Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/096,605, entitled, “Multi-Purpose, Multi-Functional Tool” filed Aug. 14, 1998 by the present applicant. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to tools used by carpenters and craftsmen, primarily in the design and construction industry and, more particularly, to a tool which is capable of performing a wide variety of functions, easily and accurately, for a number of different design and construction purposes, and capable of being used by a variety of individuals ranging from handymen to construction workers. 
     There are approximately 60,000,000 architects, engineers, carpenters, framers, sidewallers, finish carpenters, cabinet makers, plumbers, electricians, site contractors, masons, plasters, and home handymen and women that have the need to use tools and instruments that perform a wide variety of design and construction functions. These tools can be used as squares, levels, protractors, rulers, plumbs, rafter framing and rotatable functional members, grade indicators, degree markers, bevel protractors, etc. In fact, it is not uncommon for an individual who uses such tools to carry with them at one time as many as 8-10 different tools to perform such above-named operations. 
     Through the years many tools have been manufactured, with each tool being used for a particular purposes. Examples of such tools or devices which can be found in the prior art are exemplified by the following U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,935 (level square); U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,877 (craftsman&#39;s adjustable angle instrument); U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,141 (adjustable pivot angle square); U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,354 (variable angle protractor; U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,307 (rafter rotatable functional member); U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,250 (spirit level and grade indicator); U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,947 (utility pocket level); U.S. Pat. No. 2,878,569 (combination level, rule and protractor device); U.S. Pat. No. 2,728,990 (degree marking addition to a carpenter&#39;s combination square); U.S. Pat. No. 1,827,014 (bevel protractor for rafters); U.S. Pat. No. 2,666,261 (drafting instrument); U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,156 (draftsman&#39;s and engineer&#39;s drawings and trigonometric instrument); U.S. Pat. No. 1,083,376 (combination measuring instrument); and U.S. Pat. No. 1,342,232 (combination roof framing tool). 
     The problems of the past include the of carrying and maintaining a plurality of such tools becomes quite cumbersome and expensive problem. Furthermore, there are instances when a specific tool is needed to perform a particular task and the ready availability of such a tool may be lacking. In addition, past attempts at solving the above problems generally resulted in cumbersome tools which lacked simplicity, robustness and accuracy in use. 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide multi-purpose, multi-functional tool which overcomes the need of a craftsman or the like to maintain a plurality of tools to perform a variety of design or construction tasks. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a multi-purpose, multi-functional tool which is capable of accomplishing a wide variety of tasks in an accurate manner. 
     It is still a further object of this invention to provide a multi-purpose, multi-functional tool which substantially reduces the cost associated with the purchasing of numerous individual tools. 
     It is an even further object of this invention to provide a multi-purpose, multi-functional tool which permits ease of manufacture and low cost of assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objects set forth above as well as further and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the embodiments of the invention described hereinbelow. 
     The present invention provides a multi-purpose, multi-functional tool which is made up of a support structure having a substantially triangular-shaped configuration and which defines a pair of legs and a hypotenuse. An edge matter is situated on one of the legs so as the support the structure on a surface, while a series of level determining means are located on the support structure adjacent to each of the legs. A rotatable member is pivotally mounted on the support structure and is capable of selective rotational movement with respect to the support structure. It also has a level located thereon. A curved extension protrudes from the rotatable member and has a series of degree and rise markings thereon. A locking mechanism is utilized to hold the curved extension of the rotatable member in a preselected position with respect to the support structure. 
