An Improved Flexible and Adjustable Ruler for use in Drawing Curves.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Flexible and Adjustable Ruler for use in Drawing
Curves.
I, GORDON PATON CLARK, of 36, Springfield Place, Leeds, in the County of York-
shire, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to an improved flexible and adjustable ruler for use in
drawing curves. A strip of flexible and resilient material is provided at or near
each end with a moveable or fixed loop or hook in such a manner that the user by
placing his fingers and thumb in such loops or hooks can move the ends of the strip
or draw them towards each other so as to curve the strip more or less or modify
the shape of its curve. In order to have means for further modifying the curve
s given I provide, in suitable guides attached to the strip preferably in guides
or holes in the hooks or loops themselves, a sliding rod or rods or other device to
form with its end or otherwise a rigid abutment or abutments adjustable length-
wise of the ruler in order that on or after the commencement of the bending of
the ruler by the user, the said device may form an abutment or abutments modify-
ing the curve of the flexible strip which is used as the ruling surface.
Dated this 31st day of December 1897.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.
An Improved Flexible and Adjustable Ruler for use in Drawing
Curves.
I, GORDON PATON CLARK, formerly of 36, Springfield Place, Leeds, in the County
of Yorkshire, and now of 10, Lansdowne Road, London, W., Electrician, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
This invention relates to an improved flexible and adjustable ruler for use in
drawing curves. A strip of flexible and resilient material is provided at or near
each end with a movable or fixed loop or hook in such a manner that with the
shorter ruler the user by placing his fingers and thumb in such loops or hooks can
move the ends of the strip or draw them towards each other so as to curve the
strips more or less or modify the shape of its curve, the same effect being obtained
in the longer ruler by use of a cord. In order to have means for further modify-
[Price 8d1

page_text: ing the curve so given I provide, in suitable guides attached to the strip preferably
in guides or holes in the hooks or loops themselves, a sliding rod or rods or other
device to form with its end or other wise a rigid abutment or abutments adjustable
lengthwise of the ruler in order that on or after the commencement of the bending
of the ruler by the user, the said device may form an abutment or abutments
modifying the curve of the flexible strip which is used as the ruling surface, and
which strip may have its edges bevelled if desired as shown in section in Fig. 1.
In the annexed drawing Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of such a ruler.
Fig. 3 is a plan and Fig. 4 is an elevation of a longer form of ruler and Fig. 5 is
an end view of the latter from the right.
A is a flexible strip which may be made of vulcanite, celluloid, steel, wood or
other suitable material; the material preferably used for the shorter ruler being
celluloid and for the longer ruler wood. B & C are the two hooks or loops which
are preferably attached by rivets be to the strip A. D is a rod which may slide
in holes in the hook or loop B and have at its inner end a block such as E serving
as an abutment. Another abutment may be formed by a piece of metal F sliding
on the rod 1) and having a hook like end f embracing the edge of the strip A. The
rod D may have a scale of divisions of length thereon for convenience in adjustment
of the rod itself D or the abutment F. G is a cord having a knot g in the end and
passed through a hole in the hook C, thence through holes b 2 in hook B. The
hole b² is preferably elongated and tapered as shown in Fig. 5 in order to grip the
cord firmly when the latter is drawn towards its narrow end.
I do not claim broadly the use of a cord to connect the ends of a flexible spline
or ruler, but by the combination of this known device with the other features of
my invention I am enabled to apply my invention to rulers of greater length than
could be operated by the fingers of one hand engaging the hooks B, C, and I am
also enabled to retain the ruler in the shape of curve given to it for an indefinite
tiine. It will be obvious that by the sliding of the abutment E or of the abut-
ments E and F towards the one or the other end of ruler the shape or curve may be
modified in many ways that would not be attained with a simple flexible ruler or
spline by the use of a cord only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A flexible ruler having two hooks or loops substantially as herein described
to serve as finger holds for adjustment and temporary retention of the ruler by
hand during use.
2. A flexible ruler having means for drawing the ends together to form a curve
and longitudinally movable abutment or abutments adapted to modify the curve
so formed substantially as herein described.
3. A flexible ruler having means substantially as herein described and illustrated
for its adjustment to and retention in suitable are like or other and modified curves.
Dated this 27th day of Sentember 1898
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.