Patent Publication Number: US-3878615-A

Title: Device for determining dimensional reductions and enlargements

Description:
PATENTEB APRZZIQYS SHEET l UF 2 4DEVICE FOR DETERMINING DIMENSIONAL REDUCTIONS AND ENLARGEMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for determining dimensional reductions and enlargements of photographs, printed material and the like.  
  As is often the case in the printing industry, a photograph or a portion thereof must be enlarged or reduced when it is reproduced in a newspaper or magazine. In order that distortion of the photograph or design be prevented, it is necessary that the length as well as the width be reduced or enlarged proportionately.  
  Although the necessary computations for accomplishing the proportionate enlargement or reduction may be computed manually, this practice has proved to be unduly time consuming and open to error. Heretofor, manual computation has been avoided by resort to geometrical instruments which employ a movable member which must be maintained exactly diagonally across the enclosed rectangular area as the dimensions are increased or decreased. Another prior art device includes an adjustable masking frame assembly which overlies an appropriately scaled surface.  
 Although these instruments eliminate the necessity for manual computations, they often contain relatively complex mechanical arrangements thereby rendering them less rugged and more expensive to produce. Furthermore, there is no simple and accurate provision for reducing or enlarging the photograph by a predetermined factor without the necessity for manual computation.  
 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a device for determining dimensional reductions and enlargements which is accurate and relatively easy to operate.  
  A further object of this invention is to provide a device for determining dimensional reductions and enlargements wherein the dimensions may be increased or decreased proportionately by a given percentage without a complex mechanical arrangement or the necessity for manual computation.  
  Another object of this invention is to provide a device for determining dimensional reductions and enlargements embodying durability of construction.  
  Another object of this invention is to provide a device for determining dimensional reductions and enlargements wherein the indicia is representative of the dimensions reduced or enlarged by a proportionate amount is located on a pair of movable members.  
 A further object of this invention is to provide a device for determining dimensional reductions and enlargements whichis simple in construction.  
  A still further object of this invention is to provide a device for determining dimensional reductions and enlargements which permits `the user to work from the layout to the photograph.  
  Yet another object is to permit the user to place the device directly on the layout once the photograph has been scaled.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device comprises a first member having a pair of arms forming a right angle therebetween, a second member having a pair of arms forming a right angle therebetween, and means securing the first member to the second member to enclose a rectangular area within the arms. The means for securing the tirst member to the second member includes means for permitting relative movement therebetween to vary the size of the enclosed rectangular area. The first member carries indicia representing the length and width dimensions of the enclosed rectangular area as well as indicia representing the length and width enlarged or reduced by factors of varying degree.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one of the clips illustrated in FIG. 1 which forms a part of the present invention.  
  FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1; and  
  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the other clip illustrated in FIG. 1 which forms a portion of the present invention.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT ILLUSTRATED IN THE DRAWINGS In a preferred form, the device includes a pair of frame members 10 and 12 which are preferably made of a relatively thin transparent material such as a suitable plastic although strips of wood or metal could also be used. Member 10 comprises a pair of integral arms 14 and 16 oriented perpendicularly to each other such that their inside straightedges form a 90 angle at vertex 22. Similarly, the arms 24 and 26 of member l2 are perpendicular to each other and their inside straightedges 28 and 30 form a 90 angle at vertex 32. The outside straightedges 34, 36, 38 and 40 of members 10 and 12 are parallel to their respective inside edges 18, 20, 28 and 30.  
  Members 10 and 12 are secured together by means of clips 44 and 46 such that the inside edges 18, 20, 28 and 30 enclose a rectangular area 42. As is best illustrated in FIG. 2, clip 46 comprises a pair of transparent strip-like members 48 and 50 spaced from each other, when assembled, by triangular transparent members 52, 54, 56 and 58. When assembled, the clip 44 will appear as shown in FIG. 4 with the exception that the triangular members 52, S4, 46 and 58 will be arranged such that clip 46 is a mirror image of clip 44. The edges 60 and 62 of members 52 and 54, the upper surfaces 64 and 66 of members 56 and 58 and the lower surface 68 of member 48 cooperate to form a channel in which arm 26 slides rectilinearly. Similarly, the edges 70 and 72 of members 56 and 58, the lower surfaces 74 and 76 of members 52 and 54 and the upper surface 78 of member 50 cooperate to form a channel positioned below and oriented perpendicular to the aforementioned channel in which arm 16 slides rectilinearly in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which arm 26 slides.  
