Abstract:
A device that can be used to place lines on structures adjacent to a corner. The device includes an L-shaped body that has two sections that intersect each other at a right angle. A chalk-depositing roller is rotatably and movably mounted on each section and deposits chalk on a surface as the device is moved. The corner of a building is accommodated adjacent to the right angle of the L-shaped body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the general art of geometric devices, and to the particular field of marking devices. 
   When constructing a structure, there is often a need to define a guide line adjacent to a corner of the structure. Placing siding on a building is one example of a situation which may require lines to be placed on a structure. 
   One problem encountered by many craftsmen is associated with skewed or crooked corners on a structure. Such skew may arise because the building has settled, or because of errors in initial construction. Whatever the cause, such skew may create a problem in properly placing siding. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for placing marks on a structure adjacent to a corner of that structure which can automatically account for skewed or crooked corners. 
   Any tool that is intended to save work must, of course, work efficiently and be easy and expeditious to use. Otherwise, its purpose is defeated. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for placing marks on a structure adjacent to a corner of that structure which can automatically account for skewed or crooked corners yet which is easy and expeditious to use. 
   Since marks must often be placed on walls adjacent to either an inside or an outside corner, any device that is intended to place marks on walls adjacent to corners must be amenable for use on either an inside corner or an outside corner without requiring major changes in the device. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for placing marks on a structure adjacent to a corner of that structure which can automatically account for skewed or crooked corners and which is easily adaptable for use on either an inside corner or on an outside corner. 
   Any tool that is intended to replace other tools should be usable in a manner that is close to the manner in which the replaced tool was used. This will make it easy for a workman to adapt to the new tool and make the new tool more desirable. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for placing marks on a structure adjacent to a corner of that structure which can automatically account for skewed or crooked corners and which does not require a significant change in the operation of placing such marks on the structure as compared to existing marking tools. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a means for placing marks on a structure adjacent to a corner of that structure which can automatically account for skewed or crooked corners. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for placing marks on a structure adjacent to a corner of that structure which can automatically account for skewed or crooked corners yet which is easy and expeditious to use. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for placing marks on a structure adjacent to a corner of that structure which can automatically account for skewed or crooked corners and which is easily adaptable for use on either an inside corner or on an outside corner. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for placing marks on a structure adjacent to a corner of that structure which can automatically account for skewed or crooked corners and which does not require a significant change in the operation of placing such marks on the structure as compared to existing marking tools. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a marking device which comprises an L-shaped body having a first leg and a second leg, the first leg being oriented at a right angle with respect to the second leg, each leg having a first surface and a second surface; a chalk dispensing unit in each leg of the body; a chalk roller rotatably and movably mounted on each leg of the body adjacent to the chalk dispenser unit in each leg, each of the chalk rollers being sized to extend beyond a plane containing the first surface of each leg and beyond a plane containing the second surface of each leg; and a mechanism mounted on the body and operably connected to each of the chalk rollers to move the chalk rollers toward and away from each other when operated. 
   Using the marking device embodying the present invention will permit a workman to quickly, easily, and accurately place marking lines on a building adjacent to a corner of a building. The marking device embodying the present invention automatically accounts for any skew or inaccuracy of the building corner so the lines placed on the building are accurate with respect to the corner. The device places a chalk line on the building so the workman will be using a line that he is used to using whereby there are no significant changes in the way he must work in order to use the device embodying the present invention. The device can be used to place marks on either the inside or on the outside of a building without any significant change in the manner in which the device operates. Accordingly, the device is very versatile and easy to use. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a corner marking device embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the corner marking device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the corner marking device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows plain bevel gears with a shaft at an obtuse angle that can be used in the corner marking device of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a corner marking device  10  that achieves the above-stated objectives. 
   Corner marking device  10  comprises an L-shaped body  14  which can be formed of any suitable material and will be used on either the inside of a building or on the outside of a building to define guide lines or the like. 
   Body  14  includes a first section  20  which has a first end  22  which is a top end when body  14  is in use, a second end  24  which is a bottom end when body  14  is in use, and a longitudinal axis  26  which extends between first end  22  and second end  24 . First section  24  further includes a first side  30 , a second side  32 , and a width dimension  34  that extends between first side  30  and second side  32 . 
   A first surface  40  is an outside surface when body  14  is in use, and a second surface  42  is an inside surface when body  14  is in use. In use, first surface  40  will slidingly abut the inside surface of a wall when device  10  is used to mark the inside surfaces of the wall; whereas, second surface  42  will slidingly abut the outside surface of a wall when device  10  is used to mark the outside surfaces of the wall. 
   A thickness dimension  46  extends between first surface  40  and second surface  42  of first section  20 . 
   A cutout section  50  is defined in first surface  40  and 
   a cutout section  52  is defined in second surface  42 . Cutout section  52  is congruent with cutout section  50  to define an opening  54  in first section  20  that extends between the first and second surfaces  40 ,  42  of first section  20 . 
   Body  14  further includes a second section  60  which is similar to first section  20  and which has a first end  62  which is a top end when body  14  is in use, a second end  64  which is a bottom end when body  14  is in use, and a longitudinal axis  66  which extends between first end  62  and second end  64 . 
   Second section  60  further includes a first side  70 , a second side  72 , and a width dimension  74  that extends between first side  70  and second side  72 . 
   A first surface  80  is an outside surface when body  14  is in use. First surface  80  intersects first surface  40  of first section  20  to define an outer corner  82  of body  14 . 
   A second surface  84  is an inside surface when body  14  is in use. Second surface  84  intersects second surface  42  of first section  20  to define an inner corner  86  of body  14 . Inner corner  86  can be a right angle as indicated in  FIG. 1  or a polygon as indicated in  FIG. 3 , whichever is most suitable for accommodating a corner of a building as well as accommodating the elements of device  10  as will be understood from the following disclosure. 
