US2998659A - Apparatus for measuring fabric for draperies - Google Patents

Description

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING FABRIC FOR DRAPERIES Filed June 8, 1959 J. YAWORSKY 5 Sheets-Sheet l sept. 5, 1961 APPARATUS FOR MEASURING FABRIC FOR DRAPERIES Filed June 8, 1959 J. YAWORS KY Sept. 5, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 APPARATUS FOR MEASURING FABRIC FOR DRAPERIES Filed June 8, 1959 J. YAWORSKY sept. 5, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 tnited Stat@ atent 2,998,659 APPARATUS FOR MEASG FABREC FOR DERHES `lohn Yaworsky, 13335 S. St. Andrews Place, Gardena, Calif. Filed .lune 8, 1959, Ser. No. 818,737 16 Claims. (Cl. 393-180) This invention relates to a measuring device for guidance in the fabrication of draperies and more particularly is directed to means for determining and laying out the spaced pleating zones on a stretch of fabric which is to be used to form a drapery to cover an area of a given width.

In preparation for fabricating a drapery to cover an area of a given width, strips or widths of fabric are sewn together edge to edge to form a sewn fabric sheet of much greater Width than the given width of the area to be covered. Spaced Zones of the sewn fabric sheet are then pleated to form the required drapery, the pleating reducing the width of the sewn fabric to the width of the area that is to be covered. Preferably all of the seams connecting the widths of fabric fall in the pleating zones to hide the seams and to give the finished drapery the appearance of being made from a single integral sheet of fabric.

The usual procedure for laying out the pleating Zones in fabric requires skill and experience. At best, the usual procedure is time-consuming because it is largely a procedure of trial and error. A further disadvantage is that too often the seams joining the widths of fabric lie exposed between the pleating zones in the nished drapery. It is also a serious disadvantage that the usual procedure is far from foolproof and mistakes may be costly in wasting expensive materials.

The present invention removes all of the guesswork from this task by providing an exceeding accurate measuring device for determining the correct width of the pleating Zones of the sewn fabric and the correct spacing of the successive pleating Zones as required to pleat a sewn fabric of a given over-all width to make a drapery dimensioned to cover a wall area of a given width. The apparatus not only determines the dimensions and spacing of the pleating zones but also actually locates the boundary points of the pleating zones directly on the sewn fabric. An important feature of the invention is that the measuring device is applied to one width at a time in the series of sewn widths and inherently operates to locate lall of the seams in the pleating zones.

The preferred embodiment of the invention requires no special skill and requires no mental calculations on the part of the operator. Since no special skill is required and since the apparatus accomplishes its purpose in a rapid manner, the cost of measuring and laying out the pleating zones of sewn fabric is reduced to the minimum. In addition, the invention avoids costly errors.

A special feature is the provision of scale means for guidance in setting the apparatus. Assuming that the sewn fabric is suiiiciently wider than the area that is to be covered, lfor example three times wider, the only data required is the width of the area that the drapery is to cover and the number of widths of fabric that are sewn together. The operator merely sets a value representing the number of widths of fabric on one scale means at the value on an adjacent scale means representing the width of the area that is to be covered by the drapery. This simple scale setting procedure automatically adjusts the Whole apparatus for correctly measuring and marking each of the widths of fabric.

In addition, the scale means when set in the manner described indicates the dimension of the spaces between the pleating Zones to make this dimension available for reference or checking if desired. Thus if some given spacing between pleating zones is required, a check on the Patented Sept. 5, 1961 fabric may be provided at the start to avoid carrying out the measuring procedure in the event the width of the sewn fabric should be increased or decreased. It is further apparent that the same scale means may be manipulated in the first place to determine how many strips of fabric of a given width must be sewn together to cover an area of a given width by a fabric having pleating zones of given spacing.

