Abstract:
A square with longitudinal slots in the angular arms, a rule having a longitudinal slot, and two clamping screws for securing the rule in various angular positions on the arms of the square, so that the scale may be shifted on the square to establish a number of angles, and be maintained at its adjusted position. Spirit levels are provided on each of the square arms and on the rule. The square arms and rule are thick thereby providing saw guides. The square arms are each marked with measuring scales as well as with markers for twelve inch or sixteen inch center layouts. The rule is marked with a plurality of degrees for common pitch lines and hip and valley pitch lines.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a combination square and adjustable angle-defining rule for framing roofing and stair construction parts. 
     One of the objects of the invention is to provide an adjustable square for common rafter cuts and hip &amp; valley cuts. Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable square for stair stringer rise and run cuts. Still another object of the invention is to provide a plumb for plumb areas difficult to see with regular levels. Another object of the invention is to provide a cutting guide. Still another object of the invention is to provide means for obtaining a 16 inch or 12 inch center layout. Another object of the invention is to provide means for making cuts at angles greater than forty-five degrees. Another object of the invention is to provide a level. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the above objects by providing a square with longitudinal slots in the angular arms thereof, a rule having a longitudinal slot, and two clamping screws for securing the rule in various angular positions on the arms of the square, so that the scale may be shifted on the square to establish a number of angles, and be maintained at its adjusted position. Spirit levels are provided on each of the square arms and on the rule. The square arms and rule are thick thereby providing saw guides. The square arms are each marked with measuring scales (inches or centimeters), as well as with markers for twelve inch or sixteen inch center layouts. The rule is marked with a plurality of degrees. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear plan view of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates measurements for common rafter cuts and hip and valley cuts on a 2×10 rafter. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the resulting rafter shown in  FIG. 5  after the rafter is cut. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates measurements for rise and run cuts for a stair stringer on a board. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the resulting stringer shown in  FIG. 7  after the board is cut. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the invention framing square used for marking 12 inch or 16 inch center layout. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates the invention framing square used to plumb a post or wall. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a framing square  10  having a first elongated, generally rectangular, planer arm  11  and a second elongated, generally rectangular, planer arm  12  disposed in right angular relationship thereto. Each arm  11 ,  12  has a front surface  20 , a rear surface  21 , an inner side edge  22 , an outer side edge  23 , a joined end  24  and a free end  25 , said arm joined ends  24  forming a framing square junction  13 , and said joined end  24  and free and  25  defining a longitudinal axis for each arm  11 ,  12 . The inner side edge  22  of each arm  11 ,  12  is that edge closest to the nearest edge of the other arm. Each side edge  22 ,  23  has a thickness, i.e., distance between front surface  20  and rear surface  21 , is three quarters of an inch. The free end  25  of each arm  11 ,  12  is formed in two portions, a first portion  26  extending from the terminus  17  of the outer side edge  23  at a forty-five degree angle to the arm longitudinal axis, and a second portion  27  extending from the terminus  18  inner side edge  22  at a forty-five angle to the arm longitudinal axis and terminating at the first portion  26 . The inner side edge terminus  18  is positioned longitudinally past the outer side edge terminus  17 . Each arm  11 ,  12  has an elongated, longitudinal slot  14  extending from a point spaced from the arm joined edge  24  to a point spaced from the arm free end  25 , said longitudinal slot having a longitudinal axis coincident with the arm longitudinal axis. The longitudinal slot  14  for each arm  11 ,  12  joins at the square junction  13 , the joined resulting slot  15  extending to a point spaced from a junction of the arm joined end outer side edges  23 . 
     The framing square  10  is further comprised of an elongated, generally rectangular, planer rule  30 . The rule  30  has a front surface  31 , a rear surface  32 , a first side edge  33 , an opposite second side edge  34 , a left end  35 , a right end  36 , said left end and right end defining a rule longitudinal axis. The thickness of each side edge, i.e., distance between front surface  31  and rear surface  32 , is three quarters of an inch. The rule  30  has an elongated, longitudinal slot  37  formed therein, extending from a point spaced from the rule left end  35  to a point spaced from the rule right end  36 . The rule slot  37  has a longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the rule  30 . 
     The square  10  is further comprised of two clamping screws  16 , each screw engaging an arm longitudinal slot  14  and protruding through and engaging the rule longitudinal slot  37 . Each clamping screw  16  is adapted to being loosened and tightened thereby allowing adjustment of the position of the rule  30  in relationship with the arms  11 ,  12 . 
