A New or Improved Measuring Tape adapted for Setting Out Angles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Measuring Tape adapted for Setting Out
Angles.
I, WILLIAM WATSON, of 27 Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, East
India Agent and Banker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has
been communicated to me by E. W. Fritchley, of Fort Bombay, in the Empire of
India, Architect's Assistant, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a measuring tape fitted with joints and markings which
specially adapt it for use with appropriate pins in setting out on the land right and
other angles.
The tapes for this purpose are preferably of thin flexible metal, such as are
known as metallic tapes, steel is the preferable material.
According to this invention I make the tape with joints at certain distances,
and with holes, through which pins intended to be used therewith may be passed
in such wise that the lengths of tape between the said points may form the sides of
triangles having one or more known angles of the amplitude required.
The outer or free end of the tape is fitted with a finger ring preferably of
triangular shape so that when a pin is passed through the ring and the tape
drawn tight the pin may be in the free or outer angle of the triangular ring.
At a distance along the tape measured from the ring of three feet, or any
multiple of 3 feet, is a joint of the nature of an eyelet passing through two super-
imposed pieces of the tape and so that the tape is free to make any angle with
itself with the eyelet joint as the apex, and the central opening or eyelet is of
proper size to permit the insertion therethrough of one of the pins.
At a further distance of four feet from the above described joint, or multiple of
four feet (the same multiple if any as that used in respect of first length of three
feet) is a second eyelet joint similar to that before described.
At a further distance along the tape measuring from the last named joint at a
distance of 5 feet or any like multiple of 5 feet is a hole through the tape of size to
admit the insertion of one of the pins.
If now the tape be laid evenly on the ground with a pin passed through both the
first named ring and the last named hole through the tape, and if another pin be
passed through each of the holes at the two joints, each length of tape being
stretched out to its full extent, the whole will form a right angle triangle the sides
being respectively of the lengths of 3. 4 and 5 feet or multiples of these lengths.
A string may be attached to one of the pins and by stretching it over one of the
other pins or through an eye or loop therein the line of the tape may be produced
and the lines for cross and other walls or for other purposes may be accurately and
easily laid out.
It will be obvious that it is preferable to have the various sections or lengths
between the joints of the tape as long as practicable and the preferable lengths for
a fifty feet tape are for right angles 12 16 and 20 feet respectively.
For setting out angles other than right angles a series of holes are formed along
the tape preferably between the second joint and the end of the tape at calculated
distances so arranged that in combination with the other two lengths of say
12 and 16 feet respectively which remain constant, the various lengths give angles of
any arranged amplitude such for instance as every five degrees or otherwise, and
the tape may conveniently be marked on one side to indicate the particular angle
for the setting out of which each hole may be used...

page_text: It will be obvious that any other numbers or lengths bearing the same relation
to each other may be used instead of those given, the relation (in the case of a
right angle triangle) being that indicated in proposition 48 of the First Book of
Euclid.
The pins may be fitted with suitable eyes for the attachment of a string for
producing the lines and with swivels where required.
:
The tape may preferably be about the size and have on one side of it the
markings usual for ordinary steel measuring tapes.
A pocket may conveniently be provided in the case for carrying the pins.
Dated the 4th day of December 1893:
A New or Improved Measuring Tape adapted for Setting Out
Angles.
1, WILLIAM WATSON, of 27 Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, East
India Agent and Banker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, which has been communicated to
me by E. W. Fritchley of Fort Bombay in the Empire of India, Architect's
Assistant, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to a measuring tape fitted with joints and markings which
specially adapt it for use with appropriate pins in setting out on the land right and
other angles.
The tapes for this purpose are preferably of thin flexible metal such as are:
known as metallic tapes. Steel is the preferable material.
According to this invention I make the tape with joints at certain distances and
with holes through which pins intended to be used therewith may be passed in such
wise that the lengths of tape between the said points may form the sides of
triangles having one or more known angles of the amplitude required.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings
Fig. 1 is a representation of my improved tape in the position used for setting
out a right angle.
Fig. 2 is a perspective representation of the pin for holding the ring end of the
tape together with parts of the tape and string.
3
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the pin for use at the right angle or other desired angle
together with pieces of the tape and string.
Fig. 5 is a like elevation of the pin used at the remaining angle.
Fig. 6 is a plan drawn to an enlarged scale of one of the joints in the tape.
Fig. 7 is a corresponding vertical section of the same, and
Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the distances on the tape at which holes are required
for setting out the various angles named when the joints are respectively at 12 ft.
and 28 ft. from the ring end of the tape.
4
Fig. 9 represents a tape with the joints at respectively 12 ft. and 24 ft. from the 4
ring end, and
Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the dimensions required for setting out certain
angles therewith.
Fig. 11 is a plan about half full size, of a part of the tape showing the marking
of lineal measurements on the front side and angles on the rear.
The outer or free end of the tape marked A is fitted with a finger ring A¹
5

