Tape measure with flexure for lock linkage
AssigneeReekon Tools, Inc.
InventorsKonstantinos Oikonomopoulos, Edgar Sutawika
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tape measure device comprising a housing at includes a reel that support a tape measure, a linkage travel pathway, and an external locking mechanism configured to be engaged by a user to lock the tape measure at some extended position. According to this disclosure, a lock linkage flexure that transmits translational force but without requiring a straight line path to do so is supporting in the linkage travel pathway. In one embodiment, the flexure is implemented as a metal linkage that is constrained in the curved travel pathway and maintains a low profile as it is actuated by the lock action (whether in an auto-lock configuration or fixed lock format). The metal linkage travels through the define pathway to guide and direct the motion.
Claims9
A tape measure, comprising:
- a housing having an outlet;
- a reel assembly that carries a tape configured to be extended from the outlet;
- a locking mechanism having a first element configured to be moved from a first position, to a second position, and a second element carried by the housing and located near the outlet;
- a pathway configured in the housing along at least a curved portion of the reel assembly;
- and
- a flexure configured to be received and retained in the pathway, the flexure having a first end configured to be captured and secured to the first element of the locking mechanism, and a second end configured to capture the second element when the first element of the locking mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position;
- wherein capture of the selected element locks the tape measure against movement.
A flexure configured for use in association with a tape measure, the tape measure comprising a housing an outlet, a reel assembly that carries a tape configured to be extended from the outlet, a locking mechanism having a first element configured to be moved from a first position, to a second position, and a second element carried by the housing and located near the outlet, and a pathway configured in the housing along at least a curved portion of the reel assembly;
- comprising:
- a first end;
- and a second end;
- wherein the first end is configured to be captured and secured to the first element of the locking mechanism, and wherein the second end is configured to capture the second element when the first element of the locking mechanism is moved from the first position to the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.