Improvements in Rulers applicable for the use of Book Keepers and others.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
Improvements in Rulers applicable for the use of Book Keepers
and others.
A communication from abroad by Major ROMEYN JEWELL, of Rochester, in the
County of Monroe and State of New York, and CHARLES EDWIN JEWELL,
of Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, both in the United
States of America, Mechanical Engineer and Merchant respectively.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street Liverpool & 6, Bank Street Manchester both
in the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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 a ruler having a longitudinal slot or opening there-
through in such manner that four or any less mumber of parallel equi-distant lines
may be ruled witbout moving the ruler. It also relates to the provision of a
detachable blotter to be fixed in the slot or opening. It also relates to other
details hereinafter described.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ruler in its most simple form and
Figure 1 a cross section of the same.
As shown in these figures the ruler consists of a thin plate of steel or other
pliable material, comprising the two parallel bars a, separated nearly their entire
length by the slot 6 but connected at their ends. The entire device may be
punched or cut from a single sheet, or made up of several connected pieces. The
two bars are of equal width, but the slot of slightly greater width than the bars,
so that if a pen or pencil be drawn along the inner and outer edges of the bars,
four parallel equi-distant lines will be produced. The edges of the bars may be
and usually are graduated as shown.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent the ruler in another form with a detachable pad of
blotting paper or other bibulous material B, therein. In this form the ruler has
one of its bars pivoted at a and arranged to swing outward as shown in Figure 2,
to permit the insertion of the blotter which is grooved at its edge to embrace the
bars, as shown in cross section in Figure 4. The free end of the pivoted bar is
adapted to enter the grooved cross-bar at the end, which is provided with an
indentation at to enter a hole a³ in the end of the swinging bar, the parts being
thus locked together so as to prevent them from opening accidentally. The
absorbent pad serves to sustain the edges of the ruler above the surface of the
book or paper on which it may be used, to prevent the transfer of ink thereto, and
also serves to absorb any ink which may find its way to the ruler edges. The
essence of the invention in this regard lies in the use of the detachable absorbent
pad within the ruler, and the details of construction may be modified at will.
In some cases it is desirable to have the edge of the ruler sustained above the
paper or other surface when the absorbent pad is not in use, and, to this end, bars
as shown in Figures 5 & 6 may be provided on opposite sides, each with a
longitudinal raised rib or lip d, to rest on the paper and sustain one edge of the
rule while the other lies upon the paper. In Figure 5, these ribs are solid of
semi-circular form and at a short distance from the inner edges of the bars so that
the absorbent pad may be used if desired. In Figure 6, the raised ribs are formed
by curling the inner edges of the bars over in tubular form. When thus constructed
the entire ruler may be made in one piece.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A ruler having two longitudinal parallel bars a, of equal width and an inter-
mediate slot or opening of a width slightly greater than the bars.
2. The reversible ruler consisting of the longitudinally slotted blade with the
two longitudinal ribs or lips projecting above its respective surfaces.
3. The ruler having its blade composed of two longitudinal bars a, a', connected
by cross bars at the ends with a hinge joint whereby they may be opened apart,
substantially as described.
4. The longitudinally slotted ruler with the removable absorbent pad, constructed
substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 31st day of December 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.