Abstract: A femoral tibial spreader (100) for spreading adjacent bones includes a radial measurement gauge (111) for providing incidia corresponding to an amount of force being applied to the forward ends (105,106) of the femoral tibial spreader (100). The femoral tibial spreader (100) may be used, for example, to separate the femur (301) and tibia (302) during knee surgery. The radial measurement gauge (111) may be used to determine an amount of force being applied to the femur (301) and tibia (302), for example, by the medial and arterial ligaments. Two handle members (104,109) are squeezed together, which causes the forward ends (105,106) to open. A biasing member (110) allows a measurement extension (108) to pivot towards a handle member under tension, thereby providing a measurement of force applied by the ligaments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distance measuring instrument for pedicle screws which detects the spacing between two pedicle screws (3, 3?) with the ends (26, 27) of two crossing limbs (11, 12) and displays it on a cross-bar (25) fixedly connected to one of the limbs at a scale (22). Since the second limb (12) is divided into a pointer (16a) and into a flexural spring extending parallel to it at which a pronounced thumb grip (21a) is fastened, and since the thumb grip is connected to a scale (24) via which a pre-determined pre-tension can be read off relative to the pointer (16a), a spacing measurement can take place under a controlled pre-tension.

Abstract: A special tape (22) for measuring blocks used in the construction of wood structures includes two special scales. A first scale has marks (32) spaced at 14½ inch intervals for making blocks for studs, and a second scale has marks (34) spaced at 22½ inch intervals for making blocks for rafters. The tape (22) is longitudinally placed along a two-by board (500) and marks (36) made on the two-by board (500) at the desired intervals of 14½ or 22½ inches. The two-by board (500) is then cut at the marks (36) to create the blocks, which are then placed between the studs or rafters.

Abstract: A caliper device for taking the dimension of an object such as livestock having caliper arms with hand members for gripping the rib cage of an animal and telescoping first and second members assembled for manual relative longitudinal movement when taking the dimension of the rib cage. The first member abutting the back of the animal and carrying the caliper arms and the second member carrying a cursor and weight graduations indicating an appropriate weight graduation, estimated according to the size of the rib cage when gripped by caliper arms and hand members. Other embodiments include the first member carrying a series of lights each marking a respective weight graduation or carrying a clock-like gauge system for indicating the estimated weight of an animal.

Abstract: A caliper gauge comprised of an elongated body having a pistol-type grip formed at one end and a caliper arm formed at the other end. An elongated slot is formed in the body adjacent the pistol-type grip, and an opening extends through the body communicating with the slot. A lever having a trigger formed at one end and a caliper end formed at the other end extends through the opening in the body and is mounted thereto for pivotal movement relative to the body to provide a caliper gauge having a scissor-like configuration.

Abstract: There is disclosed a calliper, useful for measuring how much fat can be pinched beneath the skin, having jaws (4,6) pivotally mounted for relative pivotal movement. The movement is amplified by a gear train (24, 26, 28, and 30). The final gear wheel (30) drives a toothed wheel the movement of which is sensed by an opto sensor (34). A digital readout indicates the spacing between the jaws for indicating the spacing between measuring surfaces of the jaws. In contrast to conventional callipers, which are used only to transfer a dimension from an object to be measured to a measuring device, the callipers disclosed give a direct reading of the spacing between the measuring surfaces.

Abstract: An instrument can simultaneous measure a diameter of and a lateral distance along a workpiece. The instrument employs a first member having a longitudinal axis. The instrument also has a pincer device mounted on the first member to reciprocate along the longitudinal axis. This pincer device has a pair of arms mounted in a pincer-like fashion to enable measuring the diameter and the lateral distance along the workpiece. Also included is measurement system having a first and second mechanism. The first mechanism is coupled to the pincer device for providing in response to lateral translation of the pincer device relative to the first member a first readout corresponding to the lateral distance along the workpiece. The second mechanism is coupled to the pincer device for providing in response to angular displacement of the arms, a second readout corresponding to the diameter of a portion of the workpiece.

