Improved Combined Plumb-rule and Bricklaying Gauge, applicable also as a Square.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Combined Plumb-rule and Bricklaying Gauge, applicable
also as a Square.
I, FRANK HOLT, of South Pittsburg, in the County of Marion, and State of
Tennessee, United States of America, Bricklayer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved plumb rule which
is more especially designed for the use of masons and bricklayers, with the aid of
which stones or bricks may be quickly and accurately laid in proper positions.
The invention consists in the particular construction of a rule having two
graduated blades arranged at right angles with their edges parallel to one another
and adapted to fit on, and to be secured to, the corner of a wall.
The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the
same, all as will be hereinafter described.
The improved plumb rule is preferably made in two parts each composed of a
pair of blades, the blades of each set being arranged at right angles to each
other. The two parts of the rule are united by bolts extending through the one
pair of blades and a right-angled offset formed integral with the lower ends of
the other pair of blades, it being understood that the said offset is right-angular
similar to the blades. The blades of the two parts when united are each in
alignment with its corresponding blade. In the several blades are formed
apertures through which nails can be driven to fasten the rule to the corner of
the wall so as to hold the rule in proper position, that is when its upper part
extends above the last course of stones or bricks laid, and the ends of the blades
are united with each other so as to form at the corner of the united blades a
vertically-extending slot. The outer faces of the angularly arranged blades of
the rule are provided with graduations representing linear measurements so that
the operator is enabled to lay the bricks or stones according to the measurement
on the rule and not the rule on the bricks or stones, as now generally practised.
The bolts for uniting the two parts of the rule are preferably provided with
wing nuts, screwing up against the outer faces of the offset. The heads of the
said bolts are preferably countersunk on the inside of the blades so that the
corresponding blades represent an unbroken surface throughout their length at
their inner faces.
In order to fasten the rule in a plumb position on the corner of the building,
I provide a double spirit level made angular and formed on its two members with
downwardly extending hooks adapted to engage the upper edges of the blades so as
to securely hold the spirit level in place on the upper end of the rule.
1
It will be seen that when the spirit level is applied and the rule is put in position
on the corner of the building the bubbles of the level readily indicate the true
position of the rule, and in case the latter is not entirely plumb it ca be readily
put in such a position, the bubbles then indicating at the proper zero mark. If
desired an ordinary plumb bob may be used to test the proper position of the rule
when put in place.
In order to stretch a line along the sides of the building, to enable the workmen
operating between two corners, for instance, to properly lay the bricks. I provide

page_text: each rule ou the two adjacent corners with a slide made in the form of an angular
blade fitted on to the outer surfaces or faces of the rule, the said slide being
provided with apertures through one of which passes a rope or cord stretched from
one slide to the other and passing through a slot to the inside of the rule, the inner
end of the cord or rope being knotted to prevent it from passing through the slot.
By this arrangement the slides on the rules on two adjacent corners of a building
can be moved up or down on the rules according to the graduation so as to stretch
the line along the side wall to indicate the heights of the bricks for the next
courses. By this arrangement cords may be stretched from one corner rule to two
corner rules of similar construction and located at the two next adjacent corners so
that two walls of the building have proper cords to guide the middle men in laying
the stones or bricks properly, and in accordance with the bricks laid by the corner
men at the three corners.
When starting a wall the rule is supported on a base plate formed on one or two
adjacent sides with flanges according as it is intended for use at the corner of, or
along, a wall, so that the lowermost edges of the rule fit snugly against the said
flange or flanges to support the rule in a vertical position until a sufficient number
of courses of bricks have been laid to allow the workmen to fasten the rule to the
wall by nails driven through the apertures, therein as above described. When it
is desired to use the rule as a regular square, the two parts are set at angles to
cach other and fastened in place by one of the bolts.
a
In a modified arrangement the rule is formed of integral blades having vertically-
extending grooves or guideways respectively, each engaged by a slide carrying
cord or rope, the said slides being vertically adjustable on the respective blades so as
to permit of independently shifting the cords or ropes. In order to securely hold the
plumb rule in place it preferred to employ clamping rods carried by the blades
and each formed at its outer end with a point adapted to be driven into the wall.
It will be seen that the rule can be readily arranged at the corner of a building
and supported in place to plumb two sides at once, and it also enables the workman
to lay the bricks according to the measurement indicated on the members of the
rule as above described.
Dated this 5th day of April 1894.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improved Combined Plumb-rule and Bricklaying Gauge, applicable
also as a Square.
I, FRANK HOLT, of South Pittsburg, in the County of Marion, and State of
Tennessee, United States of America, Bricklayer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved plumb-rule which
is more especially designed for the use of masons and bricklayers and with the aid
of which stones or bricks may be quickly and accurately laid in proper positions.
The invention consists in the particular construction of a plumb-rule having two
graduated blades arranged at right-angles with their edges parallel to one another
and adapted to fit on and to be secured to the corner of a wall.
The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the
same, as will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