The apparatus serves its purpose by providing a series of pairs of indicator elements that span equal distances and are interlocked for simultaneous adjustment to vary the spanned distances. The successive pairs of indicator elements are spaced apart by equal distances and the invention further provides means to vary the spacing between the successive pairs simultaneously. Thus the invention provides one series of equal but adjustable spaces spanned by the pairs of indicator elements and a second alternate series of equal but adjustable spaces between the successive pairs of elements. Either one of these series of spaces may represent the spaces between the successive pleating zones on a piece of fabric, the other series of spaces representing the pleating Zones. In the present embodiment of the invention, the series of spaces spanned by the pairs of indicator elements represent the spaces between the pleating zones.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, a series of crossed scissor members are mounted in a straight line on a corresponding series of pivot means. Each pair of crossed scissor members provides a pair of divergent measuring or indicating arms on one side of the pivotvmeans and a corresponding pair of divergent control arms on the other side of the pivot means. Means is provided to expand or contract the pair of measuring arms simultaneously to expand or contract the spaces representing the spaces between pleating zones. In addition, means is provided to shift the pivot means relative to each other at different rates to keep the distances between the successive pivot means equal.

The invention solves fthe problem of providing both of these kinds of adjustments of the measuring arms, i.e., adjustment of the distances spanned by the pairs of measurling arms and adjustment of the distances between the successive pairs of measuring arms. This problem is solved by slidingly connecting fthe outer ends of the control arms to a control track that extends parallel tot the line of pivots and by further providing means to vary the distance of the control track from the line of pivots. Shifting of the control track laterally towards the line of pivots causes the slidingly connected control arms to spread thereby causing the measuring arms to spread correspondingly. Since the connections of the control arms with the control track are slidable along the control track, the provision of the control track for adjustment of the measuring arms does not interfere with operation of the second adjustment means which shifts the pivot means along paths parallel with the control track.

The arrangement for shifting the pivot means consists of a series of rotary actuating members connected to corresponding pivot means and the diameters of these rotary members differ to transmit different rates of rotation of the pivot means. In the preferred practice of the invention, the rotary actuating members comprise a stack of sheaves or drums which are connected to the corresponding pivot means by cable-like members.

A feature of the present embodiment of the invention is the provision of scale means associated with the adjustment for the measuring arms, the arrangement being such that manipulation of a rotary circular scale relative to an adjacent fixed circular scale causes adjustment of all of the measuring arms simultaneously. This scale means is calibrated in terms of the number of Widths of fabric that are sewn together and the number of inches of width of the area that is to be covered by the finished drapery. Thus with these two values known, the operator sets the two scales accordingly and thereby adjusts the measuring arms to indicate the spacing between the successive pleating zones that is correct for the given number of widths to cover the wall area of the given number of inches in width. In the preferred practice of the invention, the scale means further indicates the exact measurement of the equal spaces between the successive pleating zones.

The features and advantages of the invention may be understood from the following detailed description considered with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which are to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention with portions broken away to reveal concealed structure;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the same embodiment of the invention with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken as indicated by the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 and showing the first pivot means of the series in side elevation, this pivot means being fixed;

FIG. 4 is a similar section on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2 showing the second pivot means in side elevation, this second pivot means being movable along the track means in which it is mounted.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 2 showing the adjustment knob and associated mechanism for shifting the control track to vary the spaces spanned by the series of measuring arms;

FIG. 5a is a fragmentary plan View as seen along the line Sa-Sa of FIG. 5, the view showing the pair of circular scales associated with the adjustment knob;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken as indicated by the line 6 6 of FIG. 2 showing how cablelike elements for adjustment of the pivot means are engaged by two sets of guide rollers;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse section taken as indicated by the line 7 7 of FIG. 2 showing the stack of rotary means for controlling the pivot means, the rotary means having different diameters to transmit different rates of motion to the pivot means;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section taken along the line 8 8 of FIG. 3 showing7 the tlrst stationary pivot means in the series of pivot means;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section along the line 9 9 of FIG. 4 showing the second pivot means which is movable relative to the first pivot means;

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the widths of fabric in the sewn fabric for a drapery; and

FIG. ll is a plan view of the same width of fabric after the pleats are formed therein.

