A Combined Rule and square.
Year: 1897

page_text: A Combined Rule and square.
We, HENRY HOPTON, of 34, Powell Street, Goswell Road, London, Engineer,
and HUGH MAXWELL, of 96, Bermondsey Street, London, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to rules, and has for its object to provide a rule which
shall be capable of being converted at will into a square, and also of being folded
to half-length when required. The invention consists substantially in making
the rule in two lengths or sections normally arranged in line with each other
and pivotted together near their adjacent ends. One section is provided with a
spring tongue adapted to engage in notches formed respectively in one end and
in one side of the other section, the arrangement being such that the two sections
can be turned on their common pivot so as to form an extended rule or a aquare,
in which positions they are firmly held by the tongue aforesaid. The rule can also
be folded to half-length.
The manner in which the invention may be carried into effect is as follows:-
The improved rule is made of metal having a certain amount of spring and
consists of two sections preferably of equal length, pivotted together in an over-
lapping joint by means of a pin, rivet, hinge or other suitable device. The scale,
divisions or measurements are marked on the rule in a continuous series along the
two sections in the extended position of the rule.
A tongue-shaped portion of one section is cut or punched out at its end nearest
the other section, and along its two longitudinal sides, and is pressed up in such
a manner that the said tongue will have a tendency to project from the surface of
the section from which it has been punched. A correspondingly shaped notch is
formed in the adjacent end of the other section and the arrangement is such that
when the two sections are extended in line with each other, the tongue of the one
section will spring into engagement with the notch in the other section, whereby
the two sections will be held firmly in line with each other so as to form a
practically rigid rule.
The section which does not carry the tongue is further provided in one side near
its notched end with a second similar notch. On pressing back the tonguo out
of the first notch into a position level or flush with the surface of its section, the
other section will be free to be turned on its pivot into a position at right angles
to the tongue section, when, if the tongue be released so as to allow it to reassume
its normal projecting position, it will spring into engagement with the notch in
the other section and thus firmly hold the two sections in a position at right
angles to each other so as to form a comparatively rigid square.
By again pressing back the tongue it is released from the notch and the two
sections can then be folded together to the length of one section.
Although the rule is preferably made of metal it may be made of vulcanite or
other suitable material and the tongue instead of being punched out of the

page_text: material of one of the sections may be a separate spring piece attached to one of the
sections and partly recessed in it.
Dated the 2nd day of April 1897.
A Combined Rule and Square.
We, HENRY HOPTON, of 34, Powell Street, Goswell Road, London, Engineer,
and HUGH MAXWELL, of 96, Bermondsey Street, London, Manufacturer, 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 rules and has for its object to provide a rule which
shall be capable of being converted at will into a square, and also of being folded
to half length when required. The invention consists substantially in making
the rule in two lengths or sections arranged in line with each other
and pivotted together near their adjacent ends. One section is provided with a
spring tongue adapted to engage in notches formed respectively in one end and
in one side of the other section, the arrangement being such that the two sections
can be turned on their common pivot so as to form either an extended rule or a square,
in which positions they are firmly held by the tongue aforesaid.. The rule can also
be folded to half-length.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a rule constructed in
accordance with this invention:-
Figure 1 is a plan or top view showing the improved rule extended to its full
length; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section and Figure 3 is an underside view of
the same. Figure 4 is a plan or top view showing the rule with the sections
turned at right angles to each other so as to form a square. Figure 5 is a plan
showing the rule in the folded state. Figure 6 is a section on a larger scale ou
the line 6-6 of Figure 1.
The improved rule is made of metal having a certain amount of spring and
consists of two sections A and B preferably of equal length pivotted together in
an overlapping joint by means of a pin, rivet, hinge or other suitable device C.
The scale, divisions or measurements are marked on the rule in a continuous series
along the two sections in the extended position of the rule.
A tongue-shaped portion D of one section, say of the section B as shown, is
cut or punched out at its end nearest the other section A, and along its two
longitudinal sides and is pressed up in such a manner that the said tongue 1 will
have a tendency to project from the surface of the section from which it has been
punched. A correspondingly shaped notch E is formed in the adjacent end of
the other section A and the arrangement is such that when the two sections A and B
are extended in line with each other, the tongue D of the section B will spring
into engagement with the notch E in the other section A, whereby the two
sections A and B will be held firmly in line with each other so as to form a prac-
tically rigid rule, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
The section A is further provided on one side near its notched end with a
notch E similar to the aforesaid notch E. On pressing back the tongue D
out of the notch into a position level or flush with the surface of
the section B, the section A will be free to be turned on its pivot C into a
position at right angles to the section B, when if the tongue D he released so as to

page_text: allow it to reassume its normal projecting position, it will spring into engagement
with the notch E' and thus firmly hold the two sections A and B in a position at
right angles to each other so as to form a comparatively rigid square as shown in
Figure 4.
By again pressing back the tongue D, the section A is released from the
notch E and the two sections can then be folded together to the length of one
section as shown in Figure 5.
Although the rule is preferably made of metal it may be made of vulcanite or
other suitable material and the tongue D instead of being punched out of the
material of one of the sections may be a separate spring piece attached to one of
the sections and partly recessed in it. The tongue is preferably inclined or
chamfered at one side as seen in Figure 6 to enable it to be moved out of the
notches E and E by the mere turning movement of the two sections on the pivot C,
that is to say without the tongue D being pressed back by hand.
Having now particularly described. and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:—
1. A rule made in sections or lengths, one section having a spring tongue adapted
to engage with notches formed in the end and in the sido respectively of the other
section, whereby the rule can be converted into a square or folded as desired,
substantially as herein before described and for the purpose specified.
2. The combined rule and square constructed, arranged and operating substan-
tially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings for
the purpose set forth.
T
1000
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.