US3750292A

US3750292A - Marking device

Info

Publication number: US3750292A
Application number: US00105209A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Dodge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-01-11
Filing date: 1971-01-11
Publication date: 1973-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-07

Abstract

A marking device to facilitate applying guidelines, texturing or script writing and the like to a working surface such as drafting paper, architectural plans, or any graphic media. Means are provided to hold a plurality of marking elements in equally spaced-apart relationship with means to selectively adjust the spacing between the extending ends of the elements.

Description

Aug. 7, 1973 [54] MARKING DEVICE Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-Milton S. Gerstein Att0rneyFlehr, I-Iohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert t n o m 1 5 0 4 9 m a m mw .C V. m N rr FD o t n e v n I ne 7 [22] Filed: Jan. 11, 1971 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 105,209

- A marking device to facilitate applying guidelines, texturing or script writing and the like to a working surface such as drafting paper, architectural plans, or any graphic media. Means are provided to hold a 201 wm /3 31 3 E 3 1 4 "n u 3 n In c .r a ne 8 C km m.m UIF I J] 2 00 555 [ll plurality relationof marking elements in equally spaced-apart [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ship with means to selectively adjust the spacing between the extending ends of the elements.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 24,165 1892 Great 33/41 D PAIENIED AUG 7 I975 V IN N IN, l.l|1 i 5 HH m m \iHMH F INVENTOR.

MARKING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF HE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the field of graphics and in particular relates to devices for applying guidelines, texturing or script writing and the like to a working surface.

Draftsmen commonly use various expedients for drawing guidelines on drafting paper for lettering. A number of devices have been used to provide accuate spacing between the guidelines. Among these are the Braddock et n t ssslssss, thsowsslsttst sslns ti'ument. The Braddock lettering triangle is a 45 triangle provided with groups of accurately positioned and spaced holes. A sharp pencil is inserted successively in a selected number of the holes as the triangle is drawn across a T-square over the paper. The Ames lettering instrument provides a flat disc formed with groups of holes with the disc adapted to be manually turned to selected positions relative to a base plate. A pencil is then inserted through selected holes as the base plate is drawn across a T-square to apply the guidelines.

Other expedients commonly employed are for the draftsmen to rule off the guidelines with the spacing marked by a ruler, or by free hand ruling.

All of the .foregoing expedients have their limitations.

The Braddock and Ames devices are tedious to use and,

require a substantial amount of time to apply the guidelines. The free hand ruling technique is faster but does not provide uniform, evenly spaced lines. Neither the conventional lettering devices nor the free hand techniques are adaptable to applying multiple-line texturing, such as for scribing brick on architectural drawings, or for multiple-line scriptwriting, such as for graphics display.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved device for marking guidelines, applying multiple-line texturing or applying multiple-line script writing and the like.

Another object is to provide a device of the type described which holds a plurality of marking elements in spaced-apart relationship for drawing across a working surface and which facilitates rapid adjustment of the spacing between the elements with equal spacing between the elements at any adjustment position.

Another object is to provide a marking device of the type described which holds a plurality of marking elements in adjustable spaced-apart relationship with yieldable cushion means to afford leveling of the element ends for even contact with the drawing surface and which reduces stresses on the elements as pressure is applied during use.

The foregoing and additional objects and features of the invention are provided by a device comprising first and second body members pivotally mounted together with one member carrying a roller formed with two series of interrupted grooves having opposite rotational senses and in which groove pitch progressively increases as the roller turns. A plurality of marking elements are seated in spaced-apart relationship between the grooves and an end edge of the other body member. A spacer member is provided with a series of holes for receiving the inner ends of the elements. A resilient cushion supports the undersides of the elements and spring means are used to pivot the body members in a manner urging the elements into seating relationship with the roller grooves whereby manual turning of the roller progressively adjusts the equal spacing between the projecting ends of the elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a marking device incorporating features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a developmental view of the roller surface illustrating the convergance of the roller groove root axes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT marking device 10 holding a plurality of marking elements, e.g. sharpened pencil leads 12, in equal, spacedapart relationship so that a user can grip the device in his hand and move it across a working surface, e.g. drafting paper, to mark a number of lines as for making guidelines on mechanical drawings, multi-line texturing such as to scribe bricks for architectural drawings, or for multi-line script writing as for graphics displays and the like.

Device 10 comprises a main body defined by a first or upper body member 13 and a second or lower body member 14. The two body members are mounted to gether for pivotal movement by suitable means such as the illustrated pair of bosses 16 projecting outwardly from either side of a strengthening ridge 18 on the inside of second member 14. The two bosses 16 are pivotally seated in respective recesses formed on the inside of skirt 22 extending downwardly from either side of first body member 13.