  Referring now to FIG. 4, clip 44 is illustrated in its assembled state. It comprises a pair of members and 82 which are spaced from each other by means of triangular members 84, 86, 88 and 90, the latter being oriented in a reverse manner with respect to the triangular members 52V, S4, 56 and 58 of clip 46. The triangular members 84, 86, 88 and 90 cooperate with members 80 and 82 to form a pair of channels 92 and 94 ori- 30 (e.g. graduation 48) is noted and member 12 moved toward arm 14 until edge 30 is aligned with the intersection of the line 130 corresponding to graduation 48 (line 48-48) and the 60 percent line 142 (point B). The width (28.8) may. then be read on edge 20. The rectangular area 42 now enclosed by edges 18, 20, 28 and 30 has length and width dimensions which are exactly 60 percent of the rectangular area initially enclosed.  
  Should it be desired to enlarge the rectangular varea 42 by a given percentage, the device is oriented such that the indicia on member 12 faces the user (FIG. 3). The edges 18, 20, 28 and 30 are again moved such that they enclose the portion of the photograph desired to be enlarged, the graduation 148 which is aligned with edge 18 is noted, the member 10 is moved away from arm 26 until it is aligned with the line 168 corresponding to the initial graduation 148 and the appropriate line 176, 178 or edge 156 corresponding to the desired degree of enlargement. Edge is moved away from edge 28 in a similar fashion until the same degree of enlargement has been accomplished with respect to the width dimension.  
  In the case of reduction as well as enlargement, the area 42 enclosed by the edge 18, 20, 28 and 30 represents the initial area proportionately increased or decreased by a given factor.  
  Rather than increasing or decreasing the dimensions by a particular percentage, it may be desired to increase or decrease one of the dimensions to a specific value.  
  For example, assume that a rectangular area having a height 36 picas and a width 24 picas is desired to be reduced to a rectangular area having a height of 18 picas. Initially, member 12 is moved until edge 28 is aligned with the 36 graduation 106 and edge 30 is aligned with 24 graduation 108. Member 12 is then moved until edge 28 is aligned with the 18 graduation 108. The intersection of edge 28 and the 36-36 line is noted and by reference to the reduction indicia associated with lines 134, 136, 138 and edges 34 and 18, the percent of reduction is determined. In the present example, the intersection of edge 28 and the 36-36 line coincides with edge 34, a reduction of 50 percent. If, for example, the intersection would have lied ori the 60 percent line 134, this would indicate a reduction of 40 percent. Edge 30 is then moved toward edge 18 until it is aligned with the intersection of the 24-24 line and the 50 percent edge 36. The point on edge 20 aligned with edge would then indicate the width of the enclosed area 42 (i.e., 12 picas) corresponding to a height reduction of 18 picas.  
  By going through similar steps with the device oriented as illustrated in FIG. 3, enlargement could be ac complished.  
  Although the invention has been described by means of a particular embodiment wherein the dimensions can be reduced up to 50 percent in increments of l0 percent and enlarged by 400 percent in increments of 100 percent, it is possible to accomplish other degrees of enlargement or reduction by placing suitable indicia on members l0 and 12. For example, the segments 164 on edge 38 could be 7 or lO times as large as the segments 152 on edge 28. Also, the number of parallel lines such as 176 and 178 could be increased or decreased and the values thereon adjusted accordingly.  
