Method and means for establishing the corners of a multiple-sided lot

Abstract

A pair of tape measures are mounted in side-by-side relationship on a common axial shaft with a clutch plate between them operable by a crank on the shaft. Pressure may be applied to the reels and in turn to the clutch plate by thumb adjustment nuts on the outer ends of the shaft, such that the reels may turn together or remain stationary as the shaft is turned. The method of using the measuring device to lay out a lot involves attaching the free end of one tape to a stake at one corner and then walking to a second corner while the first tape is being unreeled. The free end of the second tape is attached to a stake at the second corner, and then the measuring device is moved to a third corner with the tapes being appropriately extended or contracted, and the stake is placed at the intersection of the measured distances on both tapes. Next, the measuring device is moved to the fourth corner, and a stake is placed at the intersection of the known measured distances on each of the tapes. Verification of the layout may be obtained by going back to the third corner and measuring the distance between the third and fourth corners.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.