General arrangement The' principal parts of the present embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings include: a series of pivot means (1 20d mounted on a guide track 22 with the first pivot means 20a fixed in position and the remaining pivot means slidable along the guide track; a corresponding series of crossed scissor members pivotally mounted on the pivot means 20:1 26d respectively, each pair of scissor members providing a forwardly extending pair of divergent indicating or measuring arms 24 and a corresponding pair of rearwardly extending control arms 25; downwardly extending indicating pins 26 on the outer ends of the measuring arms 24; a series of endless cables 2811-281 connected to the corresponding movable pivot means 2Gb-20j for control thereof; a stack of corresponding rotary actuating members in the form of sheaves or pulleys 30f engaging the ends of the loops of the corresponding cables 28b 28f, the sheaves t being of ditferent diameters for moving the cables at different rates as required to maintain equal spacings between the successive pivot means; a vertical series of guide rollers 32 for the other ends of the loops formed by the endless cables 28b 28f; two series of vertically arranged guide rollers 34b 34]' and 35b 35f positioned near the stack of actuating sheaves 30 to make the runs of cables parallel; a control track, generally designated 38, for controlling the distances spanned by the measuring arms 24; a first control knob 36 for manual operation of the stack of actuating sheaves 30; upwardly extending rollers 4G on some of the control arms 25 slidingly engaging the upper track portion of the control track 38 and downwardly extending rollers 4Z on the remaining control arms in sliding engagement with the lower track portion of the control track 38, the two sets of rollers 40 and 42 causing the control arms 25 to diverge in response to lateral movement of the control track towards the row of pivot means 20 and vice versa; a rack 44 (FIGS. 5 and 6) united with the control track 38; a pinion 45 in mesh with the rack 44 to cause shift thereof; a second control knob 46 operatively connected to the pinion 45 for shifting the control track 33 to actuate the pairs of control arms 25; a fixed circular scale 48 concentric to the second control knob 46, this circular scale being calibrated in terms of widths in inches of wall area to be covered by finished draperies; and a rotary circular scale concentric to the fixed scale and calibrated in terms of the number of widths of fabric that are sewn together to make a drapery.

Operation FIG. l0 shows one width of fabric 52 which is one of a series of fabrics that are sewn together edge to edge to make a long run of fabric to cover a wall area of a given width. The purpose of the apparatus of the present invention is to measure off on this width of fabric a series of spaces 54 which are to be thc spaces between the successive pleating zones and a series of alternate spaces 55 which are to be the Zones of the fabric that are to form pleats. FIG. 11 shows how the pleating zones S4 form the pleats 56 of the finished drapery with the clusters of pleats separated by the spaces 54.

The outer fixed circular scale 48, as best shown in FIG. 5a, is a logarithmic scale calibrated in terms of inches of width of the wall area to be covered by the drapery. Since the logarithmic scale covers 720 there are two rows of figures. The inner logarithmic rotary scale 59 is calibrated in terms of the number of widths of fabric that are sewn together edge to edge to make the drapery.

When the control knob 46 is manipulated to cause the numeral representing the number of widths of fabric on the inner rotary scale 50 to be registered with the numeral on the outer scale 43 that indicates the inches in width of the wall space to be covered, the pinion 45 that rotates with the control knob shifts the rack 44 to cause corresponding shift of the control track 3S. 1f the control track 38 is shifted in the direction away from the guide track 22, the control arms 25 of the pairs of scissor members are caused to swing towards each other by virtue of the fact that the rollers 40 and 42 of the control arms are slidingly engaged with the control track. This action causes corresponding narrowing of the equal distances spanned by the corresponding pairs of measuring arms 24. On the other hand, actuation of the rack 44 to shift the control track 3S towards the guide track 22 causes the control arms 25 to diverge or swing away from each other with corresponding increase in the equal distances spanned by the pairs of measuring pins 26 on the pairs of measuring arms 24.

