Tape measure housing with post

A tape measure, comprising:

• a main case having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;
• a post disposed between said first and second sidewalls and having an elongate column portion disposed along an axis and a base portion;
• said base portion including a plurality of ribs extending generally normal to said axis;
• said column portion including a slot;
• at least a first fastener extending through one of said first and second sidewalls and mated to said post;
• a reel rotatably supported within said main case;
• and
• a spring operatively connected to said slot and to a tape blade, said spring biasing said tape blade for retraction into said main case.

A method of assembling a tape measure, comprising:

• providing a main case having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;
• disposing a post between said first and second sidewalls, said post having an elongate column portion disposed along an axis and a base portion, said base portion including a plurality of ribs extending generally normal to said axis, said column portion including a slot;
• rotatably supporting a reel within said main case;
• providing a tape blade convolutionally wound on said reel;
• mating at least a first fastener to said post through one of said first and second sidewalls;
• operatively connecting a spring to said slot and to said tape blade, said spring biasing said tape blade for retraction into said main case.

A tape measure housing, comprising:

• a main case having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;
• a substantially metallic post disposed between said first and second sidewalls and having a base portion and an elongate column portion disposed along an axis, said base portion including a plurality of ribs extending generally normal to said axis, said column portion including a slot adapted to accept a spring;
• wherein said base portion of said post includes a flange extending generally normal to said axis, said flange having a non-circular shape;
• wherein said second sidewall includes a recess configured to accept at least said ribs and said flange of said post such that a material forming said recess interstitially interengages with said ribs;
• a first fastener extending through said first sidewall and mated to said post;
• and
• a second fastener extending through said second sidewall and mated to said post.