Speed square with extension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11554604-B2
Application number	US-202117407544-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2021
Priority date	Oct 31, 2016
Publication date	Jan 17, 2023
Grant date	Jan 17, 2023

Abstract

A speed square is provided including a triangular flat plate having measurement markings indicated on at least one face, a T bar affixed to, and extending along, the length of a first side of the triangular flat plate, and an extension element hingedly connected to an end of second side of the triangular flat plate opposite the T bar. The extension element having measurement markings indicated on at least one face, such that the measurement markings of the triangular flat face continue on the extension element.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A speed square comprising:
a triangular flat plate having measurement markings indicated on at least one face;
a T bar affixed to, and extending along, a length of a first side of the triangular flat plate;
an extension element operably coupled to an end of a second side of the triangular flat plate opposite the T bar, the extension element having measurement markings indicated on at least one face, such that the measurement markings of the triangular flat face continue on the extension element; and
a hinge configured to extend and retract the extension element between an open position and a stowed position,
wherein a rotational axis of the hinge is parallel with a direction of extension of the T bar.

2. The speed square of claim 1 further comprising:
a retention element configured to retain the extension element in the stowed position.

3. The speed square of claim 2 , wherein the retention element comprises a plunger configured to extend toward an aperture to retain the extension element in the stowed position responsive to alignment of the plunger and the aperture, wherein the plunger is biased toward the aperture in the stowed position.

4. The speed square of claim 3 , wherein the plunger is disposed in the extension element and the aperture is disposed in the T bar.

5. The speed square of claim 4 , wherein the plunger is configured to urge a protruding element into the aperture, and wherein the plunger is oriented to urge the protruding element in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of longitudinal extension of the extension element.

6. The speed square of claim 3 , wherein multiple instances of the retention element are provided on complementary surfaces of the T bar and the extension element.

7. The speed square of claim 3 , wherein an access window is disposed in the triangular flat plate proximate an intersection of the T bar and the second side, and wherein the extension element is visible through the access window in the stowed position and not visible through the access window in an open position.

8. The speed square of claim 7 , wherein the extension element is configured to transition out of the stowed position responsive to force exerted on the extension element through the access window to overcome biasing of the plunger and release the retention element.

9. The speed square of claim 1 further comprising:
an extension lock configured to retain the extension element in the open position.

10. The speed square of claim 9 , wherein the extension lock comprises an aperture in the extension element or triangular flat plate and a plunger in the other of the extension element and the triangular flat plate, wherein the plunger is biased toward the aperture in the extended position.

11. The speed square of claim 9 , wherein the extension lock comprises a lock release configured to release the extension lock to enable retraction of the extension element to the stowed position.

12. The speed square of claim 1 , wherein the T bar extends substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the triangular flat plate lies away from both opposing faces of the triangular flat plate.

13. The speed square of claim 1 , wherein the hinge connects the extension element to the triangular flat plate proximate to an intersection of the second side and a third side forming a hypotenuse of the triangular flat plate.

14. The speed square of claim 13 , wherein the third side further comprises a set of angle measurement markings to enable measurement of an angle relative to the T bar.

15. A speed square comprising:
a triangular flat plate having a first side, a second side, and a hypotenuse, the second side having first length measurement markings indicated thereon, and the hypotenuse having angle markings thereon;
an extension element operably coupled to an end of the second side, the extension element having second length measurement markings indicated thereon, such that the second length measurement markings continue from the first length measurement markings; and
a hinge configured to extend and retract the extension element between an open position and a stowed position,
wherein a rotational axis of the hinge is parallel with a direction of extension of the first side.

16. The speed square of claim 15 further comprising:
a retention element configured to retain the extension element in the stowed position.

17. The speed square of claim 16 , wherein the retention element comprises a plunger configured to extend toward an aperture to retain the extension element in the stowed position responsive to alignment of the plunger and the aperture, wherein the plunger is biased toward the aperture in the stowed position.

18. The speed square of claim 17 , wherein the plunger is disposed in the extension element and the aperture is disposed in the first side.

19. The speed square of claim 18 , wherein the plunger is configured to urge a protruding element into the aperture, and wherein the plunger is oriented to urge the protruding element in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of longitudinal extension of the extension element.

20. The speed square of claim 17 , wherein multiple instances of the retention element are provided on complementary surfaces of the first side and the extension element.

Assignees

• Apex Brands Inc

Inventors

• Walsh Brendan Michael
• Mckenzie Timothy T

Classifications

• G01B3/566 Primary

  Squares · CPC title

• B43L7/0275 Primary

  Triangles · CPC title

• B43L7/02

  T-squares {and other similar squares} · CPC title