Patent Abstract:
A device for verifying dimensional relationships of buildings or facilities to ensure compliance with guidelines or requirements, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The device comprises a planar member having various geometric features and indicia arranged to facilitate quickly and easily verifying whether a particular dimensional relationship is met. Advantageously, the device is capable of verifying compliance with two related dimensional relationships simultaneously. The indicia are configured to facilitate photographing the device during a measurement so that a record may be maintained for future reference.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the measurement of dimensional relationships between associated objects, and more specifically to the measurement of dimensional relationships to verify compliance with guidelines or requirements.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In recent years, conscious efforts have been made to design and construct various public and private buildings and facilities to accommodate handicapped or disabled persons. To facilitate and encourage these efforts, various standards and legislative acts have been developed to establish guidelines for public and private buildings and facilities to facilitate the use of such buildings and facilities by such persons. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 establishes guidelines for promoting accessibility to buildings and facilities by persons with disabilities. These guidelines establish the minimum requirements for the spacing and arrangement of entranceways, walkways, drinking fountains, bathroom facilities, fixed or built-in seating and tables, hand rails and grab bars, and stairs, ramps or elevators, to name a few.  
         [0003]     Presently, no device is available which allows individuals to readily measure multiple and simultaneous spatial relationships between various elements of the buildings or facilities to determine whether they are in compliance with such guidelines. Moreover, no device is presently available which facilitates prescriptive documentation of such compliance in an easily photographable format for future reference. The ability to readily ascertain compliance and document compliance for future reference is particularly important for businesses which have buildings or facilities in multiple locations, such as department stores, restaurants, and other businesses providing goods and services to the public.  
         [0004]     There is thus a need for a device that quickly and easily facilitates multiple, repetitive and simultaneous measurement to verify whether a given facility or building feature meets established guidelines such as the ADA or other similar guidelines.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a device or template that can be used to readily determine whether various features of buildings and facilities comply with predetermined guidelines or requirements, such as those set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act. In one embodiment, the device comprises a planar member having at least one side surface, and geometric features formed on the planar member for verifying dimensional relationships. The device further includes various indicia disposed on the side surface to indicate the location of one or more reference dimensions relative to the geometric feature. Accordingly, the device can be used to quickly and easily determine whether a feature of a building or facility is in compliance by visual inspection.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, the geometric features comprise multiple pairs of oppositely disposed side edges that are spaced apart distances corresponding to the dimensional requirements or guidelines desired to be verified. In another embodiment, the geometric features include circular arcs that may be used to verify prescribed diameters of grab bars or hand rails, and related clearances from adjacent surfaces and objects. In yet another embodiment, the geometric features include profile forms for determining compliance of a stair tread nosing profile, a door threshold, and the allowable vertical offset in a path of travel.  
         [0007]     In yet another embodiment, the device is collapsible from an extended configuration useful for verifying compliance of dimensional relationships, to a compact configuration which is convenient for storage and transportation of the device. This embodiment may further include locking mechanisms that facilitate maintaining the device in the extended configuration, and which may be manipulated to allow the device to be collapsed to the compact configuration.  
         [0008]     The features and objectives of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of one embodiment of an exemplary device for verifying dimensional relationships according to the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 2A-2C  are plan views depicting other embodiments of devices similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , according to the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a device for verifying dimensional relationships, according to the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 3B and 3C  depict the device of  FIG. 3A  being folded for compact storage; and  
         [0014]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are perspective detail views depicting a locking feature for use with the device of  FIG. 3A . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exemplary device  10 , according to the present invention, for verifying dimensional relationships between associated objects, for example, to verify compliance of the dimensional relationships with guidelines such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). In the embodiment shown, the device  10  includes a planar member  12  having a generally rectangular-shaped central body portion  14 , and two oppositely disposed, elongate arms  16 ,  18  extending outwardly therefrom. The planar member  12  includes various geometric features formed thereon and arranged to facilitate verification of the desired dimensional relationships. An aperture  15  may be formed through the planar member, for use as a handle to facilitate carrying or handling the device  10 . The planar member  12  further includes various indicia disposed on a side face of the planar member  12  and positioned to facilitate verifying the dimensional relationships between the geometric features, or to indicate the location of one or more reference dimensions relative to a geometric feature.  
         [0016]     In the embodiment shown, the indicia include text that identifies the geometric features associated with each of the desired dimensional relationships, as will be described more fully below. The indicia further include a grid  19  of 1-inch×1-inch squares superposed upon the side surface of the planar member to facilitate ascertaining the dimensional relationships. The indicia may be printed, etched, stamped or formed on the planar member by other methods suitable to provide visible indicia.  
