Adjustable ruler and measuring device

Abstract

The present invention provides an adjustable measuring device comprising a starting piece, an end cap piece and at least three straight pieces. Further, when the starting piece is coupled and capped with the end cap piece or coupled with one or more of the straight piece of the three straight pieces and capped with the end cap piece, a transportable, perfectly flat square or rectangular ruler measuring at least 3 inches in width and one of 6 inches, 12 inches, 18 inches, 24 inches and continuing in 6 inch increments, in length, is created, which can be used for marking, trimming or cutting.

Claims

1. An adjustable measuring device comprising: a starting piece, between 0.05 to 0.15 inch in thickness, made of a transparent material, having a squared beginning edge, being at least 3 inches in width, with two equal side of length between 5 and 6 inches, and having an open end of five equally spaced, extended, interlockable coupling fingers on the open end; an end cap piece, between 0.05 to 0.15 inch in thickness, made of the transparent material, having a squared ending edge, being at least 3 inches in width, with two equal sides of length between 0.5 and 1.5 inch, and having a minimum of five equally spaced interior couplings to accept and join the interlockable coupling fingers of other pieces; at least three straight pieces, each between 0.05 to 0.15 inch in thickness, made of the transparent material, being at least 3 inches in width, each straight piece with two equal sides of length between 6 and 7 inches, and having a minimum of five equally spaced interior couplings on one end, to accept and join the interlockable coupling fingers of other pieces and having a minimum of five equally spaced, extended, interlockable coupling fingers on another end; wherein when the starting piece is coupled and capped with the end cap piece or coupled with one or more of the straight piece of the three straight pieces and capped with the end cap piece, a transportable, perfectly flat square or rectangular ruler measuring at least 3 inches in width and one of 6 inches, 12 inches, 18 inches, 24 inches and continuing in 6 inch increments, in length, is created, which can be used for marking, trimming or cutting.

2. An adjustable measuring device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each one of the starting piece, the end cap piece and the at least three straight pieces is six inches in width.

3. An adjustable measuring device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each one of the starting piece, the end cap piece and the at least three straight pieces has etched or marked along its outside edge every inch with the inch marking being longest having a length equal to that of the respective length or width of the piece, the inch marking having a length of inch, the inch marking having a length equal to one half the inch marking and the inch marking having a length equal to one half the length of the inch marking.

4. An adjustable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each one of the starting piece, the end cap piece and the at least three straight pieces along the inch lines running the length and width of the pieces, further being etched or marked along the inch line every .sup.th of an inch with the inch marking being the exact center of the .sup.th inch markings, the inch marking having a length of inch, the inch marking having a length equal to one half the inch marking and the inch marking having a length equal to one half the length of the inch marking.

5. An adjustable measuring device as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further comprising indicia including a series of partial parallel markings represented by unconnected lines inch in length and running parallel at inch intervals from each edge of the adjustable measuring device.

6. An adjustable measuring device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the indicia includes on markings of the starting piece and diagonal angle lines for 45 degrees, 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

7. An adjustable measuring device as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the indicia includes on all pieces roman numerals along the two sides running parallel to each other and at 90 degrees to the beginning edge, beginning with the number 1 before the one inch mark on each edge and sequentially adding the next higher whole roman numeral before the next inch mark line on each of the starting piece and the at least three straight pieces.

8. An adjustable measuring device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the marked roman numerals are incased in a transparent square.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1A illustrates a plan view of a starting piece of adjustable measuring device showing equally spaced interlocking coupling fingers, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 1B illustrates and end view of the starting piece of FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0011] FIG. 1C illustrates the starting piece of FIG. 1A with markings, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0012] FIG. 2A illustrates a plan view of an end cap piece of the adjustable measuring device, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 2B illustrates an edge view of the end cap piece of FIG. 2A, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 2C illustrates the end cap piece of FIG. 2A with markings, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 3A illustrates three straight pieces in accordance with an embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 3B illustrates a plan view of a straight piece of the three straight pieces of FIG. 3A, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 3C illustrates an edge view of the straight piece of FIG. 3B, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates the adjustable measuring device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 5A illustrates adjustable measuring devices of six inch and three inch widths adjusted to 6 inch in length, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 5B illustrates adjustable measuring devices of six inch and three inch widths adjusted to 12 inch in length, in accordance with an embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 5C illustrates adjustable measuring devices of six inch and three inch widths adjusted to 18 inch in length, in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0022] FIG. 6 illustrates adjustable measuring devices of six inch and three inch widths adjusted to 24 inch in length, in accordance with an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] FIG. 1A illustrates a plan view of a starting piece 100 of adjustable measuring device showing equally spaced interlocking coupling fingers 120, in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 1B illustrates and end view of the starting piece 100 of FIG. 1A, in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 1C illustrates the starting piece 100 of FIG. 1A with markings 130, in accordance with an embodiment. The starting piece 100, having between 0.05 to 0.15 inch in thickness, is made of a transparent material, having a squared beginning edge, being at least 3 inches in width, with two equal side of length between 5 and 6 inches, and having an open end 110 of five equally spaced, extended, interlockable coupling fingers 120 on the open end 110.

