Patent ID: 7743521

Claim:
A multi-purpose layout tool comprising: a rectangular base plate having: four right-angle corners, first and second longitudinal edges, and first and second latitudinal edges; a pivot point located near one of the four right-angle corners; an elongated arcuate slot having common rafter slope markings and hip-valley rafter slope markings; a locator bar having a straight measuring edge operable to be aligned with the markings of the arcuate slot and laid against a straight edge of a workpiece, the locator bar having a first end operable to be pivotally and removably attached to the base plate at the pivot point, the locator bar being longer than any of the edges of the base plate and of sufficient length when pivotally attached at the pivot point to intersect the base plate's arcuate slot at a selectable intersection point; a first connector operable to connect the locator bar to the base plate at the pivot point; wherein the locator bar is operable to be pivoted about the pivot point between a position that aligns the bar's proximal longitudinal edge with the base plate's first longitudinal edge to a position that aligns the bar's layout edge with the base plate's first latitudinal edge; whereby the layout tool is operable to be configured as two differently-dimensioned right-angle framing tools; and a second connector operable to connect the locator bar to the base plate through the selectable intersection point at an angle with respect to the first longitudinal edge of the base plate; whereby when the locator bar is secured to the base plate at an angle with respect to the first longitudinal edge and laid against a workpiece straight edge, the first latitudinal edge of the base plate provides a guide for marking a line or moving a saw at an angle corresponding to a selected one of the rafter slope markings of the arcuate slot.