     By proper utilization of the multi-purpose, multi-function tool of the present invention. The tool can easily be used as a protractor, a means for determining roof pitch and angles, to convert pitches and rises to degrees and vice-a-versa, to determine miter cuts, to perform leveling functions, to determine pitches or slopes, to act as a rugged saw guide and a for variety of other operations as well. The device is simple to use, yet extremely accurate in obtaining readings. 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of the multi-purpose, multi-functional tool of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows an end view of the bottom portion of the multi-purpose, multi-functional tool of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view elevational view of the multi-purpose, multi-functional tool of this invention in the slightly open position and having an extended rotatable, functional member; and 
     FIGS. 4-8 show a side view elevational view of the multi-purpose, multi-functional tool of this invention in a variety of uses. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrate a side view the multi-purpose, multi-function tool  10  of the present invention made up of a compact design and encompassing a single tool which can perform a number of various functions or purposes within the design or construction industry. For example, tool  10  acts as a protractor to measure angles instantly and accurately from 0-90 degrees in any quadrant; it is capable of determining any existing roof pitch instantly and accurately; it determines any angle instantly and accurately; it has the capability of instantly converting pitches and rises to degrees and vice versa; it can determine miter cuts instantly and accurately; it is capable of performing all leveling functions from horizontal to 90 degrees in any quadrant; it is capable of leveling countertops, furniture, appliances, etc. in three directions simultaneously; it determines pitches or slopes of drains, duct work and site piping; acts as a rugged saw guide and can be used for even a further and wider variety of other operations similar to the above. A key advantage of the tool  10  of the present invention is that it extremely simple to use and yet enables the user to obtain accurate readings while still being easy to handle and extremely rugged in construction. 
     More specifically, and still referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the multi-purpose, multi-functional tool  10  is made up of two major components: a main functional support structure  12  and a rotatable functional member  14 . The main support structure  12  is shaped substantially in the form of a triangle while the rotatable functional member  14  has a substantially elongated configuration in the form of a straight edge. Together these components  12  and  14  pivotally mate together to also form a substantially triangular configured tool  10 . More specifically, the outer leg (hypotenuse) of the main support structure  12  has a straight portion  16  and angled or tapered portion  18  which matingly engages the bottom surface  20  of rotatable functional member  14 . 
     The rotatable functional member  14  is pivotally secured adjacent one end thereof  22  to support structure  12  by a conventional pivotal connection mechanism  24  made up, for example of a pivot pin or rivet  26 . This arrangement permits the rotatable functional member  14  to easily rotate with respect to support structure  12 . As shown in FIG. 1, rotatable member  14  has an end  23  which abuts support structure  12  in the open position adjacent edge member  56  or, in the alternative, as shown in FIG. 3, end  23 ′ extends beyond edge member  56 . A slot  25  can be formed in edge member  56  to accept the passing therethrough of the end of rotatable member  14 . This extended end  23 ′ permits the full use of markings  60  when the outer edge of rotatable member  14  is to be utilized as a straight edge. 
     In addition, rotatable functional member  14  has attached thereto or formed as part thereof a curved extension portion  28  whose radius of curvature R is measured about the pivotal connection mechanism  24 . The radius R is of a predetermined size such that the overall size of the tool  10  is maintained well within usable limits. This curved extension portion  28  includes a series of markings thereon denoting both rise and degrees of the outer edge of rotatable functional member with respect to the horizontal. The curved extension portion fits within a curved cut-out  29  within support structure  12 . Maintaining the curved extension portion  28  in a moveable relationship with respect to the support structure  12  are curved, grooved slots  30  formed within the support structure  12 . Grooved slots  30  permit the movement of the curved extension portion  28  to take place when the rotatable functional member  14  is pivoted about its pivot point  48 . This arrangement substantially eliminates any unwanted sideward movement of the rotatable, functional member  14  and curved extension  28 . In addition, detents can be incorporated with the slots to enable the movement of the rotatable member  14  to take place with positive click stops denoting degrees. 
     A transparent reference member  32  having a reference mark  34  etched and/or painted thereon is affixed at each end thereof to the support structure  12  adjacent each side of the curved, grooved slot  30 . The reference mark  34  is utilized in conjunction with the markings on the curved extension portion  28  to denote rise or degrees. A conventional locking mechanism  36  made up of a knurled knob  38  and threaded rod  40  is utilized to lock the or fixedly secure the curved extension portion  28  with respect to the support structure  12  when the rotatable functional member is moved to a desired location with respect thereto. 
