US1338176A - Extensible rule, &c. - Google Patents

Description

G. l.. FINSTROM.

EXTENSIBLE RULE, &c

APPLICATION FILED /IuG .I3. 19H.

1,338, 176, Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

UI'ITD STATES OFFI.

p GUSTAF L. FINSTROM, ECHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ExTENsIBLE RULE, au.

To all whom. t may concern Be it known that I, GUs'rAF L. FINs'rRoM, a citizen yof the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Rules, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanics tools and its object is vto provide an improved extension rule wherein the sections. are extended slidably in a straight line and are held alined. Another object of the invention is t0 provide a case for the closed up or compacted sections, which case is also a convenient handle for the rule and, in combination with one of the rule sections, a gage and a stock or bar carrying level tubes so that said case is also a level. The present improvement further contemplates a combination and arrangement of parts adapted for wood, metal or fiber and to'be embodied in strong and dependable form by -means of the less expensive processes or construction.

With the above-named objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement ot parts, all as hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing Aand more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawingv Figure 1 is a perspective view, drawn to a reduced scale, of the outside of the device with several ofthe rule-sections withdrawn from the case.

Fig. 2 is a vertical and longitudinal section or a substantially full size case, sectional rule, level and gage embodying my invention, showing the rule sections stacked within the case.

Fig. 8 is anenlarged section taken substantially on the line 3 8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken at either one Aof the overlapping ends, as between arrows 4 4,`Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical *and longitudinal sec-r tion, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the. for ward, or right hand, ends ofthethree lower rule sections 24, 25, and 26.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on'the -line 646 Of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a similar section taken on line 7-7, Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the forward end or the casing, broken away and enlarged, showing cam stop mechanism.

Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed August 13, 1917. Serial No. 185,871.

Fig. 9 isa section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows the right hand end of Fig. 2 lwith parts in changed positions.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11-1-1 of Fi 10.

ig. 12 is a section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 4.

In the several views 2, 3, 4 and 5, represent, respectively, the top, or cover, fbottom and sides of the case, gage body and level and plumb stock. 6 and 7 are end closers fastened in any suitable manner,a s by screws 8. To the inner side or the cover2 is secured by means or screws 9 a VblocknlO in which is a recess for aspirit-level tube 11, wherein l2 Y represents the usual bubble At .right i angles `,thereto in the left hand `end of the case is .secured by means of anl adjusting screw 12 and a pivot screw 13 another block y 14 in `which is a level tube 15, wherein 16 is the bubble A helical spring 12 is mounted on the screw 12 between the end 6 `and the block 14.

y With the exception of the lowest section 26 the rule-sections are interlocked within the case, and as each joint of two overlapping sections asthey appear in Fig. 1 enters the case the bottom of the latter and the top vof the opening leading thereinto automatically disconnect the joint. Provision is made for locking a length of rule sections at any stage of their projection, which is`particularly serviceable when the device is used as a scratch gage.

Referring,.now, to the details of construction, the sectional rule as a whole comprises vany desired number of sections 17, 18, 19,

20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, andv 26, all substantially alike with the exception that the first section 17, as the sections are stacked in the case, or the last section to be drawn out, is provided with a hook, stop or upwardly projecting shoulder 27 which prevents, as will lhereinafter appear, its entirewithdrawal, or

heldagainst its bottom 3 by a follower 36 which is a plate of metal formed with upturned side flanges 37 and 38 between which helical expansion springs 39 and 40 are held on studs 41 and 42 on the cover and similar studs 43 and 44 on the follower 36. The top 2 is formed with downwardly bent edge flanges 45 and 46 which parallel and pass between the sides 4 and 5. This makes the exterior of the case substantially smooth, or free from projecting edges or portions. In the present embodiment of this invention the bodies of the sections 17 to 26 are adapted to be made out of wood or fiber with metalshod ends which contain the interlocking parts, and hold the rule sections in alinement or against relative angular' movement.

