Tape measure with braking system and movable drum
AssigneeKDS Corporation
InventorTsutomu Usami
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tape measure (50, 60) includes a take-up drum (51) around whose circumference a measuring tape (6) is wound, and a take-up spring (5) for supplying impetus to cause the take-up drum (51) to rotate in the direction of retracting the measuring tape (6). The measure further includes an operation member (100, 200) installed on the case (1, 2) for moving the take-up drum (51) in the radial direction of supporting shafts (1a, 2a) disposed inside the case. The measure still further includes braking members (1c, 2c) disposed on the inside walls of the case (1, 2) to apply braking force to the rotation of the take-up drum (51) by the contact between the take-up drum and the braking members when the take-up drum (51) is moved by the operation member (100, 200).
Claims33
A tape measure comprising:
- a take-up drum supported by supporting shafts disposed inside a case such that the take-up drum is free to rotate, and around whose circumference a measuring tape is wound;
- a take-up spring for supplying impetus that causes the take-up drum to rotate in the direction of retracting the measuring tape;
- bearings which are formed on the take-up drum, have inner diameters that are larger than the outer diameters of the supporting shafts, and enable the take-up drum to move in the radial direction of the supporting shafts;
- an operation member disposed on the case to cause the take-up drum to move in the radial direction of the supporting shafts, and thereby force the take-up drum to move in one direction of the inside wall of the case;
- and
- braking members disposed on the inside wall of the case for applying braking force to the rotation of the take-up drum by the contact between the braking members and outer circumferential parts of the take-up drum when the take-up drum is moved by the operation member.
A tape measure comprising:
- a take-up drum supported by supporting shafts disposed inside a case such that said take-up drum is free to rotate, and around whose circumference a measuring tape is wound;
- a take-up spring for supplying impetus that causes the take-up drum to rotate in the direction of retracting the measuring tape;
- first means located on said take-up drum for enabling the take-up drum to move in the radial direction of the supporting shafts;
- second means located on the case for causing said take-up drum to move in the radial direction of the supporting shafts, and thereby forcing the take-up drum to move in one direction of the inside wall of the case;
- and
- third means located on the inside wall of the case for applying braking force to the rotation of the take-up drum by the contact between the third means and outer circumferential parts of the take-up drum when the take-up drum is moved by the second means.
A tape measure comprising:
- a take-up drum supported by supporting shafts disposed inside a case such that said take-up drum is free to rotate, and around whose circumference a measuring tape is wound;
- a take-up spring for supplying impetus that causes the take-up drum to rotate in the direction of retracting the measuring tape;
- bearings which are disposed on said take-up drum, have diameters larger than the diameters of said supporting shafts, and enable the take-up drum to move in the radial direction of the supporting shafts;
- an operation member disposed on the case to cause the take-up drum to move in the radial direction of the supporting shafts, and thereby force the take-up drum to move in one direction of the inside wall of the case;
- braking members disposed on the inside wall of the case to apply braking force to the rotation of the take-up drum by the contact between said braking members and outer circumferential parts of the take-up drum when the take-up drum is moved by the operation member;
- and
- tape lock means situated in said case for applying braking force to the measuring tape pulled out of said take-up drum to the outside of said case against the impetus of the take-up spring so as to maintain the length of the pulled-out measuring tape, and for fixing the measuring tape.
A tape measure comprising:
- a take-up drum supported by supporting shafts disposed inside a case such that said take-up drum is free to rotate, and around whose circumference a measuring tape is wound;
- a take-up spring for supplying impetus that causes the take-up drum to rotate in the direction of retracting the measuring tape;
- first means located on the take-up drum for enabling the take-up drum to move in the radial direction of the supporting shafts;
- second means located on the case for causing the take-up drum to move in the radial direction of the supporting shafts and thereby forcing the take-up drum to move in one direction of the inside wall of the case;
- third means located on the inside wall of the case for applying braking force to the rotation of the take-up drum by the contact between the third means and outer circumferential parts of the take-up drum when the take-up drum is moved by the second means;
- and
- fourth means situated in said case for applying braking force to the measuring tape pulled out of said take-up drum to the outside of said case against the impetus of the take-up spring so as to maintain the length of the pulled-out measuring tape, and for fixing the measuring tape.
A method for providing a tape measure which includes a take-up drum which is supported by supporting shafts disposed inside a case such that the take-up drum is free to rotate, and around whose circumference a measuring tape is wound, and a take-up spring which supplies impetus causing the take-up drum to rotate in the direction of retracting the measuring tape, comprising the steps of:
- providing first means located on said take-up drum and having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of said supporting shafts for enabling said take-up drum to move in the radial direction of said supporting shafts;
- providing second means located on said case for moving said take-up drum in the radial direction of said supporting shafts so as to move in the one direction of the inside wall of said case;
- and
- providing third means located on the inside walls of said case for applying braking force to the rotation of said take-up drum by the contact between the third means and outer circumferential parts of said take-up drum when said take-up drum is moved by the second means.
For use with a tape measure including a case, a take-up drum installed in the case around whose circumference a measuring tape is wound, a braking member, and an operation member causing the take-up drum to be pushed toward the braking member, a method of applying braking force to the rotation of the take-up drum comprising the steps of:
- (A) pushing the operation member in order to make the operation member contact with the take-up drum, and apply braking force to the rotation of the take-up drum by the contact between the operation member and the take-up drum;
- and
- (B) pushing the operation member more strongly in order to make the take-up drum move toward the braking member, thereby make the take-up drum contact with the braking member, and apply greater braking force to the rotation of the take-up drum by catching the take-up drum between the operation member and the braking member,
- whereby regardless of the direction of the case, it is possible to slow the rotation speed of the take-up drum at will, and also possible to stop the rotation of the take-up drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.