[0024] FIG. 2A illustrates a plan view of an end cap piece 200 of the adjustable measuring device, in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 2B illustrates an edge view of the end cap piece 200 of FIG. 2A, in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 2C illustrates the end cap piece 200 of FIG. 2A with markings 230, in accordance with an embodiment. The end cap piece 200, having between 0.05 to 0.15 inch in thickness, is made of the transparent material, having a squared ending edge, being at least 3 inches in width, with two equal sides of length between 0.5 and 1.5 inch, and having a minimum of five equally spaced interior couplings 220 to accept and join the interlockable coupling fingers of other pieces.

[0025] FIG. 3A illustrates three straight pieces 310, 320 and 330, in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 3B illustrates a plan view of the straight piece 310 of the three straight pieces 310, 320 and 330, in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 3C illustrates an edge view of the straight piece 310 of FIG. 3B, in accordance with an embodiment. Each of the three straight pieces 310, 320 and 330 is between 0.05 to 0.15 inch in thickness, made of the transparent material, being at least 3 inches in width, each straight piece with two equal sides of length between 6 and 7 inches, and having a minimum of five equally spaced interior couplings 340 on one end, to accept and join the interlockable coupling fingers of other pieces and having a minimum of five equally spaced, extended, interlockable coupling fingers 350 on another end. Further, when the starting piece 100 is coupled and capped with the end cap piece 200 or coupled with one or more of the straight piece of the three straight pieces 310, 320 and 330 and capped with the end cap piece 200, a transportable, perfectly flat square or rectangular measuring device measuring at least 3 inches in width and one of 6 inches, 12 inches, 18 inches, 24 inches and continuing in 6 inch increments, in length, is created, which can be used for marking, trimming or cutting.

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates the adjustable measuring devices 410, 420 and 430 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In accordance with an embodiment, each one of the starting piece 100, the end cap piece 200 and the at least three straight pieces 310, 320 and 330, is six inches in width. In accordance with an embodiment, each one of the starting piece 100, the end cap piece 200 and the at least three straight pieces 310, 320 and 330 has etched or marked along its outside edge every inch with the inch marking being longest having a length equal to that of the respective length or width of the piece, the inch marking having a length of inch, the inch marking having a length equal to one half the inch marking and the inch marking having a length equal to one half the length of the inch marking.

[0027] In accordance with an embodiment, each one of the starting piece 100, the end cap piece 200 and the at least three straight pieces 310, 320 and 330 along the inch lines running the length and width of the pieces, further being etched or marked along the inch line every .sup.th of an inch with the inch marking being the exact center of the .sup.th inch markings, the inch marking having a length of inch, the inch marking having a length equal to one half the inch marking and the inch marking having a length equal to one half the length of the inch marking.

[0028] In accordance with an embodiment, the adjustable measuring device further comprises indicia including a series of partial parallel markings represented by unconnected lines inch in length and running parallel at inch intervals from each edge of the adjustable measuring device. In accordance with an embodiment, the indicia includes on markings of the starting piece and diagonal angle lines for 45 degrees, 30 degrees and 60 degrees. In accordance with an embodiment, the indicia includes on all pieces roman numerals along the two sides running parallel to each other and at 90 degrees to the beginning edge, beginning with the number 1 before the one inch mark on each edge and sequentially adding the next higher whole roman numeral before the next inch mark line on each of the starting piece 100 and the at least three straight pieces 310, 320 and 330. In accordance with an embodiment, the marked roman numerals are incased in a transparent square.

[0029] The quarter inch mark is a very important marking for sewers and quilters thus the numerous parallel lines on the measuring device together with angle markings help the user to have proper placement prior to marking or cutting. The thickness of the material and the interlocking coupling fingers assure the user the edges will be smooth and stable facilitating the easy use of rotary cutters.

[0030] FIG. 5A illustrates adjustable measuring devices of six inch 510a and three inch widths 520a adjusted to 6 inch in length, in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 5B illustrates adjustable measuring devices of six inch 520a and three inch 520b widths adjusted to 12 inch in length, in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 5C illustrates adjustable measuring devices of six inch 510c and three inch 520c widths adjusted to 18 inch in length, in accordance with an embodiment. Also, FIG. 6 illustrates adjustable measuring devices of six inch 610 and three inch 620 widths adjusted to 24 inch in length, in accordance with an embodiment

[0031] Each one of the starting piece 100, the end cap piece 200 and the at least three straight pieces 310, 320 and 330 is made of between 0.05 to 0.15 inch thickness of PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified), a clear amorphous thermoplastic, or any similar thermoplastic, and has interlocking coupling fingers or receiving couplings. The end cap piece 200 does not have a specific measuring numeral, but the end length is readily assumable and easily ascertained.

[0032] The pieces snap firmly into place by lining the pieces and pressing together. They are easily separated by holding the pieces at or near the coupling and rotating one piece clockwise and the other piece counter-clockwise. The adjustable measuring device is easily stored and transportable and alleviates the need for owning or transporting multiple measuring devices. Further, a storage bag may also be provided.