John P Ingham

US Patent:

20120102659, May 3, 2012

Filed:

Oct 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/916488

Inventors:

John Paul Ingham - Somerset CA, US

International Classification:

B25F 1/00
G01C 9/00
G06F 15/00
A01B 1/02

US Classification:

7116, 294 57, 702154, 7164

Abstract:

A tool useful for measuring the shortest distance from a point in space to an imaginary line having any inclination and in the same vertical plane as the point. An embodiment requires a form of contact with only a single point on the line, uses an inclinometer, may use a length measuring system, and performs a trigonometric calculation to report data related to the shortest distance. Variants include integration of an inclinometer with a form of length measurement device. One embodiment integrates a manually powered excavation, fill and/or grading implement such as a shovel with an inclinometer attached to or imbedded in the shovel handle. Trigonometric functions of incline angles and length measurements report data related to the shortest distance in general, and in particular to ongoing depth of manual excavations, cuts or fills relative to a desired slope or grade.