Measuring instrument

Abstract

A device for measuring and marking lines and points on a steel I-beam includes a rib for contacting the outside of an I-beam flange along a line opposite the center of the beam web, a measuring blade that rests on the beam web and measures distances from the outside of the flange, and a bridge for connecting the measuring blade to the rib in a way in which the measuring blade is held perpendicular to the flange. The device marks I-beams faster and more accurately that was possible using prior art tools and techniques.

1 . A device for measuring and marking lines and points on I-beams; comprising: 
 (a) a flange-contacting portion for contacting the flange of an I-beam along the line where the flange intersects the web of the beam;    (b) a flat measuring blade for measuring distances from said flange-contacting portion along the web of the beam, wherein said flat measuring blade is not “T-shaped”; and    (c) a bridging portion for connecting said measuring blade portion to said flange-contacting portion by bridging the beam flange, wherein said bridging portion terminates at one end in a blade-locking mechanism, wherein said blade-locking mechanism includes a slotted gripping member perpendicular to said flange contacting portion and sized to receive said flat measuring blade so that when said blade-locking mechanism is in its locked position the slotted gripping member secures said flat measuring blade in a position such that the measuring blade is perpendicular to a line parallel to the flange;    wherein said flange-contacting portion extends in both directions along the line where the flange intersects the web of the beam, relative to the position of the measuring blade.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said flange-contacting portion includes a rib for contacting the flange.  
   
   
       3 . (cancelled)  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  and further including a handle portion for providing a better grip on the device.  
   
   
       5 . A device for measuring and marking lines and points on I-beams; comprising: 
 (a) a flange-contacting portion for contacting the flange of an I-beam along the line where the flange intersects the web of the beam;    (b) a blade-gripping portion for holding a flat, not “T-shaped” measuring blade for measuring distances from said flange-contacting portion along the web of the beam wherein said blade-gripping portion includes a slotted gripping member perpendicular to said flange-contacting portion and sized to receive a flat measuring blade so that when said blade-locking mechanism is in its locked position the slotted gripping member secures the flat measuring blade in a position such that the measuring blade is perpendicular to a line parallel to the flange; and    (c) a bridging portion for connecting said blade-gripping portion to said flange-contacting portion by bridging the beam flange;    wherein said flange-contacting portion extends in both directions along the line where the flange intersects the web of the beam, relative to the position of the measuring blade.    
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said flange-contacting portion includes a rib for contacting the flange.  
   
   
       7 . (cancelled)  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 5  and further including a handle portion for providing a better grip on the device.  
   
   
       9 . (previously cancelled)