Improvements in Measuring Rules.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Measuring Rules.
I, ROBERT OERLEIN of 14 Roman Street, New Orloans in the State of Louisiana,
United States of America, Commission Merchaut, 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 rolates to an improvement in a foot rule, in which an arm is made
to operate in conjunction with a foot rule and try square, and the objects of my
improvements are to provide an attachment for foot rule that will enable a try
square and foot rule to be constructed as one device.
1 attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which,
Figure 1 is a top view showing arm which forms a try square on foot rule in a
closed position.
Figure 2 is a side view showing arm which forms a try square on foot rule in an
open position.
'
Figure 3 is a side view showing arm detached at one end and swung from foot
rule.
Similar letters referring to similar parts throughout the several views.
In constructing my device, I take an ordinary foot rule, as shown in Figure 1,
and adjust an arm as shown by A, this arm may be of any desired material but
preforably of polished steel, so as to render it flexible, and at same time
ornamental, at C, I place a screw through end of arm A, which acts as an axle, and
permits arm A to be freely opened and closed, at D, I place a rivet which is
securely adjusted to arm A and protrudes beyond the under surface of arm and,
when arm is in a closed position as shown in Figure 1, rests within opening E and
is held in position; B is a metal shoe placed upon foot rule as shown in Figure 1,
with opening in same, and within which rivet D rests when arm is in use with foot
rule, as a try square as shown in Figure 2. Arm A may be numbered or graduated
on top of same so as to correspond with numbers on foot rule when closed, thus
permitting of the same width as the section of the rule to which it is attached,
without destroying the efficiency of the rule as a measure and thereby forming an
attachment for a foot rule at a moderate expense, and combining both foot rule and
try square in one device.
In operating my device, I simply raise arm A, at a point in close proximity to
rivet D, which releases the arm at one end as shown in Figure 3, I then open the
foot rule and adjust rivet D in the opening in shoe B, thus forming a try square as
shown by Figure 2. A striking advantage of my device is that it can be readily
carried in the pocket, thus forming a folding try square that is at all times
accessible and can be put in use at a moment's notice, it will be observed that the
arm A is cut obliquely at its opposite ends, and is graduated so that the line to be
drawn may
be measured.
By having the opposite ends of this bar A, cut obliquely as shown, it will be
seen that the said oblique ends, when the branches of the rule have been fixed in an
angular position, will offer no obstruction to the pencil or drawing instrument, as
the said ends meet flush with the outer sides of the rule.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described in illustration of
my invention, as the same may be varied to some extent, but I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination, with a graduated rule, of the shoe B, secured to one of the

page_text: hinged sections and having an aperture therein, the flexible arm A, pivoted at one
end to one branch of the rule and carrying a stud at its opposite end to enter the
perforation in the shoe B, said arm having its ends. cut obliquely in opposite
directions so as to be flush with the outer edge of the rule when the branches are
fixed at right angles to each other, and, the upper face of the arm graduated to
correspond with the graduations on the rule, whereby an uninterrupted scale may
be found; substantially as specified.
2. A hinged measuring rule, in combination with an arm having its opposite
directions and its upper side graduated to correspond with the graduations on the
rule branch, to which it is pivoted, substantially as specified.
Dated this 27th day of Auœust 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.