Layered beam measurement apparatus
AssigneeDesign to Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsBrian Lamb, David Titzler, Heather Fleming
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A new and improved tape rule that increases stiffness and standout length over standard tape rules is disclosed. The tape rule includes a primary rule and a secondary rule, the secondary rule providing increased strength. This invention can provide a variety of benefits, including increased blade flexibility while performing short extension related tasks, increased standout and reduced sag while performing tasks requiring longer extensions, reduced size and weight for tasks requiring the longest extensions and adds the ability to utilize alternate measurement methods or units and built in computational references.
Claims17
A multi-layer tape rule assembly, comprising:
- a housing including a reel and a coil spring that provides a rotation bias to the reel;
- a pliable primary rule including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and two side long edges, wherein the primary rule includes a curved cross section, wherein the trailing edge is coupled to the reel;
- a hook that is coupled to the leading edge of the primary rule;
- and
- a pliable secondary rule including a second leading edge and a second trailing edge, wherein the secondary rule includes a curved cross section,
- wherein the primary rule is nestled in the secondary rule and the secondary rule is wider than the primary rule and includes two second side long edge portions that wrap around the side long edges of the primary rule to slidably affix the secondary rule to the primary rule;
- wherein the secondary rule is shorter in length than the first rule, and wherein the secondary rule retracts into the housing when the first rule retracts into the housing.
A multi-layer tape rule assembly, comprising:
- a housing including a reel and a coil spring that provides a rotation bias to the reel;
- a pliable primary rule including a leading edge, a trailing edge, two side long edges, and includes a curved cross section, wherein the trailing edge is coupled to a circumference of the reel;
- a hook that is coupled to the leading edge of the primary rule;
- and
- a pliable secondary rule including a second leading edge, a second trailing edge, and includes a curved cross section;
- wherein the primary rule is nestled in the secondary rule and the secondary rule is wider than and less than twice the width of the primary rule and includes two second side long edge portions that wrap around the side long edges of the primary rule to slidably affix the secondary rule to the primary rule;
- wherein the secondary rule is shorter in length than the primary rule, and wherein the secondary rule retracts into the housing when the first rule retracts into the housing and both the primary and the secondary rule retract into the housing by rolling around the reel;
- and
- wherein the second trailing edge is substantially rigidly affixed to the primary rule and the second leading edge slidably moves relative to the primary rule.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.