Improvements in and relating to Rulers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1891-Accepted, 20th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Rulers.
1, EMMANUEL BALL, of 48 Westbourne Street, Walsall in the County of
Stafford, Professor of Music, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to rulers which are moved along the surface of the
work by a rolling action, and has for its object more especially means for pre-
venting the surface being ruled becoming smudged by ink left by the pen on
the surface or edge of the ruler, and also for preventing the ruler from slipping
on the surface along which it is rolled.
According to the simplest form of this invention, an ordinary round ruler is
formed with portions of enlarged diameter at or near its ends upon which it is
rolled, and thus if any ink is left by the pen on the surface between such enlarge-
ments it is not smudged on to the work as the ruler is rolled along. It is
preferred to form these enlargements as rubber rings, or rings of like character,
so as to give them a hold on the surface upon which they are rolled and prevent
the ruler from slipping.
A modification of the invention consists in passing on to a round ruler a pair
of metal rings of channel section cach cut through or unjointed on one side and
having a rubber ring within the channel the elasticity of which draws together
the two ends of the joint. The rings are sprung open somewhat to pass them
on to the ruler, and are held in place thereon by the elasticity of the rubber
rings, but may be moved along the ruler by a moderate degree of force to
adjust them in position therealong as may be desired.
According to a further modification, a narrow bar, along the edge of which
the ruling is effected, is carried in front of the round portion of a ruler fitted
with rings in the manner described, by the forward ends of a pair of carriers
each of which is formed with a part to fit just easily around the round part of
the ruler, with a part to lie on the surface being ruled, and with a part standing
upwards for connection with the bar in such manner as to keep it raised some-
what above the surface being ruled and thus not only prevent any ink left
thereon by the pen from smudging the work, but also permit of the ruler being
moved over work while still wet. This bar inay be marked as a rule if desired,
and be capable of ready attachment to and detachment from the carriers so that
it may be used separately as a rule; this attachment and detachment may be
conveniently provided for by forming slotted holes with enlarged ends through
the bar to receive portions of the carriers formed with enlarged heads to pass
through the enlarged portions of the slots and with narrower parts to pass into
the narrower parts of the slots, or the bar may be held by means of lock nuts
upon screwed portions of the carriers thus enabling it to be readily adjusted as
to height. The bar may be formed with long slots to enable the carriers to
be moved towards or from one another. The ruder is moved by rolling the
round portion thereof along the work, such portion turning easily within the
carriers as it is rolled. The ruler may be locked to the bar by pushing the rings
against the carriers, in which case the ruler will not roll if placed on an inclined
surface. The bar may be fixed in an inclined position so that if turned over
with the carriers to be face downwards its front edge will lie flat upon the
surface being ruled, which makes it more convenient for ruling lines in pencil.
The round or rolling portion of the ruler may be made in tin and japanned.

page_text: Rulers formed with enlarged portions as described may have the main portion or
length thereof fluted for convenience in fingering.
Dated this 14th day of August, 1890.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Rulers.
I, EMMANUEL BALL, of 48 Westbourne Street, Walsall in the County of
Stafford, Professor of Music, 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 rulers which are moved along the surface of the
work by a rolling action, and has for its main object to ensure the combined
advantage, in a single ruler, of preventing the surface being ruled from becoming
smudged by ink left by the pen on the surface or edge of the ruler, of preventing
the ruler from slipping on the surface along which it is rolled, of admitting of
ruling by means of a pencil or pen along an edge which bears upon or is in close
proximity to the surface being ruled, of enabling the base on which the ruler is
rolled to be lengthened or shortened as may be desired according to the width of
the surface on which it is operated, and of enabling the ruler under circumstances
hereinafter shewn to be rolled over the surface of the work, whilst still wet, without
smudging it. The invention, however, comprises features which answer purposes
other than ensuring the combined advantage above defined.
A ruler constructed according to this invention is illustrated by the drawings
herewith, of which Figure 1 is a plan thereof; Figure 2 a transverse section taken
on line of Figure 1: Figure 3 a corresponding section to Figure 2, but shewing
the narrow bar, hereinafter described, as turned over on to the opposite side of the
cylindrical portion of the ruler to that on which it is shown by Figure 2: Figure 4
is a transverse section taken on line yy of Figure 1 and Figure 5 is a transverse
section through the bar and curved finger plate, hereinafter described, the section
being taken on line zz of Figure 1, but with the bar turned into the position shewn
by Figure 3. In Figures 2, 3 and 4, the ruler is shewn as resting on the surface
of a table or other support.
On a cylindrical bar A, which may conveniently be formed as a brass or other
metal tube, are mounted a pair of rings a, of brass or other metal or hard substance
such as hard wood or vulcanite, milled or roughened around their edges to roll upon
the surface to be ruled without liability to slip thereon. These rings are fitted
sufficiently tightly upon the cylinder A to prevent them slipping around it, as
the cylinder is moved along with a rolling action to cause the rings to roll upon
the surface to be ruled, but not so tightly as to prevent them being moved
endways along the cylinder by the exertion of a moderate force. A narrow
Hat bar B, which may conveniently be formed in brass or other metal, or in
hard wood, or other sufficiently hard substance, is hinged or pivoted to the
cylinder by a pair of arms riveted to the ends of the bar and having loops
or eyes within which the cylinder A is just an easy turning fit.
These loops
are prevented from slipping off the ends of the cylinder by means of caps
screwed on to such ends and presenting shoulders against the outer faces of the
loops. It is preferred to bevel one edge of this bar, as shown in the sectional
views; and, when the bar is turned over into the position shewn by Figure 2, the
bevelled edge bears upon the surface to be ruled. The extreme edge may, in this
case, itself lear upon the surface, or the bevel may be formed at such an angle that
the extreme edge is slightly raised above the surface. The ruler is rolled along
upon the edges of the rings a, which may be moved towards or from one another as
desired according to the width of the surface to be ruled; and when the bar is in