   A thickness dimension  88  extends between first surface  80  and second surface  84  of second section  60 . 
   A cutout section  90  is defined in first surface  80  and a cutout section  92  is defined in second surface  84 . Cutout section  92  is congruent with cutout section  90  to define an opening  94  in second section  60  that extends between the first and second surfaces  80 ,  84  of the second section  60 . 
   A first axle  100  is rotatably mounted on first section  20  to span opening  54  defined in the first section  20 . First axle  100  includes a proximal end  102  and a distal end  104 , and has an external screw thread  106  defined thereon adjacent to proximal end  102 . Proximal end  102  is located closer to inner corner  86  than distal end  104 . First axle  100  has a longitudinal axis  110  which extends between distal end  104  and proximal end  102 . First axle  100  is mounted on first section  20  to be rotatable about longitudinal axis  110  and to be moveable in the direction of longitudinal axis  110 . 
   A second axle  120  is rotatably mounted on second section  60  to span opening  94  defined in the second section  60 . Second axle  120  includes a proximal end  122  and a distal end  124 , and has an external screw thread  126  defined thereon adjacent to proximal end  122 . Proximal end  122  of second axle  120  is located closer to inner corner  86  of body  14  than distal end  124 . Second axle  120  has a longitudinal axis  130  which extends between distal end  124  and proximal end  122 . Second axle  120  is mounted on second section  60  to be rotatable about longitudinal axis  130  and to be moveable in the direction of longitudinal axis  130 . 
   A mechanism  150  is mounted on body  14  and is operably connected to the first and second axles  100 ,  120  to rotate those axles and to move those axles in the directions of the longitudinal axes  110 ,  130  of those axles during such rotation. Mechanism  150  includes a thumb knob  152  which is operably connected to a suitable mechanism, such as plain bevel gears with a shaft oriented at an obtuse angle as shown in  FIG. 4 . While other mechanisms can be used as will occur to those skilled in the art, it is noted that  FIG. 4  shows only two bevel gears for the purposes of simplicity of drawing. However, a third bevel gear will be included in mechanism  150  so that a central gear, such as gear  162  which is connected to thumb knob  152  by a shaft  164 , will operate two bevel gears, including bevel gear  166 , which is connected to first axle  100 , and an identical bevel gear which is also meshed with first bevel gear  162  and which is connected to second axle  120 . Other mechanisms can be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure such as will occur to those skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure. The exact details and form of the operating mechanism  150  is not important to this invention and thus the exact details of the mechanism  150  will not be presented. 
   A first chalk dispensing unit  170  is mounted on first section  20  adjacent to opening  54  defined in the first section  20 . First chalk dispensing unit  170  has an access door  172  defined in first end  22  of the first section of body  14 . 
   A second chalk dispensing unit  180  is mounted on second section  60  adjacent to opening  94  defined in second section  60 . Second chalk dispensing unit  180  has an access door  182  defined in first end  62  of second section  60 . 
   A first marking wheel  190  is rotatably mounted on first axle  100  to rotate about longitudinal axis  110  of the first axle  100 . First marking wheel  190  is located adjacent to first chalk dispensing unit  170  with first marking wheel  190  having an outer periphery  192  that is at least partially located outside of a plane containing first surface  40  of first section  20  and outside of a plane containing second surface  42  of first section  20 . 
   A second marking wheel  200  is rotatably mounted on second axle  120  to rotate about longitudinal axis  126  of the second axle  120 . Second marking wheel  200  is located adjacent to second chalk dispensing unit  180 . Second marking wheel  200  has an outer periphery  204  that is at least partially located outside of a plane containing first surface  80  of second section  60  and outside of a plane containing second surface  84  of second section  60 . The first and second marking wheels  190 ,  200  move toward and away from each other when mechanism  150  is operated for a purpose that will be understood from the teaching of this disclosure. 
   The marking wheels  190 ,  200  are mounted on the axles  100 ,  120  to free wheel about the respective axle but to move in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the axle so the wheels can be positioned with respect to the corner of the device but will remain in such selected linear position while rotating about the axles as will be understood from the teaching of this disclosure. The exact details of the structure and elements used to achieve this result are not important to the invention and thus only one form of the details will be disclosed, it being understood that those skilled in the art will be able to design other elements and details based on the teaching of this disclosure. Such elements and details are intended to be encompassed by this disclosure as well. 
   First locating indicia  210  is positioned on first surface  40  of first section  20  adjacent to cutout section  50  defined in first section  20 . 
   Second locating indicia  212  is positioned on first surface  80  of second section  60  adjacent to cutout section  90  defined in second section  60 . 
   The locating indicia  210 ,  212  are used to position the marking wheels  190  and  200  with respect to the corner of the body  14  and thus with respect to the corner of the building which is being marked. Using the marking indicia, a worker can precisely and accurately locate a guide line on a building. 
   Use of device  10  will be understood by those skilled in the art based on the teaching of this disclosure; therefore, such use will not be presented in detail. The marking wheels  190 ,  200  are located with respect to the corner of the device using mechanism  150 , and the device  10  is placed against the building to be marked so that the corner of the building is accommodated in the corner of the device. The device is then moved in the direction of the longitudinal axes  26  and  66  with the marking wheels  190  and  200  rollingly engaging the surface of the building being marked. Chalk is dispensed onto the wheels  190 ,  200  as they roll and is then transferred by the wheels to the surface of the building being marked. Two straight and accurate lines will be marked on the building. As can be understood, device  10  can be used on either an outside wall or on an inside wall. 
   It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.