         [0017]     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the geometric features include various straight side edges formed around the periphery of the planar member  12 . Advantageously, the side edges establish reference locations which, used together with other geometric features or indicia on the planar member, permit persons to readily ascertain whether a desired dimensional relationship is met by the building or facility structure that is being checked.  
         [0018]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the central body portion  14  has first and second oppositely disposed, vertically-extending side edges  20 ,  22  spaced approximately 12-⅝ inches apart and first and second oppositely disposed laterally-extending side edges  21 ,  23  spaced approximately 12.0 inches apart. The second laterally-extending side edge  23  continues along the elongate arms  16 ,  18 . The device further includes third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh vertically-extending side edges  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth laterally-extending side edges  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  disposed on the first and second arm members  16 ,  18  of the planar member  12 . The third and fourth vertically-extending side edges  24 ,  26  are disposed on an opposite side of the planar member  12  from the fifth and sixth vertically-extending side edges  28 ,  30 . The third and sixth vertically-extending side edges  24 ,  30  are spaced apart approximately 36 inches. The third and fifth vertically-extending side edges  24 ,  28  are spaced apart approximately 34 inches. The fourth and sixth vertically-extending side edges  26 ,  30  are spaced apart approximately 32 inches, and the fourth and fifth vertically-extending side edges  26 ,  28  are spaced apart approximately 30 inches. Accordingly, the third through sixth vertically-extending side edges  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  may be used to verify compliance with various dimensional guidelines set out in the ADA, such as a 30-inch-wide knee clearance, a 32-inch-wide door opening, a 34-inch maximum counter height, a 36-inch length from a wall to the center of a toilet paper dispenser, and a 36-inch-wide clear path dimension.  
         [0019]     The second, third, eighth and ninth laterally-extending side edges  23 ,  34 ,  44 ,  46  are disposed on opposite sides of the planar member  12  from the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh laterally-extending side edges  21 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  of the planar member  12 . The first and second laterally-extending side edges  21 ,  23  are spaced apart approximately 12.0 inches, as noted above. The first and sixth laterally-extending side edges  21 ,  40  are spaced approximately 8 inches apart. The second and third laterally-extending side edges  23 ,  34  are spaced apart approximately 0.75 inch. The second and ninth laterally-extending side edges  23 ,  46  are spaced apart approximately 0.25 inch. The second and eighth laterally-extending side edges  23 ,  44  are spaced apart approximately 0.5 inch.  
         [0020]     The second and eighth laterally-extending side edges  23 ,  44  have confronting ends that are spaced approximately 1.0 inch apart along a direction parallel to the side edges  23 ,  44 , and are interconnected by a skew edge  50  extending therebetween to form a 1:2 slope. Likewise, the third and ninth laterally-extending side edges  34 ,  46  have confronting ends spaced apart approximately 1.5 inch along a direction parallel to the side edges  34 ,  46 , and which are interconnected by a skew edge  52  extending therebetween to form a 1:2 slope.  
         [0021]     Advantageously, the laterally-extending side edges may be used alone, or in conjunction with other geometric features of the device to verify various ADA dimensional guidelines. For example, the first and sixth laterally-extending side edges  21 ,  40  may be used to verify an 8-inch minimum knee space depth. Advantageously, the first and sixth laterally-extending side edges  21 ,  40  may be used in conjunction with the second and third vertically-extending side edges  22 ,  24  to simultaneously verify a knee space having dimensions which are 27 inches high and 8 inches deep.  
         [0022]     The second and eighth laterally-extending side edges  23 ,  44  and the skew edge  50  extending therebetween form a geometric feature  54  that may be used to verify a 1:2 slope on a   1/2-inch-high threshold. Likewise, the second and third laterally-extending side edges 23, 34 together with the skew edge 52 extending between the third and ninth laterally-extending side edges 34, 46 form a geometric feature 56 that may be used to verify compliance with a     3/4-inch maximum rise having a  1:2 slope. The second and ninth laterally-extending side edges  23 ,  46  may be used to verify compliance of a ¼-inch maximum vertical offset, such as may exist in a facility between a first floor surface and a floor covering, such as tile or wooden planks.  
         [0023]     The device  10  may further include other geometric features such as circular arcs and stair tread nosing profile features. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a first circular arc  60  having a radius of approximately 0.625 inch is formed along the first vertically-extending side edge  20  and is positioned such that its center is spaced approximately 12.625 inches from the second vertically-extending side edge  22  and approximately 2.125 inches from the first laterally-extending side edge  21 . A second circular arc  62  having a radius of approximately 0.75 inch is formed along the second vertically-extending side edge  22  and has a center spaced approximately 12.75 inches from the first vertically-extending side edge  20  and approximately 2.25 inches from the first laterally-extending side edge  21 . Advantageously, the first and second circular arcs  60 ,  62  may be used to verify the clearance space above 1-¼ diameter and 1-½ diameter grab bars, respectively, and to prescribe a 1-½ inch clearance between the grab bars and an adjacent wall. While the clearance dimensions above the grab bars are not required by the ADA, they are examples of other dimensional relationships that may be verified by the device  10 , as may be desired by individual user requirements.  
