Insert molded metal case plates

A tape measuring device comprising:

• a housing comprising a first case half and a second case half, the housing further including an aperture;
• a reel assembly disposed in the housing;
• a tape having a first end operably coupled to an end hook and configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and having a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly;
• and
• a retraction assembly configured to interface with the reel assembly to enable the tape, after extension from the housing to be wound onto the reel assembly,
• wherein the first case half comprises a first metallic case plate operably coupled thereto without a fastener, and the second case half comprises a second metallic case plate operably coupled thereto without a fastener, and
• wherein the first and second case halves are operably coupled together via one or more fasteners operably coupling the first metallic case plate to the second metallic case plate, wherein the first and second metallic case plates each include a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending in a second direction, the first and second directions having an angle defined therebetween,
• wherein the first and second portions each include a proximal edge and a distal edge, and
• wherein the proximal edge comprises teeth, fingers or protrusions configured to interface with material of the first and second case halves, respectively, responsive to insert-molding of the first and second metallic case plates with the first and second case halves, respectively.

A tape measuring device comprising:

• a housing comprising a first case half and a second case half, the housing further including an aperture;
• a reel assembly disposed in the housing;
• a tape having a first end operably coupled to an end hook and configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and having a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly;
• and
• a retraction assembly configured to interface with the reel assembly to enable the tape, after extension from the housing to be wound onto the reel assembly,
• wherein the first case half comprises a first metallic case plate operably coupled thereto without a fastener, and the second case half comprises a second metallic case plate operably coupled thereto without a fastener, and
• wherein the first and second case halves are operably coupled together via one or more fasteners operably coupling the first metallic case plate to the second metallic case plate, wherein the first case half comprises at least two instances of the first metallic case plate disposed on opposite sides of a line bisecting the first case half, and
• wherein the second case half comprises at least two instances of the second metallic case plate disposed on opposite sides of a line bisecting the second case half.

A method of making a tape measuring device, the method comprising:

• stamping a first metallic case plate to include a first interface portion and one or more first fastening receptacles;
• stamping a second metallic case plate to include a second interface portion and one or more second fastening receptacles
• insert-molding a first case half with the first metallic case plate;
• insert-molding a second case half with the second metallic case plate;
• providing a reel assembly on which tape is wound between the first and second case halves;
• and
• joining the first and second case halves together by fastening the first metallic case plate to the second metallic case plate,
• wherein insert-molding the first case half with the first metallic case plate comprises interlocking material of the first case half with the first interface portion, and
• wherein insert-molding the second case half with the second metallic case plate comprises interlocking material of the second case half with the second interface portion.