Patent US3678885A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3678885A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slope and grade meter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-17
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1991-05-17
Abstract
Abstract A device for use on construction equipment of the type having an earth moving tool positionably mounted thereon. The meter includes a first indicator for indicating the desired position at which the tool must be held to form a desired slope or grade. A second indicator is provided which indicates the actual tool position so that by comparing the desired and the actual position indications an operator is able to move the tool accordingly.
Inventors
- 👤 William K Ferguson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C9/00; G01C9/12; E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/76; E02F3/80; E02F3/84; E02F3/841; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S116/00; Y10S116/13; Y10S37/00; Y10S37/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A slope and grade meter for use on construction equipment of the type having a positionable earth moving tool thereon, said meter adapted to provide an indication of the relationship between a desired tool position and an actual tool position, said meter comprising: a. a housing having a scale with indicia of the desired tool positions; b. mounting means for attaching said meter to the construction equipment; c. a first indicator on said housing and adapted to move therewith, said first indicator positionable on said housing to register with the scale thereof for indicating the desired tool position; d. a second indicator rotatably mounted on said housing for providing an indication of the actual tool position, the indication of said second indicator located adjacent to the indication of said first indicator to display the relationship therebetween; and e. control means coupled to said second indicator for controlling the rotary motion thereof in accordance with changes in the relationship between the desired tool position and the actual tool position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A slope and grade meter for use on construction equipment of the type having a positionable earth moving tool thereon, said meter adapted to provide an indication of the relationship between a desired tool position and an actual tool position, said meter comprising: a. a housing having a scale with indicia of the desired tool positions; b. mounting means for attaching said meter to the construction equipment; c. a first indicator on said housing and adapted to move therewith, said first indicator positionable on said housing to register with the scale thereof for indicating the desired tool position; d. a second indicator rotatably mounted on said housing for providing an indication of the actual tool position, the indication of said second indicator located adjacent to the indication of said first indicator to display the relationship therebetween; and e. control means coupled to said second indicator for controlling the rotary motion thereof in accordance with changes in the relationship between the desired tool position and the actual tool position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A slope and grade meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first indicator comprises: a. a hand; b. a positioning pointer formed on one end of said hand, said positioning pointer disposed adjacent to the scale provided on said housing for locating said hand to indicate the desired tool position; and c. a desired tool position indicating pointer mounted on the other end of said hand.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A slope and grade meter as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first indicator further comprises a vernier mechanism connected to said desired tool position indicating pointer for adjustable positioning thereof at fractional divisions between the indicia of the scale on said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
A slope and grade meter as claimed in claim 3 wherein said vernier mechanism comprises: a. a vernier scale displayed on said hand; b. a lever pivotably mounted on said hand; c. a spring clip attached to one end of said lever, said spring clip having a pointer which registeringly aligns with said vernier scale; and d. a movable plate mounted on said hand and adapted to be arcuately reciprocated by said lever, said plate having said deSired tool position indicating pointer attached thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
A slope and grade meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises: a. a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, said shaft having a front end extending exteriorly from said housing; b. means for mounting said second indicator on the front end of said shaft, said second indicator adapted to move with said shaft; and c. a weight pendulously suspended from said shaft for resisting rotary motion thereof upon the occurrence of undesired movement of the construction equipment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
A slope and grade meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises: a. a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing, said shaft having a front end and a back end each of which extends exteriorly from said housing, said shaft having a shoulder formed on the front end thereof; b. biasing means on the front end of said shaft for biasing said second indicator into frictional engagement with the shoulder of said shaft, said biasing means adapted to allow radial positioning of said second indicator with respect to said shaft; c. a control arm attached to the back end of said shaft; and d. reference sensing means connected to said control arm for sensing a reference and causing rotation movement of said shaft when the actual tool position deviates with respect to the reference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A slope and grade meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises: a. a clamp removably mounted on the frame of the construction equipment; b. an upstanding member affixed to said clamp; and c. a U-shaped bracket removably mounted on said upstanding member, said bracket having a pair of parallel spaced apart arms between which said meter is swivelingly mounted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A slope and grade meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises: a. an extending bracket removably mounted on the frame of said construction equipment, said bracket extending substantially laterally from said frame; b. a U-shaped bracket rotatably mounted on the free end of said extending bracket, said U-shaped bracket having a pair of parallel spaced apart arms between which said meter is swivelingly mounted; and c. means on said extending bracket and on said U-shaped bracket for indicating the rotational position of said meter with respect to said extending bracket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A slope and grade meter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises: a. a bracket removably mounted on the tool of the construction equipment; b. quick disconnect means attached to one side of said bracket for frictionally mounting said bracket to the tool; and c. a pair of parallel spaced apart arms attached to the other side of said bracket between which said meter is swivelingly mounted.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |