Roll-over resistant measuring tape
AssigneeApex Brands, Inc.
InventorsRiley Owen Jernigan, Kai Zhang, Mark Ezzo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blade for a measuring tape device may include a first end at which an end hook is configurable, a second end configured to be operably coupled to a reel assembly, a first portion of a metallic strip of material extending between the first end and a transition region, and a second portion of the metallic strip of material extending between the transition region and the second end. A width of the metallic strip of material in the first portion may be less than a width of the metallic strip of material in the second portion.
Claims20
A blade for a measuring tape device, the blade comprising:
- a first end at which an end hook is configurable;
- a second end configured to be operably coupled to a reel assembly;
- a first portion of a metallic strip of material extending between the first end and a transition region;
- and
- a second portion of the metallic strip of material extending between the transition region and the second end,
- wherein a width of the metallic strip of material in the first portion is less than a width of the metallic strip of material in the second portion, and
- wherein about 10% to about 33% of the width of the metallic strip of material in the second portion is removed from each lateral side of the metallic strip of material in the first portion.
A measuring tape device comprising:
- a housing having an aperture;
- a reel assembly enclosed within the housing;
- a blade formed from a metallic strip of material having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly;
- and
- an end hook disposed at the first end of the blade to engage an object for measurement,
- wherein a first portion of the metallic strip of material extends between the first end and a transition region, and a second portion of the metallic strip of material extends between the transition region and the second end,
- wherein a width of the metallic strip of material in the first portion is less than a width of the metallic strip of material in the second portion, and
- wherein about 10% to about 33% of the width of the metallic strip of material in the second portion is removed from each lateral side of the metallic strip of material in the first portion.
A method of producing a blade for a tape measuring device, the method comprising:
- cutting by rollers or die cutting a lateral side of a metallic strip of material, for removal, to define a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width, which is less than the first width;
- applying a first layer of polymeric film to each of the first and second portions, the first layer of polymeric film having a width substantially equal to the second width;
- and
- providing measurement markings on the blade,
- wherein providing the measurement markings comprises a selected one of:
- printing the measurement markings on lateral edges of the metallic strip of material in each of the first and second portions;
- printing the measurement markings on the first film layer in each of the first and second portions;
- and
- printing the measurement markings on a printing medium disposed between the first film layer and a second film layer in the first portion, and disposed between the first film layer and a lateral edge of the metallic strip of material in the second portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.