Retractable tape rule assembly locking system

A method for securing a retractable tape rule assembly in a default position, the retractable tape rule assembly including an elongated tape rule blade configured for measurement and a reel configured to retract the elongated tape rule blade from an extended position to a wound position, the method comprising:

• applying a rotational bias to the reel that rotates the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade into the wound position;
• selectively engaging the elongated tape rule blade with a stop assembly to maintain the elongated tape rule blade in the extended position or the wound position, the stop assembly configured to be moveable between a default position and an open position by a user;
• disengaging, with the stop assembly, the elongated tape rule blade to allow retraction and extension of the elongated tape rule blade;
• coupling a stop assembly locking device to the stop assembly;
• selectively engaging the stop assembly locking device to lock the stop assembly in the open position, the stop assembly locking device configured to engage a housing assembly to lock the stop assembly in the open position;
• disengaging the stop assembly locking device from the housing and engaging the elongated tape rule blade with the stop assembly to prevent retraction of the elongated tape rule blade;
• engaging the stop assembly with a stop surface associated with the reel to prevent rotation of the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade, the stop surface configured to engage the stop assembly responsive to the stop assembly being in the default position and responsive to less than a pre-determined length of the elongated tape rule blade being in the wound position;
• housing, with the housing assembly, one or more of the reel, the spring, or at least a portion of the elongated tape rule blade;
• and
• pressing an extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade against the stop assembly when the stop assembly is in the default position.

A retractable tape rule assembly locking system, the system comprising:

• an elongated tape rule blade configured for measurement, the elongated tape rule blade including measurement indicia;
• a reel configured to retract the elongated tape rule blade from an extended position to a wound position;
• a spring configured to apply a rotational bias to the reel that rotates the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade into the wound position;
• a stop assembly configured to selectively engage the elongated tape rule blade to maintain the elongated tape rule blade in the extended position or the wound position, the stop assembly comprising surface portions configured to selectively engage both a wound portion and an extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade simultaneously at a region where the extended portion meets the wound portion, the stop assembly configured to be moveable between a default position and an open position by a user,
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the default position, the surface portions of the stop assembly engages the wound portion and the extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade to prevent retraction of the elongated tape rule blade, and
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the open position, the surface portions of the stop assembly are disengaged from the wound portion and the extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade to allow retraction and extension of the elongated tape rule blade;
• a stop assembly locking device coupled to the stop assembly, the stop assembly locking device configured to be selectively engaged by the user to lock the stop assembly in the open position;
• and
• a housing assembly configured to house one or more of the reel, the spring, or at least a portion of the elongated tape rule blade, wherein the stop assembly locking device is configured to engage the housing assembly to lock the stop assembly in the open position.

A retractable tape rule assembly locking system, the system comprising:

• an elongated tape rule blade configured for measurement, the elongated tape rule blade including measurement indicia;
• a reel configured to retract the elongated tape rule blade from an extended position to a wound position;
• a spring configured to apply a rotational bias to the reel that rotates the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade into the wound position;
• a stop assembly configured to selectively engage the elongated tape rule blade to maintain the elongated tape rule blade in the extended position or the wound position, the stop assembly configured to be moveable between a default position and an open position by a user,
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the default position, the stop assembly engages the elongated tape rule blade to prevent retraction of the elongated tape rule blade, and
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the open position, the stop assembly is disengaged from the elongated tape rule blade to allow retraction and extension of the elongated tape rule blade;
• a stop assembly locking device coupled to the stop assembly, the stop assembly locking device configured to be selectively engaged by the user to lock the stop assembly in the open position;
• a housing assembly configured to house one or more of the reel, the spring, or at least a portion of the elongated tape rule blade, wherein the stop assembly locking device is configured to engage the housing assembly to lock the stop assembly in the open position;
• and
• a stop surface associated with the reel and configured to engage the stop assembly to prevent rotation of the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade, the stop surface configured to engage the stop assembly responsive to the stop assembly being in the default position and responsive to less than a pre-determined length of the elongated tape rule blade being in the wound position.

