Aug. 14, 1945. N. A. CoMPTON 2,382,206 RIDGE COUNTER APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 15, 1943

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WOraw 4 comp7vuonto Ow Patented Aug. 14, 1945 2,382,206 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,382,206 ...... RIDGE COUNTERAPPLIANCE Norman A. Compton, suitland, Md. Application September 15, 1943, serial No. 502,520. Claims. (C.120-84) This invention relates to a ridge counter ap appliance is such that the same may be readily pliance, and it is primarily an object of the in retracted along the pencil Pias the pencil short Vention to provide an appliance of this kind to ens in length as the result of sharpenings but facilitate the work in connection with the finger ...normally maintains the appliance A in Substan print classification...... tially affixed position...... " . At the present time in connection with finger As herein disclosed, the appliance A includes 'print classification, it is the general practice an elongated body of metal or other preferred of the classifier to use a pencil or other writing imaterial and of required dimensions. The body implement and also a separate instrument known is provided at its extremities with the trans as a ridge:counter. The Writing implement and O versely spaced spring clips 2 which rare adapted the counter are entirely separate and in the work .to straddle the implement P. When the attach : Of. Classification it is required that either the ment is applied thereto and to have sufficient Writing implement or the counter be picked up. frictional contact with the implement P to hold and set down with great frequency which often the body normally in a substantially fixed po results in annoyance and inconvenience to the... sition, yet permitting the body - to be shifted -classifier. Furthermore, in view of these many along the implement P when the requirements separate and frequent operations of picking up of practice necessitate...... r and Setting down the writing implement and the The forward portion of the body is provided 'COunter, the classifier will neglect to use the with a bore 3-open at the front and having its ridge counter, but will employ the point of the: 20 : rear-end open-and-in communication with the Writing implement in lieuthereof and which is longitudinally disposed slot 4, the rear end of liable to reduce the standard of the reading. which is Open...... " . . . Another object: of the invention is to provide The ridge counter C. comprises an elongated an appliance which will substantially eliminate strand of material, such as steel wire of desired these disadvantages. 5 gauge and possessing, a certain-degree of inher A further object of the invention is to pro ent resiliency. The rear portion 5 of the counter Wide a ridge counter appliance which is carried C is substantially straight and extends through by the Writing implement, thus assuring the the bore 3 of the body and into the slot 4. The 'classifier having readily available both of the extremity of the portion 5.of the counter C.With instruments for immediate use as required. 30 in the slot 4 is formed to provide a laterally dis The invention's consists in the details of con posed-arm 6 of a length to extend beyond the Struction and in the combination and arrange outer face of the body . Carried by the outer ment of the Several parts of my improved ridge or free extremity of this arm 6 is the button, counter appliance whereby certain important ad the outer face of which is preferably concaved. Vantages are attained, as will be hereinafter The forward or outer end portion 8 of the more fully Set forth...... ; counter. C is normally disposed on a gradual cur In order that my invention may be better un wature and such curved portion 8 is of such length iderstood, I will now proceed to describe the same that when the counter C is extended for use, the with reference to the accompanying drawing, pointed extremity 9 is at substantially the axial Wherein: center of the writing implement P or in Substan iFigure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrat tial alignment, with the writing point to of the ing a ridge: counter appliance constructed in ac implement P...... Cordance Withinly invention and in applied posi When the counter C is not in use, it can be tion; ...... readily retracted inwardly beyond the Writing Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the structure 45. point O. of the implement F by imposing rear :as illustrated in Figure 1; ward, pull on the button Twhich can be readily Figure 3 is a view partly in side elevation and done by a digit of the handholding the imple partly injSection of the device; . . . ment P. As the counter C is retracted, the in Figure: 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but show ..herent resiliency of the counter C, or more par ing the ridge counter in a second position; . . . 50 ticularly the curved portion 8 thereof, will allow iFigure 5 is a sectional view taken substan said portion 8 to readily ride up. and along the tially. On the line 5-5 of Eigure. 1; and implement P to a point inwardly of the Writing (Figure 6 is a fragmentary view partly in sec point s.0. When the counter C is extended for tion; and partly in elevation illustrating a slightly use; the inherent resiliency thereof will result modified form of the invention. 55 in the same returning the pointed extremity 9 As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, ...thereof into the position hereinbefore pointed P. denotes a conventional writing implement, out...... such as a pencil, and upon which the improved By having the outer end of the slot 4 Open, appliance A is mounted. As illustrated in the the application or removal of the counter C accompanying drawing, the mounting of said 60 with respect to the body may be readily effected 2 2,882,206 and this is desirable particularly when it is the shank having a laterally turned terminal deemed necessary to replace a counter C. portion lying in the slot and extending outwardly The extent of projection or forward movement therefrom, Said slot and bore extending longi of the counter C is limited by contact of the arm tudinally of the carrier When the body is mount 6 with the inner or closed end of the slot. - ed on the carrier, a finger, button carried by the In the event it may be desired to limit the lateral extension for engagement by a finger of extent of retraction of the counter, in the em the hand holding the carrier whereby reciprocal bodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure . . movement of the stylus by such finger may be 6 the outer end of the slot it is closed, as at 2, effected, and resilient frictional means carried and by contact of the lateral arm 4 of the ridge O by the body and engaging the stylus for main counter R, the inward or retracting movement taining the stylus in a desired position. of the counter R. Will be limited. 