Year: 1884

page_text: ROBERT FENTON MACKAY Fine Art Dealer 3 Magdalen Yard Road Dundee do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for RULERS to be as follows:-
The Rulers are constructed on the principle of carrying a bar from end to end of
a roller; the bar being connected with the roller at its ends, or a point or points
between the ends. The connection or connections allowing a free revolution of the
roller.
In the process of ruling the pen or other appliance used comes into contact with
and is guided by the bar. The purpose and action of the roller being to move the
bar backward or forward into position as desired; accomplished by acting on the
roller with the fingers.
The bar is shaped so that, while its lower part rests on the article being ruled,
the part of the bar with which the pen or other appliance used comes into contact,
is free of the article being ruled. And the bar is shaped, and adjusted in its
connection to the roller in such manner, that the fingers used to revolve the roller,
or which are not engaged with the pen or other appliance, may in the.direct action
of ruling rest or press on the top of the bar, keeping the bar firm to the position to
be ruled.
The front of the bar to be marked and graduated with any particular scale or
measurement.
The object aimed at and advantages to be claimed, are Rulers which may be used
freely and continuously without risk of soiling the paper or other article ruled
upon, or the fingers. And which obviate the necessity of continual watchfulness &
cleaning when ruling continuous or numerous consecutive lines with inks.
Which reduces risk of slipping to a minimum, perfect ruling being attainable by
any inexperienced or shaky hand.

page_text: ROBERT FENTON MACKAY Fine Art Dealer 3 Magdalen Yard Road Dundee do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for RULERS and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
The Rulers are constructed of two main parts viz a roller A A (Figs. 1 & 2), and 5
a bar BB (Figs. 1 & 3). The bar B B, which has end pieces or flanges CC
(Figs. 1, 3, & 6) projecting at right angles to itself on the innerside, is connected to
the roller by round pins or scrows D D (Fig. 6, section of Rulers thro' E E), passing
through circular holes or sockets K K in the end pieces CC; which pins enter and
are fixed in the centres of the ends of the roller A A-see Fig. 6. The pins DD 1
being slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the sockets K. K, the pios
form axles to the roller, which enables it, (the roller) to revolve freely in the sockets
of the end pieces of the bar, while the pins at the same time support the bar B B.
The bar is longer than the roller by just sufficient to admit the roller freely
between its end pieces; and the roller and bar are adjusted to each other so that 1
the roller may revolve free of contact with the bar.
The action of the parts being thus if the Ruler is lying on any surface, and
the roller A A is rolled backward or forward, the bar B B, whose lower side also
rests on the surface, is carried or moved backward or forward in front of the roller.
In the process of ruling, the pen or other appliance used comes into contact with
and is guided by the front of the bar; the purpose and action of theo roller being to
move the bar backward or forward into position as desired, and accomplished by
acting on the roller with the fingers.
The bar BB (Figs. 3, 4 & 5) is in shape like a longitudinal section of a hollow
cylinder, and adapts itself to the curve of the roller; the inner curve of the bar
being slightly greater than the circumference of the roller-to prevent actual
contact between the two. While the bottom of the bar B-B rests on the surface
on which the roller is lying, the top of the bar rises high enough round the roller
to permit the tips of the fingers of the one hand to press conveniently (Fig. 7)-on
the top of the bar and roller at same time, while the other hand is ruling off the
line. Which action prevents Ruler from slipping at the moment of ruling."
The outside of the bar B B projects somewhat towards the middle along its
length, forming a special point of contact for the pen or pencil when ruling. And
while the bottom of the bar rests on the articlo to be ruled upon, the point of
contact for the pen or pencil in ruling is above and free of the article to be ruled
upon (Fig. 7). The parts H H (Fig. 1, 3 & 8) of bar are. carried somewhat higher
and round the roller, and are cut out to. form open spaces or handles through which
(Fig. 8) the tips of the fingers may, when desired for lifting the Ruler, grasp the
roller in such cases as when the part of the bar which the pen comes into contact
with may have got covered with ink, and when the fingers would get soiled.by
grasping the front of bar and roller together in lifting.
The lower part of the ends C C of the bar are rounded off sufficiently to prevent
their resting on the surface on which the Ruler may be lying-to prevent the
action of the roller being impeded.

page_text: The surface of the roller is slightly grooved or fluted throughout its length, to
enable the fingers to take a better hold of it, when revolving it, or in lifting a
Ruler.
The front of the bar may be graduated and marked with any particular scale or
measurement.
The Rulers to be made in various lengths and thicknesses--and to be made of
vulcanite, wood or other suitable substance.
Special clause.
I desire to claim the privilege of making the Rulers having bars with or without
(see Fig. 9) the extensions forming handles or spaces for fingers in lifting; and of
varying the design in ornamentation of bar-whereby I may produce the Rulers in
more or less expensive forms.
Fig. 3 the bar, cut
The drawings are the ordinary full size of a 91" Ruler.
Fig. 1 & 9 represents "Rulers." Fig. 2 represents the roller.
thro' at centre to show curve. Fig. 4 section of Rulers thro' F. Fig. 5 section of
Rulers thro' G (Fig. 1). Fig. 6 section of Rulers thro' E Ę. Figa. 7 & 8 mode of
ruling and lifting.
General. The combination of parts laid down, form a Ruler that may be used
freely and continuously without risk of the Ruler soiling the article being ruled
upon, when pen & ink are used to rule with and however much the pen is covered
with ink. And any number of consecutive lines may be ruled off without the
necessity of examining, lifting or cleaning the Ruler.
By taking advantage of the adjustment of the parts which enables the tips of the
fingers of the hand which rolls the Ruler into position, or which is not engaged
with the pen or pencil, to press on the top of bar and roller (Fig. 7) pressing both
down to the article being ruled upon, all risk of the Ruler slipping at the instant of
drawing the line can be avoided. The Ruler thereby enabling inexperienced
persons or those whose hands tremble to rule off perfect lines with freedom &
exactness.
The Rulers can be used with equal facility whether the book or other article
being ruled upon is level, higher at one side than the other, or sunk in the centre
-or whether the article is broader or narrower than the Rulers.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st The combination of a curved bar and roller to form a Ruler, the bar being
connected with the roller at its ends, with the inner curve of the bar following the
circumference of the roller; the connection allowing free revolution of the roller.
The outside of the bar forming the guiding line for ruling, and the outside curve on
bar being such that the point of contact for the pen or pencil is above and free of
the article to be ruled upon.
2nd The making of the bar of sufficient beight in proportion, with the roller,
whereby and for the special purpose that, when the bottom of the bar is resting on
the surface to be ruled upon, the tips of the fingers may be able conveniently to
press on the top of the bar or bar and roller at one and same time, prossing both
parts down to the article being ruled upon.
3rd The grooving or fluting of the roller for convenience of handling.