A retractable tape rule assembly locking system, the system comprising:

• an elongated tape rule blade configured for measurement, the elongated tape rule blade including measurement indicia;
• a reel configured to retract the elongated tape rule blade from an extended position to a wound position;
• a spring configured to apply a rotational bias to the reel that rotates the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade into the wound position;
• a stop assembly configured to selectively engage the elongated tape rule blade to maintain the elongated tape rule blade in the extended position or the wound position, the stop assembly comprising surface portions configured to selectively engage both a wound portion and an extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade simultaneously at a region where the extended portion meets the wound portion, the stop assembly configured to be moveable between a default position and an open position by a user,
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the default position, the surface portions of the stop assembly engages the wound portion and the extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade to prevent retraction of the elongated tape rule blade, and
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the open position, the surface portions of the stop assembly is are disengaged from the wound portion and the extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade to allow retraction and extension of the elongated tape rule blade;
• a housing assembly configured to house one or more of the reel, the spring, or at least a portion of the elongated tape rule blade;
• a first compliant member coupled to the stop assembly, the first compliant member configured to engage the housing assembly and bias the stop assembly to the default position, wherein movement of the stop assembly by the user to the open position overcomes the bias to the default position;
• and
• a second compliant member coupled to the housing assembly, the second compliant member configured to press an extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade against the stop assembly when the stop assembly is in the default position.

A retractable tape rule assembly locking system, the system comprising:

• an elongated tape rule blade configured for measurement, the elongated tape rule blade including measurement indicia;
• a reel configured to retract the elongated tape rule blade from an extended position to a wound position;
• a spring configured to apply a rotational bias to the reel that rotates the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade into the wound position;
• a stop assembly configured to selectively engage the elongated tape rule blade to maintain the elongated tape rule blade in the extended position or the wound position, the stop assembly configured to be moveable between a default position and an open position by a user,
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the default position, the stop assembly engages the elongated tape rule blade to prevent retraction of the elongated tape rule blade, and
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the open position, the stop assembly is disengaged from the elongated tape rule blade to allow retraction and extension of the elongated tape rule blade;
• a housing assembly configured to house one or more of the reel, the spring, or at least a portion of the elongated tape rule blade;
• a first compliant member coupled to the stop assembly, the first compliant member configured to engage the housing assembly and bias the stop assembly to the default position, wherein movement of the stop assembly by the user to the open position overcomes the bias to the default position;
• and
• a second compliant member coupled to the housing assembly, the second compliant member configured to press an extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade against the stop assembly when the stop assembly is in the default position;
• and
• a stop surface associated with the reel and configured to engage the stop assembly to prevent rotation of the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade, the stop surface configured to engage the stop assembly responsive to the stop assembly being in the default position and responsive to less than a pre-determined length of the elongated tape rule blade being in the wound position.

A retractable tape rule assembly locking system, the system comprising:

• an elongated tape rule blade configured for measurement, the elongated tape rule blade including measurement indicia;
• a reel configured to retract the elongated tape rule blade from an extended position to a wound position;
• a spring configured to apply a rotational bias to the reel that rotates the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade into the wound position;
• a stop assembly configured to selectively engage the elongated tape rule blade to maintain the elongated tape rule blade in the extended position or the wound position, the stop assembly configured to be moveable between a default position and an open position by a user,
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the default position, the stop assembly engages the elongated tape rule blade to prevent retraction of the elongated tape rule blade, and
• wherein, while the stop assembly is in the open position, the stop assembly is disengaged from the elongated tape rule blade to allow retraction and extension of the elongated tape rule blade;
• and
• a housing assembly configured to house one or more of the reel, the spring, or at least a portion of the elongated tape rule blade,
• wherein the housing assembly includes a fixed stop, and
• wherein the stop assembly maintains the elongated tape rule blade in the extended position or the wound position responsive to a first side of the stop assembly engaging the fixed stop and a second side of the stop assembly engaging an extended portion of the elongated tape rule blade.