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US 6,996,915 B2Granted
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 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.
Claims57
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, 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 movable between retracted and extended positions;
- and
- f) the insert comprising:
- i) a base;
- ii) a guide, the guide being non-pivotally attached as a single unit to the base and generally parallel to the graduated markings of the rule blade.
6 more elements
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, 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 movable between retracted and extended positions;
- and
- f) the insert comprising:
- i)a base;
- ii) a guide, the guide being generally parallel to the graduated markings of the rule blade, the guide having 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,
- iii) the base and guide being fabricated out of a single substantially strong and durable material and
- iv) the insert being configured to resist efforts to pull the insert completely out of the casing enclosure.
8 more elements
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, 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 movable between retracted and extended positions;
- and
- f) the insert comprising:
- i) a base;
- ii) a guide attached to the base and generally parallel to the graduated markings of the rule blade;
- and
- iii) a quick release mechanism operatively connected to the insert, the quick release mechanism releasing the insert from the retracted position.
8 more elements
A tape measure apparatus comprising:
- a) a casing having two side walls, 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 movable between retracted and extended positions;
- and
- f) the insert comprising:
- i) a base;
- ii) a guide attached to the based and generally parallel to the graduated markings of the rule blade;
- and
- iii) a lock operatively connected to the insert, having locked and unlocked settings, the lock keeping the insert in a retracted position when in the locked setting.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.