Abstract: An instrument for the simultaneous measurement of a diameter of and a lateral distance along a work piece comprises a first member having a longitudinal track therein; a second member secured to one end of the first member having a reference surface for the lateral distance measurement, the reference surface being positioned against an end of the work piece from which the lateral distance is to measured; a third member disposed in the track slideable longitudinally therein; a pair of arms mounted in a pincer-like fashion on the third member and extending through the second member to enable measuring the diameter and the lateral distance from the reference surface of a given portion of the work piece; a first arrangement coupled to the third member and one of the pair of arms to obtain a first readout of the lateral distance from the reference surface of the given portion of the work piece; and a second arrangement coupled to the first arrangement and the other of the pair of arms to obtain a second readout of

Abstract: An in-process gage is disclosed utilizing a four bar linkage system having a floating bar in the form of a bellcrank with an active feeler connected to the bellcrank and engageable with the workpiece surface. A fixed feeler is attached directly to the gage body. Movement of the active feeler to stay in contact with the workpiece surface as it is machined results in motion of the bellcrank relative to the gage body. This motion is transferred to an electronic position sensing transducer producing an electrical signal representing the workpiece size used to control the machining process. The four bar linkage system provides for precise rotation of the active feeler with virtually zero backlash enabling a gage to be constructed that is relatively thin to fit into narrow working envelopes.

Abstract: A measuring instrument for measuring the distance from a hole, drilled at the intersection of a rib and a stringer, to the adjacent flange of the rib includes two arms projecting laterally out from the side of the instrument and forward to engage the flange. The arms are geared together at their inner ends within the body of the instrument to insure that the angles of both arms relative to the longitudinal axis of the body are equal to each other so that the longitudinal axis of the instrument in use remains perpendicular to the face of the flange. A spring loaded conical hole-centering probe protruding from the bottom face of the instrument fits into and centers itself in the hole and establishes a reference from which the flange is measured. A stylus, slidably mounted in the instrument and protruding from the front end thereof, contacts the face of the flange.

Abstract: A hand held measuring device for measuring the size of small objects such as nuts, bolts, and the like. The device includes both an English measuring scale and a Metric measuring scale and may be used to gauge the size of either a Metric or an English standard bolt.The device employs two pivotally attached plate-like elements, each plate-like element having a pincer element. Each pincer element has a contact point. The contact points of each pincer element cooperate to define the reference points for measurement. Further, the device includes a Metric and an English graduated scale and an indicating mechanism associated with each graduated scale.An object is measured by adjusting the distance between the contact points until the distance mirrors the overall dimension of the object. The graduated scale and corresponding indicating mechanism cooperate with the contact points to define the dimension of the object.

Abstract: Disclosed is an thickness measuring apparatus comprising: a C-shaped block; a pair of arms which arc provided on the block, each of which is equipped with a pivot section situated at one end thereof, each pivot section being equipped with a spring element; a pair of lever members pivotably mounted on the respective spring elements; measuring elements mounted on the respective outer end sections of the lever members and adapted to be brought into contact with the article to be measured; a first compression spring provided between one of the pair of arms and a section of one of the lever members which is near the inner end thereof so as to bias this lever member; a second compression spring provided between the other of the pair of arms and a section of the other of the lever members which is near the inner end thereof so as to bias this lever member; thickness measuring devices provided respectively on the pair of arms and adapted to detect any movement of the lever members so as to measure the thickness of th

Abstract: The tape measure includes a lock for locking the tape in an extended position from its case. The lock includes a toggle pivotably mounted on the case and a lock shoe extending from one end of the toggle to a position adjacent the tape. When the toggle is depressed, the lock shoe is forced against the tape so as to wedge the tape between the lock shoe and the case to prevent its retraction. The lock shoe includes a series of opposed recesses to permit the lock shoe to compress in length upon engagement with the tape. The lock shoe also includes a bend which translates the diagonal movement of the toggle into a vertical movement of the lock shoe.