  While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification. This application is, therefore, intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following the general principles thereof and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and fall within the scope of this invention or the limits of the appended claims.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. A device for determining dimensional reductions or enlargements comprising:  
 a. a first member having a first pair of straight edges forming an inside angle therebetween,  
 b. said first member including a face adjacent said first pair of edges,  
 c. a plurality of first longitudinal lines on said face parallel to and spaced from one of said first pair of edges,  
 d. a plurality of first transverse lines extending from equally spaced positions along said one of said first pair of edges across said face in a fan-like manner to intersect said first longitudinal lines at positions equally spaced along each of said first longitudinal lines and wherein the spacing of said last mentioned positions along different of said first longitudinal lines is equal to the spacing of said positions along said one of said first pair of edges multiplied by differing factors of reduction or enlargement,  
 e. a plurality of second longitudinal lines on said face parallel to and spaced from said the other of said first pair of edges,  
 f. a plurality of second transverse lines extending from equally spaced positions along said the other of said first pair of edges across said face in a fanlike manner to intersect said second longitudinal lines at positions equally spaced along each of said second longitudinal lines and wherein the spacing of said last mentioned positions along different of said second longitudinal lines is equal to the spacing of said positions along said the other of said first pair of edges multiplied by differing factors of reduction or enlargement, indicia on said face associated with said transverse lines for identifying said transverse lines,  
 . indicia on said face associated with each of said longitudinal lines indicating the value of said factors of reduction or enlargement corresponding therewith,  
 i. a second member having a second pair of straight edges forming an inside 90 angle therebetween, and  
 j. means adjustably securing said first member to said second member in overlapping arrangement to enclose a rectangular area of adjustable size bordered by said edges,  
 k. one of said second pair of edges extending across said plurality of first .longitudinal lines and the other of said second pair of edges extending across said plurality of second longitudinal lines to serve as indexes for taking readings from the scales formed by said longitudinal and transverse lines.  
 2. The device of claim 1 and wherein:  
 a. said transverse and longitudinal lines form a scale for determining dimensional reductions,  
 b. said second member includes a face adjacent said The device of claim 3 and wherein said means ad- SeCOnd pair Of edges and bearing trarlSVerSe and justably securing said members includes a pair of said longitudinal lines forming a scale for determining clips.  
  dimensional enlargements. 3. The device of claim 1 and wherein said means adjustably securing said members includes a clip slidably mounted on said members.  
  6. The device of claim 3 and wherein said clip is 5 transparent.  
  7. The device of claim 1 wherein said means adjust- 4. The device of claim 3 and wherein Said clip in ably securing said first member to said second member dudes means defining a channel for Said rst member includes means for permitting rectilinear relative to slide rectilinearly therein and means defining a chan- 1() movement of Sald mefnbers&#39; I nel for said second member to slide rectilinearly 8&#39; The device 0f Clalm 3 and wherein Sald chl encirtherein in a direction perpendicular to the direction of CICS a pOrtiOn Of each Of Said members. movement of said first member.  
  l United States Patent lwl l1 ll 3,878,616 Arrieta [45] Apr. 22, 1975 [54] DRAFTING INSTRUMENT 2.813.7l0 ll/l957 Angle1 33/177 [76] Inventor: Daniel Aguilar Arrieta, P.O. FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS fpafiado) 1929 sa Jose Costa 435,857 5/1948 lmly 33/177 lca [22] Filed: July 17, 1973 Primal- I` Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-John W. Shepperd l. N [2i] App O 379 996 Attorney, Agent, or Ft&#39;t&#39;nl-Hlll, Gross, Slmpson, San  
  Santen, Steadman, Chiara &amp; Simpson [52] U.S. CI 33/177; 269/45 [5l] lnt. Cl B43l l3/20 [58] Field otsearch 33/179, 177, 176; 269/45, [57i ABSTRACT 269/275 A drafting instrument comprising relativel adjustable l divergent arms and a resiliently flexible spring tape [56] References Cited having spirally curved end portions selectively en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gaged by the arms. A curvature control lever is en- 853 426 5/907 stccnsmlp 769/45 gageable selectively with the spring tape to control in l 157&#39;345 l0/l9l5 Toth .........:I::I: .i3/H7 Cooperation with he arms the curvilinear Shape 0f the 126891234 l0/l928 Film 33/177 Spring tape fOr tracing the seiecred curvilinear Shape 2.l38.494 ll/l938 Knox 33/l77 IhllS effected. 2,217,998 l0/l940 Buttress. 33/177 2.5l9,lo7 x/lslso Brown 269/275 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures