US2214999A - Straightedge - Google Patents

Description

se t. 17, 1940. LLLLLLLLL ER 2, 214,999

Patented Sept. 17, 1940 PATENT -OFFICE STRAIGHTEDGE Charles K. Hullinger, Springfield, Ohio, assignor to Robert Dunbar, as receiver of The Ridgely Trimmer Company, Springfield, Ohio., a corporation of Ohio Application January 30, 1939, Serial No. 253512 21 Claims;

This invention pertains to precision tools, and more'particularly to metallic straightedges of hollow construction especially adapted to paper hangers' use for guiding a traveling Wall paper trimmer.

For trimming margins of Wall paper, and in other industries wherein material is to be cut 'along straight lines, it is more or less common practice to employ long straight edges having thereon a track with which a traveling Cutter is slidingly engageable. Such straightedges, even though reinforced with metal, become warped and untrue due to expansion and contraction l and the reinforcement becomes loose. Metallic straightedges, some of which have been of ho-llow construction, have been heretofore developed. However, such prior devices comprise multiple parts united by riveting or by Welding and hence liable to become detached.

A distinctive feature of the present hollow metallic straightedge is that it is formed from a single piece of sheet metal turned and folded upon itself into a polygonal tubular formation to include' therein a longitudinal groove and an integral guide fiange overhanging the groove. Comprising but a single piece, it will maintain its original shape and accurate alignment.

It being highly desirable that the straightedge be of 'light weight but rigid construction, it is necessarily made of relatively thin gage sheet material, the formation of which into tubular shape serves to brace and stiffen the body. I-Iowever, such light gage material of single thickness possesses insufiicient rigidity for the purpose of the track or guide fiange for the traveling trimmer unit. Therefore, to afford such guide fiange of sufiicient rigidity and Strength to resist fieXing and deformation in use, the track fiange is made double thickness by folding the material reversely upon itself into a close fold or plait.

Thus the problem of a One piece straightedge of light weight but rigid construction, having an integral track flange of increased thickness and resistance, is solved in a simple but efficient manner.

The object of the invention is t'o improve the structure as well as the mode of manufacture of metallic straightedges whereby they may not Only be economically manufactured, but Will be 50 more efficient in use, of increased accuracy and durability, having no separable parts to become loose or disconnected, and which will not be likely to get otherwise Out of repair.

A highly important object of the invention is to form'a unitar'y'straightedge by hending and folding a single piece of sheet metal upon itself in such manner that the longitudinal groove and overhanging guide flange comprise integral parts thereof. y v

A further object of the invention is to provide a straightedge which will be rigid but of light weight and suitably braced, which will not be materially aflected by atmospheric conditions and which will not warp or shrink, but will ren tain its form and alignment under various Op- 0 erating conditions.

A further object is to provide. a straightedge which will resist hending or distortion incident to careless handling.

A further object of the invention is to provide 15 a metallic straightedge having the advantageous structural features and inherent meritorious Characteristics 'herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as willmore fully appear in the '20 Specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illus- '25 -trated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein is illustrated the pre ferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment thereof, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a metallic straightedge embodying Sl the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The present straightedge comprises a single sheet of material, preferably metal, but which may be fiber board or composition, formed into & polygonal tubular self-sustaining form. The sheet of material is of a length corresponding to that of the straightedge to be formed therefrom, usually five to seven feet in length, and of a width equal to the combined surface contour of 5 its several faces, including the usual longitudinal grOO-Ve and Overhanging guide or track ledge.

Such strp of sheet material is bent upon itself, preferably about a suitably shaped mandrel, to which the metal is made to conform, into the 56 required transverse contour and the opposite marginal edges are united one to the other by seaming or by Welding into a complete tubular formation. In so forming the sheet there is afforded'a'bottom section l of medial slightly con.-=

Cave shape, leaving two relatively narrow flat lands or faces 2-2 at each margin for contact engagement with the sheet material to be cut. At opposite sides of such bottom section the sheet is bent upwardly in perpendicular parallel relation, thus forming fiush Vertical front and rear marginal faces 3-3. The sheet is thence bent laterally in a plane at right angle to the perpendicularside walls 3 to afford the integral top section 4. In this top section there is formed a longitudinal depressed channel or groove 5. The material Of the top is reversely folded at one side of the channel or groove 5 into overhanging relation therewith, thus forming a guide flange or track 6 of double thickness for engagement of the sliding trimmer unit.

