US1599780A - Measuring attachment for pencils - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 14 ,1926.

J. H. MQREHEAD MEASURING ATTACHMENT FOR'PENCILS Filed June 11 1925 INVENTOR M W M 5 32 v 5 4 62 2 J 3 a x J J A 4 ad .d 3%, E: i H1 I l H |\l|\)l| MW a 7m 7. j 2 a 3 b w w h.

ATTORNEY WITNESS;

Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

F I C E JOHN HOE MOREI-IEAD, OF CLARKDALE, ARIZONA.

MEASURING ATTACHMENT FOR PENCILS.

Application filed June 11,

This invention relates to measuring instruments and has for its object the provision of a novel device well adapted to be mounted upon a lead pencil and operable for measuring lumber or in fact other similar articles or objects.

An important and more specific object is the provision of a measuring device embodying a disk or roller adapted to be moved along the object or article to be measured in frictional engagement therewith, the resultant rotary movement of the friction disk or roller being utilized for actuating the measuring apparatus so that a reasonably accurate reading will be given.

Another object of the invention is to provide a measuring device of this character which, on account of its adaptability for mounting upon a lead pencil, will be very easy to carry about and consequently very convenient to use.

Among other features this invention has for an object the provision of a measuring device of this character which will possess various structural features of advantage and importance and which will, moreover, be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, eflicient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the device showing it mounted upon a lead pencil,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section on a larger scale, theview being taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, I

Figure 3 is a cross section on substan tially the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line ll of Figure 3,

F ignre 5 is a side elevation showing a modification,

Figure 6 is a detail in cross section taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 5, and

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the pointer embodied in the modification.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section showing another modification.

Referring more particularly to the draw huge, I have shownthe device as co r1s= ing an elengated frame member designated 1925. Serial No. 36,501.

generally by the numeral 10, which frame member may be of any desired size and material depending upon the preference of the manufacturer. At one end this frame member'is formed with a cylindrical split sleeve portion 11 adapted to be frictionally engaged upon a lead pencil or the like indicated at A and at its other end it is formed with a socket portion 12 within which is mounted an eraser 13. While the device is described as being adaptedfor engagement upon a lead pencil and as being equipped with an eraser, it is of course obvious that these are mere details of refinement which could be omitted withoutaffecting the essential features of the invention. The in termediate portion ll of the frame is formed opened or slotted, the material at opposite sides of the slot 15 being depressed as indicated at 16 and prcvided with any desired number of graduations representing feet and inches or any other scale that may be adopted.

Located within and extending longitudinally of the intermediate portion let of the frame is a threaded rod or screw 17 secured in place in any desired manner as for instance by having its ends reduced as at 18, passing through the end portions of the frame and upset as indicated at 19. This threaded rod'or screw is formed with a longitudinally extending keyway 20 for a purpose to be described.

Threadedly engaged upon the screw 17 it a rotatable disk 21 which may have its periphery simply roughened, if desired, but which is preferably provided with a tire or band 22 of rubber or other similar material. Slidably mounted along the keyway 20 is an angular member 24 which is confined by the disk or roller 21 so as to be incapable of separation from the screw, longitudinal displacement with respect to the roller being prevented by the angularity of the end portions. One end of this member is prolonged laterally to define an arm 24 terminating in a cross head 25 constituting a pointer movable along the scales inscribed upon the depressed portions 16 of the frame at opposite sides of the slot 15 therein. I

In the operation of the device, it will be seen that initially the roller 21 should be dis Used at one end of the scale. It really ma es no difference which end inasmuch as there are two men each side of the slot, the two scales reading in opposite directions. Assuming that the roller is at one limit of its movement, the device is moved by engaging the roller upon the board or other device to be measured, and then drawing the device along longitudinally of the board or other object so that the roller 21 will be rotated on account of its frictional engagement. As the roller is turned it will obviously travel along the screw 17 and will carry the pointer with it. The pitch of the thread should be such as compared with the graduations on the scale that movement of the device along a cer- 1 tain predetermined distance will operate to move the pointer a corresponding distance along the scale so' as to give a fairly accurate reading as to the length of the board or other object.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7 I have illustrated a modified form of the invention. Referring to these figures the numeral 26 designates a metallic tubular shell or casing having one end provided with a socket member 27 adapted to be engaged upon a pencil or other supporting element of a similar nature. The other end may carry an eraser in exactly the same manner as the first described form if such is desired. The shell member 26 is externally threaded throughout its length and is formed centrally with a longitudinally extending slot 28 which is not necessarily cut entirely through but which may be formed simply as a depression defined by pressing the material inwardly along a line. Rotatably mounted upon this shell and having threaded engagement therewith is a roller 29 preferably equipped with a rubber tire 30 as in the first described form. Located within the slot or depressed groove 28 is an angular member 31 confined by the roller 29 against separation from the shell and prevented from longitudinal displacement by the angularity of its shape. At one end the angular member 31 is formed as a pointer 32 cooperating with a scale 33 inscribed upon the depressed portion 28. The operation of this form is exactly the same as that of the first described form as will be readily understood.

In Figure 8 I have illustrated another form of the invention in which I provide an elongated shell member 33 having one end split at 34 to facilitate engagement upon a lead pencil or the like. Secured within the body of the shell member and secured therein at a point spaced from the split end are blocks or other closure elements 35 and 36 held in place by any desired means and having holes therethrough forming bearings for the reduced end portions 37 and 38 of a rotatably mounted screw 39 which extends coaxially of the shell. The projecting end portion 37 of this screw is connected with or carries means embedded within a rubber tip 40 which may be used as an eraser if desired but which also takes the place of the disks 21 and 29 of the first described forms. Threaded onto the screw 39 is a nut member 41 formed or otherwise pro- '5 in a manner similar to that above described in connection with the first two forms of the invention.

In the operation of this last mentioned form, illustrated in Figure 8, it will be apparent that to effect measurement, it is merely necessary that the tip 40 be engaged against the board, or other objects to be measured and moved therealong so as to have a rolling action. hen this is done it is obvious that the screw 39 will be correspondingly rotated and this will effect longitudinal movement of the nut member ll with respect to the slot 43, the pointer 42 cooperating with whatever graduations are provided on the shell giving an indication as to the measurement.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings, it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed, inexpensive and very easily operated measuring device which will be extremely convenient to use inasmuch as it may be carried permanently mounted upon a pencil or pen if such be preferred. The device is thus able to be easily carried in the pocket and will not occupy any extraordinary amount of room. The device is always ready for instant use and when properly employed will give a fairly accurate reading as to the length of plank or in fact any desired objects or articles. From the description and illustration it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be thoroughly understood by one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, an elongated supporting member including a threaded element, said member further including a graduated portion, a pointer movable longitudinally along said supporting member and a roller threadedly engaged upon said threaded element and operatively engaging the pointer whereby the latter will be moved longitudinally upon. rotation of the former.

2. A pencil attachment comprising an elongated tubular member having one side formed With a slot and provided With graduations adjacent the slot, transverse elements Within the tubular member constituting bearings, a threaded rod journaled through said transverse elements, a nut member Within the tubular member threadedly engaged upon the rod and having a pointer projecting through and movable 10 along said slot in cooperation With the graduations, and a roller on the projecting end of the rod, said roller being formed of rubber, and the projecting end of the rod having lateral extensions embedded in the 1 roller.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN HOE MOREHEAD.

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