         [0024]     A stair tread nosing profile  64  is provided on the second arm  18  of the planar member  12 , between the sixth and seventh laterally-extending side edges  40 ,  42  and the fifth and sixth vertically-extending side edges  28 ,  30 . The profile  64  includes an arc  66  formed between the seventh laterally-extending side edge  42  and the fifth vertically-extending side edge  28 , whereby the planar member  12  may be positioned adjacent a stair tread with the fifth vertically-extending side edge  28  abutting the tread and the seventh laterally-extending side edge  42  abutting the riser beneath the tread. The arc  66  is formed such that in a compliant stair, the seventh laterally-extending side edge  42  will abut the riser prior to the arc  66  contacting the nosing of the tread.  
         [0025]     Advantageously, the corner  68  formed between the second laterally-extending side edge  23  and the skew edge  50  between the second and eighth laterally-extending side edges  23 ,  44  forms a pivot point that is spaced approximately 30 inches from the third vertically-extending side edge  24 , whereby the device  10  may be positioned on a floor and pivoted about the corner so that the third vertically-extending side edge  24  may be swung in an arc about the pivot point, for example, to verify a 30-inch radius (60-inch diameter) clear turning space according to the ADA.  
         [0026]     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the indicia are disposed on a side face of the planar member, as described above, and are sized and spaced such that the device may be photographed during the process of verifying one or more dimensional relationships between two objects and such that the indicia will be legible in the photograph without the need for magnification. In one embodiment, textural letters of the indicia are at least approximately 0.25-inch high.  
         [0027]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the indicia include text and symbols to indicate reference dimensions  70 ,  72 ,  74  located approximately 17 inches, 18 inches, and 19 inches from the sixth vertically-extending side edge. Advantageously, these reference dimensions  70 ,  72 ,  74  facilitate verifying compliance of a 17-inch urinal lip height above a finished floor, an 18-inch dimension from a wall to the center of a water closet, and a 17 to 19-inch toilet seat height range above a finished floor.  
         [0028]     The indicia further include text and symbols to indicate a reference dimension  76  spaced 4 inches from the first laterally-extending side edge  21 , for example, to verify compliance with a 4-inch maximum route obstruction above the 27-inch-high cane-detectable space established by the second and third vertical-extending side edges  22 ,  24 . The indicia may further include text and symbols to indicate a reference dimension  78  located approximately 18 inches from the sixth vertically-extending side edge  30 , for example, to verify an 18-inch side space on the pull-side of a door, as required by the ADA. The 12-inch spacing between the first and second laterally-extending side edges  21 ,  23  may similarly be used to verify compliance with a 12-inch side space on the push-side of a door, as required by the ADA.  
         [0029]     The indicia may further include text and symbols to indicate a reference dimension  80  corresponding to a ½-inch maximum space which may be present in a grate opening along the direction of travel of a wheelchair. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these indicia comprise one or more solid rectangular blocks  82  disposed adjacent the second laterally-extending side edge  23  of the planar member  12 . To verify compliance, the planar member  12  is placed over the grate with the second laterally-extending side edge  23  contacting the grate and the first and second arms  16 ,  18  extending in the direction of travel. The solid blocks  82  are then aligned with the spacing formed in the grate to provide a visual indication of whether the spacings comply with the maximum permissible opening size.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A-2C , there are shown various other embodiments of devices for verifying dimensional relationships between associated objects, similar to the device shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIGS. 2A-2C , like features have been similarly numbered and suffix letters have been added to reference numerals that are varied from the features depicted in  FIG. 1 . For example, the device  10   a  shown in  FIG. 2A  is similar to the device  10  of  FIG. 1 , with the exception that the stair tread nosing profile  64   a  is formed into the first vertically-extending side edge  20 . Accordingly, the fifth vertically-extending side edge  28   a  and the seventh laterally-extending side edge  42   a  have been modified from the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 . The remaining features correspond to the features of the device  10  depicted in  FIG. 1  and discussed above.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2B  shows another embodiment of a device  10   b  according to the present invention, similar to the device  10  of  FIG. 1 , but wherein various geometric features are formed on different portions of the planar member. For example, the geometric features  56   b  for verifying a ¾-inch high maximum rise have been formed on the first laterally-extending side edge  21 , and the geometric features  32   b ,  46   b  for verifying a ¼-inch maximum vertical offset are formed on the second laterally-extending side edge  23 , but are positioned adjacent the geometric features  50   b ,  54   b  for verifying the 1:2 slope on a ½-inch high threshold. The device  10   b  further includes a stair tread nosing profile  64   b  formed further inboard from the sixth vertically-extending side edge  30 . The fifth vertically-extending side edge  28   b  is now located on the first arm  16 . In addition, the features for verifying the 34-inch maximum counter height dimension have been modified to include indicia in the form of the text and symbols that indicate a reference dimension  84  spaced approximately 34 inches from the third vertically-extending side edge  24 .  