For example, if nine widths of fabric arc sewn together to cover a wall space covering one hundred and twenty inches, numeral 9 on the inner rotary scale 50 is positioned opposite the small numeral 2 on the fixed scale 50, this setting of the inner rotary scale being shown in FIG. 5a. Each of the pairs of measuring pins 26 on the pairs of measuring arms 24 will measure off a distance of 2.72 inches which is the correct distance between the successive pleating zones.

Itis not necessary for the operator to know the actual distance between the pleating zones to carry out this adjustment of the measuring arms. A feature of the invention, however, is that when the described setting is made on the scale 50 relative to the scale 48, an index 58 on the inner rotary scale Sti will indicate on the outer scale 48 the exact spacing measured by the 'indicating pins 26. Thus in FIG. 5a where the two scales are set for nine widths of fabric to cover a wall space of one hundred and twenty inches in width, the index 58 is at a position relative to the fixed scale 50 that indicates a spacing of 2.72 inches between the successive pleating zones 55. Thus the single set of numerals on the xed scale 50 represents either the width of a wall area that is to be covered by drapery or the width of the spacing between pleating zones.

Having made this adjustment of the spacing between pleating zones, the operator then places the apparatus across the first width of fabric in the series of widths that are sewn together and expands the series of measuring arms until they extend exactly over the width of the fabric. In other words, the first indicating pin 26 on the first pair of measuring arms a is positioned at one edge of the fabric and the control knob 36 is manipulated to place the last indicating pin of the last pair of measuring arms 20] at the second edge of the width of the fabric. In effect, this procedure distributes across the width of the fabric the 2.72 inch spaces spanned by the pairs of indicating pins 26, it being contemplated that the remaining material between the successive pairs of indicating pins will form the pleats.

The operator marks off the fabric in accord with the positions of the indicating pins 26 and then shifts the apparatus to the next successive width of fabric. In laying out the zones on the next fabric, however, the operator starts with a pleating zone since the last measurement on the rst Width of fabric is the spacing between successive pleating zones. In this manner, the widths that are sewn together for the fabric are measured and marked successively for the zones that are to be pleated to make the finished fabric.

In the operation of expanding or contracting the series of pairs of measuring arms 24 that carry the indicating pins 26, the first pivot means 20a remains stationary. The successive pivot means 20b-20f move along the guide track 22 and do so at successively increased rates.

All of the cables 28h-23j extend through corresponding apertures 60 in lthe fixed pivot means 20a, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 8. In the next pivot means 20h, the cables 28e-23]c freely pass` through corresponding yapertures 62, as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 9. Cable 28h, however, is operatively connected to the pivot means 2011. As shown in FIG. 9, cable 28h may be operatively connected to the pivot means 2Gb simply by anchoring a pair of beads 64 to the cable on opposite sides of the pivot means.

In like manner, the third pivot means 20c is operatively connected to the cable 28C and has three apertures to clear the remaining three cables 28d-28f. The fourth pivot means 20d is operatively connected to the cable 28d and has two apertures to clear cables 28e and 28f. 'I'he fifth pivot means 20d is operatively connected to cable 28d and has a single aperture to clear cable 281. Finally the last pivot means 201 is directly connected to the cable 28).

As may be seen in FIG. 2 and as 4better shown in FIG. 7, the actuating sheave 30e which operates cable 28C is larger in diameter than the actuating sheave 3011 and the sheaves 30d-30f are o-f successively larger diameters. Thus rotation of the stack of actuating sheaves 30 in unison by the control knob 36 causes the pivot means 20b20e to move at precisely the required different rates for keeping the spaces between the successive pivot means equal thereby keeping equal the spacings between the successive pairs of measuring arms 24 that carry-y the pairs of indicating pins 26.

