# US 2014/0196301 A1 · Apparatus For Measuring An Article > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196301 A1 - Document ID: US20140196301A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/232,541 - Filed: 2012-07-09 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-13 - Assignees: C. & J. Clark International Limited - Inventors: Chris Towns; Peter Rickett; Dan Innes; Yann Kinally - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196301A1 ## CPC - G01B 5/025: {Measuring of circumference; Measuring length of ring-shaped articles (G01B5/0035 takes precedence)} - A43D 1/02: Foot-measuring devices (measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107) - A43D 1/027: {Shoe fit indicating devices} - A43D 1/08: Measuring devices for shoe parts - G01B 3/1084: Tapes combined with arrangements for functions other than measuring lengths - G01B 5/02: for measuring length, width or thickness (G01B5/004, G01B5/08 take precedence) - A61B 5/1074: {Foot measuring devices} - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - A43D: MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract There is provided a measuring device having a pair of pivoted arms, the ends of which remote from the pivot having an associated tape. The tape is fixed to one arm and extends internally through the other arm to be wound on to a biased reel located in a housing part, the reel taking up any slack in the tape. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for measuring an article, the apparatus comprising: a pair of arms which are movable with respect to each other about a pivot, each arm having an end remote from the pivot; a flexible, elongate measuring element associated with the ends of the arms such that the measuring element has one extremity fixed with respect to the end of one arm and is able to move relative to a guide provided at the end of the other arm, the other extremity of the measuring element being secured to a reel which is biased to take up any slack in the measuring element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the other ends of the arms are each attached to respective cooperating housing parts which are rotatable relative to each other and which incorporate the pivot, the reel being coaxial with the pivot and free to rotate relative to both housing parts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said other arm has an internal passage through which the measuring element can move, the passage opening at the free end of said other arm remote from the pivot to constitute said guide and leading at the pivot end of the arm to said reel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the two arms are generally L-shaped and face in opposite directions, the two ends remote from the pivot abutting each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the end of each arm remote from the pivot tapers inwardly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the measuring element is in the form of a tape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein biasing means urges the ends of the two arms towards each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the biasing means for the two arms also biases the reel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the or each biasing means comprises a clockspring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reel includes a holding mechanism for locking the measuring element when a measurement is to be taken. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reel incorporates a digital measuring device for measuring the length of measuring element paid out relative to said guide when the ends of the two arms are moved apart and said article is being measured, the digital measuring device having a display for indicating the length of measuring element paid out. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the digital measuring device also measures the angular displacement of the arms in order to calculate the linear distance between the free ends of the arms, this linear distance being capable of being shown on the display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the digital measuring device is capable of adding the linear distance to the length of measuring element paid out to provide a total girth measurement and to show this on the display. ### Claim 14 A measuring apparatus comprising: a housing; two arms extending from the housing, each arm having an end, at least one arm being pivotable relative to the other arm; a spiral clockspring which biases the two arms towards each other; a flexible measuring element having an extremity affixed to one arm and extending from the end of the one arm, and being slidable within the end of the other arm, and having another extremity secured to a spring-biased reel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The measuring apparatus of claim 14, wherein the two arms each have a first part extending from the housing and a second part extending at an angle from the first part, with the second parts of the two arms extending towards each other such that the ends of the arms contact each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The measuring apparatus of claim 15 wherein the measuring element is a tape or a cord. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The measuring apparatus of claim 16 where the spiral clockspring provides the spring bias for the reel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The measuring apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a lock mechanism for locking the housing to prevent pivoting of one arm relative to the other arm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The measuring apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a digital display for displaying measurements made using the measuring apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The measuring apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a digital measuring device which detects angular displacement of the arms when an arm is pivoted relative to the other arm and calculates the linear distance between the free ends of the arms.