     As an alternative to transparent reference member  32 , in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-8, the transparent member  32  is replaced with a viewing portion made up of a cut out portion  32 ′ within support structure  12  having a reference segment for use in conjunction with the markings on the curved extension  28  to denote rise or degrees as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     Referring once again to the support structure  12  each of the two legs A and B of the triangle-shaped support structure  12  and rotatable functional member  14  has an individual leveling device  42  and  44  and  46 , respectfully, associated therewith containing any suitable spirit oil and bubble such that tool  10  can be utilized to maintain and determine three degrees of level at any one time. In addition, as many areas as possible of support structure  12  and angle measuring  14  has a series of openings or cutouts  48  therein, including an enlargement  50  of slot  30 , in order to effect an extremely lightweight yet structurally sound and robust tool  10 . 
     Referring once again to the rotatable functional member  14 , the curved, extension portion  28  has two series of markings thereon. One such series of markings  52  denotes rise while the other series of markings  54  (divided into markings of 0 to 90 degrees) denote degrees with respect to the vertical or horizontal. Further, the markings  52  and  54  are arranged with respect to one another to convert rise to degrees and vice versa. Further description of the use of these markings  52  and  54  with respect to the reference member  32  will be set forth in greater detail below. 
     Other features of the multi-purpose, multi-functional tool  10  of the present invention include a wide, straight bottom surface edge member  56  formed on one leg or side A of the support structure  12  so as to enable the tool to be easily positioned upon a surface. More specifically as shown in FIG. 2, the preferred width of edge member  56  is approximately 1 inch compared to a width of approximately ⅜ inch for support structure  12  and rotatable functional member  14 , although the exact dimensions of the tool  10  may vary to accommodate various operating environments. Along the other leg or side B is a series of markings  58  which may be in inches or centimeters and used as a straight edge or a conjunction with the rotatable functional member  14 . A further series of like markings  60  are provided on the outerside of the rotatable functional member  14 , and these markings may also be provided in inches or centimeters, as desired. 
     Additionally, a notch  62  is provided at the intersection of legs A and B of support structure  12  in order to place a pencil point or marker therein to mark a surface or to use in conjunction with a nail or the like as a pivotal point for tool  10 . There are also a series of spaced apart notches  64  each preferably, located approximately ½ inch from another other, although the exact spacing can vary within the scope of the present invention. The notches  64  are utilized to provide an indentation for a marking instrument such as a pencil or the like to make a mark on a surface such as a stud. 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 4-8 of the drawings which illustrate the multi-purpose, multi-functional tool  10  in various positions of use. These illustrations are examples of only a few of the many uses for tool  10  of the present and should, therefore, not be construed as a limitation to the actual uses for tool  10 . 
     For example, tool  10  is shown in FIG. 4 being utilized to determine roof pitches and angles. The tool  10  has its rotatable (adjustable) member  14  positioned against a slope or angle with the bubble in level  44  centered. With such an arrangement it is possible to read the angle or rise from the appropriate scale as indicated in the figure. 
     In FIG. 5 of the drawings, the tool  10  of the present invention is shown being utilized to mark plum cuts. This takes place by positioning tool  10  such that the base rests against a piece of lumber and with the rotatable member  14  fixed at the desired angle on the pitch or rise scale, an appropriate plum cut can be marked against the now fixed rotatable member  14 . 
     FIG. 6 of the drawings illustrates the use of tool  10  in performing seat cuts wherein the base  56  is placed against the plum cut or line. The tool  10  is positioned to the desired cut length, using the convenient inch scale on the tool as shown in the figure. The seat cut is then marked accordingly. 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 7 of the drawings in which the tool  10  is utilized in a quick layout. In this manner the notches  64 , which are conveniently spaced in ¼ inch increments, are utilized for quick and easy layouts. 
     FIG. 8 of the drawings illustrates tool  10  being utilized in determining miter cuts. In this instance, tool  10  is placed in such a manner that the rotatable member  14  is adjusted against an angle with the bubble in level  44  being centered. The angle is then read from the degree scale and divided by two to determine a cut angle. 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to various embodiments, it should be realized this invention is also capable of a wide variety of further and other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, in still a further embodiment (not shown) of the invention an elongated straight edge may be attached to leg B of the support structure  12  in order to enable the tool  10  to determine level of long walls, boards or the like.

Technology Category: 3