4. An instrument of the character stated, com The forward end of the body is provided with prising a body, means for mounting the body a forwardly and inwardly disposed spring leaf upon a carrier such as a pencil, the body having Or arm 5 which contacts with the counter C in a guide slot formed therein and extending a manner to provide sufficient friction to nor through a portion of its length and a bore lead mally hold the counter C against endwise move ing from an end of the slot through the body ment with respect to the body . to and through an end of the body, a stylus hav From the foregoing it is though to be obvious ing a Shank slidably extended through said bore, that a ridge counter appliance constructed in 20 the shank having a laterally turned terminal accordance with my invention is particularly portion lying in the slot and extending out Well adapted for use by reason of the convenience Wardly therefrom, said slot and bore extending and facility with which it may be assembled longitudinally of the carrier when the body is and Operated. mounted on the carrier, a finger button carried What is claimed is: 25. by the lateral extension for engagement by a l. The combination with a marking imple finger of the hand holding the carrier whereby ment Such as a pencil, of a body designed to be reciprocal movement of the stylus by such finger mounted upon the implement, said body having may be effected, and a resilient finger integral a guide slot therein which extends longitudi With the body and extending therefrom adjacent nally of the implement when the body is mount 30 to the bore and having frictional contact with ed upon the implement, a stylus having a shank the stylus to maintain the stylus in a desired portion slidably mounted in the slot, means position. carried by the shank portion for engagement 5. The combination with a relatively long With a finger of the hand holding the marking pointed marking implement, of a stylus having implement to effect the reciprocal movement of 35 its pointed end arcuate, and means slidably con the stylus with respect to the body and the necting the stylus with the implement for lon marking implement, and said stylus being lon gitudinal movement thereon for the extension of the stylus point to a position in advance of gitudinally curved through a portion of its length the implement, the stylus being so positioned to the end remote from the shank, the curva 40 relatively to the body of the implement when in ture of the stylus being towards the longitudi the first mentioned position as to have its point nal center of the marking implement and of in the line of the longitudinal axis of the imple such extent that when the stylus is shifted for ment. wardly to project the point of the stylus beyond 6. The combination . With a relatively long the marking point of the implement, the point 45 pointed marking implement, of a stylus having of the stylus will assume a position upon the a relatively long shank portion and longitudi longitudinal center, of the marking implement nally curved at its pointed end, means coupling bevond the point of the latter. said shank to the side of the marking imple 2. An instrument of the character stated, com ment with the shank extending parallel to the prising a relatively long body, means for mount 50 ing the body longitudinally upon a carrier such implement and the pointed end of the stylus as a pencil, the body having a longitudinally disposed adjacent to the pointed end of the im extending recess therein, a relatively long stylus plement, Said coupling means being of a char having a straight shank portion slidably mount acter to facilitate the longitudinal movement of ed in the recess and a longitudinally curved por the stylus on the implement to an extent suffi tion extending to the point of the stylus, the cient to position the stylus point in advance of shank having a laterally turned terminal por the point of the marking implement, and said tion extending outwardly from the slot, a button COUpling means and the degree of curvature of carried by the shank for engagement by a finger the stylus co-acting to locate the stylus point in of the hand carrying the marking. implement, the longitudinal axis line of the implement when said stylus curvature being of a sufficient degree 60 the Stylus is Shifted to a position to locate the and in a direction to bring the point of the point thereof in advance of the point of the stylus to the longitudinal center of the carrier implement. when the stylus is shifted to a position where the 7. The combination as set forth in claim 6, in Which the stylus is formed of resilient nate point thereof lies beyond an end of the carrier. 65 3. An instrument of the character stated, com rial, and means frictionally contacting the side prising a body, means for mounting the body of the stylus remote from the marking imple upon a carrier such as a pencil, the body hav ment and maintaining the stylus in proper posi ing a guide slot formed therein and extending tion relative to the marking implement when through a portion of its length and a bore lead the stylus is shifted in a direction to bring the ing from an end of the slot through the body 70 point thereof to the stated position in advance to and through an end of the body, a stylus hav of the point of the marking implement. ing a shank slidably extended through said bore, NORMAN A. COMPTON.