Stair-builders, Carpenters, and others.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1887
Specification Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
Stair-builders, Carpenters, and others.
I, JABEZ KLIF, of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota, in the United
States of America, Carpenter, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in squares and kindred appliances for the use
of stair-builders, carpenters, and others; and consists in the combination of a square
or of a slotted scale with one or two slotted scales.
I attain the objects of my invention by means of the devices illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as part of this specification and read
therewith, and in which
Fig. 1 is a plan illustrating the adaptability of a square constructed according to
my invention for ascertaining the centre of a circle.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation corresponding with Fig. 1.
Fig. is a plan illustrating the adaptability of a square constructed according to
my invention to the setting out of mortises.
Fig. 4 is a plan illustrating the adaptability of my invention to setting out radial
lines as well as the lines of cylinders or of cones.
Fig. 5 is a plan illustrating the adaptability of a square constructed according to
my invention to setting out stair-stringers, ascertaining the lengths of rafters, and
other similar operations.
The square illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 consists of two arnis A, B, preferably of
the same width, and the latter longer than the former. They make an angle of 90°
with each other. Central longitudinal slots a, b, are formed in these arms respectively,
positioned relatively to each other as shewn in Figs. 1 and 3; both slots conveniently
terminating in holes a', b¹, to facilitate the introduction of the set screws a², 12, used
for fixing the scales or rules upon the square at the required angles therewith.
Both arms of the square are marked with graduated linear scales adapted to the
particular work upon which the instrument is to be used.

page_text: C and D are two centrally slotted scales or rules graduated on their front sides
with the same scale as the square. One of these has a timber scale on its reverse
side; and the other, an octagon scale. The slots c, d, are bevelled or recessed to
receive the heads of the set-screws, so that the heads of the latter are flush with the
respective faces of the scales. The ends of the slots c, d, are enlarged as are the outer
ends of the slots a, b, and for a like purpose.
For finding the centre of a circle, the instrument constructed as above described is
used according to the method illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
The scale C is adjusted upon the square at an angle of 40 with either arm of the
latter and fixed thereupon by the set screws a² 12. The scale D is then adjusted upon
the arm B by means of the set screw d', which is passed through a hole formed in the
arm B for that purpose; and fixed thereupon with the edge d bisecting the external
and internal angles of the square and making an angle of 90° with the scale C.
The square is next applied to the circle E in such a way that the inner edges a³, 6³,
of the square, shall be both tangential to the circle, when the edge d³ of the scale D
will coincide with a diameter of the circle, and along it the centre of the circle can
be easily found by means of the scale D.
For setting out mortises the instrument constructed as above described is used
according to the method illustrated in Fig. 3.
F is the length of stuff upon which the mortises f. f are to he set out.
The scale C is adjusted parallel with the arm A of the square, and the scale D
parallel with the arm B, and secured thereupon by means of the set screws.
The
scales are respectively set at such distances from the arms as will give the widths of
the mortises and their distances apart, the two dimensions being taken from the inner
edge of the arm B, and the scales C and D, or either.
For setting out the radial lines of a circle, or of the surface of a cone, I use a
modified form of the instrument described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This
modification, and the method of using are illustrated in Fig. 4.
G is a slotted scale-it may be either Cor D of Figs. 1 and 3,-and H a cross
scale which can be adjusted upon the former at any point by means of the set-screw h
passing through the slot g in the scale G. The scale H has two slots ¹ formed in it
by means of which and set screws h² a pair of slotted arms with rounded ends, I, I,
can be adjusted upon the scale. H₁ is a crosshead of the same size as the cross-scale H.
The arms I are adjusted upon the cross-scale at equal distances from one edge of
the scale G. When, therefore, the scale G is laid upon a circle J, e.g., the end of a
cylinder or a circular plate with the ends of the arms bearing against the side of the
cylinder, or the edge of the plate the edge g', from which the arms I are equidistant,
will pass through the centre of the circle; and radial lines can therefore, be drawn
from the circumference, their distances being regulated from the scales upon the
cross-scale H.
The modification illustrated in Fig. 4 can also be used for setting out lines inside
a cylinder as well as outside it; while by fixing the cross scale H and the cross
head Hat the end of the scale a graduated T square with an adjustable head is
produced.
For setting out staircase stringers the instrument constructed as described with
reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is used according to the method illustrated in Fig. 5,
which shews a modification of the method of fastening the scales to the square
illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and described therewith. According to this modifica-
tion I dispense with slots in the square and place the set screws as illustrated in the
figure, one pair bearing against the outside edge of the square and the other pair
bearing against the inside edges.
The square is set with one arm horizontal for the lines of the treads and the other
vertical for the lines of the risers. The two scales C and D are then set one on each
side of the square at the proper pitch and distance from the angle of the square and
secured in position by the set screws.
The scales C and D are to be slid along the edge of the stringer and the several
lines set off from the vertical and horizontal graduated arms of the square.

page_text: The instrument may be used for various other purposes, e.g., for ascertaining the
heights of buildings, the lengths, bevels of rafters, braces and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination of a square and two slotted scales substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying figures.
2. The combination of a square having slotted arms, two slotted scales and set
screws for fixing the scales upon the square substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying figures.
3. The combination of a slotted scale, a cross-scale, and a pair of arms adjustable
upon said cross-scale substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
figures.
4. The combination of the square one arm of which B is slotted longitudinally and
has a hole d' formed in it the other arm A being also slotted longitudinally and a
pair of scales C and D slotted longitudinally, the edge of the slots being recessed
to admit the head of the set screws used to connect the square and the said scales,
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying figures.
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11
001
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1907
J. P. WILLIAMS,
Applicant's Agent.