Adjustable measuring tool and method of use

A measuring tool, comprising:

• an elongated tool body having a longitudinal channel defined therethrough, the channel shaped and dimensioned to receive an extensible portion;
• the channel having an open end coincident with a front body face of the tool body, the extensible portion slidably positionable within the channel and extensible through the open end;
• a thin tab, extending downwardly from the front body face and having a substantially flat front tab surface and a substantially flat rear tab surface;
• the extensible portion having a front end, a rear end, a top face, and a first set of measuring indicia longitudinally spaced on the top face and oriented substantially parallel to the front body face, wherein the front end is a zero point for the first set of measuring indicia;
• and
• a cross-section of the extensible portion adjacent the rear end being larger than the open end of the channel, thereby restricting motion of the extensible portion through the open end.

Original A method of measuring a distance from a first material edge and marking a second material with a backset distance, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a measuring tool including:
• (i) an elongated tool body having a longitudinal channel defined therethrough, the channel shaped and dimensioned to receive an extensible portion;
• (ii) the channel having an open end coincident with a front body face of the tool body, and the extensible portion slidably positionable within the channel and extensible through the open end;
• (iii) a thin tab, extending downwardly from the front body face and having substantially flat front tab surface and a substantially flat rear tab surface;
• (iv) the extensible portion having a front end, a rear end, a top face, and a first set of measuring indicia on the top face, the indicia longitudinally spaced and oriented substantially parallel to the front body face, wherein the front end is a zero point for the first set of measuring indicia;
• and,
• (v) a backset gauge forwardly extensible from the tool body, the backset gauge having a substantially flat front gauge face configured to not extend forward of the front body face when the backset gauge is in a recessed position;
• (b) extending the backset gauge forwardly from the tool body by a desired backset distance;
• (c) positioning the rear tab surface in contact with the material edge;
• (d) sliding the extensible portion forwardly through the open end to a desired measurement distance;
• (e) providing a writing utensil;
• (f) positioning the front gauge face in contact with an edge of the second material so that the extensible portion rests against the second material, and positioning the writing utensil adjacent the front end of the extensible portion;
• and,
• (g) then, while maintaining contact between the front gauge face and the edge of the second material, sliding the measuring tool and the writing utensil together to mark a line on the second material at the desired measurement distance.