The lock for holding any one of the sections against movement relative to the case consists of a cam 47 operated by an elbowlever 48. On this cam is a point or corner 49 that may be pressed against the lowest section as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9. The last, or uppermost, section 17 is, when withdrawn from the case to the'full extent of its outward movement, automatiyes ' of the body of the rule section.

cally locked against return, or inward movement, by means of a spring 50 one end of which is secured in any suitable manner to the bottom of a notch 52 made in one edge of the rule section 17. The free end of this spring is curved to form a shoulder or stop button '53 which snaps over the end edge of the side 5. The cam 47is mounted on a pivot 54 and in a recess 55 formed in the end-piece 7. rEhe lever 48 for moving the stop vcam is fulcrumed on a pivot 56 the ends of which are held in the walls of the opening or slot 55. On the load-end of the lever 4S is a stud 48 which engages a slot 47 in the cam 47. The metal shoeings, or fittings, for the forward, or right hand, end of each of the rule sections, excepting the first, or 26, which carries the scratch points, are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7 and 12. The metal fittings for the rear end of each of the rule sections, save the section 17, are shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6, 7, and 12. ward end of each of said sections is tipped or shod with a metal plate 57 formed with downwardly and inwardly inclined side flanges 58 which form a slot or trough for a dove-tail joint, as shown 'in Figs. 6 and 7, that is engaged by correspondinglyY beveled edges 58 of the adjacent, or connecting, rule section. The plate 57 has an extensionV which is bent backwardly at an upward incline to form an acute angle with theplate 57, or a hook 59 which overliesand forms a grip upon a correspondingly beveled end 59 j Out of the rear end-of the plate 57 a parallel pair of fastening or nail studs 63 pass through the body of the rule section like nails and are clenched into the opposite side by the forma? The fortion of right angle bends of lugs 63 directed toward each other as shown in Fig. 6. Between the ends of the plate 57 is struck up a lug 57 which engages one end of an opening hereinafter referred to and cooperates with the hook 59 to hold the shoe in lace.

il he shoe on the rear, or left hand, end 'of each of the sections 18 to 26 is shown in F igs. 4, 6, 7, and 12, the rear end of the section 17 being shown in Figs. 2, 10 and 11. On each of said rear ends is a plate 60 with downwardly and toward each other inclined side flanges 61 which are fitted to and slide within the inclined flanges on the plate 57. YLike the plate 57, the plate 60 is formed with an a'cutebend overlap portion 62 which overlies andforms a grip for a beveled end 63 on the rear end of the body of each rule section, save the last, or17. The plates 57 and 60 and the flanges 58 on the plate 57 are sunk into thebodies Y of the rule sections to make their outer surfaces flush with the outer surfaces of said sectionsV between their ends, which are.` beveled to form a sliding dovetail joint with the flanges 58. Y Y

In the forward end of each section 17 to 25 is a recess 64 in which is lodged a spring with a Ll-shape bend 65. rlhe forwardend of this spring is bent to form a U-shape catch, lock button, or lug 66 which normally passes through an opening 67 in the shoe 57 and which operates through an opening 68 in the shoe or plate 60. One side of the recess 64 is partly closed by the plate 57l and opposite the closedV portion the recess 64 is deepened as at 69 to an extent corresponding to the thickness of the spring or its upper cU portion which is securely held against longitudinal'V movement in said deepened portion 69. Into the space 64 leads an opening 70 into and partlyl out of which projects an upward extension or finger portion71 of the catch 66. This catch, button or lug, bears vagainst a flat back 72 of what may be termed a release button, 01"push-button 7 3 which projects through an opening 7 4leading from a recess 75 in the rear end of each rule section, save the section 17. Said release vbutton 7 3, including its base or back 72, is .loosely mounted in the recess 75 and opening 74. As will be noted by reference to Fig. 4, the

.catch button 66 bears against the forward Vedge of the opening68` in the plate 60. This the thickness ofthe plate and form shoulders 76 and 77, clearly shown in Fig. 12, `Iwhich contact Awith 1'thev rear ends of the inclined -lianges ,58 when two adjoining sections are drawn apart to theend of their separating movements. Fig. 12 also shows on a reduced scale how the lock button or catch '66 bears against the forward end of the opening `68 to, prevent in coperation with 'the shoulders 76 and 77 and the flanges 58, relative movement of the members of the joint. Thus the plate 57 carries the spring catch at the forward end of each of said sections, while the rear end of each said sections carries the eye or opening engaged by said catch and the release button which,

hereinafter to be explained, pushes out automatically at the proper stage the catch button engaged with the eye over the re-v lease button. Then the device is used as a rule, or when the level is not used, the usual position of the device is the reverse of that shown, say, in Fig. 1. That is the rule sections are drawn from the top of the reversed case, the bottom then being the top. The case is made a part of the rule, being for that purpose provided on its side 3 with the rule markings or graduations (not shown) provided Vfor an individual rule section, such markings or graduations not being shown in the drawings.

