An Improved Measuring Instrument for Determining the Required Length of a Walking Stick or the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: An Improved Measuring Instrument for Determining the Required
Length of a Walking Stick or the like.
I, JOHN WALTER ANDERSON of 180 Old Street, in the City of London, Salesman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved measuring instrument for determining the
required length of a walking stick or the like.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a measuring instrument
constructed according to my invention when in its normal condition.
Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the same partly extended and
Fig. 3 a transverse section drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate like part throughout the drawings.
A is the case, tube or body of the instrument which is preferably constructed in
the form of a walking stick and provided with a handle A¹. The case A is hollow to
receive the sliding scale B which may be of square or other desired section by
preference of circular and tubular section as indicated in Fig. 3. The end of the
scale B is provided with the plug or stop B' which prevents the said scale B being
pushed too far into the case. A is a ferrule fitted on to the lower end of the case A
when such is made of wood to prevent it from splitting. B' are the markings on the
scale B. The relative position of any one point of the scale marking B2 is determined
by the length from the bottom of the plug B' to the top of the handle A¹. In the
example shown when the scale B is fully within the case A the over-all measurement
is thirty-two (say) inchos and the top of the plug will therefore represent that scale
marking and from that can be derived all the other markings, so that should the
scale B be drawn out to the extent shown in Fig. 2 the over-all measurement will be
thirty-five inches as will be indicated by the relative position of the end of the case A
on the scale B and scale marking contiguous thereto.

page_text: When it is desired to ascertain what length walking stick may be required the
scale B is preferably pulled out from the case A to a greater extent than may be
absolutely necessary so that when a person grasps the handle A¹ and with the plug B¹
on the floor presses the said handle downwards, the scale B will be forced into the
case until the person, on the measure assuming the length which as a walking stick
would suit him best, ceases to apply pressure. This length will then be indicated by
the scale markings then adjacent to the lower edge of the ferrule A².
The scale B may be retained in the stick with sufficient frictional resistance to
prevent it falling out or accidentally shifting it sposition by being slightly "sprung"
or bent or by the employment of a spring or equivalent means..
Instead of a handle of the shape shown in the accompanying drawings the case
itself may terminate abruptly or be fitted with a knob or the equivalent thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :-
1. In a measuring instrument such as described the combination with a case
such as A of a scale such as B adapted to slide in and out of its lower end the
complete instrument when adjusted representing a walking stick of the required
length substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
.
2. The complete stick measuring instrument substantially as described.
Dated this 30th dors of N1000
JOHN WALTER ANDERSON.