Abstract: A tool for acting on a workpiece includes a body and an adjustable element movably attached to the body. A tool member on the adjustable element is disposed on the adjustable element to act on the workpiece. The adjustable element is configured to move between a plurality of predetermined adjustment positions to locate a portion of the adjustable element a selected distance from the body. The adjustable element is resiliently biased against movement out of the predetermined adjustment positions. A micro adjustment mechanism provides for micro adjustment of a position of the adjustable element relative to the body once the adjustable element is moved to a selected predetermined adjustment position. The micro adjustment mechanism is configured for moving the adjustable element to an intermediate adjustment position located between the selected predetermined adjustment position and an immediately adjacent predetermined adjustment position for precise position adjustment of the adjustable element.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for a marking gauge. In some examples, the marking gauge includes a scribing bar and a marking pin disposed at a fixed location in the scribing bar. A bolt may extend through a stock and the scribing bar. A nut may be in contact with the scribing bar and engaged with the bolt. The nut and the bolt may be effective to fasten the stock to the scribing bar. The scribing bar may include walls defining a longitudinally extending slot and the mortise pin may extend through the longitudinally extending slot. A pointed end of the mortise pin and of the marking pin may be adjustable with respect to the scribing bar.

Abstract: A tool which has an easily identifiable marker for each tire on a vehicle. The tool will trace the path of each tire and allow an investigator to accurately produce a drawing to recreate the path of vehicles involved in accidents.

Abstract: A V-cutter for use in forming V-shaped grooves (3) on a light guide panel (1) of the backlight unit for a liquid crystal display (LCD) is disclosed. The V-cutter may include a Z-axis lift piece (7) and a W-axis lift piece (8), each of which has a pin kit (10a, 10b) with a plurality of pins (9a, 9b) attached at the bottom thereof. The pins (9a, 9b) are preferably equal in number and spacing to the V-shaped grooves (3) to be formed. The lift pieces (7, 8) may be vertically actuated by a Z-axis controller (5) and a W-axis controller (6). The light guide panel (1) is preferably fixtured to a table (11). The lift pieces (7, 8) are configured to move with respect to the table (11) so that, through successive X-axis and Y-axis operations, the V-shaped grooves can be formed in perpendicular directions with only two reciprocating motions. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the light guide panels (1) is reduced.

Abstract: A scoring tool that is especially useful for scoring relatively flat and rigid materials, such as siding materials that are used as exterior trim on buildings, includes two scoring members that engage opposite sides of the sheet of material to provide a straight score line along the material. The scoring members are supported on mounting members that are adjustably moveable relative to a body portion. The body portion includes a groove that receives an edge of the material as the tool is moved along the length of the material. The scoring members engage opposite sides of the material to provide a straight score line that then provides the ability to manually remove the desired portion of the material.

Abstract: A marking apparatus provides a method of marking a line on a surface of a workpiece at a selected distance from a datum edge of the surface. To practice this method a scribe retaining apparatus is attached to a ruling blade of a geometrical instrument so that it can slide along an axis of the ruling blade. A stock of the geometrical instrument is then brought into abutting contact with the datum edge and held against it at an angle selected so that a first, flat, portion of a bottom of the scribe retaining apparatus abuts the surface of the workpiece. In this orientation a working tip of a retained scribe is adjacent to, but out of contact with, the surface of the workpiece. One then slides the scribe retaining apparatus axially along the ruling blade until the working tip of the scribe is at the selected distance from the datum edge, and locks the scribe retaining apparatus to the ruling blade.

