An Improved Instrument for Taking Measurements on the Human Body.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Instrument for Taking Measurements on the Human
Body.
I, ALEXANDER EDWARD of 68 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, Clothier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved instrument for taking measurements, such
as tailors and dressmakers require, on the human body.
The instrument consists of a strip or piece of pliable metal which has secured
crosswise to it a second piece or strip of metal. On one of the arms of the cross a
small spirit level is secured or fitted.
There may be an angle piece between two of the arms for the purpose of holding
the instrument when taking measurements. One or more of the arms is or are
suitably graduated or cut with divisions representing inches and parts of an inch or
with metrical divisions if they are preferred.
In using the instrument it is, preferably, placed under the arm of the person
being measured and one of the flexible arms of the instrument is then bent over the
shoulder and the exact measurement and form of the shoulder thus taken. One of
the arms may be then bent so as to measure to the seam at the collar and another
to the middle of the back. When all the measurements are duly taken the cutter
can proceed with the cutting out and if he finds it necessary at any time to get the
exact shape of the shoulder it can easily be done by bending the proper arm of the
instrument to the position it occupied when measuring.
If desired other flexible strips or pieces may be added to the cross pieces and
they may be made movable if necessary.
Under a modification some of the arms of the instrument may be duplicated
so as to take measurements at both shoulders.
Instead of using strips or pieces of flexible metal as hereinbefore described rods.
or equivalent may be used in lieu thereof or be combined therewith.
Dated this 31st day of January 1891.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
An Improved Instrument for Taking Measurements on the Human
Body.
I, ALEXANDER EDWARD, of 68 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, Clothier, 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 an improved instrument for taking measurements, such
as tailors and dressinakers require, on the human body.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon :-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the instrument.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view.
Figs. 3 and 4 are views, showing the method of using the instrument.
Referring to the drawings:-
The instrument consists of a strip or piece of pliable metal a, which has secured
crosswise to it, a second piece or strip of metal b.
On one or both of the arms of
'

page_text: the cross, a small spirit level c is secured or fitted. The spirit level c' is, preferably,
a sliding one.
There may be an angle piece d, as shown in dotted lines, between two of the
arms, for the purpose of holding the instrument, when taking measurements. The
arms a and bare suitably graduated or cut at e and they may be made with
divisions, representing inches and parts of an inch, or with metrical divisions, if
they are preferred.
The cross pieces a, b, are so pinned together at g, that they can be easily turned
about the pin as a centre. are nicks, cut in the vertical piece a, and when the
two pieces a, b, are being folded up, which is done by merely turning them round
the pin g as a centre, the nick catches on the pin 7, secured to the cross piece b,
and the two parts a, b, are thus locked together. The nick retains the parts in
position, when opened up, as shown. The pins g and hand the nick are shown
more particularly at Fig. 2.
is a metal or other tape, which is secured to a sliding collar k on the strip or
piece a. It is capable of turning about the pin as a centre.
l
This tape may or
may not be used, as desired."
In using the instrument, it is, preferably, placed close under the arm of the
person being measured and one of the flexible arms of the instrument is placed so
as to measure to the collar seam (see Fig. 3) and is then bent over the top of the
shoulder, and the exact measurement and form of the shoulder thus taken (see
Fig. 4). To keep the exact shape of the shoulder, the nicked part of the strip a is
caught in one of the nicks of the cross strip b. One of the arms may be then bent
so as to measure from the front of the shoulder to the middle of the back. When
all the measurements are duly taken, the cutter can proceed with the cutting out,
and if he finds it necessary, at any time, to get the exact shape of the shoulder, it
can easily be done by bending the proper arm of the instrument to the position it
occupied when measuring.
With the tape or piece j measurements may be taken at the small of the back or
the waist.
Under a modification, some of the arms of the instrument may be duplicated, so
as to take measurements at both shoulders.
Instead of using strips or pieces of flexible metal, as herein before described, rods
or equivalent may be used in lieu thereof, or be combined therewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
An instrument for taking measurements on the human body, made substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 31st day of October 1891.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.