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US 12,174,011 B2Granted
Tape measure with protective bumper
AssigneeMilwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
InventorsDevin W. Herritz, Patrick W. McCarthy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tape measure including an elongate tape blade is shown. The tape measure includes a protective bumper that extends below the tape opening. The bumper is shaped to allow the tape hook to pivot during drop or impact to reduce the impact force experienced by the tape hook.
Claims17
A tape measure comprising:
- a housing;
- a tape opening at least partially defined by the housing;
- and
- a bumper abutting an outer surface of the housing and extending below the tape opening, the bumper comprising:
- a recess surface located at least partially above the tape opening;
- a shoulder portion having an exterior surface;
- wherein the recess surface is setback from the exterior surface of the shoulder portion defining a gap distance;
- wherein the bumper comprises a polymer material such that the polymer material defines both the recess surface and the exterior surface of the shoulder portion;
- a reel rotatably mounted within the housing;
- an elongate blade wound around the reel, the elongate blade having an inner end coupled to the reel and an outer end extending out of the tape opening;
- a hook assembly coupled to the outer end of the elongate blade;
- and
- a retraction system coupled to the reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate blade on to the reel;
- wherein the gap distance is between 0.2 mm to 5 mm.
11 more elements
A tape measure comprising:
- a housing;
- a tape opening defined in the housing;
- a bumper coupled to the housing, the bumper comprising:
- a recess surface located at least partially above the tape opening, the recess surface defining a recess, the recess at least partially defined by the housing;
- an impact corner located below the tape opening;
- wherein the impact corner is located in front of the recess surface defining a gap distance measured in a horizontal direction between the impact corner and the recess surface;
- wherein the bumper comprises a polymer material such that the polymer material defines both an exterior surface of the impact corner and the recess surface;
- a reel rotatably mounted within the housing;
- an elongate blade wound around the reel, the elongate blade having an inner end coupled to the reel and an outer end extending out of the tape opening;
- a hook assembly coupled to the outer end of the elongate blade;
- and
- a retraction system coupled to the reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate blade on to the reel;
- wherein the hook assembly includes a lower hook extending below the elongate blade and an upper hook extending above the elongate blade;
- wherein a lowermost surface of the lower hook extends below the impact corner defining an overhang distance;
- wherein the overhang distance is at least 3 mm.
12 more elements
A tape measure comprising:
- a housing;
- a tape opening defined in the housing;
- a reel rotatably mounted within the housing;
- an elongate blade wound around the reel, the elongate blade having an inner end coupled to the reel and an outer end extending out of the tape opening;
- a hook assembly coupled to the outer end of the elongate blade, the hook assembly comprising:
- an upper hook extending above the elongate blade;
- and
- a lower hook extending below the elongate blade;
- wherein a rear surface of the upper hook is setback from a rear surface of the lower hook defining a hook recess distance;
- and
- a retraction system coupled to the reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate blade on to the reel;
- wherein the housing further comprises an impact protective corner extending below the tape opening and a recess surface located at least partially above the tape opening, wherein a gap distance is measured in a horizontal direction between the impact protective corner and the recess surface;
- wherein a radius of curvature of the impact protective corner is between 0.1 mm and 2.0 mm.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.