Locking mechanism for retractable tape
OwnerArthur Waldherrinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A retractable tape measure having a housing with an opening therein through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled. Opposed annular ends on the hub retain the tape coiled therearound. Each of the annular ends have a serrated circular peripheral edge with about 90 to about 150 serrations. Locking mechanism is shiftably mounted on the housing movable into and out of engagement with the serrated edges. The locking mechanism has a plurality of serrations thereon which when engaged with a plurality of serrations on each annular end provide a positive lock for the tape coiled around the reel hub to prevent further withdrawal of the tape.
Claims20
A retractable tape measure having a housing for a flexible measuring tape and an opening in the housing through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled and opposed annular ends on said hub retaining said tape coiled therearound, at least one of said annular ends having a serrated circular peripheral edge about 90 to about 150 serrations, locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable into and out of engagement with said at least one serrated peripheral edge, said locking mechanism having a plurality of serrations thereon which when engaged with a plurality of serrations on said at least one serrated peripheral edge provides a positive lock for said tape coiled around said reel hub to prevent further withdrawal of the tape from said housing and means for maintaining said locking mechanism in engagement with said at least one serrated peripheral edge.
A retractable tape measure having a housing for a flexible measuring tape and an opening in the housing through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled and opposed annular ends on said hub retaining said tape coiled therearound, at least one of said annular ends having a serrated circular peripheral edge with about 90 to about 150 serrations, each of said serrations being angularly disposed in the range of from about 45.degree. to about 90.degree., a serrated locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable into and out of engagement with said at least one serrated circular peripheral edge, said serrated locking mechanism including a plate with spaced apart serrations thereon having the same radius of curvature as said serrations on said at least one serrated circular peripheral edge, and means for maintaining said locking mechanism in engagement with said at least one serrated circular peripheral edge when said locking mechanism is in engagement with said at least one serrated circular peripheral edge, whereby when said locking mechanism is engaged further uncoiling of the measuring tape is prevented as said reel is locked against rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.