page_text: the position shewn by Figure 2 extremely accurate work may be done by a pencil
or ruling pen.
Rollers d, preferably milled upon their edges to prevent them slipping, are
mounted in blocks e carried by the bar B, so as to stand upwards from the bar B
when the same is in the position shewn by Figure 2 and be consequently on the
under side of the bar when the same is turned over into the position shewn by
Figure 3. When the bar is in this latter position it is supported by such rollers
above the surface to be ruled, and the ruling may be effected by means of an
ordinary pen without
any danger of smudging such surface. The blocks e may be
fixed to the bar, but it is preferred to merely fit them over the hinder edge thereof,
and to provide them with quadrant or crescent-shaped backward extensions which
fit within grooves formed to receive them around the rings a, and thus, as the rings
are moved towards or from one another, the blocks e are slid along the bar, being
carried therealong by the rings. The backward extensions of the blocks fit just
easily within the grooves of the rings, so that as the rings roll along the surface to
be ruled the extensions are not carried around with them. A finger plate is fixed
to the bar B, and extends for a short distance along the middle thereof, and is
formed with a portion which curves up over the bar when the latter is in the
position shewn by Figure 3. When the ruling has been effected with an ordinary
pen, with the ruler in the position shewn by Figure 3, the ruler is raised from the
surface by placing the thumb behind the cylinder A and the ends of the fingers
under the curved edge of the finger plate, and thus the edge of the bar B is
prevented from dropping down on to the surface as it might do if the ruler were
raised simply by the cylinder.
This ruler will be found of great advantage for use in ruling loose sheets of
varying width, as the rings may be moved into position to both roll upon a sheet of
If the
any width and thus tend to hold it in position as the ruling is effected.
rings are further apart than the length of the lines which have been ruled, the ruler
may be rolled over the work while wet, as in such case the rings and rollers d need
not pass across the wet lines.
It is not essential to use the rollers d to support the bar B when used in the
position shewn by Figure 3, as any rounded bearing surface will answer more or
less efficiently.
The bar B may be marked as a rule, if desired.
of
The cylinder A may be fluted, if desired, for convenience in fingering.
Figure 6 illustrates in plan, and Figure in section taken on line
Figure 6, a modification in which the bar B is carried direct by arms b¹ which
embrace the rings a, in lieu of passing immediately around the cylinder A, as
in the case of the arms of the previously-described modification. Open-ended
slots are formed in the outer ends of these arms ', and the bar B is held
within such slots by means of set screws or by means of springs. The bar
may consist of an ordinary straight rule, which may be readily removed from the
arms for use separately as a measure. A transverse section through one of the
rings is shewn by Figure 8, from which it will be seen that the ring is made in
two parts, of which the portion a' is screwed to the other portion, so as to permit
of the corresponding arm being placed around what becomes a groove in the
ring when the part a' is screwed up in place.
If desired, a rubber ring or spring may be inserted within a chambered or
internally grooved portion of each ring used for either modification above de-
scribed, in order to produce an elastic hold or grip upon the surface of the
cylinder A.
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. The combination and arrangement of parts forming a ruler, substantially

page_text: as described and shewn by the drawings on Sheet 1 herewith, for the purpose
set forth.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming a ruler, substantially
as described and shewn by the drawings on Sheet 2 herewith, for the purpose
set forth.
3. In a ruler, the combination of the bar B hinged or pivoted to the cylinder A,
with rings a carried around the cylinder A, all substantially as described, for the
purpose set forth.
4. In a ruler, the combination of a bar along the edge of which the ruling is
effected, with a cylinder having rings thercaround capable of being moved end ways
therealong, said bar being hinged or pivoted to such cylinder either directly or
by means of eyes passing around the rings, substantially as described and shewn
for the purpose set forth.
5. In a ruler, the combination of the bar B hinged or pivoted to the cylinder A,
with the rings a carried around the cylinder, and with means substantially as
described by which the bar can be used in position with its ruling edge bearing
upon or in close proximity to the surface to be ruled, or alternatively in position by
which it is supported above the surface to be ruled, all substantially as described,
for the purpose set forth.
6. In a ruler, the combination of the bar B hinged or pivoted to the cylinder A,
with the rings a carried around the cylinder and with bearing blocks e carried by
the bar B, the bearing surfaces of such blocks being formed preferably by rollers d,
all substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
7. In a ruler, the combination of the bar B hinged or pivoted to the cylinder A,
with grooved rings a carried around the cylinder and engaging with blocks e
capable of sliding along the bar B, all substantially as described, for the purpose
set forth.
8. In or for a ruler, the combination of a cylinder A with rings a, arms 1 having
eyes passing around such rings and formed with open-ended slots to receive a bar B
along the edge of which the ruling is to be effected, all substantially as described
for the purpose set forth.
9. In a ruler having a cylindrical part with rings therearound for the purpose
set forth, the employment of elastic rubbers carried by such rings in position to
bear and give an elastic hold or grip upon the surface of the cylindrical part,
substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of May 1891.
STEPHEN
WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.