A NEW AND IMPROVED RULER
Year: 1885

page_text: I, SAMUEL LEITH TOMKINS of 3 Circus Place Finsbury E C. Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for A NEW AND IMPROVED RULER to be
as follows:-
•
The combination of a vertical straight edge or guide with one, two, or more
rollers, giving a parallel motion; with or without the addition of a handle or
finger rest above the roller or rollers, so that the latter shall be free to revolve by
friction on the paper without disturbance. The straight edge or guide against
which the pen or pencil will be pressed, to be fitted or not fitted with a sliding
bar or carrier to ensure further steadiness of the pen or pencil used.
All the parts can be moveable or fixtures.
: أر
I SAMUEL LEITH TOMKINS of 3 Circus Place, Finsbury, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "A NEW AND IMPROVED RULER," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The ruler is constructed of two or more. rollers revolving freely on spindles, or
pins passing through the end pieces, which may be made of wood, or metal, or
other suitable material, connecting them together at equal distances, and thus
ensuring a perfectly parallel motion, when lying on a flat surface, and rolled
backwards or forwards.

page_text: To prevent any disturbance of the said rolling motion by the interference of
fingers placed on the rollers, a bar or handle of wood, or metal, or other suitable
material, joining the two end pieces at some distance above the rollers, is added,
and by the handle the said rollers are moved backwards or forwards at pleasure.
Above and in front of one of the rollers is permanently fixed a broad vertical
straight edge, fastened at its ends to the two end pieces before mentioned, and
clear of the roller behind, so that no friction checks the rolling motion; the purpose
of the broad straight edge is to afford a sufficient bearing surface for the pen or
pencil to travel against, and thus avoid the lateral deviation or oscillation of the
pen or pencil when used, and the consequent production of curved lines,
The prevention of lateral deviation or oscillation may be further effected by the
addition of a tube; or rings placed one above the other; or clips; or a simple loop
of wire; through which the pen or pencil passes on the outside of the broad
straight edge: the said tube, rings, clips, or loop of wire being held close against
the broad straight edge by a sliding band, wire, or clip, passing round the back of
the same, and being moved along the front in an absolutely straight line.
All the parts may be made of any suitable material.
I desire to claim the privilege of making the ruler, with or without a sliding
holder for the pen or pencil, as the fingers may be used to keep the pen or pencil
in its place, and also with or without the handle aforesaid.
The drawing represents the ruler complete. A. B. is the broad vertical straight
edge, against which the pen or pencil travels. C. C. are the end pieces connecting
the parallel rollers, and holding the broad straight edge vertical. D. D. are the
parallel rollers. E. is the handle to keep the fingers clear of the rollers. F. the
slider moving on A. B. with attachment on the outer side for carrying a pen or
pencil..
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
1st. The use of a broad vertical straight edge to ensure the steadiness of the pen
or pencil in the act of ruling, & to prevent any lateral deviation or oscillation of
the same.
2d. The combination with the broad straight edge, of two or more rollers freely
revolving at equal distances, parallel to each other, thus ensuring perfect parallelism
in the lines drawn.