Since the rollers 40' and 42 at the ends of the control arms 25 are freely slidable along the control track 38, it is apparent that the adjustment for the spacing of the successive pairs of measuring arms 24 along the guide track 22 that is effected by manipulation of the control knob 36 is entirely independent of the adjustment of the distances spanned by the measuring arms that is effected by manipulation of the control knob 46. Thus, the second adjustment in which the pivot means 20h-20] shift along the guide track 22 does not effect the angular positions of the measuring arms 34.

It is further apparent that the described apparatus may also be used solely Vas a calculating device for a preliminary study of a drapery fabrication problem. Thus the control knob 46 may be manipulated in the manner heretofore described to ascertain the spacing between the successive pleating zones if a given number of widths of fabric are to be sewn together to cover a wall area of a given width with a given amount of fabric in each pleating zone. If such a spacing between the successive pleating Zones is regarded as too much, i.e., if a fuller drapery is required, the control knob 46 may be manipulated to ascertain the effect of adding a vsu'dth of cloth to increase the number of pleating zones. Thus if ten widths, instead of nine widths, are sewn together to make a fabric for a wall space one hundred and twenty inches wide, the index 58 will show that the spacing between the successive pleating zones will be decreased from 2.72 inches to 2.5 inches.

Structural details yIn the construction shown in the drawings, the device has a housing of at rectangular cross section comprising a top wall 70, a bottom wall 72, a front wall 74, a rear wall 75 and two opposite end Walls 76. The front wall 74 is formed with a longitudinal slot 78 through which the measuring arms 24 extend as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Such a housing should be relatively light and may be made of plastic material or plywood or a light weight metal. The housing is of a construction to make the interior accessible for fabrication and for repairs and maintenance. For this purpose, the housing may be made in sep-arable sections or the top wall 70, for example, may be a hinged cover.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the pivot means 20a-20f comprises an upright post mounted on a rectangular base 80. The first pivot means 20a is fixedly anchored by .a screw 82 in the guide track 22. The guide track 22 is supported by the bottom wall 72 and, as may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, forms a channel 84 in which the rectangular bases of the pivot means 20h- 20] freely slide. The channel has overhanging side walls which are spaced apart to form a longitudinal slot 85 and the pivot means extend upward through this slot.

The two scissor members that are mounted on each of the pivot means 20a-20f to provide the forwardly extending measuring arms 24 and the rearwardly extending control arms 25 are in the form of flat bars with circular apertures to receive the pivot means. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lower scissor members of each pair of scissor means may be spaced from the guide track 22 by a washer 86 and a second washer 88 may be interposed between the -two scissor members.

The stack of actuating sheaves 30b--301c may be operatively connected to the control knob 36 in any suitable manner. As best shown in FIG. 7, the successive actuating sheaves 3011-301c are keyed to an upright actuating shaft 90 with the sheaves spaced apart by suitable spacers 92. The lower end of the actuating shaft 90 carries a spacing collar 94 and is joumaled in a metal block 95,

7 The control knob 36 is fixedly-connected to the upper end of the actuating shaft 90 by means of a set screw 96.

As shown in FIG. 6, the series of guide rollers 34 may be mounted on a vertical spindle 100 with intervening spacers 102 and the adjacent guide rollers 35 may be mounted in similar manner on a second spindle 104 with intervening spacers 105. Preferably a fixed vertical rod 106 is positioned adjacent the guide rollers 35 to serve as a cable guide with the function of holding the cables in engagement with the corresponding guide rollers.

As best shown `in FIG. 6, the control track 38 may be of the general configuration of a capital letter E to form an upper channel 108 and a lower channel 110 separated by a flange 112. The rollers 40 on the ends of the upper control arms 25 extend into the upper channel 108 and the rollers 42 on the lower control arms extend into the lower channel 110.

