Measurement device
OwnerChristopher R. Fisherinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A measurement device and/or system for measuring a material length, such as for a human-operated cutting device, includes an elongate band located in a band housing. The elongate band can be extended from the band housing under tension in response to a catch attached to an end of the elongate band grabbing onto an end of a material that is extended beyond an opening at which the catch is located. A computing unit can calculate a length of the material using length data acquired by one or more length acquisition devices, and a measurement interface can provide a user with information corresponding to the calculated length in order to assist the user with accurately cutting the material at a desired location.
Claims20
A human-operated cutting device comprising:
- a structure including a cutting instrument for cutting a material at a cutting location;
- a band housing mounted to a first location of the structure, wherein the band housing contains an elongate band under tension and includes an opening through which the elongate band can be extended and retracted;
- a catch attached to an end of the elongate band, wherein the catch is configured to grab onto an end of the material as it is located beyond a first side of the cutting location;
- at least one length acquisition device for acquiring length data corresponding to a length of the elongate band that has been extended;
- a computing unit for calculating a length of the material to be cut using the length data;
- and
- a measurement interface for providing a user with information corresponding to the calculated length of the material, wherein the measurement interface is mounted on a housing for the cutting instrument.
A device comprising:
- a structure including a platform for supporting a material, wherein the platform includes a defined location from which a distance to an end of the material is desired to be measured;
- a band housing mounted to the structure, wherein the band housing includes:
- an elongate band spooled under tension;
- an opening through which the elongate band can extend and retract;
- and
- at least one length acquisition device for acquiring length data corresponding to a length of the elongate band that has been extended from a minimum extension;
- a catch attached to an end of the elongate band, wherein the catch is configured to grab onto an end of the material as it is extended beyond a side of the platform;
- a computing unit for calculating a length of the material to be measured using the length data;
- and
- a measurement interface for providing a user with information corresponding to the calculated length of the material, wherein the measurement interface is configured to provide no information when the length of the elongate band corresponds to the minimum extension.
A measurement device comprising:
- a housing configured for mounting to a structure, wherein the housing includes:
- an elongate band spooled under tension;
- an opening through which the elongate band can be extended;
- and
- at least one length acquisition device for acquiring length data corresponding to a length of the elongate band that has been extended from a minimum extension;
- a catch attached to an end of the elongate band, wherein the catch is configured to grab onto an end of material as it is extended beyond a location of the housing;
- a computing unit for calculating a length of the material using the length data, wherein the computing unit is configured to obtain the minimum extension corresponding to a location on the structure at which the housing is mounted;
- and
- a measurement interface for providing a user with information corresponding to the calculated length of the material, wherein the measurement interface is configured for mounting to the structure at a location distinct from a location of the housing, and wherein the computing unit is located in one of the housing or the measurement interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.