page_text: preferably of triangular shape so that when a pin is passed through the ring
and the tape drawn tight the pin may be in the free or outer angle of the
triangular ring.
The tape is divided into three sections one of which is subdivided in such wise
that the distances bear certain proportional relations to each other hereafter
described. The distances mentioned below are convenient but obviously others
may be used.
At a distance along the tape measured from and including the ring of say for
instance 3 feet or any multiple of 3 feet or of any other unit into which the tape is
divided, 12 feet is the length, represented in Fig. 1, is a joint B, of the nature of
an eyelet passing through two superimposed pieces of the tape and so that the tape
is free to make any angle with itself with the joint B as the apex, and the central
opening or eyelet is of proper size to permit the insertion therethrough of the pin Y
represented in Fig. 4. An enlarged representation of this joint is shown in plan in
Fig. 6 and in section in Fig. 7.
At a further distance of four feet from the above described joint or multiple of
four feet, the same multiple if any as that used in respect of first length of three feet,
16 feet is the length represented in Fig. 1, is a second eyelet joint marked C similar.
to that before described.
At a further distance along the tape measuring from the last named joint at the
distance of 5 feet or any other like multiple of 5 feet, 20 feet is the length shown in
Fig. 1, is a hole D, through the tape of size to admit the insertion of one of the pins
as shown at D in Figures 2 & 3.
If now the tape be laid as represented in Fig. 1, evenly on the ground and so
turned at the joints B and C as to bring the end A, of the tape directly over the
pin hole D, and a pin be hooked into the ring A¹ and passed through the hole D,
and if another pin be passed through each of the holes at the two joints B and C,
cach length of tape being 'stretched out to its full extent, the whole will form a
right angle triangle with the right angle at B, the sides being respectively of the
lengths of 3. 4 and 5 feet or multiples of these lengths say 12, 16, and 20 feet shown
in Fig. 1.
It will be obvious that it is preferable to have the various sections or lengths
between the joints of the tape as long as practicable such as for instance for a
50 feet tape and for right angles 12, 16 and 20 feet respectively but obviously any
other lengths may be used provided they are such that the square of the side
subtending the right angle be equal to the sum of the squares of the sides containing
the right angle.
For setting out angles other than right angles a series of holes are formed along
the tape between the joints C and the end of the tape at calculated distances so
arranged that in combination with the other two lengths which remain constant
the various lengths give angles of any arranged amplitude, such for instance as
every five degrees or otherwise, and the tape may conveniently be marked on one
side to indicate the particular angles for the setting out of which each hole may
be used.
7
Fig. 8 shows the distance at which the holes should be made for setting out
angles of every five degrees up to 90 degrees in a tape in which the distance
between A and B is 12 feet and that between B and C is 16 feet that is to say the
distance beyond C at which the pin hole must be in order to set out an angle of
5 degrees is 4 feet 2.14416 inches.
To set out an angle of 10 degrees the distance of the pin hole beyond C'must
be 4 feet 807180 inches and so on up to 90 degrees.
=
When however a 50 feet tape is intended for setting out angles exceeding
90 degrees the lengths indicated in Figs. 9 and 10 may advantageously be used,
that is to say, the length from A to B = 12 feet and from B to C: 12 feet, and
the length from C to the pin hole for setting out a given angle is that found in the
third column of the following table, opposite the said angle in the first column.
The figures in the second column are the total distance of the pin holes from the

page_text: Pins for use with my tape are represented in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. Figs 2 and 3
being the pin for use at the end A of the tape and this pin X has an eye P at
its upper extremity through which string Q may be passed for producing the
direction of the tape to greater distances. Fig. 4 represents the pin Y for use at
the joint B, which pin has a swivelling arrangement f for attaching the string Q
also an eye g. Fig. 5 represents the pin Z used at the joint C.
The tape may preferably be about the usual size and have on one side of it the
markings usual for ordinary measuring tapes and is represented in Fig. 11 about
half its natural size with feet inches and eighths marked on the front R, and on the
back S against each pin hole the angle it is for setting out.
A pocket may conveniently be provided in the case for carrying the pins.
In order to set out a given angle, for example to obtain G B F Fig. 10 equal
to 17 degrees the two sides B A, B C being 12 feet each, the side C F subtending
the included angle of 17 degrees will be 3 ft. 6 inch and by bringing the pin
hole at that distance (marked F in Fig. 10) and the end A directly over each
other and securing the two by means of the pin X represented in Fig 5 an
angle will be formed at B equal to 17 degrees. Similarly it will be found that
by using the pin hole marked G in Fig. 10 at 9 ft. 9 inches from C and so
laying the tape that the pin hole G and the ring A¹ are brought together at G'
and pinning G and A together an angle C B G will be formed equal to 48 degrees.
Any other angle for which a pin hole has been provided may be set out in the
same way.
Strings attached to the pin Y (at the joint B) and stretched through eyes in,
or over, the pius X and Z respectively (that is to say over the joint. C and
end A) serve to produce. the lines. beyond these points and thus lines for cross
and other walls in marking out the foundations for buildings and the like and
for other purposes-may be accurately and easily laid out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. Measuring tapes made in three lengths jointed together and with pin holes
for the purpose and substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
2. Measuring tapes adapted for setting out angles made in three pieces united
by joints with pin holes at each of the joints and in the third length of the tape at
distances which form the other two lengths triangles having one angle of
predetermined amplitude substantially as herein before described and set forth.
3. In jointed measuring tapes adapted for setting out angles the provision of
holes in the third length for the purpose of forming included angles of definite
amplitude between the first and second lengths substantially as described.
Dated the 26th day of July 1894.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.