# US 10,368,595 B2 · Finger guard assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,595 B2 - Document ID: US10368595B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/857,227 - Filed: 2015-09-17 - Published: 2016-04-07 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-07 - Assignees: Andreasen Industries LLC - Applicants: Andreasen Industries LLC - Inventors: George Andreasen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368595B2 ## CPC - A41D 13/087: {especially for fingers} - G01B 3/10: Measuring tapes - G01B 3/1084: Tapes combined with arrangements for functions other than measuring lengths - G01B 3/1089: for marking, drawing or cutting - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS ## Abstract Finger guard assemblies and methods of manufacturing finger guard assemblies are provided. The finger guard assembly includes a finger guard housing and a finger guard component including a shroud portion and an engagement arm slidably coupled to the finger guard housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A finger guard assembly comprising: a finger guard housing including an engagement slot extending into the finger guard housing; a finger guard component including a shroud portion and an engagement arm extending in a first direction from the shroud portion, the engagement arm being configured for receipt within the engagement slot; wherein the shroud portion includes an extension edge extending from a lower edge of the shroud portion in a second direction away from the engagement arm, wherein the finger guard assembly is coupled to a tape measure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The finger guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud portion includes a face, the face curving from a first face end proximate to the engagement arm to a second face end distal from the engagement arm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The finger guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the engagement arm is configured to translate the shroud portion away from the finger guard housing to a position where the shroud portion extends past a front edge of the tape measure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The finger guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the finger guard assembly is integrally formed with a tape measure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The finger guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud portion includes a material configured for low friction sliding. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The finger guard assembly of claim 1, wherein the engagement arm is configured to facilitate changing the position of the shroud portion when the engagement arm is received in the engagement slot. ### Claim 7 A method of using a finger guard assembly, the finger guard assembly integrally formed with a tape measure device including a tape measure disposed in a tape measure slot, the finger guard assembly comprising a finger guard housing including an engagement slot separate from the tape measure slot and a plurality of walls of the finger guard housing, the plurality of walls defining only one opening into the finger guard housing for providing access to the engagement slot, and a finger guard component including a shroud portion and an engagement arm extending in a first direction from the shroud portion, the engagement arm being configured for receipt within the engagement slot; the method comprising: disposing the shroud portion adjacent to a material; extending the tape measure to a desired length along a surface of the material; and modifying the material using a modification device based on the desired length. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein disposing the shroud portion further includes disposing a face of the shroud portion against an edge of the material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the shroud portion further includes an extension edge extending from a lower edge of the shroud portion in a direction away from the engagement arm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein disposing the shroud portion further includes disposing the extension edge under the surface of the material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the modification device includes a marking tool, and wherein modifying the material includes marking the material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the modification device includes a cutting tool, and wherein modifying the material includes cutting the material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising sliding the shroud portion along the material while modifying the material. ### Claim 14 A finger guard assembly comprising: a finger guard housing including a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls defining only one opening for providing access to an engagement slot extending into the finger guard housing, the opening including at least one alignment slot extending into the finger guard housing along the engagement slot; and a finger guard component including a shroud portion and an engagement arm extending from the shroud portion, wherein the engagement arm is configured for receipt within the engagement slot through the only one opening, wherein the engagement arm is configured to facilitate changing the position of the shroud portion while the engagement arm is received within the engagement slot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The finger guard assembly of claim 14, wherein the engagement arm includes a flexure positioned on a side of the engagement arm and a relief slot formed between the flexure and the side of the engagement arm, the relief slot allowing the flexure to compress laterally inward. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The finger guard assembly of claim 15, wherein the flexure defines a width of the engagement arm, wherein the width is greater than an entry width of the only one opening when the flexure is in an expanded position, wherein the width is less than the entry width when the flexure is in a compressed position, and wherein the engagement arm is configured to be received within the engagement slot by compressing the flexure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The finger guard assembly of claim 14, wherein the finger guard assembly is coupled to a tape measure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The finger guard assembly of claim 14, wherein the shroud portion includes a curvature that curves away from the engagement arm.