Abstract: A beam has an upper face, a lower face, side faces, and an end face. The end face has a rectangular configuration and is vertically disposed. The end face has a slot vertically disposed and parallel with, and equally spaced from, the side faces. Beam holes extend through the beam on opposite sides of the slot. A post has a front face, a parallel rear face, and parallel side faces. A connector has a first section and a second section. Beam apertures are formed in the first section. The first section is positioned in the slot with the beam apertures aligned with the beam holes. The second section is attached to the post. Dowels extend through the beam holes and the beam apertures thereby coupling the beam to the post. The system also includes tools for accurately cutting and drilling components, wood and otherwise, to be coupled.

Abstract: An extendable edge reference tool is disclosed. A first segment having a extending end and a receptacle end is provided. The receptacle end includes a coupling mechanism for joining a second segment using an over-center locking force to secure said second segment to said first segment. This tool provides for a useful continuous reference edge over extended distances through adjoining segments. Each segment is suitably compact to be easy stowed. The segments are useful individually. The segments can be joined to extend tool to lengths useful in common construction tasks.

Abstract: An extendable edge reference tool is disclosed. A first segment having a extending end and a receptacle end is provided. The receptacle end includes a coupling mechanism for joining a second segment using an over-center locking force to secure said second segment to said first segment. This tool provides for a useful continuous reference edge over extended distances through adjoining segments. Each segment is suitably compact to be easy stowed. The segments are useful individually. The segments can be joined to extend tool to lengths useful in common construction tasks.

Abstract: A guide for guiding a hand held saw is disclosed. The guide has a locating member for locating the guide relative to an edge and a guiding member that guides the saw. The guiding member can be locked at any angle between 0 and 90 degrees relative to locating member and is invertible so that angles between 90 to 180 degrees can be guided. The guide has an angle gauge and also stops for 45 and 90 degrees. A clamp interfits with the locating member to quickly secure the guide to the material to be cut.

Abstract: A ruler attachment device for a chain saw. The device includes a ruler telescopingly received in a tubular member so that it may be compactly stowed when not in use. The tubular member is attached to a bracket, which is attached to the chain saw housing, so as to pivot between a first position in which the tubular member is normal to the chain saw housing for measuring length of wood being cut and a second position in which the tubular member may be compactly, quickly, and easily stowed out of the way alongside the chain saw housing without removing the attachment from the chain saw, yet be easily and quickly pivoted back to the first position to be put back into use.

Abstract: A combination tool for craftsmen including a square, a level, a plumb indicator, a slope measurement device, a linear scale, and a straight edge. The tool includes a pair of elongated members joined at a hinge with a protractor scale for measuring the angle between the members. The hinge comprises a sturdy clevis arrangement which allows a central fastening assembly to be tightened to provide friction in order to set the angle between the two arms without other locking structure. A series of markings along one edge of each of the members provides a linear scale. Each of the elongated members have an I-beam construction with a central web and a pair of side flanges. A number of elongated cutouts are provided for handles. A second series of cutouts are provided to position a plurality of spirit level indicators. Some of the spirit level indicators are aligned along the longitudinal axis of the members, while others are positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A hexahedronic case (12) with a singular face extension (20) and swingout arm pair (14L, 14R) for housing a conventional, flexible measuring tape (26). A carpenter's extensible-retractable measuring tape is housed in a six-faced case which has a pair of parallel, pivotally outward swinging arms and a flange (20) extending from the rear face thereof. Several faces of the case are indexed by marks at the center (24) only of the face edges which have a consistent dimension (Z). On one face, that opposite the flange-bearing face, there is a set of indices (22) which equally divide an edge of the face upon which they appear. The divisions, in respect of the aforementioned consistent dimension, correspond to various pitches or elevations above the horizontal, or angular deflections from the vertical, that are employed in layout work in the building construction field. An example of layout for roof rafter (40) preparation is also presented.

Abstract: An improved measuring apparatus (10) including male (12) and female (11) measuring instruments equipped with complimentary pairs of male (14) and female (13) sleeve bodies bearing a multiplicity of variably aligned calibrated indicia (50) representative of different drawing scales; wherein, the male (12) and female (11) measuring instruments are adapted to be captively engaged in L and inverted L configurations as well as in an end to end straight line configuration.

Abstract: The disclosed measuring instrument includes a pair of members arranged together to form a right-angled L and the members having indicia providing linear scales useful in measuring areas in architectural plans and the like. The members are separable at the joint that forms the corner of the L and are further capable of re-connection to each other in end-to-end relationship so as to provide an elongated straight edge. The junction of the members at the corner of the L includes a pivot about which one member may be moved through a 180.degree. range to form an inverted L. In a modification, at least one of the members includes a wing element along one edge and rockable about a separable pivot on an axis parallel to that one edge.

Abstract: A collapsable framing square is comprised of first and second flat rigid arms, a pivot pin permanently attached to one side of the first arm, a pivot plate permanently attached to the second arm defining a hole with a diameter equal to that of the diameter of the pivot pin such that the pivot plate fits over the pivot pin, a spring situated over the pivot pin to engagingly bias the pivot plate against the first arm and a washer and C-clip for securing the spring onto the pivot pin. A washer situated between the spring and the pivot plate includes a projection extending downwardly from the side of the washer facing the pivot plate while the pivot plate includes a plurality of chamfered holes situated about the hole defined by the pivot plate to receive the downward projection.

Abstract: In a wall stud framing tool, an elongated rail is provided with parallel spaced-apart walls joined by a measuring indicia scored angular surface. A plurality of stud position locating tongues are pivotally connected by one end portion between the rail walls. An integral spring member, on the innerconnected end portion of each stud locating tongue, maintains the tongues in right angular relation with respect to the rail when the tongues are in an erected position and maintain the tongues in collapsed or folded position between the rail walls when in a second position.

Abstract: A protractor consisting of a flat base having two straight edges and a degree scale, a measuring arm mounted on the base for rotation about a pivot point and having straight edges for cooperating with the straight edges of the base to form angles corresponding to angles to be measured, an indicator arm mounted on the measuring arm for rotation about the pivot point, and having an indicator mark, and locking means for fixing the indicator arm in plurality of predetermined positions on the measuring arm so that, in each position, the angle indicated by the mark on the scale coincides with the angle formed between one of the straight edges of the base and one of the straight edges of the measuring arm.