Retractable tape measure

A retractable tape measure comprising:

• a housing having a measuring means opening, a top portion and a front portion,
• said tape opening located in said front portion, wherein said tape opening having a continuous boundary edge in which every portion of said boundary edge lying in close proximity to said font portion,
• said top portion including a potion for contacting a surface of an object to be measured,
• a retractable measuring means positioned within said housing having a top and a bottom surface, edges that turn upward in a direction toward said housing portion for contacting the surface of the object to be measured and turn upward along substantially an entire length of said measuring means when in use so as to stiffen said measuring means from being bent downward, and a free end extending through said opening,
• an end stop means mounted on said free end,
• top measurement indicia inscribed on the top surface of said measuring means,
• bottom measurement indicia inscribed on the bottom surface of said measuring means,
• wherein said tape opening is in close proximity to said top portion so that when said tape measure is being used to measure against an overhead surface, with said edges being in close proximity to said overhead surface, the portion of said measuring means extending through said opening which is in close proximity to said housing is positionable in close proximity to said overhead surface without having to bend said measuring means to move said housing away from said overhead surface.

A method of constructing and using a retractable tape measure comprising a housing having an opening, a top portion and a front portion, said top portion including a portion for contacting a surface of an object to be measured, said tape measure further comprising a retractable measuring tape having a top and a bottom surface, edges, a free end extending through said opening, and a top measurement indicia inscribed on the top surface of said measuring tape, the method comprising the steps of:

• inscribing bottom measurement indicia on the bottom surface of said measuring tape,
• providing said tape measure with an end stop mounted on said free end, said end stop having an upper finger that extends above said top surface and a lower finger that extends below said bottom surface, said end stop being engageable with said housing opening when said tape is retracted into said housing,
• turning upward said edges in a direction toward said housing portion for contacting the surface of the object to be measured and along substantially an entire length of said tape when in use so as to stiffen said tape and keep said tape from being bent downward by the force of gravity,
• locating said opening in said front portion and proximate said top portion of said housing, wherein said tape opening having a continuous boundary edge in which every portion of said boundary edge lying in close proximity to said front portion,
• wherein when said tape measure is being used to contact a surface of an object to be measured, the portion of said tape, that extends through said opening and is in closest proximity to said housing, can be held in close proximity to said object surface without having to bend said tape to move said housing away from said surface, and
• providing said tape measure with a lock mechanism connected to said housing for locking said tape against movement into and out of said housing.