Back to results
US 5,671,543 AGranted
Tape measure marking device and method for use thereof
OwnerTodd A. Searsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tape measure marking device and method for use thereof in which a C-member is removably attached to the tape case across a narrow dimension thereof, by an existing screw in the tape case being inserted through the C-member. The C-member includes an implement holding member projecting to a side of the tape case, the implement holding member providing for releasably attaching a marking or cutting implement to the tape case. The C-member further includes an indexing member disposed across a substantial portion of an extensible tape being extended from the tape case and the implement holding member provides for centering marking implements having different sizes and shapes to register with the indexing member.
Claims23
A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, a front and a bottom, and an opening between the first side and the second side disposed substantially at the juncture of the front and the bottom, through which the tape extends, comprising:
- a substantially rigid C-member for removable attachment to the tape measure, said C-member having a central portion and two side portions disposed at opposite ends of said central portion for attaching said central portion to the tape measure adjacent the front of the tape measure immediately above the opening between the first side and the second side, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape;
- and
- a marking implement holding member extending from one said side portion of said C-member, said marking implement holding member being adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion.
A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, and an opening between the first side and the second side through which the tape extends, comprising:
- a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions and being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed between the first side and the second side, and said two side portions are disposed respectively adjacent the first side and the second side of the tape measure, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape;
- a marking implement holding member extending from one side of said C-member, said marking implement holding member comprising a marking implement alignment member having a marking implement clamping member and a marking implement clamping opening for receiving said clamping member, wherein said marking implement holding member is adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion and having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape;
- and
- said marking implement clamping opening includes a wall portion disposed across from said marking implement clamping opening, wherein said marking implement clamping opening includes a plurality of first jaws in said wall portion, said first jaws being substantially coplanar with an axis of said marking implement clamping opening, said first jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section, and wherein said marking implement clamping member includes a threaded body, said threaded body having a plurality of second jaws at an end thereof, said second jaws being substantially coplanar with the axis of said marking implement clamping opening, said second jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section, said second jaws being disposed in opposition to said first jaws for gripping said marking implement when inserted into said marking implement clamping opening.
1 more element
A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, and an opening between the first side and the second side through which the tape extends, comprising:
- a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions and being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed between the first side and the second side, and said two side portions are disposed respectively adjacent the first side and the second side of the tape measure, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape;
- a marking implement holding member extending from one side of said C-member, said marking implement holding member comprising a marking implement alignment member having a marking implement clamping member and a marking implement clamping opening for receiving said clamping member, wherein said marking implement holding member is adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion and having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape;
- and
- said marking implement holding member includes a threaded receptacle threadably engaging said marking implement clamping member, for carrying said marking implement clamping member and for adjusting penetration of said marking implement clamping member into said marking implement aperture through said marking implement clamping opening.
1 more element
A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, and an opening between the first side and the second side through which the tape extends, comprising:
- a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions and being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed between the first side and the second side, and said two side portions are disposed respectively adjacent the first side and the second side of the tape measure, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape;
- a marking implement holding member extending from one side of said C-member, said marking implement holding member comprising a marking implement alignment member having a marking implement clamping member and a marking implement clamping opening for receiving said clamping member, wherein said marking implement holding member is adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion and having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape;
- and
- said making implement clamping opening includes a wall portion disposed across from said marking implement clamping opening, wherein said marking implement clamping opening includes a plurality of first jaws in said wall portion, said first jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section, and said marking implement clamping member includes a threaded body, said threaded body having a plurality of second jaws at an end thereof, said second jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section, said second jaws being disposed in opposition to said first jaws for gripping said marking implement when inserted into said marking implement clamping opening.
1 more element
A method for attaching a marking implement to a tape measure marking device, comprising the steps of:
- inserting a marking implement into a marking implement holder having a marking implement aperture for receiving the marking implement;
- and
- rotating a threaded ring about a threaded body wherein said threaded body threadably engages said ring to penetrate said marking implement aperture in accordance with the degree of rotation thereof, for clamping the marking implement within the marking implement aperture.
A marking device for use with a tape measure having an extensible tape, a first side and a second side, and an opening between the first side and the second side through which the tape extends, comprising:
- a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions and being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed between the first side and the second side, and said two side portions are disposed respectively adjacent the first side and the second side of the tape measure, said central portion of said C-member having an indexing portion for identifying a position on the tape;
- a marking implement holding member extending from one side of said C-member, said marking implement holding member comprising a marking implement alignment member having a marking implement clamping member and a marking implement clamping opening for receiving said clamping member, wherein said marking implement holding member is adapted to hold a marking implement having a marking tip so that the center of said marking tip is laterally aligned with said indexing portion and having an elongate dimension so that said elongate dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of extension of the tape;
- and
- said marking implement clamping member includes a threaded body, said threaded body having a plurality of jaws at an end thereof, said jaws defining a substantially "V" shaped cross-section for gripping said marking implement when inserted into said marking implement clamping opening.
1 more element
A method for attaching a tape measure marking device to a tape measure, comprising the steps of:
- removing an existing screw from an existing hole in the tape measure;
- aligning with said existing hole a mounting aperture of said tape measure marking device, said tape measure marking device comprising a substantially rigid C-member having a central portion and two side portions, each side portion being adapted to be removably attachable to the tape measure so that said central portion is disposed adjacent an opening of the tape measure;
- reinstalling said existing screw through said mounting aperture of said tape measure marking device and into said existing hole;
- and
- installing a mounting device through a second mounting aperture on the opposite side of the tape measure marking device so that said C-member is securely mounted to the tape measure on both sides thereof.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.