Tape measure with tape blade profile increasing tape standout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10712142-B2
Application number	US-201816113695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2018
Priority date	Aug 24, 2017
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

A tape measure, including a tape measure blade having a cross-sectional profile to increase standout is provided. The profile has a curved shape that increases standout. The tape blade may have a flat width of 30 mm or less and a standout of at least 132 inches. The tape blade may have a flat width greater than or equal to 29 mm and less than 32 mm and a standout of at least 156 inches. The tape blade may have a flat width greater than 32 mm and a standout of at least 168 inches.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a reel rotatably mounted within the housing;
an elongate blade wound around the reel, the elongate blade comprising:
an elongate metal core having an upper surface, a lower surface and a first thickness, T 1 , measured between the upper surface and the lower surface,
an upper polymer coating coupled to the upper surface of the elongate metal core, the upper polymer coating having a second thickness, T 2 , and an upper surface defining the uppermost surface of the elongate blade;
a lower polymer coating coupled to the lower surface of the elongate metal core, the lower polymer coating having a third thickness, T 3 , and a lower surface defining the lowermost surface of the elongate blade; and
a curved profile such that the uppermost surface of the elongate blade defines a concave surface, the lowermost surface defines a convex surface, a curved width and a curved height;
wherein a flat width of the elongate metal core is less than 32 mm;
wherein a ratio of the curved width to a flat width of the elongate metal core is less than 0.74;
wherein a ratio of the curved height to the flat width of the elongate metal core is greater than 0.29;
wherein a standout distance of the elongate blade from the housing is greater than 150 inches; and

a retraction system coupled to the tape reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel.

2. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the curved profile is located along a lengthwise portion of the elongate blade having a length less than a total length of the elongate blade.

3. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein T 1 ≥T 2 +T 3 .

4. The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the retraction system is a spring-based retraction system comprising a spring coupled to the tape reel, wherein, as the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing, the spring stores energy and the spring releases energy driving rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel.

5. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a reel rotatably mounted within the housing;
an elongate blade wound around the reel, the elongate blade comprising:
an elongate metal core having an upper surface, a lower surface and a first thickness, T 1 , measured between the upper surface and the lower surface;
an upper polymer coating coupled to the upper surface of the elongate metal core, the upper polymer coating having a second thickness, T 2 , and an upper surface defining the uppermost surface of the elongate blade;
a lower polymer coating coupled to the lower surface of the elongate metal core, the lower polymer coating having a third thickness, T 3 , and a lower surface defining the lowermost surface of the elongate blade; and
a curved profile such that the uppermost surface of the elongate blade defines a concave surface, the lowermost surface defines a convex surface, a curved width and a curved height;
wherein a flat width of the elongate metal core is 32 mm or greater;
wherein a ratio of the curved width to the flat width of the elongate metal core is less than 0.70;
wherein a ratio of the curved height to the flat width of the elongate metal core is greater than 0.31;
wherein a standout distance of the elongate blade from the housing is greater than 150 inches; and

a retraction system coupled to the tape reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel.

6. The tape measure of claim 5 , wherein the curved profile is located along a lengthwise portion of the elongate blade having a length less than a total length of the elongate blade.

7. The tape measure of claim 5 , wherein T 1 ≥T 2 +T 3 .

8. The tape measure of claim 5 , wherein the retraction system is a spring-based retraction system comprising a spring coupled to the tape reel, wherein, as the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing, the spring stores energy and the spring releases energy driving rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel.

9. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a reel rotatably mounted within the housing;
an elongate blade wound around the reel, the elongate blade comprising:
an upper surface;
a lower surface;
a curved profile such that the upper surface of the elongate blade defines a concave surface and the lower surface defines a convex surface;
a flat width of 30 mm or less; and
a curved width, wherein the curved width is less than the flat width;
a standout distance of the elongate blade from the housing of at least 132 inches; and

a retraction system coupled to the tape reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel.

10. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein a ratio of the curved width to the flat width is less than 0.8.

11. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein the curved width is less than 22 mm.

12. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein a ratio of curved height to flat width is greater than 0.24.

13. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein the elongate blade includes a metal core and the metal core has an average thickness along its length that is less than 0.13 mm.

14. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein the standout distance of the elongate blade from the housing is greater than 138 inches.

15. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein the standout distance of the elongate blade from the housing is greater than 144 inches.

16. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein the curved profile is located along a lengthwise portion of the elongate blade having a length less than a total length of the elongate blade.

17. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein the curved profile is located along at least the first 132 inches of a length of the elongate blade.

18. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein the elongate blade comprises:
an elongate metal core having a first thickness, T 1 ;
an upper polymer coating coupled to an upper surface of the elongate metal core, the upper polymer coating having a second thickness, T 2 ;
a lower polymer coating coupled to a lower surface of the elongate metal core, the lower polymer coating having a third thickness, T 3 .

19. The tape measure of claim 18 , wherein T 1 ≥T 2 +T 3 .

20. The tape measure of claim 9 , wherein the retraction system is a spring-based retraction system comprising a spring coupled to the tape reel, wherein, as the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing, the spring stores energy and the spring releases energy driving rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Vitas Jonathan F
• Khangar Abhijeet A

Classifications

• G01B2003/1023

  Winding mechanisms · CPC title

• G01B3/1005 Primary

  Means for controlling winding or unwinding of tapes · CPC title

• G01B3/1003 Primary

  characterised by structure or material; characterised by layout or indicia · CPC title

• G01B2003/103

  operated by springs · CPC title

• G01B1/00 Primary

  Measuring instruments characterised by the selection of material therefor · CPC title