Measuring tape
OwnerIlan Samsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tape measure case incorporates an actuating element to project a marking element through a guide aperture for marking at a measured distance. The marking element can be a pencil lead. It is accommodated within the case, and the bulk and shape of the case are little changed from conventional.
Claims17
A tape measure comprising a case having a base, an upper surface spaced therefrom and a plurality of walls extending from said base to said upper surface with a mouth permitting passage through a said wall, proximate the injunction of said wall and said base,
- a measuring tape which is coilable within the case and extensible from the case through said mouth,
- an elongate marking element located within the case, with an end portion of the marking element engaged in an aperture through the case proximate said mouth and beside said tape,
- an actuating element mounted within the case engaging said marking element and operable by hand to advance said marking element said actuating element comprising a pair of parts, between which the marking element extends, manual pressure on said actuating element pressing said parts thereof together so as to grip said marking element, said parts disengaging from said marking element sufficiently to permit sliding movement of said marking element between said parts when manual pressure is released from said actuating element to cause a tip thereof to project from said aperture, for marking by means of said tip,
- said actuating element being exposed through an opening in a said wall of the case, intermediately between said base and said upper surface of the case,
- whereby manual operation to advance the marking element is a manual movement alongside the case.
A tape measure according to claim 4 wherein said actuating element is operable through a first travel to effect a temporary advance of said marking element, reversible by said resilient bias causing said actuating element to retract the marking element, and a further travel to cause a greater advance of the marking element than is reversed by said resilient bias causing retraction of the marking element.
A tape measure according to claim 5 further comprising a clamp for pressing on the marking element, operation of said actuating element during the further travel thereof urges the clamp against said marking element, continued pressure of the clamp on the marking element during return of the actuating element serving to oppose retraction of the marking element by the actuating element.
A tape measure according to claim 11 wherein the marking element is a pencil lead.
A tape measure comprising a case having a base, an upper surface spaced therefrom and a plurality of walls extending from said base to said upper surface with a mouth permitting passage through a said wall, proximate the junction of a said wall and said base,
- a measuring tape which is coilable within the case and extensible from the case through said mouth,
- an elongate marking element carried by said case at a position with an end portion of the marking element proximate said mouth and beside said tape.
- an actuating element carried by said case, and operable by hand to advance said marking element incrementally from said position to cause a tip thereof to project, for marking by means of said tip,
- a resiliently deformable plastic molding, said case locating said plastic molding at a position resiliently biassing said actuating element against operation thereof to advance said marking element, and acting to return said actuating element,
- said actuating element being exposed on a said wall of the case, intermediately between said base and said upper wall of the case,
- whereby manual operation of the actuating element is a manual operation alongside the case against resilient opposition by said plastic molding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.