PRO
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
-
DAVID FREEMAN Woodturner & Ruler, Maker, 25, St Silas Sqr Church St.
Lozells, Birmingham I, David Freeman do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for AN "IMPROVED RULER" to be as follows:-
The front of the ruler is protected by a guard which prevents the pen touching
it and thereby keeps it free from ink, and the paper clean. At the back of the
ruler is a straightedge with scale which acts as balance to raise the guard from
the paper; and it is also adapted to hold another straightedge by which the ruler
is increased from the shortest to the longest length of ruler. Thero is also a
spring attached thereon which falls on ratchet cut in roller which indicates the
distance the ruler revolves and facilitates the mode of getting lines at an accurate
distance; and will therefore form a Ruler, Rule, straightedge and an instrument
for measuring.
A. Represents roller to which B. Č. and D is attached. B. Represents front guard
or protector. C. Represents balance to raise B. D. Represents pieces to connect
A. B. & C thus forming the Ruler. E. is attached to C. resting on ratchet in A
to indicate the distance A revolves. Figure 3 reprosents lengthener to be
attached to lengthen ruler as may be required H Represents a screw with coned
point for A to revolve on.
.

page_text: "
I, DAVID FREEMAN, of 25, St Silas Square, Church Street, Lozells, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Wood Turner and Ruler Makor, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for AN IMPROVED RULER and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to an improved Ruler and the objects of my Invention
are, Firstly, to provide an addition to an ordinary round ruler whereby the
liability to blot the paper when in use is obviated without interfering with the
easy rolling of the ruler. Secondly, to combine a scalo or measure with a round
ruler. Thirdly, to provide means whereby the length of the ruler may be
increased if desired without interfering with its easy manipulation and Fourthly,
to provide means whereby the distance apart of the lines ruled may be accurately
gauged.
I will describe my Invention by at once referring to the accompanying sheet of
drawings in which the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
several figures.
Fig. 1 is a plan of a ruler the parts of which are constructed and arranged
according to my Invention; Fig. 2 is a side view; Fig. 3 an end view and Fig 4 a
cross-section of the same; Fig 5 shews how the same may be lengthened; Fig. 6
shews a view of the lengthening piece separately and Fig. 7 shews how I apply,
according to my Invention, a graduated scale and index to the said ruler for
gauging the distance apart of the lines ruled therewith.
A is a roller of wood, metal or other suitable substance which may be of similar
diameter to an ordinary round ruler, B is a guard parallel to and extending the
whole length of the roller A and connected to or formed with the end pieces D
which are free to turn on the screws or pivots a secured to the roller A, or if
desired the pivots may be secured to the end pieces D and the roller A turned
thereon. C is a strip of boxwood, metal or other suitable substance attached to
the end pieces D and serving to counterbalance the guard B and to keep it in
position. It will be seen that the roller A can be manipulated similarly to an
ordinary round ruler, the pen or other instrument used for ruling being guided by
the guard B instead of by the round roller, which guard B thus prevents any ink
touching the roller and being by that means carried on to the paper to be ruled.
As the guard B does not touch the paper to be ruled it forms no obstruction to the
easy rolling of the roller A. The counterpoise C affords a rest for the fingers to a
keep the ruler steady whilst a line is being ruled. The counterpoise O may be
divided as desired to form a scale or measure and its straight edge c¹ can be used
for ruling with a mathematical or ruling pen.
My improved ruler can be lengthened as desired by providing on each of the
end pieces D a projecting piece d so as to form a recess ds (see Fig. 5) into which
recesses the straight edge E (shewn separately in Fig 6) can be placed, it being kept
in position by the said recesses and by a peg c fixed to the straight edge C and
fitting into a hole e' provided in the straight edge E or by other equivalent means,

page_text: In order to accurately guage the distance apart of the lines whilst ruling with a
round ruler I divide one or both of the ends thereof into any number of equal parts
as a¹, a², a³, Fig. 7 and I provide on some fixed part, as on the side piece or
pieces D a finger d', or other equivalent means such as a spring or detent, which as
the divisions a¹, a', a³ pass it when the ruler is being moved indicate the distance
traversed by the same and the distance apart of the lines ruled.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the preciso details as
herein described and illustrated as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention.
"
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
1. The improved ruler hereinbefore described, that is to say, a round ruler or
roller in combination with a guard loosely pivotted to its ends and balanced by a
counterpoise so as not to touch the surface on which the ruler is moved all the
parts being arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
2. The combination of a flat scale or measure with a round ruler or roller, the
same being pivotted together so that the round ruler or roller may revolve as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
3. The combination of a round ruler or roller with a flat straight edge of greater
length, the said straight edge being readily removable and attachable as herein-
before described with reference to Figs 5 & 6 of my drawings.
4. In a combination ruler the recess d³, projection d³ and peg o² arranged for
6
holding the straight edge and the round ruler together as hereinbefore described.
5. The means as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 7 whereby the
distance apart of the lines ruled may be accurately gauged, that is to say, dividing
the end or ends of the roller or ruler into any number of equal parts and providing
a fixed finger or other equivalent means for indicating the distance traversed by
the roller or ruler as hereinbefore described.