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US 6,497,050 B1Granted
Tape measure apparatus which can be used as a marking gauge and/or compass
OwnerPaul Ricaldeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved tape measure apparatus which can be used as a marking gauge and/or compass comprising a tape measure, an insert comprising a base, a guide rigidly attached to the base and generally parallel to graduated indicia markings of the rule blade when extended from the tape measure whereby the graduated markings of the tape measure's rule blade may be read. An alternative embodiment includes an insert enabling standard tape measures to be used as marking gauges and/or compasses.
Claims27
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall and a front wall defining an enclosure, the front wall having a blade aperture adjacent the bottom wall;
- b) a rule blade having inner and outer end portions and being retractably stored in a coiled condition within said enclosure of the casing, the inner end of the rule blade secured within the enclosure, the outer end of the rule blade protruding through the blade aperture when extended during use;
- c) graduated indicia markings along the length of said rule blade, functioning as a measuring scale;
- d) an end hook attached to the outer end of the rule blade;
- e) an insert slidably connected to the casing through the blade aperture and under the rule blade and movable between retracted and extended positions;
- and
- f) when in the extended position, the bottom side of the insert providing a gripping surface, the insert comprising:
- i) a base;
- ii) a guide attached to the base and generally parallel to the graduated markings of the rule blade, the rule blade being slidable relative to the base when the guide is substantially perpendicular to the base.
6 more elements
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall and a front wall defining an enclosure, the front wall having a blade aperture adjacent the bottom wall;
- b) a rule blade having inner and outer end portions and being retractably stored in a coiled condition within said enclosure of the casing, the inner end of the rule blade secured within the enclosure, the outer end of the rule blade protruding through the blade aperture when extended during use, wherein the rule blade is elongated, slightly concave and fabricated out of a substantially strong, durable and flexible material;
- c) graduated indicia markings along the length of said rule blade, functioning as a measuring scale;
- d) an end hook attached to the outer end of the rule blade;
- e) an insert slidably connected to the casing through the blade aperture and under the rule blade and movable between retracted and extended positions;
- and
- f) when in the extended position, the bottom side of the insert providing a gripping surface, the insert comprising:
- i) a base, wherein the base is slightly concave to substantially match the shape of the rule blade when the blade is extended during use;
- ii) a guide attached to the base and generally parallel to the graduated markings of the rule blade and
- g) a catch attached to the insert base the catch being configured to resist efforts to pull the insert completely out of the casing enclosure.
7 more elements
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall and a front wall defining an enclosure, the front wall having a blade aperture adjacent the bottom wall;
- b) a rule blade having inner and outer end portions and being retractably stored in a coiled condition within said enclosure of the casing, the inner end of the rule blade secured within the enclosure, the outer end of the rule blade protruding through the blade aperture when extended during use, wherein the rule blade is elongated, slightly concave and fabricated out of a substantially strong, durable and flexible material;
- c) graduated indicia markings along the length of said rule blade, functioning as a measuring scale;
- d) an end hook attached to the outer end of the rule blade;
- e) an insert slidably connected to the casing through the blade aperture and under the rule blade and movable between retracted and extended positions;
- and
- f) when in the extended position, the bottom side of the insert providing a gripping surface, the insert comprising:
- i) a base, wherein the base is slightly concave to substantially match the shape of the rule blade when the blade is extended during use;
- ii) a guide attached to the base and generally parallel to the graduated markings of the rule blade and
- g) a slot located in the base and a pin protruding from the bottom wall of the casing, the slot and pin configured to resist efforts to pull the insert completely out of the casing enclosure.
7 more elements
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall and a front wall defining an enclosure, the front wall having a blade aperture adjacent the bottom wall;
- b) a rule blade having inner and outer end portions and being retractably stored in a coiled condition within said enclosure of the casing, the inner end of the rule blade secured within the enclosure, the outer end of the rule blade protruding through the blade aperture when extended during use, wherein the rule blade is elongated, slightly concave and fabricated out of a substantially strong, durable and flexible material;
- c) graduated indicia markings along the length of said rule blade, functioning as a measuring scale;
- d) an end hook attached to the outer end of the rule blade;
- e) an insert slidably connected to the casing through the blade aperture and under the rule blade and movable between retracted and extended positions;
- and
- f) when in the extended position, the bottom side of the insert providing a gripping surface, the insert comprising:
- i) a base, wherein the base is slightly concave to substantially match the shape of the rule blade when the blade is extended during use;
- ii) a guide attached to the base and generally parallel to the graduated markings of the rule blade and
- g) a pair of pins attached to the insert base and a pair of tracks attached to the casing, the pins and tracks configured to resist efforts to pull the insert completely out of the casing enclosure.
7 more elements
A universal insert for installing in a tape measure comprising:
- a) a base slidably connectable to a casing of a tape measure through a rule blade aperture;
- b) a guide attached to the base and generally parallel to a plurality of graduated markings of a rule blade placed on top of the base and extending from a tape measure, a rule blade being slidable relative to the base when the guide is substantially perpendicular to the base.
A universal insert for installing in a tape measure comprising:
- a) a base slidably connectable to a casing of a tape measure through a rule blade aperture;
- b) a guide attached to the base and generally parallel to a plurality of graduated markings of a rule blade placed on top of the base and extendable from a tape measure after being connected, further comprising a catch attached to the insert base, the catch being configured to resist efforts to pull the insert completely out of a casing enclosure of a tape measure.
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall and a front wall defining an enclosure, the front wall having a blade aperture adjacent the bottom wall;
- b) a rule blade having inner and outer end portions and being retractably stored in a coiled condition within said enclosure of the casing, the inner end of the rule blade secured within the enclosure, the outer and of the rule blade protruding through the blade aperture when extended during use;
- c) graduated indicia markings along the length of said rule blade, functioning as a measuring scale;
- d) an end book attached to the outer end of the rule blade;
- and
- e) an insert that removably fits the casing at the blade aperture, the insert comprising an elongated member with concave aid convex sides that has a width slightly smaller than the maximum width of the aperture, and a length that is at least two times greater than its width, and wherein at least one end portion of the member has an end portion fitting that abuts against an edge of a workpiece to be marked, the end portion fitting comprising first and second sides, the distance between the first and second sides being less than or equal to about the distance between the two side walls, further comprising a catch attached to the elongated member at an end opposing the fitting and resisting efforts to remove completely the insert from the casing.
3 more elements
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall and a front wall,defining an enclosure, the front wall having a blade aperture adjacent the bottom wall;
- b) a rule blade having inner and outer end portions and being retractably stored in a coiled condition within, said enclosure of the casing, the inner end of the rule blade secured within the enclosure, the outer end of the rule blade protruding through the blade aperture when extended during use;
- c) graduated indicia markings along the length of said rule blade, functioning as a measuring scale;
- d) an end hook attached to the outer end of the rule blade;
- and
- e) an insert that removably fits the casing at the blade aperture, the insert comprising an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, the insert further comprising concave and convex sides that has a width slightly smaller than the maximum width of the aperture, and a length that is at least two times greater than its width, and wherein at least one end portion of the member has an end portion fitting that abuts against an edge of a workpiece to be marked, the end portion fitting comprising a front face having a substantially flat surface, wherein the front face is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the rule blade being slidable relative to the elongated member when the end portion fitting is substantially perpendicular to the elongated member.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.