IP Library Granted Patent US 11,325,413
Granted Patent B2
US 11,325,413 · App. 17/497,406 · Granted May 10, 2022

Speed square with extension

Inventors: Brendan Michael Walsh (Holly Springs, NC); Timothy T. McKenzie (Westminster, MD)
Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
B43L7/0275B43L7/02G01B3/566
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,325,413
App. No.
17/497,406
Granted
May 10, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A speed square is provided including a triangular flat plate having measurement markings indicated on at least one face, a T bar affixed to, and extending along, the length of a first side of the triangular flat plate, and an extension element hingedly connected to an end of second side of the triangular flat plate opposite the T bar. The extension element having measurement markings indicated on at least one face, such that the measurement markings of the triangular flat face continue on the extension element.

Claims (39)

1. A speed square comprising:

a triangular flat plate having measurement markings indicated on at least one face;

a T bar affixed to, and extending along, a length of a first side of the triangular flat plate;

an extension element operably coupled to a first end of a second side of the triangular flat plate opposite the T bar, the extension element having measurement markings indicated on at least one face of the extension element, such that the measurement markings of the at least one face of the triangular flat plat continue on the at least one face of the extension element; and

a hinge configured to extend and retract the extension element between an open position and a stowed position, wherein the hinge couples a first end of the extension element to the first end of the second side of the triangular flat plate;

wherein, in the stowed position, the extension element is disposed in a first plane that is adjacent and parallel to a plane of the triangular flat plate;

wherein, in the open position, the extension element is disposed in a second plane that is a same plane as the plane of the triangular flat plate; and

wherein an access window is disposed in the triangular flat plate proximate an intersection of the T bar and the second side, and wherein the extension element is visible through the access window in the stowed position and not visible through the access window in an open position.

2. The speed square of claim 1 , wherein, in the stowed position, a second end of the extension element is disposed proximate to the T bar and an intersection of the first side of the triangular flat plate with the second side of the triangular flat plate.

3. The speed square of claim 1 , wherein a rotational axis of the hinge is parallel with a direction of extension of the T bar.

4. The speed square of claim 1 , wherein the extension element is configured to transition out of the stowed position responsive to force exerted on the extension element through the access window to overcome biasing of the retention element that is oriented to maintain the extension element in the stowed position.

5. The speed square of claim 1 , wherein the access window comprises curved inner surfaces.

6. The speed square of claim 1 further comprising:

an extension lock configured to retain the extension element in the open position.

7. The speed square of claim 1 , wherein the T bar extends substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the triangular flat plate lies away from both opposing faces of the triangular flat plate.

8. The speed square of claim 1 , wherein the hinge connects the extension element to the triangular flat plate proximate to an intersection of the second side and a third side forming a hypotenuse of the triangular flat plate.

9. The speed square of claim 8 , wherein the third side further comprises a set of angle measurement markings to enable measurement of an angle relative to the T bar.

10. A speed square comprising:

a triangular flat plate having measurement markings indicated on at least one face;

a T bar affixed to, and extending along, a length of a first side of the triangular flat plate;

an extension element operably coupled to a first end of a second side of the triangular flat plate opposite the T bar, the extension element having measurement markings indicated on at least one face of the extension element, such that the measurement markings of the at least one face of the triangular flat plat continue on the at least one face of the extension element;

a hinge configured to extend and retract the extension element between an open position and a stowed position, wherein the hinge couples a first end of the extension element to the first end of the second side of the triangular flat plate; and

a retention element configured to retain the extension element in the stowed position, wherein the retention element is positioned proximate to the T bar when the extension element is in the stowed position;

wherein, in the stowed position, the extension element is disposed in a first plane that is adjacent and parallel to a plane of the triangular flat plate;

wherein, in the open position, the extension element is disposed in a second plane that is a same plane as the plane of the triangular flat plate;

wherein multiple instances of the retention element are provided on the extension element.

11. The speed square of claim 10 , wherein the retention element comprises a plunger configured to extend toward an aperture to retain the extension element in the stowed position responsive to alignment of the plunger and the aperture, wherein the plunger is biased toward the aperture in the stowed position;

wherein the plunger is disposed in the extension element and the aperture is disposed in the T bar.

12. The speed square of claim 11 , wherein the plunger is configured to urge a protruding element into the aperture, and wherein the plunger is oriented to urge the protruding element in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of longitudinal extension of the extension element.

13. A speed square comprising:

a triangular flat plate having a first side, a second side, and a hypotenuse, the second side having first length measurement markings indicated thereon, and the hypotenuse having angle markings thereon;

an extension element having second length measurement markings indicated thereon, such that the second length measurement markings continue from the first length measurement markings;

a hinge configured to extend and retract the extension element between an open position and a stowed position, wherein the hinge couples a first end of the extension element to an end of the second side of the triangular flat plate; and

a retention element configured to retain the extension element in the stowed position, wherein the retention element is positioned proximate to the T bar when the extension element is in the stowed position;

wherein, in the stowed position, the extension element is disposed in a first plane that is adjacent and parallel to a plane of the triangular flat plate;

wherein, in the open position, the extension element is disposed in a second plane that is a same plane as the plane of the triangular flat plate; and

wherein multiple instances of the retention element are provided on complementary surfaces of the first side and the extension element.

14. The speed square of claim 13 , wherein a rotational axis of the hinge is parallel with a direction of extension of the T bar.

15. The speed square of claim 13 , wherein the retention element comprises a plunger configured to extend toward an aperture to retain the extension element in the stowed position responsive to alignment of the plunger and the aperture, wherein the plunger is biased toward the aperture in the stowed position.

Assignments (7)
NEW SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073377/0567 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NOS. 7444851 AND 11203070 WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068791/0141 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT. NO. 11191173 WAS INCORRCTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66631 FRAME: 791. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067884/0469 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 3, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067310/0054 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 066631/0791 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2022
From: WALSH, BRENDAN MICHAEL; MCKENZIE, TIMOTHY T
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059048/0013 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17407544 · Aug 20, 2021
Continuation 16345868
Provisional Application 62496889 · Oct 31, 2016
Related Publication 20220024244A1 · Jan 27, 2022