A roller member 24 of a suitable synthetic plastic material is rotatably mounted at the two forwardly extending

sides

26, 28 formed integral with first body member 13. The roller member is mounted at either end to the

sides

26, 28 by suitable axles 30 formed on the roller ends and interfitting in recesses in the body sides. A notched flange 32 is formed at one end of the roller to facilitate manual gripping for turning adjustment. Frictional engagement between the roller ends and first body member sides functions to releasably retain the roller in the selected position.

The outer surface of the roller member is formed with two series of interrupted grooves 34, 36 position in end-to-end relationship and having opposite rotational senses. The series of grooves 34 abut the series of grooves 36 at the longitudinal center line of device 10, and grooves 34 define a right-hand rotational sense while grooves 36 define a left-hand rotational sense.

Grooves 34 and 36 are further formed in a manner that the groove pitch progressively increases on the lower side of the roller as the roller is turned clockwise when viewed in FIG. 3, and similarly groove pitch progressively decreases as the roller member is turned counter clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3.

The plurality of marking elements or pencil leads 12 are positioned between the first and second body members with each lead seated in the grooves 34, 36 on the lower side of the roller. Means are provided to urge the In the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective view leads into this seating engagement comprising a laterally extending end edge 38 formed integral with the forward end of second body member 14. The top of end edge 38 converges to a point for clamping against the leads 12. Yieldable means are provided to urge the roller member and end edge together for holding the leads in seated engagment. This means in the illustrated embodiment comprises a U-shaped spring 40 mounted between the first and second body members and adapted to urge the outer ends thereof apart for pivotal movement about bosses 16.

The inside ends of leads 12 are held in fixed spacedapart relationship by means of a laterally extending spacer plate 42 formed with a plurality of vertically elongate holes 44. The inside ends or mid-segments of each of the leads 12 extends through a respective hole 44 so that the leads when seated in the roller grooves diverge outwardly with equal included angles and the sharpened lead points are equally spaced apart. The spacer slots 44 provide a fulcrum for the leads as the roller is turned and the lead points undergo lateral adjusting movement. The vertical extent of the slots provides play for the leads as pressure is applied during a marking operation.

A resilient cushion 46 of a suitable elastomer material such as neoprene rubber is mounted within second body member 14 for supporting the under side of the leads 12 on the side of spacer 42 remote from the roller member. This cushion provides yieldable support for the leads to accommodate any uneven bending and displacement between the various leads as the device is pressed against the paper in use, thereby acting as an automatic leveling expedient in case the leads are of somewhat different lengths. At the same time the resilient support provided by cushion 46 minimizes breaking of the leads in use.

FIG. illustrates a developmental view of the outer surface of roller member 24. Broken line 50 defines the locus of the points of contact which the leads would make with the roller grooves when seated in position. The series of lines 52 represent the developed root axes of groove 34 and the series of lines 54 represent the developed root axes of groove 36.

Root lines

52, 54 diverge outwardly from an imaginary locus 56 spaced a predetermined distance a from groove contact locus line 50.

Lines

58 and 60 represent the extremes of movement of the grooves as the roller member is rotated throughout its full range of adjustment. Thus, for a minimum spacing between leads the roller is turned so that the groove portions along line 58 move over locus 50, and for the maximum spacing between leads the roller is turned so that the groove portions along line 60 are over locus 50. Throughout this turning adjustment of the roller the spacing between the leads is progressively increased or decreased in that the leads are constrained to follow the grooves.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the minimum spacing between lead points would be 1/16 inch. The preferred maximum spacing between lead points would be 1/8 inch. It is understood that the spacing limits may be varied as desired. Also, while all leads are shown with even spacing for any adjustment position,

the grooves could be proportioned with any desired ratio of spacing. Roller 24 is also adapted for easy interchangeability so that it can be removed and replaced by another roller having varying groove proportions or spacing, as desired.

While a roller of cylindrical configuration is illustrated as preferred, the invention also contemplates that other roller shapes can be utilized, for example, the roller could be a prism with multiple sides each having a plurality of laterally spaced-apart grooves corresponding to the grooves of the illustrated embodiments. These grooves would diverage outwardly from a common imaginary locus in the manner of FIG. 5, and the spacing of the grooves for each prism side would be varied to afford selective marking element spacing depending upon the prism side which is turned downwardly for seating the leads.

