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US 4,189,107 AGranted
Coilable rule with automatic recoil
AssigneeStanley-Mabo S.A.
InventorsMichel Quenot, Louis Scandella, Jean-Claude Grillier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A measuring tape is contained in a housing which includes an electric motor for rotating the spool on which the tape is wound to wind the tape up. A safety mechanism is provided to switch the motor off when the tape is fully wound, and a reduction mechanism is provided between the motor and the spool, so that the spool can rotate more slowly than the motor. The instrument is portable and has a handle with which an operating switch may be associated. The motor may be battery driven.
Claims15
A length measuring instrument comprising:
- a housing;
- a spool mounted for rotation in the housing;
- a measuring tape mounted on the spool;
- an electrical motor for rotating the spool to wind the tape thereon;
- and
- a reduction mechanism between the motor and the spool;
- said instrument characterised in that the housing provides a nonrotatable hollow hub and the motor and reduction mechanism are disposed within the hollow hub coaxially with the spool.
4 more elements
A length measuring instrument comprising:
- a housing;
- a spool mounted for rotation in the housing;
- a measuring tape wound on the spool;
- an electric motor for rotating the spool to wind the tape thereon;
- a two-stage epicyclic gear reduction mechanism between the motor and the spool with each of the stages thereof comprising a sun wheel, a ring gear and satellite pinion gears mounted by a drive cage and engaging the sun wheel and the ring gear;
- the sun wheel of a first gear stage being mounted on the motor output shaft and the ring gear being formed on a wall of the housing, force being transferred to the second gear stage via the drive cage of the first stage;
- means for supplying electricity to the motor;
- a device on the spool for attaching the end of the tape thereto;
- and
- a safety device for switching off the motor when the tape has been completely wound up,
- the means for supplying electricity, the reduction mechanism and the motor all being contained in sealed compartments.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.