Improvements in Parallel Rulers.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1887
Specification Accepted, 25th Oct., 1887
Improvements in Parallel Rulers.
A communication from FILIP PERELES, Merchant, of Karolinenthal, and FRANZ
LISKA, Manufacturer, of Zizkow, Bohemia.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. 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 :-
The straight edges generally in use at the present time, are not easy to handle
especially when parallel lines have to be drawn with a writing pen and ink. After
every line the straight edge must be raised from the ruled surface and carefully
readjusted for the drawing of the next line which operation causes loss of time and
the operator is liable to stain his hands with ink.
The object of the present invention is to design a straightedge which obviates
these disadvantages.
The straightedge is provided with a handle by which it is guided over the paper
being kept parallel by means of a roller situated behind the straight edge; the
lower edge of the roller is lower than the bottom plane of the straight edge, so that
when the latter is placed on the paper the handle will be elevated to enable the
straight edge to touch the paper.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents this improved straight edge
in plan view.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same in position when a line is to be drawn along
the edge.
These bands are
Two or more metal bands Care fastened to the straight edge A.
bent in a half circle at D behind the straight edge and are soldered or otherwise
fastened to a strong metal wire E which is bent in the middle so as to form a pin or
"tang" which is rigidly fixed in the handle G. The outer ends of the wire E are
doubly bent inwards and the free ends a are loosely inserted into the ends of a
roller B which thus is situated between the straight edge and the handle, the lower
I Price 61

page_text: edge of the roller being lower than the underside of the straightedge. The ruling
edge of the straight edge is formed with the usual chamfer or bevel.
When a line is drawn along the edge the straight edge is moved to where the
next line is to be drawn by means of the handle and the roller. The straight edge
need therefore not be lifted and as the roller will not leave the paper the straightedge
will not require readjustment. The handle being above the paper F the fingers of the
operator need not touch the paper. If the roller be covered with an ink absorbing
material for instance several layers of blotting paper, it may be used for blotting
purposes by lifting the straight edge from the paper and simply passing the roller
over it.
Figures 3 and 4 represent a modification in plan and side elevation respectively.
In this instance the roller B is situated partly under and partly behind the
straightedge and is fastened thereto by two rectangularly bent wires E one end of
each of which is loosely inserted in one of the ends of the roller while the other
ends of the wires are suitably fastened to the top of the straight edge. The handle G
is fastened to the straightedge by the wires E' the closed ends of which are fastened
in the handle while the others are spread out and suitably fastened to the straight
edge.
Figures 5 and 6 represent the same construction adapted to a long straight edge, in
which construction the side wires E are bent round the back of the straight edge to
be fastened on the top thereof instead of round the sides.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same
is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A straightedge such as A connected with a roller B by means of metal bands CD
and E in combination with a handle G substantially as described.
2. The complete parallel ruler substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The complete ruler substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 3 and 5
of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a parallel ruler a roller such as B composed of or covered with an ink
absorbing material substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of September 1887.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
A'gents.