     The square  10  is further comprised of a plurality of spirit levels, one spirit level  28  being installed on each arm  11 ,  12 , and another spirit level  38  being installed on the rule  30 . The arm spirit levels  28  have longitudinal axes parallel to their respective arm longitudinal axis and are generally positioned between the arm longitudinal slot  14  and the arm outer side edge  23 . The rule spirit level  38  has a longitudinal axis parallel to the rule longitudinal axis and is generally positioned between the longitudinal slot  37  and the second side edge  34 . 
     Carpenters must often make many repetitive cuts. For roofing rafters, a carpenter may prepare a number of rafters at one time. To assist the carpenter a number of scales are placed on the framing square. Once the carpenter has set the rule  30  on the square arms  11 ,  12  along the desired scale, the square may be butted against each successive board and the correct cutting angle will result. 
     The front surface  20  of each arm  11 ,  12  is provided with a first scale  40  adjacent to and extending onto the arm outer side edge  23 . The first scale  40  is divided into inches and into divisions of four spaces for each inch, representing quarters of an inch. In other embodiments of the invention, the scale may have other distance divisions, i.e., metric, more or less that eight spaces per inch, etc. In this embodiment of the invention, the first scale is sixteen inches long. 
     The front surface  20  of each arm is also provided with a second scale  41  adjacent the arm inner side edge  22  beginning at the arm free end  25  and extending a designated distance along the inner side edge  22  toward the arm joined end  24 . The second scale  41  is used for measuring on center distances of twelve inches and sixteen inches between support elements. A primary indicator line indicates the twelve inch and sixteen inch lines. Supplementary indicator lines are marked three-quarters of an inch on each side of the primary indicator lines. 
     The rule front surface  31  is provided with a third scale  42  providing a plurality of angle lines representing common pitch lines for common rafter cuts. The angle lines extend across the rule front surface  31  extending from the rule second side edge  34  to the rule first side  33 . See  FIG. 2 . The rule rear surface  32  is provided with a fourth scale  43  providing a plurality of angle lines representing hip and valley pitch lines for typical hip and valley cuts. See  FIG. 3 . As is known in the trade, a common pitch line has a different angle than a hip and valley pitch line with the same reference number. This makes the fourth scale especially beneficial for the framing square user. A fifth scale  44  is provided on the rule first side edge  33  providing a plurality of angle lines for degree cuts. The fifth scale  44  provides a conversion scale for common pitch lines to degrees. This permits use of a skill saw instead of a compound saw which is impractical for many applications. 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there is shown a 2×10 rafter  50  marked by the invention framing square  10  in  FIG. 5  for a ridge cut  51  at one end, a facia cut  52  at the other end, a soffit  53  adjacent the facia cut and a heel cut  54  along one rafter edge near to said soffit cut. The framing square rule  30  is positioned along the desired common pitch angle indicated in the third scale  42 . The framing square  30  is then positioned along the rafter end for marking a ridge cut  51 . After the ridge cut  51  is measured, the rule rear surface  32  with the fourth scale  43  is used to mark the hip and valley cuts  52 ,  53 ,  54 .  FIG. 6  shows the resulting rafter after the cuts indicated in  FIG. 5  have been made. 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is shown a board  60  marked by the invention framing square  10  in  FIG. 7  for a stringer  61 . The stringer bottom  62 , which sits on a subfloor, is marked at one end of the board  60 . The stringer top  63 , which is nailed to a header, is marked at the other end of the board  60 . The framing square rule  30  is positioned so that the rule first side edge  33  is aligned on the arms  11 ,  12   60  for the desired rise  65  and  66  run measurements. The framing square joined end  24  is then placed on the board slid toward the other board side until the rule first side edge  33  engages one board side edge  64 . Moving the framing square along the board side edge  64 , the stringer rises  65  and runs  66  are marked.  FIG. 8  shows the resulting stringer after the cuts indicated in  FIG. 7  have been made. 
     Referring more particularly to  FIG. 9 , there is shown the framing square  10  positioned about the end of a board  70  and marked with the second scale  41  to measure on center distances of twelve inches or sixteen inches between support elements. After marking the desired distance the framing square  10  is slid along the board so that the outer side edge  23  of the first arm  11  is aligned with the mark. The board is then marked again at the desired distance and the process repeated until the entire board is marked with on center distances. 
     Referring more particularly to  FIG. 10 , the invention framing square  10  is shown used to plumb a post or wall with the framing square spirit levels  28 . 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.