Combined tape measure and marking device

A tape measure of the type that includes a housing having first and second side walls and an end wall in which a transverse slit is defined, a spool rotatably supported in said housing on which an elongate tape having measuring graduations thereon is wound, said tape extending through said slit, and on a free end of which a stop is mounted to prevent said tape from being completely retracted into said housing, and means for rotating said spool in a direction to retract said tape into said housing, the improvement of a marking device on said tape measure wherein:

• a. an arm pivotally supported on said side wall and parallel thereto, said arm having a first free portion, and a transverse pointer forming a part of said free end portion;
• b. spring means that at all times tend to pivot said arm from a first downward position to a second upward position;
• c. a first tube having first and second open ends, said tube being mounted on said first end portion of said arm and substantially normal relative to the longitudinal axis of said arm;
• d. a marking quill assembly that includes a cylindrical body having first and second ends, an elongate marking tip extending from said first end of said body, and an outwardly extending cylindrical collar on said cylindrical body adjacent said second end thereof;
• e. a second tube that occupies a fixed position in said first tube, said second tube having a first open end and a resilient slit, closed second end portion that projects outwardly through said first end of said first tube, and a transverse body shoulder inside said second tube intermediate said first open end and second closed end thereof;
• f. a compressed helical spring disposed in said tube that encircles said marking quill assembly and has one end in contact with said collar and the other end in engagement with said body shoulder;
• g. an elongate button slidably movable in said second tube adjacent said first end thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom;
• and
• h. stop means that prevent said helical spring from moving said button outwardly from said second tube, with said device when said arm is pivoted to said first position with said pointer transversely aligned with a desired graduation on said tape, permitting a mark to be made that is transversely aligned with said desired graduation when said button is forced downwardly to move said marking tip longitudinally through said second end portion of said second tube to contact a surface on which said mark is desired to be made.