Figs. 9 and 10 show the position of the last section 17 when the other lengths or sections have been withdrawn from the case. The upward projection 27 at the end of the outward movement of the section 17 is engaged by the rear end of the follower 36 the forward end of which is formed with an upturned lug that bears against the wall 7. .ln the forward end of the bottom (or top when a part of the rule) 3, is a notch, or cut-out,

78 for the release button 73. This is to prevent too early disconnection of the sections as coupled in Fig. 4. 7 9 is the opening into the case. This opening is made large enough to pass two coupled together sections, as indicated clearly in Fig. 5.

The operation is as follows: A Closing the rule by pushing the sections 23, 24, 25 and 26 of Fig. 1 toward the case, the joint between the sections 23 and 24 will be disconnected when the projecting release button 73 of Fig. 4 strikes the forward end of the bottom 3, which, when, in line with the button 74, will be the rear end of the cutout 78. This disconnection will be effected by the said bottom striking the inclined surface of the curved U-shape button 73, and pushing up said button 73 against the catch button 66 out of engagement with the eye or opening 68. The button 66 will not be pushed completely out of the opening 68, as shown in Fig. 4, but the forward edge of the opening 68 by engaging the incline or curve of the extreme lower part of theV button 66 will force the latter entirely out of the opening 68 -by continuing the rearward push on the coupled-together rule lengths. T'Vhen the section 24 of F ig. 4, or the secltion 23 of Fig-1, is thus completely `released wardly inclined, and as it moves rearwardly or to the left in the opening 79 it will strike the forward end of the overlying section immediately above and already within the case as in Fig. 5, and slide under it by raising the overlying section or sections within the case until it reaches said opening 70 and, entering said opening, permit the overlying section or sections to drop back the distance that the finger 71 projects above the top surface of the section in which it is mounted. The two sections 24 and 25L in Fig. 5 show how all of the sections above the section 26 are interlocked by the fingers 71 while within the case.

When the above-named movements are reversed to extend the rule sections out of the case, the section 26 is pulled out to the right, until its rear end, represented by the section 25 in Fig. 5, reaches the catch button 66, when the latter will drop into the opening 68, or, rather, be forced thereinto by the spring tension upon said catch. It will then become interlocked with the section 25 of Fig. 5 in the same manner as sections 24 and 25 are interlocked in Fig. 4. Thus interlocked the two sections 26 and 25 will be drawn coupled through the opening 79, the section24 of Fig. 5 remaining stationary with its finger 71 in the opening 70 of the section above it, until the rear end of the section 25 brings its opening 68opposite the catch 66 of the section 24 and f permits the latter to move down and free itself from the opening 70 in the section (23) next'above. The height of the opening 79 need be no more than, substantially, the vertical height or thickness of two of the rule sections, as sections 25 and 26, because the. button 73 (Fig. 4) in the rear end of the section 26 does not raise the linger 71 until the latter is substantially within the case by reason of the cut-out 78 extending, as plainly shown in Fig. 5, to the vertical plane of the rear or inner face of the end 7.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with a case having an opening thereinto, which casing forms part of a rule, of a series of bars normally stacked upon each other within said case, joints This .finger 71 of the section 25 (Fig. 5) is forbetween adjacent hars which connect them for movement of each bar longitudinally relative to the'other bars, and interlocking means between one end of one bar and the other end of the other bar of each two adjacent sections for preventing relative move ment. t c v 2. The combination with a case having an opening thereinto, of a series of slidably 10 connected bars stacked upon each other within said case, interlocking means adapted to couple all but one of said bars against movement, means for successively releasing each Vof vsaid bars to move relative to the other bars, and means for interlocking the ends of adjacent bars against such sliding movement. l Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto il signed my name.

. GUSTAFV L. FINSTROM.

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