         [0032]     Referring now to  FIG. 2C , there is shown yet another exemplary embodiment of a device  10   c  according to the present invention, similar to the device  10   b  of  FIG. 2B , with the exception that a stair tread nosing profile  64   c  is formed between the first laterally-extending side edge  21  and the first vertically-extending side edge  20 . Moreover, the stair tread nosing profile  64   c  can be used with the fifth vertically-extending side edge  28   c  (located on first arm  16 ) to verify a minimum stair tread depth. In addition to repositioning the stair tread nosing profile  64   c , the geometric features  44   c ,  50   c ,  54   c  for verifying a 1:2 slope on a ½-inch high threshold are formed into the second laterally-extending side edge  23 , adjacent the third vertically-extending side edge  24 . The geometric features  34   c ,  52   c ,  56   c  for verifying the 1:2 slope on a maximum ¾-inch high rise, and the geometric features  32   c ,  46   c  for verifying a ¼-inch maximum vertical offset are formed into the second laterally-extending side edge  23 , adjacent the sixth vertically-extending side edge  30 . The third and eighth laterally-extending side edges  34   c ,  44   c  are located on the second and first arms  18 ,  16 , respectively, to correspond to the respective slope verifying features  54   c ,  56   c . Otherwise, the remaining geometric features and indicia are similar to those described above.  
         [0033]     As demonstrated by the various embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 A- 2 C, it will be recognized that the geometric features and indicia may be selectively positioned at various locations on the planar member  12 . The device is therefore not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Moreover, it will be recognized that while the various geometric features have been shown and described as vertically-extending or laterally-extending straight side edges and arcs, various other forms of geometric features may be used to establish positive locations to facilitate verifying dimensional relationships, as discussed above.  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3C , there is shown yet another exemplary embodiment  10   d  of the device of  FIG. 1  wherein the planar member  12   d  comprises several planar sections hingedly coupled together to facilitate collapsing the planar member  12   d  from a first, extended configuration, wherein the device may be used to verify dimensional relationships, as discussed above, to a second, compact configuration for convenient transportation and storage of the device. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the planar member  12   d  comprises first, second, third, and fourth planar sections  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  hingedly coupled along first, second and third hinge lines  118 ,  120 ,  122 . Advantageously, the first and second sections  110 ,  112  may be folded along the first hinge line  118  and the third and fourth sections  114 ,  116  folded along the third hinge line  122 , as depicted in  FIG. 3B , whereafter the second and third sections  112 ,  114  may be folded along the second hinge line  120  to collapse the planar member  12   d  to the compact configuration depicted in  FIG. 3C . The hinged portions of the device  10   d  may comprise living hinges formed directly into the material of the planar member  12   d , separate hinge devices embedded into or otherwise secured to the adjacent sections of the planar member, or any other hinge arrangement configured to facilitate folding the planar member  12   d.    
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , there is shown a locking mechanism  130  which can be used with the device  10   d  of  FIGS. 3A-3C  to help maintain the planar member  12   d  in the extended configuration. The locking mechanism  130  is slidably coupled to the planar member  12   d  between adjacent sections of the planar member. In the embodiment shown, the locking mechanism  130  includes a slot  132  formed into a side face of the planar member  12   d  and a relatively rigid elongate member  134  slidably disposed within the slot  132 . The elongate member  134  is movable within the slot  132  from a first, locked position wherein the elongate member extends across the hinge line  118  between the adjacent sections  110 ,  112  of the planar member  12   d , as depicted in  FIG. 4A . The elongate member  134  is slidable within the slot  132  to a second, unlocked position wherein the elongate member  134  is completely disposed on one side of the hinge line  118 . An upturned finger tab  136  may be provided on the elongate member  134  to facilitate sliding the elongate member  134  in the slot  132 . When the elongate member  134  is in the first, locked position, the elongate member  134  prevents the adjacent sections  110 ,  112  from being folded along the hinge line  118 . When the elongate member  134  is thereafter moved to the second, unlocked position, the first and second sections  110 ,  112  of the planar member  12   d  are free to be folded along the hinge line  118 . Similar locking mechanisms may be provided between the other folding sections  112 ,  114 ,  116  of the device  10   d.    
         [0036]     While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the various embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the general inventive concept.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4