The use and operation of device 10 is as follows: The desired number of leads 12 are sharpened and inserted into the holes of plate 42 as the user presses the outer ends of the first and second body members together against the tension of spring 40. The force against the spring is then released allowing it to pivot the body members so that end edge 38 urges the leads into seating relationship with the lower portion of the grooves 34, 36. The sharpened points of the leads may now be aligned by holding the device upright with the leads pointed downwardly against a flat surface, squeezing the body members together to release the pressure of end edge 38 until the lead points are aligned, and releasing pressure on the body members so that the leads are again held firmly in place. The user then grips roller flange 32 and turns it in the desired direction moving the lead points together or apart until the desired spacing is achieved. The device can then be moved across the drawing paper as along the edge of a T-square for marking guidelines, or used free-hand style for multiple line script writing. When it is desired to again vary the lead spacing the roller can be adjusted to any stop position between the illustrated limits of A; inchl/l6 inch spacing.

While the foregoing embodiment is at present considered to be preferred it is understood that numerous variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the true spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for drawing lines on a surface with a plurality of marking elements each having a mid-segment and an outer end, the device comprising the combination of a main body adapted to be gripped by the user, a roller element rotatably mounted on the body about a roller axis, the roller element being integrally formed on its outer surface with two series of grooves of opposite rotational sense positioned in end-to-end relationship, each groove being pitched relative to the roller axis whereby groove pitch of the two series increases in opposite directions along said roller axis, means on the body resiliently urging the marking elements tangentially against said roller element and in seated position in said grooves, spacer means on the main body holding the mid-segments of the marking elements in fixed spaced-apart relationship whereby the outer ends of the marking elements are in spaced-apart relationship, said spacer means forming fulcrums for said marking elements, and means to rotate said roller element about said axis to a selected position to pivot the marking elements about the fulcrums and simultaneously selectively adjust the spaced-apart relationship of said outer ends of the marking elements.

2. The device of claim 1 and further characterized in that the main body comprises first and second body members mounted together for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel with and spaced from said roller axis, said roller element being mounted on said first body member and the means urging the marking elements into seating relationship being mounted on said second body member with the marking elements being mounted in the grooves between both body members and comprising means to yieldably pivot the first member with respect to the second memher to yieldably urge the marking elements into said seating relationship with the roller grooves.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the means urging the marking elements comprises a laterally extending end edge formed on the second member and carried therewith to pivot to and from the grooves of the roller element.

4. The device of claim 1 and further including resilient cushion means on the main body and supporting the under side of the marking elements at a position remote from the roller element to cushion reaction forces against the marking elements when in use and to insure even contact of the marking elements on the surface.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the cushion means comprises a resilient member of elastomer material extending laterally of the main body and engaging the under side of said marking elements on the side of said spacer means remote from the roller element.

6. The device of claim 1 in which the grooves on the roller element define, in the plane of a development for the roller element surface, end segments of imaginary lines converging at a common locus spaced at predetermined distance from the axis of the roller element.

7. The device of claim 1 in which the spacer means comprises a laterally extending member formed with a plurality of vertically elongate slots each adapted to hold a mid-segment of a respective marking element in said fixed spaced-apart relationship, the slots being adapted to permit vertical play of the mid-segments of the marking elements.

Claims

1. A device for drawing lines on a surface with a plurality of marking elements each having a mid-segment and an outer end, the device comprising the combination of a main body adapted to be gripped by the user, a roller element rotatably mounted on the body about a roller axis, the roller element being integrally formed on its outer surface with two series of grooves of opposite rotational sense positioned in end-to-end relationship, each groove being pitched relative to the roller axis whereby groove pitch of the two series increases in opposite directions along said roller axis, means on the body resiliently urging the marking elements tangentially against said roller element and in seated position in said grooves, spacer means on the main body holding the mid-segments of the marking elements in fixed spacedapart relationship whereby the outer ends of the marking elements are in spaced-apart relationship, said spacer means forming fulcrums for said marking elements, and means to rotate said roller element about said axis to a selected position to pivot the marking elements about the fulcrums and simultaneously selectively adjust the spaced-apart relationship of said outer ends of the marking elements.

2. The device of claim 1 and further characterized in that the main body comprises first and second body members mounted together for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel with and spaced from said roller axis, said roller element being mounted on said first body member and the means urging the marking elements into seating relationship being mounted on said second body member with the marking elements being mounted in the grooves between both body members and comprising means to yieldably pivot the first member with respect to the second member to yieldably urge the marking elements into said seating relationship with the roller grooves.

6. The device of claim 1 in which the grooves on the roller element define, in the plane of a development for the roller element surface, end segments of imaginary lines converging at a common locus spaced a predetermined distance from the axis of the roller element.