page_text: Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved plumb-rule. Figure 2 is a
transverse section of the same on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan
view of the same. Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of the same as applied and on
the line 4-4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a base plate for the rule to rest on.
is a perspective view of a modified form of the same.
Figure 6
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the improvement converted into a square.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of the improvement; and Figure 9
is a plan view of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The improved plumb-rule A is preferably made in two parts B and B', composed
of the blades B³, B, and B, B. respectively, the blades of each set being arranged
at right angles to each other, as illustrated in the drawings. The parts B and B
are united by bolts C extending through the blades B and B and an offset B2 formed
integral with the lower ends of the blades B³ and B4, it being understood that the
said offset B2 is right angular similar to the blades. Thus when the two parts B
and B are united, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the blade B is in alignment
with the blade B³ and the blade B is in alignment with its corresponding blade B*.
In the blades B3, B4, B, and B, are formed apertures B' through which nails can
be driven to fasten the rule to the corner of the wall so as to hold the rule in
proper position its upper part extending above the last course of stones or bricks
laid. The blades B3, B4, are united only at the ends (and similarly for the
blades B5 B) so as to form at the corner of the united blades a vertically-
extending slot B8, as will be readily understood by reference to Figure 1.
The outer faces of the angularly arranged blades of the rule A are provided
with graduations representing linear measurements so that the workman is enabled
to lay the bricks or stones according to the measurement on the rule, and not the
rule on the bricks or stones as now generally practised. The bolts C for uniting
the parts B and B of the rule A are preferably provided with wing nuts C', as
illustrated in Figure 1, the said wing nuts screwing up against the outer faces of
the offset B2. The heads of the said bolts are preferably countersunk on the inside
of the blades B and B, as indicated in Figure 2, so that the corresponding
blades B3, B, and B', B6, represent an unbroken surface throughout their length
at their inner faces. In order to fasten the rule in a plumb position on the corner
of the building, I provide a double spirit-level D.made angular and formed on its
two members with downwardly extending hooks D¹ adapted to engage the upper
edges of the blades B and B so as to securely hold the spirit level in place on the
upper end of the rule A.
It will be seen that when the spirit-level D is applied and the rule is put in
position on the corner of a building, the bubbles of the level readily indicate the
true position of the rule, and in case the latter is not entirely plumb it can be
readily put in such a position, the bubbles then indicating at the proper zero mark,
as will be readily understood by reference to Figure 3. If desired, au ordinary
plumb-bob may be used to test the proper position of the rule when put in place.
In order to stretch a line along the sides of the building, to enable the workmen
operating between two corners, for instance, to properly lay the bricks, I provide
each rule A on the two adjacent corners with a slide E made in the form of an
angular blade fitted on to the outer surfaces or faces of the rule A, as indicated in
Figure 1, the said slide being provided with apertures E¹ through one of which
passes the rope or cord F stretched from one slide to the other and passing
through the slot B8 to the inside of the rule, the inner end of the cord or rope
being formed with a knot to prevent it from passing through the slot B³. By this
arrangement the slides E on the rules A on two adjacent corners of a building can
be moved up or down on the rules according to the graduation, so as to stretch the
line F along the side wall to indicate the heights of the bricks for the next courses.

page_text: By this arrangement cords may be stretched from one corner rule A to two corner
rules of similar construction and located at the two next adjacent corners, so that
two walls of the building have proper cords to guide the middle men in laying the
stones or bricks properly and in accordance with the bricks laid by the corner men
at the three corners.
When starting a wall, the rule A is supported on a base plate G or H formed
on one or two adjacent sides with flanges G', as plainly indicated in Figures 5
and 6, so that the lowermost edges of the rule A fit snugly against the said flange
or flanges to support the rule in a vertical position until a sufficient number of
courses of bricks have been laid to allow the workmen to fasten the rule to the wall
by nails driven through the apertures B7, as above described.
The base plate shewn in Figure 5 is more especially designed for use at the
corner of a wall, while the other plate is adapted for use along a wall, it being,
however, understood that the flanges are turned to and rest against the lower or
base portion of the wall.
When it is desired to use the rule as a regular square then the two parts B
and B are set at angles to each other and fastened in place by one of the bolts C,
as indicated in Figure 7.
In the modified arrangement illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 the rule is constructed
of integral blades N, N¹, formed with vertically extending grooves or guide-
ways N2, N3, respectively, each engaged by a slide O carrying a cord or rope P,
the said slides being vertically adjustable on the respective blades, so as to permit
of independently shifting the cords or ropes. In order to securely hold the plumb-
rule in place I prefer to employ clamping rods Q carried on the blades and each
formed at its outer end with a point adapted to be driven into the wall, as plainly
shewn in Figures 8 and 9.
It will be seen that the rule can be readily arranged at the corner of a building
and supported in place to plumb two sides at once and it also enables the
workman to lay the bricks according to the measurement indicated on the members
of the rule, as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A plumb-rule provided with two blades arranged at right angles to each
other and with their edges parallel to one another, the said blades being connected
at their ends and spaced intermediately thereof so as to form a slot between the
blades, substantially as described.
2. A plumb-rule comprising two blades arranged at right angles to each other
and with their edges parallel to one another and an angular double spirit level
adapted to be secured to the upper ends of the blades, substantially as described.
3. A plumb-rule comprising a rule having two graduated blades arranged at
right angles to each other and a base plate formed with right angular flanges
adapted to engage the blades of the said rule to support the same in proper
position, substantially as shewn and described.
4. A plumb-rule comprising a rule having two graduated blades arranged at
right angles to each other and a slide fitted on the said blades at their outer faces
and adapted to carry a rope or cord, substantially as shewn and described.
5. A plumb-rule provided with a rule made in two parts, each having two
graduated blades arranged at right angles to each other and means, substantially
as described, for fastening the said two parts together either in an extended or
right angular position, substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 8th day of November 1894.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.