The longitudinal margins of the initial sheet are preferably interconnected by a lock seam 'l within the channel or groove 5. This, however, is not essential, as the seam or interlock 'l may be disposed at any desired longitudinal angle or in either face. After being formed about a suitable mandrel, the rectangular formed tube is preferably rolled to accurately set the faces of the tubular body into conformity with the mandrel and to insure relatively sharp angles and flat faces. Such rolling is especially desirable to compr'ess the seam and the double track flange 6. obviously, in lieu of an interlock seam 1, the opposite margins of the sheet may be united by Welding, brazing Or by soldering.

The depressed channel 5 may extend into direct contact with the bottom l, but is preferably slightly spaced therefrom. Such tubular one piece construction is strongly resistant to twisting or bending deformation and will retain its shape under all ordinary conditions of use. To further strengthen the straightedge and to afford a terminal finish, correspondingly shaped heads 8 are fitted in the ends of the tubular main body and secured by brazing or soldering. Such attachment is acilitated by fianging the terminal heads 8 as at 9.

The side Walls 3'are preferably of equal height, so that the top surface of the track flange 6 is in a common plane with the top section 4. However, if desired, the side walls 3 may be of unequal Vertical extent, and the guide fiange may be either above or below the level of the top 4. In the event that the guide fiange is raised above the level of the top section t, the longitudinal channel may be omitted, as is illustrated in Fig. 4. In this construction the double thickness guide fiange 6 is made to directly overhang the extended top portion in elevated spaced relation therewith sufiicient to enable engagement of the traveling trimmer unit.

obviously the trimmer guide may be either depressed or projected, or both, and may be in either face of the tubular body. It will be obvious that the transverse contour may be varied and that the trimmer guide may be variously disposed and differently shaped while retaining the fundamental features and Characteristics of the invention.

The present one piece tubular straightedge With a track flange ofincreased thickness and y rigidity may be formed in various ways. It may be produced by use of a tinner s brake, making the several right angles and reverse fold in orderly succession. It is preferably formed over a mandrel of corresponding shape under pressure. The forming may be effected by progressive die press Operations wherein the sheet material is turned about the mandrel through successive olding or wrapping Operations. However, the preferred mode of a manufacture is one in which the sheet material and mandrel are passed between succeeding sets of forming rollers by which the initially flat sheet is progressively shaped and rolled into close conformity with the enclosed mandrel. Such descriptions of the modes of manufacture are here given for explanation only and, as now advised, the process of manufacture will form the subject matter of a separate application for Letters Patent.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantagelbefore enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible Of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its ad- Vantages.

While in Order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A hollow straightedge formed from an initially single elongated flat strip of material, comprising a polygonal tubular body formed by uniting the opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet, including bottom, side and top walls, a longitudinal channel formed in the top Wall by depression of a portion thereof and an integral fold of material of said sheet projecting in overhanging relation with the longitudinal groove.

2. A trimmer straightedge formed from an initially single elongated flat Strip of material, comprising an elongated tubular body of substantially rectangular cross sectional contour formed by uniting opposite margins of the strip, including an integral fold of material disposed in' parallel spaced relation with the top of the tubular body to afford a guide track for a traveling trimmer unit.

3. A trimmer straightedge, including an elongated unitary tubular body of sheet material, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are fixedly united one to the other, andan integral longitudinal bead formed from the material o-f said tubular body and projecting therefrom to afford a guide track for a traveling trimming unit.

4. A trimmer straightedge, including an elongated unitary tubular body comprising a single sheet of material, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are fixedly united with each other having in one wall thereof an elongated channel, and a projecting bead in parallel relation with the channel, forming a guide for a traveling trimmer unit.

5. A hollow straightedge for paper hangers' use, including a one piece polygonal tubular body comprising a single sheet of material, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are fixedly united with each other, including a longitudinal channel in one Wall thereof and an integral guide for a traveling trimmer unit formed from the material of the tubular body in overhanging relation with the channel.

6. A hollow straightedgefifor use with a traveling trimmer, including a one piece polygonal tubular body comprising a single sheet of material, the opposite longitudinal edges of which are fixedly united with each other, and an integral longitudinal guide for a traveling trimmer unit formed of the material of the tubular body.

