A pencil or other marking instrument is then inserted into the desired scribe guide notch  38 , and the square  10  is slid along the edge of the workpiece in the direction of the edge  32  or  34  in which the pencil or other marking instrument is held while holding the fence element  18  flush against the edge of the workpiece to mark a first line that is parallel to the edge of the workpiece so the user may mark cut or layout lines on the workpiece. As desired, the user of the square  10  may then mark a second line coincident with the first line and also parallel to the edge of the workpiece by moving the marking instrument to the scribe guide notch  38  directly opposite the scribe guide notch  38  used for marking the first line. In this manner, the user of the square is able to mark lines parallel with the edge of the workpiece in opposing direction without repositioning the square  10  as is the case with known squares having offset scribe guide notches. 
     As previously indicated, the face and bottom sides  20  and  22  may include a number of markings used for carrying out operations with the square  10 . The square  10  may include a number of markings extending parallel with the hypotenuse side  16  such as, for example, degree markings  44  located adjacent to the edge defined by the hypotenuse side  16 , common markings  46  located adjacent to a side of the rafter slot  26 , and hip/val markings  48  located adjacent an opposing side of the rafter slot  26 . The degree markings  44  may be configured to enable a user to mark a predetermined angle on the workpiece. The common markings  46  may be configured to enable a user to mark a predetermined slope on the workpiece that corresponds to a configuration associated with a common rafter style. The hip/val markings  48  may be configured to enable a user to mark the workpiece with a predetermined slope corresponding to a configuration associated with a hip/valley style rafter. 
     Ruler markings  50  may be provided adjacent to and parallel with the ruler side  12 . The ruler markings  50  may be provided in inches, centimeters, or the like as may be desired and may be used to enable a user to make measurements and/or mark the measurements of the workpiece. A pivot marking  52  may be provided at an intersection of the ruler side  12  and the fence side  14  and define a pivot point  54  of square  10  during operation. 
     First, with respect to the degree markings  44 , in operation, the user holds the square  10  flush with one of the edges  40  or  42  of the fence element  18  and the workpiece as previously described. The user then rotates the square  10  about the pivot point  54  until the desired angle along the hypotenuse side  16  is aligned with an opposite edge of the workpiece. Once the square  10  is properly aligned, the user may mark or cut the workpiece at the desired angle by marking or cutting along the hypotenuse side  16 , which has been rotated to an angle equal to that of the degree marking  44  aligned with the opposite edge of the workpiece relative to the edge of the workpiece. 
     Next, with respect to the rafter markings, i.e., common markings  46  and hip/val markings  48 , in operation, the user holds the square  10  flush with one of the edges  40  or  42  of the fence element  18  and the workpiece as described herein. The user then rotates the square  10  about the pivot point  54  until the desired value of the common or hip/val markings  46  or  48  are aligned with an opposite edge of the workpiece. Once the square  10  is properly aligned, the rafter slot  26  may be utilized to make the appropriate marking according to the desired common or hip/val slope. 
     The auxiliary slot  30  may include a centrally positioned flange element  56 , which may be in the form of a bottle opener element as illustrated. The auxiliary slot  30  may be generally rectangularly shaped and the flange element  56  may project from one edge of the slot  30  toward the opposite edge a predetermined amount such that an object, such as a bottle cap, may be inserted between the flange element  56  and the opposite edge of the slot  30  to thereby allow the 3 flange element  56  to serve as a bottle opener. The flange element  56  may be sized, shaped, and configured to engage, for example, the cap of a bottle or similar object so that pivoting the square  10  about the edge of the slot opposite the flange element  56  removes the cap from the bottle. The auxiliary slot  30  may have any number of alternative constructions and may be disposed at any location on the body of the square  10  as long as it does not interfere with operation of the square  10 . 
     Various alternatives and modifications are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.