Geometrical instruments – Gauge – Collocating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2001-11-06
Bennett, G. Bradley (Department: 2859)
Geometrical instruments
Gauge
Collocating
C033S0010DD, C033S494000, C033S563000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311408
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention pertains generally to measuring devices and more particularly to a multi-scale position locator and a method for locating a position such as a proper badge placement on a uniform.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Referring to
FIG. 1
, many organizations require their uniform-wearing members to position items on their uniforms according to organizational guidelines. For example, the army requires a soldier
10
wearing a uniform
12
to center his nameplate
14
on a flap
16
of a right pocket
18
between pocket sides
20
and
22
, the top of a pocket button
24
, and a pocket top
26
. The army also requires the soldier
10
to center his unit award
28
over the pocket
18
such that the bottom of the award is ⅛ inch above the pocket top
26
. Because he often removes items like the nameplate
14
and the unit award
28
before laundering his uniform
12
, the soldier
10
positions and reattaches such items on a regular basis.
Because these guidelines often require precise positioning of such items, one typically uses a conventional measurement device such as a ruler to accurately locate the specified item positions on the uniform.
FIGS. 2 and 3
describe a technique for placing the award
28
above the pocket
18
of the uniform
12
(all of
FIG. 1
) using a conventional ruler
30
. For clarity, the pocket flap
16
and the button
24
are omitted from
FIGS. 2 and 3
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, to locate the specified position of the unit award
28
(
FIG. 1
) using the ruler
30
, one first determines the horizontal midline
32
of the pocket
18
by aligning ruler marks with the pocket sides
20
and
22
, calculating the distance between the sides
20
and
22
, halving this distance, and marking the halfway point. In the illustrated example, one aligns the 4-inch and 7-inch marks with the sides
20
and
22
, respectively, determines that the pocket
18
is 3 inches wide, halves this width to obtain 1½ inches, and marks the midline
32
, which is 1½ inches from either side
20
or
22
and is perpendicular to the pocket top
26
. To avoid ruining the uniform and to save time, one typically does not use a marking device such as a pencil to mark the midline
32
. Instead, one often uses a relatively inaccurate technique such as eyeballing or temporarily marking with a finger.
Next, referring to
FIG. 3
, one rotates the ruler
30
ninety degrees, aligns the measuring edge of the ruler
30
with the pocket midline
32
, aligns a measurement mark with the pocket top
26
, measures the specified distance above the top
26
, and marks a position
34
for the bottom edge of the award
28
. In the illustrated example, one aligns the 8-inch mark with the pocket top
26
, measures up ⅛ inch, and marks the position
34
.
Still referring to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, one positions the award
28
(
FIG. 1
) by horizontally centering the award
28
about the midline
32
and aligning the award's bottom edge with the position
34
such that the bottom edge is parallel to the pocket top
26
. Although one can use the ruler
30
to locate the horizontal midline of the award
28
and to insure that the award's bottom edge is parallel to the pocket top
26
, he/she typically eyeballs these measurements.
Unfortunately, the ruler
30
and other like measurement devices are often cumbersome, inaccurate, and time consuming when used for two-dimensional positioning of an item on a back piece such as the uniform
12
(FIG.
1
). For example, referring to the item-placement procedure discussed above in conjunction with
FIGS. 2 and 3
, eyeballing or using a finger to temporarily mark the midline
32
while rotating the ruler
30
into the second position (
FIG. 3
) is difficult even with good coordination and steady hands, and can be next to impossible for someone without these attributes. Furthermore, eyeballing and finger marking often cause noticeable alignment errors. Although one can go back and correct such errors, such re-positioning can add a significant amount of time to the positioning process, particularly when one must position and attach a large number of items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a device includes first and second scales. The first scale has a reference mark, at least one first mark disposed a first distance from the reference mark in a first direction, and at least one second mark disposed the first distance from the reference mark in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. The second scale is perpendicular to the first scale and includes at least one third mark disposed a second distance from the first scale.
One can use such a device to position items on a uniform or other back piece without the guesswork associated with conventional measuring devices. For example, he/she can use the first scale as a centering scale to locate a pocket midline, and then, without having to move the device, can use the second scale as a measuring scale to locate a point along the pocket midline. Therefore, using such a device, one can place an item such as a badge above the pocket more easily, accurately, and quickly than if he/she used a conventional measuring device.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 140152 (1945-01-01), Aichele
patent: 346371 (1886-07-01), Humphrey
patent: D. 396424 (1998-07-01), Bedol et al.
patent: D. 397303 (1998-08-01), Bedol et al.
patent: D. 398865 (1998-09-01), Dietterich et al.
patent: 676740 (1901-06-01), Farini
patent: 1383140 (1921-06-01), Naterman
patent: 1433083 (1922-10-01), Leishman
patent: 1745188 (1930-01-01), Pipirs
patent: 2387986 (1945-10-01), Evans
patent: 2821787 (1958-02-01), Shepard
patent: 3798781 (1974-03-01), Wolfe
patent: 4302884 (1981-12-01), Pallone
patent: 4490921 (1985-01-01), Woods et al.
patent: 4750270 (1988-06-01), Kundikoff
patent: 5033200 (1991-07-01), Leung
patent: 5084982 (1992-02-01), Feng
patent: 5444920 (1995-08-01), Nelson
patent: 5497558 (1996-03-01), Wagner
patent: 5501019 (1996-03-01), Concari et al.
patent: 5557996 (1996-09-01), Reber et al.
patent: 5813127 (1998-09-01), Blevins
patent: 2193929 (1988-02-01), None
“SOLDIERS” pamphlet, Jan., 1992.
Bennett G. Bradley
Graybeal Jackson Haley LLP
R M Products, Inc.
LandOfFree
Multi-scale position locator and method for locating a position does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multi-scale position locator and method for locating a position, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-scale position locator and method for locating a position will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2589413