7. A hollow straightedge for use with a traveling trimmer, comprising a one piece polygonal tubular body, including parallel depressed and projecting portions of the Wall thereof, affording a guide for a traveling trimming unit.

' 8. In a straightedge for use With a traveling trimmer unit or the like, a one-piece tubular body and an integral longitudinal guide for the trimmer unit formed integral With the tubular body, having thickness greater than that of the tubular body Walls.

9. In a straightedge for use with a traveling trimmer unit or the like, a one piece tubular body and an integral longitudinal guide for the trimmer unit-formed integral with the tubular body, Comprising a portion of the material of the tubular body reversely folded upon itself.,

lO. In a straightedge for usewith a'traveling trimmer unit or the like, a one-piece tubular body and an integral longitudinal guide for'the trimmer unit formed integral with the tubular body, and a longitudinally disposed reinforcement for said integral guide by which increased Strength and rigidity are imparted thereto.

11. In a straightedge, an elongated'polygonal tubular body formed from a single piece of sheet material bent and folded upon itself and having' its opposite longitudinal margins united one to' the other, ,a longitudinal groove formed in one Wall of the tubular body and a contiguous integral plait formed from the material of the tubular body in overhanging relation with the groove and affording a guide track for a traveling trimmer unit. r

12.'A straightedge, including a tubular body portion formed from a single piece of sheet material, and an integral guide flange for a, traveling trimmer unit disposed in' parallel spaced relation withthe tubular body portion and formed from the sam'e piece of sheet material, and parallel reinforcement means for said guide flange.

13. A straightedge for use with a traVeling trimmer, including a polygonal tubular 'body comprising a single sheet of material bent upon itself and having its opposite marginal edges fixedly united, and a projecting ,plait formed in one Wall of the tubular body in relatively spaced relation with contiguous portions of 'the body' forming a guide flange of double thickness for a traveling trimmer unit.

14. A straightedge for use with a traveling trimmer, including a polygonal tubular body comprising a single sheet of material bent upon itself and having its 'opposite marginal 'edges fixedly united, a longitudinal channel depression formed in one Wall of the tubular body and a fold of material of double thickness overhanging the Channel depression and forming a guide flange for a traveling trimmer.

15. A straightedge for use With a traveling trimmer, including a polygonal tubular body comprising a single sheet of material bent upon itself and having its opposite marginal edges fixedly united, and a longitudinal grooved depression formed in an exposed face of the tubular body when the latter is in operative position and adapted to receive a slidably engaging portion of a traveling trimmer unit. v

16. A straightedge comprising a polygonal tubular body formed from a single sheet of material, a longitudinal grooved depression in one Wall of the tubular body, and a joint uniting the opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet of material located] within the longitudinal grooved' y depression. v

17. The herein described method of producing a straightedge, including the steps of bending a single sheet of material upon itself into polygonal tubular formation, forming a, longitudinal groove depression in one Wall of the polygonal body and 'uniting the opposite longitudinal edges of the v a straightedge, includingthe steps of forming a single piece of material upon itself into polygonal 'tubular formation, forming in one face of the tubular formation a lo-ngitudinal groove depression and forming in the .same face a fold of material in overhanging relation with the grooved depression. r

20. A straightedge including a polygonal tubular body formed from a single sheet of material,

a longitudinal groove depression in one face of said polygonal body, a seam within the longitudinal groove uniting the longitudinal margins of the sheet of material one to the other, and an integral projecting fold of material of double thickness contiguous to said grooved depression, forming a guide for a traveling trimmer unit.

21. A straightedge including an .integral polygonal tubular body, a longitudinal channel formed in one face thereof, and a longit'udinal fold formed in the Wall of the tubular body in parallel overhanging relation with the channel.

CHARLES K. 1 HULLINGER.

v CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION., Patent NO. 2,'21L ,999 september 17, l9l O. CHARLES 'Kg HUILINGER..

It is' hereby certified that error appears in the printed Specification of the above numbere' patent requring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, 1ine 8, claim?, for the word "oomprsng" read --including--; line 9, same claim, after "body" and before the Comma insert --comprising a sngle sheet of material, theoppesite lo ngitudinal edges of which are 'ixedly hnited With each 0ther--; and that the said- Letters Patent' should be read (with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record O' the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 191311 day of November, A. D. -l9lLO n Henry Van Arsdale l (Seal) r Acting, Commissioner of Patents.

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