Abstract: A drafting instrument is disclosed that functions as a protractor, compass, T-square and ruler. The instrument is especially adaptable for use on dry erase boards, chalkboards and tables Apertures disposed in the ruler portion of the instrument accommodate pen tips and facilitate the drawing of arcs, circles and parallel lines. The preferred embodiment of the instrument is two-piece with a uni-body instrument and a suction cup pivotally attached to the underside thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multiple line writing instrument which is adapted for one-handed operation in the general manner of an ordinary pen or pencil and which accomodates variations in the writing angle at which the instrument may be applied to a writing surface. The instrument includes plural elongate writing means, such as pens, held in parallel, spaced apart array. By means of a pivotal stop table the writing tips of the plural writing means are held in continous writing contact with a writing surface despite variations in writing angle which may occur during use. The multiple line writing instrument avoids the necessity to employ biasing elements, such as springs, to maintain writing contact of the writing tips with the writing surface.

Abstract: Presented is an adaptor for use with a universal plotter pen that enables use of the universal plotter pen in many different X-Y plotter mechanisms. The interior configuration and dimensions of the adaptor, including elongated longitudinal ribs, are such as to snugly receive and frictionally retain the body of the plotter pen in a stable axial relationship with the adaptor body, which is tubular to receive the plotter pen body. A control boss is provided within the tubular body of the adaptor to limit the extent of insertion of the plotter pen, and slots are formed in the tubular body of the adaptor to give access to the exposed end of the plotter pen body that projects through the slots to facilitate digital imposition of an axially directed force on the end of the plotter pen to effect ejection of the plotter pen from the adaptor body.

Abstract: A pen changing apparatus for a plotter is disclosed. A plurality of pens are mounted on a carriage in alignment with the axial direction of a shaft which is provided on the carriage as the sliding axis thereof. A guide shaft is fixed onto the carriage in the same direction as the shaft. A sliding lever for pressing any of the plurality of pens is provided on the guide shaft such as to be movable in the axial direction of the guide shaft and rotatable around the guide shaft. A solenoid rotates the sliding lever so as to press down a desired pen at the position where the sliding lever is located in resistance to a pen lifting spring or restore the pen to its original position by the urging force of the pen lifting spring.

Abstract: A drafting tool is provided to assist in making parallel lines which can be horizontal, vertical or at any angle. The tool has two legs pivoted together and at least one of said legs carries a bar spaced above the drafting paper. The bar carries markers in the form of sharpened metal pins that indent drafting paper, or in the form of writing tips that leave a mark on paper. The bar is resiliently held, and when manually pushed against the drafting paper, the pins indent or the writing tips mark the paper. The draftsman then uses a straight edge to draw lines through the indicia thus made. The pins and writing tips are preferably uniformly spaced in a straight line and the spacing between indicia on the drafting paper with respect to a horizontal or vertical line are variable and are determined by the selected angle between the two legs. Suitable graduations at the pivot can advise the user of the pivot angle to select to obtain the proper indicia spacing with respect to a horizontal or vertical line.

Abstract: A structural beam square for laying out the web of a structural steel beam, or the like, is disclosed which includes a pair of arms which extend at right angles to each other. The arms have a T-shaped cross section and include coplanar stem members and flanges which extend along the inner edges of the stem members. The flanges support the square on the web of a beam with the stem portions at a raised position above the web, and above the fillet at the intersection of the beam web and beam flange. Gauge members are releasably secured to one arm of the square, which gauge members include gauge plates which are of the same height as the arm flanges. With one arm of the square abutting the beam flange, a line may be scribed across the web along the flange of the other arm. The square is moved along the web, and cross marks are scribed on the web along the gauge plates of the gauge members secured to said other square arm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel ruler apparatus useful for the rapid and precise marking of a plurality of parallel horizontal lines on a classroom blackboard or the like. This ruler, or line tool to which it is sometimes referred, includes, among other elements, an adjustable staff member which is slidably mounted in a vertical support frame; and this vertical support frame is in turn securily affixed to one end of a horizontal slide member. This horizontal slide member and the vertical staff member are further secured, one to another, by means of a handle which is affixed at one end to the top of the staff member and affixed at its other end to the other end of the slide member. The staff member includes a plurality of precisely spaced passages therein adapted to receive a marking member, such as a felt-tip pen.