At some adjustments of the apparatus Where the control arms diverge relatively widely, the successive pairs of control arms overlap. Such overlapping of the control arms is made possible simply by arranging for the overlapping arms to engage different channels of the control track. Thus, in FIG. 1, the control arm 25 on the pivot means 20e that extends towards the pair of control arms on the pivot 201 engages the upper channel 108 of the control track and the adjacent control arm 25 on the pivot means 20jc that extends towards the pair of control arms on the pivot means 20e engages the lower channel of the control track so that these two arms may extend past each other when the pairs of arms are opened wide.

It is contemplated that the control track 38 will remain parallel with the guide track 22 at all times and that the control track will be suitably mounted and controlled for this purpose. In the construction shown, for example, the opposite ends of the control track 38 are provided with corresponding guide sleeves 114 that have close sliding lits with corresponding guide rods 115. The guide rods 115 are mounted in suitable supports 116 at their opposite ends and may be polished and lubricated for free movement of the guide sleeves 114. By virtue of this arrangement, the control track 38 is maintained perpendicular to the two guide rods 115 and is thus maintained parallel to the guide track 22.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control track 38 may be connected to the rack 44 by a suitable bracket 118. The pinion 45 that meshes with the bracket 44 is keyed to the lower end of an upright shaft 120 that is journaled in a bearing 122 and extends through the top Wall 70 of the housing. The control knob 46 is fixedly connected to the upright shaft 120 by a set screw 124. In the construction shown, the `control knob 46 is formed with a lower flange 125 and the rotary scale 50 is attached to this flange by suitable rivets 126. The cooperating fixed circular scale 48 is fixedly mounted on the top wall 70 of the housing.

My description in specific detail of the selected embodiment of the invention will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. In a device to measure off pleating zones and intervening spacing zones on fabric in preparation for making drapery, the combination of: a series of pairs of indicator elements spaced apart with the distance spanned by the two elements of each pair the same throughout the series and with the distance between the successive pairs the same throughout the series, one of said distances representing the dimension of said pleating zones, the other of said distances representing the dimension of said intervening spacing zones; first means mechanically connected to all of said pairs of elements to `vary the equal distances spanned by the pairs; and second means to cause rielative movement among all of the pairs simultaneously at different rates to vary the equal distances between the successive pairs.

2. A combination as set forth in claim l in which said` first means includes adjustment means extending along said series and mov-able laterally towards and away from the series, said pairs being responsive to lateral movement of said adjustment means to vary the equal distances spanned by the pairs.

3. A combination as set forth in claim l in which said second means includes a` plurality `of members extending along said series Aand connected to a corresponding plurality of said pairs of indicator elements; and which.

further includes actuating means connected to said plurality of members to shift the pairs of indicator elements at different rates.

4. In a device to measure ott pleating zones and intervening spacing zones on fabric in preparation for making drapery, the combination of a series of pivot means positioned along a line at equal spacing; a series of pairs of divergent `arms mounted on said pivot means respectively with the distances spanned by said pairs of arms the same throughout the series and with the distance between the successive pairs of arms the same throughout the series, one of said distances representing the dimension of said pleating zones, the other of said distances representing the dimension of said spacing zones; a first adjustment means operatively connected to all of said pairs of arms to vary simultaneously the equal distances spanned by the arms; and a second adjustment means operatively connected to at least all but one of said pivot means for moving the pivot means along said line at different rates to vary the equal distances between the successive pairs of arms.

