Tape measure with post reinforcing collar

A power-return tape measure, comprising:

• a housing having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;
• a post disposed between said first and second sidewalls and extending along a longitudinal axis;
• said post including a proximal end anchored to said first sidewall, at least first and second arms spaced from one another to form a longitudinal slot having an end aperture facing away from said proximal end, and a distal end comprising said end aperture;
• a tape blade retraction spring coupled to said post via said slot so as to provide a retraction bias for a tape measure blade;
• a fastener extending through said second sidewall and said end aperture and terminating at a location along said slot, said fastener engaging an interior portion of said post and anchoring said post distal end to said second sidewall;
• a reinforcing collar distinct from said housing and said post, said collar disposed about said post proximate said distal end;
• said collar engaging said post and limiting movement of said arms away from said longitudinal axis;
• and
• wherein said post includes an area proximate said distal end having reduced cross-section, wherein said collar engages said post in said reduced area.

A power-return tape measure, comprising:

• a housing having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;
• a post disposed between said first and second sidewalls and extending along a longitudinal axis;
• said post including a proximal end anchored to said first sidewall, at least first and second arms spaced from one another to form a longitudinal slot having an end aperture facing away from said proximal end. and a distal end comprising said end aperture;
• a tape blade retraction spring coupled to said Post via said slot so as to provide a retraction bias for a tape measure blade;
• a fastener extending through said second sidewall and said end aperture and terminating at a location along said slot, said fastener engaging an interior portion of said post and anchoring said post distal end to said second sidewall;
• a reinforcing collar distinct from said housing and said post, said collar disposed about said post proximate said distal end;
• said collar engaging said post and limiting movement of said arms away from said longitudinal axis;
• and
• wherein said second sidewall comprises an inwardly facing recess having a diameter greater than said post distal end;
• a distal end of said collar disposed in said recess.

A power-return tape measure, comprising:

• a housing having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;
• a post disposed between said first and second sidewalls and extending along a longitudinal axis;
• said post including a proximal end anchored to said first sidewall, at least first and second arms spaced from one another to form a longitudinal slot having an end aperture facing away from said proximal end, and a distal end comprising said end aperture;
• a tape blade retraction spring coupled to said post via said slot so as to provide a retraction bias for a tape measure blade;
• a fastener extending through said second sidewall and said end aperture and terminating along said slot, said fastener engaging said post and anchoring said post distal end to said second sidewall;
• a reinforcing collar distinct from said housing and said post, said collar disposed about said post proximate said distal end so as to overlie a portion of said post and said fastener;
• said collar engaging said post and limiting movement of said arms away from each other;
• wherein said fastener has a first pullout resistance level without said collar present and a second higher pullout resistance level with said collar present;
• said second pullout level being at least twice said first pullout resistance level.

A power-return tape measure, comprising:

• a housing having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;
• a post disposed between said first and second sidewalls and extending along a longitudinal axis;
• said Post including a proximal end anchored to said first sidewall, at least first and second arms spaced from one another to form a longitudinal slot having an end aperture facing away from said proximal end, and a distal end comprising said end aperture;
• a tape blade retraction spring coupled to said post via said slot so as to provide a retraction bias for a tape measure blade;
• a fastener extending through said second sidewall and said end aperture and terminating along said slot, said fastener engaging said post and anchoring said post distal end to said second sidewall;
• a reinforcing collar distinct from said housing and said post, said collar disposed about said post proximate said distal end so as to overlie a portion of said post and said fastener;
• said collar engaging said post and limiting movement of said arms away from each other;
• wherein said fastener has a first pullout resistance level without said collar present and a second higher pullout resistance level with said collar present;
• said second pullout level being at least twice said first pullout resistance level;
• wherein said post includes an area proximate said distal end having reduced cross-section, wherein said collar engages said post in said reduced area.

A power-return tape measure, comprising:

• a housing having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;
• a post disposed between said first and second sidewalls and extending along a longitudinal axis;
• said post including a proximal end anchored to said first sidewall, at least first and second arms spaced from one another to form a longitudinal slot having an end aperture facing away from said proximal end, and a distal end comprising said end aperture;
• a tape blade retraction spring coupled to said post via said slot so as to provide a retraction bias for a tape measure blade;
• a fastener extending through said second sidewall and said end aperture and terminating alone said slot, said fastener engaging said post and anchoring said post distal end to said second sidewall;
• a reinforcing collar distinct from said housing and said post, said collar disposed about said post proximate said distal end so as to overlie a portion of said post and said fastener;
• said collar engaging said post and limiting movement of said arms away from each other;
• wherein said fastener has a first pullout resistance level without said collar present and a second higher pullout resistance level with said collar present;
• said second Pullout level being at least twice said first pullout resistance level;
• wherein said second sidewall comprises an inwardly facing recess having a diameter greater than said post distal end;
• a distal end of said collar disposed in said recess.

A power-return tape measure, comprising:

• a housing having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;
• a post disposed between said first and second sidewalls and extending along a longitudinal axis;
• said post including a proximal end anchored to said first sidewall, at least first and second arms spaced from one another to form a longitudinal slot having an end aperture facing away from said proximal end, and a distal end comprising said end aperture;
• said post further comprising an area proximate said distal end having reduced cross-section bounded by a shoulder;
• a tape blade retraction spring coupled to said post via said slot so as to provide a retraction bias for a tape measure blade;
• a fastener extending through said second sidewall and said end aperture and anchoring said post distal end to said second sidewall;
• and
• a reinforcing collar distinct from said housing and said post, said collar disposed about said post proximate said distal end and abutting said shoulder, said collar limiting movement of said arms away from each other.

A power-return 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 extending along a longitudinal axis;
• said post including a proximal end anchored to said first sidewall, at least first and second arms spaced from one another to form a longitudinal slot having an end aperture facing away from said proximal end, and a distal end comprising said end aperture;
• a tape blade retraction spring coupled to said post via said slot so as to provide a retraction bias for a tape measure blade;
• a fastener extending through said second sidewall and said end aperture and anchoring said post distal end to said second sidewall;
• and
• means, distinct from said housing and said post, for limiting movement of said arms away from each other;
• wherein said second sidewall comprises an inwardly facing recess having a diameter greater than said post distal end;
• wherein said means is disposed at least partially in said recess.

A method of assembling a tape measure, comprising:

• providing a main case and a post coupled to said main case, said post having a slot therein extending to a distal end thereof so as to form first and second arms;
• coupling a spring to said post via said slot;
• supporting a tape measure blade with said housing and providing a retraction force thereto with said spring;
• anchoring said distal end of said post to said main case with a fastener, said fastener extending through a sidewall of said main case and engaging said an interior of said post;
• and
• disposing a collar about said distal end of said post, internal to said housing, so as to limit movement of said arms away from each other;
• said collar distinct from said housing and said post, but engaging said post;
• and
• wherein a fastener engagement region associated with said post is defined to extend from an opening on said distal end of said post to a location where said fastener terminates along said post, and wherein disposing said collar about said distal end of said post comprises disposing said collar about said distal end of said post so as to overlie at least 50% of said fastener engagement region.