US 6,141,882 A · Measuring instrument

Abstract

An improved measuring instrument for use with drawings employing different scales with indicia thereon; wherein, the measuring instrument includes a pair of elongated first and second instrument member arms having top walls and bottom walls and having opposite ends wherein one pair of ends are adapted to be releasably and pivotally connected to one another. The measuring instrument further includes a rotatble ratchet connection assembly associated with the first and second instrument member arms for captively but releasably engaging the first and second instrument member arms in both an L and an inverted L configuration. The tops walls of the first and second instrument member arms having beveled edges with indicia thereon, for preventing the indicia from engaging the measured or drawn surfaces when in use; and the bottom walls of the first and second instrument member arms having inclined planes with indicia thereon for preventing the indicia from engaging the measured or drawn surfaces when in use. The indicia are calibrated and are operatively associated with the top and bottom walls of the first and second instrument member arms.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A measuring instrument having different scales with indicia thereon for use with drawings, comprising:

a) one pair of elongated first and second instrument member arms having top walls and bottom walls and each of said member arms having opposite and adjacent ends, wherein said adjacent ends are adapted to be releasably and pivotally connected to one another;
b) a rotatable ratchet connection assembly on said first and second instrument member arms for detachably connecting said first and second instrument member arms;
said ratchet connection assembly including an upper ratchet component on said adjacent end of said first instrument member arm and a lower ratchet component on said adjacent end of said second instrument member arm;
and
c) means for releasably locking said first and second instrument member arms in 90 degree positions, said means for releasably locking including a pair of diametrically opposed spherical connecting tabs on the bottom wall of said upper ratchet component for interchangeably being received within a pair of diametrically opposed recessed spherical sockets of an annular recessed ring on said lower ratchet component, respectively, for releasably locking said instrument member arms in said 90 degree positions for an L configuration and an inverted L configuration.

2 more elements

A measuring instrument having different scales with indicia thereon for use with drawings, comprising:

a) one pair of elongated first and second instrument member arms having top walls with indicia thereon, and each of said member arms having opposite and adjacent ends, wherein said adjacent ends are adapted to be releasably and pivotally connected to one another;
b) a rotatable ratchet connection assembly on said first and second instrument member arms for detachably connecting said first and second instrument member arms;
c) said rotatable ratchet connection assembly including an upper ratchet component on said adjacent end of said first instrument member arm, a lower ratchet component on said adjacent end of said second instrument member arm, and a ratchet adjustment member for rotatably moving each of said first and second instrument member arms relative to each other in a 180 degree arc;
and
d) said upper ratchet component including a center connecting member having diametrically opposed connecting tabs thereon, and said lower ratchet component including an annular center opening having diametrically opposed connecting receptacles therein;
wherein said diametrically opposed connecting tabs of said center connecting member are detachably received within said diametrically opposed connecting receptacles of said annular center opening for detachably connecting said first and second instrument member arms.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Measuring instrument

Life of this patent

Measuring instrument

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13