5. In a device to measure oif pleating zones and intervening spacing Zones on fabric in preparation for making drapery, the combination of: a series of pivot means positioned along a line at equal spacing; la series of pairs of divergent arms mounted on said pivot means respectively with the distances spanned by said pairs of arms the same throughout the series and with the distance between the, successive pairs of arms the same throughout the series, one of said distances representing the dimension of said pleating zones, the other of said distances representing the dimension of said spacing zones; a first adjustment means operatively connected to all of said pairs of arms to vary simultaneously the equal distances spanned by the arms; and a second adjustment means to vary the equal distances between the successive pairs of arms, said second adjustment means including a series of rotary members of successively increased diameter rotatable in unison and connected respectively to all but one of said pivot means for shifting the pivot means along said line at different rates.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said rotary members are operatively connected to the corresponding pivot means by corresponding cable-like members.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which individual pivot means are connected to corresponding cable-like members and have diametrical `apertures to clear others of the cable-like members.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said arms are substantially lhorizontal and in which vertical pins are carried by the outer ends of the arms to overhang the fabric and indicate measured points on the fabric.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said rst adjustment means is provided with a scale calibrated to indicate the distance spanned by said pairs of arms.

l0. A combination as set forth in claim 4 which includes a pair of cooperating scale members, one of which is fixed and the other of which is operatively connected to said first adjustment means, one of said scale members having a rst scale calibrated in terms of the number of widths of fabric to be sewn together to cover an area and the other of said scale members having a second scale calibrated in terms of inches of width of the area to be covered.

1l. A combination as set forth in claim l0 in wrhich both of said scale members yare circular, said lirst scale member having an index mark to indicate on said second scale the distance spanned by said pairs of arms.

12. lIn a device to measure cfrr pleating zones and intervening spacing zones on fabric in preparation Lfor making drapery, the combination of a series of pivot means positioned in a line at equal spacing with at least all but one movable along the line to vary the equal spacing; a pair of crossed scissor members mounted on each of said pivot means, each of said pairs of scissor members providing a pair of measuring arms and a pair of control arms, the distance spanned by the measuring arms of the pairs of scissol members being the same for Iall pairs, and the distance between the successive pairs of measuring arms being the same throughout, one of said distances representing the dimension of said pleating zones, the other of said distances representing the dimension cf said spacing zones; a first adjustment means operatively connected to said control arms to change the equal dist-ances spanned by the pairs of measuring arms; and a second adjustment means operatively connected to at least all but one of said pivot means for moving the pivot means along said line at diierent rates to vary the equal distances between the successive pairs `of measuring arms.

13. Ina device to measure oi pleating zones and intervening spacing zones on lfabric in preparation for making drapery, the combination of: a series of pivot means positioned lin a line at equal spacing with at least all but one movable along the line to vary the equal spacing; a pair of measuring arms pivotally mounted on each of said pivot means, the distance spanned by the measuring arms being the same for all pairs and the distance between the successive pairs of measuring arms being the same throughout, one of said distances representing the 'dimension of said pleating zones, the other of said distances representing the dimension of said spacing zones; a iirst adjustment means including a control member spaced from said series of pivot means parallel thereto, said control member having a sliding connection with each measuring )arm of the series of pairs Iof measuring arms with the distances spanned by the pairs of measuring :arms responsive to changes in the spacin-g between the control member and the series of pivot means; and a second adjustment means operatively connected to at least `all but one of said pivot means for moving the pivot means `along said line at different rates to vary the equal distances between the successive pairs of measuring arms.

14. A combination yas set forth in claim 13 in which said rst adjustment means includes rotary means to shift said control member laterally.

l15. A combination as set forth in claim 14 which includes 'a first circular scale member operatively connected to said rotary means and ya second xed circular scale member concentric to the ii-rst scale member, one ol said scale members having a scale calibrated in terms of the number of yWidths of fabric to be sewn together tc cover a space and the other of said scale members having a scale calibrated in terms of inches of Width of the space to be covered.

16. A combination as set forth in claim 15 in ywhich said lirst scale member has an index mark to indicate on said second scale member the distance spanned by 0 said pairs of arms.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 871,333 Giambra Nov. 19, 1907 35 1,019,139 Eberley Mar. s, 1912 1,331,476 Ackerman Feb. 24, 1920 2,770,046 Wichmann Nov. 13, 1956

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