Tape measure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10690472-B2
Application number	US-201816001724-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2018
Priority date	Apr 2, 2015
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A tape measure includes a spool, a housing defining an opening, where the spool is rotatably coupled to the housing, and a blade including a first end and a second end, where the first end is connected to the spool and the second end is movable through the opening between a retracted position and an extended position. The manually retractable tape measure further includes a cleaning assembly positioned within the housing adjacent the opening such that the cleaning assembly is in contact with the blade to push away debris from the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A tape measure comprising,
a housing having a first side and a second side, the housing defining a housing interior and an opening;
a spool supported within the housing such that the spool is rotatable with respect to the housing;
a blade including a first end attached to the spool and a second end that extends through the opening and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position as the spool rotates;
a wiper coupled to the housing, the wiper including a cleaning portion, a first attachment portion that extends from the cleaning portion in a first direction and a second attachment portion that extends from the cleaning portion in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first attachment portion supported by the first side of the housing and the second attachment portion supported by the second side of the housing, wherein the cleaning portion is positioned in direct contact with the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position; and
a crank-arm coupled to the spool, wherein rotation of the crank-arm causes the spool to rotate.

2. The tape measure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gear assembly coupled to the spool and the housing such that the spool is rotatable with respect to the housing; and
wherein the crank-arm is coupled to the gear assembly.

3. The tape measure of claim 2 , wherein the gear assembly defines a gear ratio of at least 3 to 1, wherein the blade has a length that is at least 100 feet.

4. A tape measure comprising:
a housing defining an interior and an opening,
a spool supported in the interior of the housing and rotatably coupled to the housing;
a blade including a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the spool and the second end movable through the opening between a retracted position and an extended position as the spool rotates; and
a cleaning assembly positioned within the housing behind the opening, the cleaning assembly comprising:
a first wiper plate in contact with an upper surface of the blade to push away debris from the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position; and
a second wiper plate in contact with a lower surface of the blade to push away debris from the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position.

5. The tape measure of claim 4 , wherein the first wiper plate comprises a tape contacting end that is in contact with the upper surface of the blade and the second wiper plate comprises a tape contacting end that is in contact with the lower surface of the blade, wherein the tape contacting ends of the first and second wiper plates are located between the opening and the spool along a path of blade movement between the retracted and extended positions, wherein the first wiper plate is at an acute angle relative to the upper surface of the blade.

6. The tape measure of claim 4 , further comprising:
a gear assembly coupled to the spool and the housing such that the spool is rotatable with respect to the housing; and
a crank-arm coupled to the gear assembly, wherein rotation of the crank-arm causes the spool to rotate.

7. A tape measure comprising:
a housing defining an interior and an opening,
a spool supported in the interior of the housing and rotatably coupled to the housing;
a blade including a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the spool and the second end movable through the opening between a retracted position and an extended position as the spool rotates; and
a blade wiper supported by the housing, the blade wiper comprising a tape contacting end in contact with a surface of the blade to push away debris from the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position;
wherein the blade wiper is located within the housing such that the tape contacting end is located between the opening and the spool along a path of blade movement between the retracted and extended positions;
wherein no portion of the housing is located below the blade wiper such that debris pushed away from the blade falls from the housing.

8. The tape measure of claim 7 , wherein the blade wiper is an upper blade wiper and the tape contacting end contacts an upper surface of the blade.

9. The tape measure of claim 8 , further comprising a lower blade wiper supported by the housing, the lower blade wiper comprising a tape contacting end in contact with a lower surface of the blade to push away debris from the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position, wherein the lower blade wiper is located within the housing such that the tape contacting end of the lower blade wiper is located between the opening and the spool along the path of blade movement between the retracted and extended positions.

10. The tape measure of claim 7 , wherein the blade wiper is a lower blade wiper and the tape contacting end contacts a lower surface of the blade.

11. The tape measure of claim 7 , further comprising a gear assembly coupled to the spool and the housing such that the spool is rotatable with respect to the housing.

12. The tape measure of claim 11 , further comprising a crank-arm coupled to the gear assembly, wherein rotation of the crank-arm causes the spool to rotate.

13. The tape measure of claim 12 , wherein the gear assembly defines a gear ratio of at least 3 to 1.

14. The tape measure of claim 7 , wherein the blade has a length that is at least 100 feet.

15. The tape measure of claim 7 , wherein the blade wiper further comprises an attachment portion directly coupled to the housing such that the blade wiper is supported in position relative to the blade.

16. The tape measure of claim 15 , wherein the attachment portion has a width that is greater than a width of the tape contacting end of the blade wiper.

17. The tape measure of claim 16 , wherein the blade wiper further comprises a plate member coupled to the attachment portion, and an outer end of the plate member defining the tape contacting end of the blade wiper.

18. The tape measure of claim 17 , wherein the plate member is positioned at an acute angle relative to the surface of the blade.

19. The tape measure of claim 18 , wherein the acute angle is between 10 degrees and 60 degrees.

20. The tape measure of claim 19 , wherein the tape contacting end of the blade wiper includes an angled surface that is arranged to be substantially parallel to the surface of the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Hoppe Christopher S
• Hyma Steven W

Classifications

• G01B3/1043

  Details of internal structure thereof, e.g. means for coupling separately moulded casing halves · CPC title

• G01B3/1041 Primary

  characterised by casings · CPC title

• G01B2003/1053

  Tape exit slots, e.g. shape or exit direction · CPC title

• G01B3/1005 Primary

  Means for controlling winding or unwinding of tapes · CPC title

• G01B2003/1025

  operated manually, e.g. crank-handles · CPC title