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US 11,988,505 B2Granted
Tape measure with light
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorScott Earl McKinster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool such as a tape measure, including a lighting system is shown. The lighting system includes a light source configured to direct light forward and strong enough to act as a flashlight. The tape measure further includes a housing designed to be compact and rugged enough to protect the internal components related to the lighting system from coming loose or suffering damage due to an impact or vibrations.
Claims20
A tape measure comprising:
- a housing;
- a reel rotatably disposed in the housing;
- an elongate blade located within the housing and wound around the reel;
- a retraction system coupled to the reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate blade on to the reel;
- and
- a lighting system comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a light source;
- a frame;
- and
- an optical component, the optical component at least partially surrounds the light source and is positioned between an outward facing surface of the frame and the circuit board;
- wherein the frame is configured to surround and support the circuit board, the light source and the optical component within the housing;
- wherein the lighting system is configured to emit a light in a forward direction such that the lighting system acts as a flashlight.
10 more elements
A tape measure comprising:
- a housing;
- a reel rotatably disposed in the housing;
- an elongate tape having gradation marks located within the housing and wound around the reel;
- a tape port in the housing allowing for extension of the elongate tape away from the housing in a forward direction;
- a spring coupled to the reel, wherein extension of the elongate tape causes rotation of the reel which tensions the spring storing energy within the spring and the spring releases energy driving the reel to retract and wind the elongate tape on the reel;
- and
- a lighting system comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a light-emitting diode;
- an optical component, the optical component at least partially surrounds the light-emitting diode;
- and
- a holder, the holder configured to surround and support the circuit board, the light-emitting diode and the optical component within the housing;
- wherein the lighting system emits a light in the forward direction and illuminates the elongate tape.
10 more elements
A tape measure comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- a recess on a front portion of the housing;
- a body of the housing formed from a first material having a first durometer;
- and
- a portion of the housing surrounding the recess is formed from a second material having a second durometer less than the first durometer;
- an axle coupled to the housing;
- a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing around the axle and defining an axis of rotation, the tape reel comprising a radially outward facing surface;
- an elongate tape blade wound around the radially outward facing surface of the tape reel;
- a retraction system coupled to the tape reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel;
- and
- a lighting system comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a light-emitting diode;
- a frame;
- and
- an optical component, the optical component at least partially surrounds the light-emitting diode and is positioned between an outward facing surface of the frame and the circuit board, the outward facing surface of the frame is positioned in the recess of the housing;
- wherein the frame is configured to surround and support the circuit board, the light-emitting diode and the optical component within the housing.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.