Tape measure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290776-A1
Application number	US-201615090526-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 4, 2016
Priority date	Apr 2, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

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 spool; a housing defining an opening, the spool 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; and a cleaning assembly positioned within the housing adjacent the opening, the cleaning assembly in contact with the blade to push away debris from the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position.

2 . The tape measure of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning assembly includes a first wiper and a second wiper.

3 . The tape measure of claim 2 , wherein the blade includes a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, and wherein the first wiper contacts the first surface of the blade and the second wiper contacts the second surface of the blade.

4 . The tape measure of claim 2 , wherein the first wiper includes a cleaning portion and an attachment portion, and wherein the attachment portion directly engages the housing to attach the first wiper to the housing.

5 . The tape measure of claim 4 , wherein the attachment portion defines a tubular body, and wherein the cleaning portion defines a plate member that extends radially outward from the tubular body.

6 . The tape measure of claim 4 , wherein the attachment portion defines an attachment width that extends beyond a width of the cleaning portion.

7 . The tape measure of claim 4 , wherein the housing includes a slot defining a key hole, and wherein the attachment portion includes a key engagable with the key hole to limit rotation of the first wiper.

8 . The tape measure of claim 7 , wherein the housing includes a c-shaped boss that defines a cylindrical aperture and the slot.

9 . The tape measure of claim 4 , wherein the housing includes a boss protruding from the housing and having a cylindrical aperture and a slot disposed along a circumference of the boss, and wherein the shaft portion of the first wiper is received within the cylindrical aperture and the plate member extends through the slot.

10 . The tape measure of claim 4 , wherein the attachment portion includes a first side that extends from the cleaning portion in a first direction and a second side extending from the cleaning portion in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein both the first side and the second side of the attachment portion are coupled to the housing.

11 . The tape measure of claim 4 , wherein the first wiper is coupled to the housing in a fixed position, and wherein the cleaning portion of the first wiper forms an acute angle with the blade.

12 . The tape measure of claim 11 , wherein the first wiper is arranged at a 30 degree angle with the blade.

13 . The tape measure of claim 3 , wherein the first wiper includes an angled surface that is arranged to be substantially parallel to the first surface of the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position.

14 . A tape measure comprising,
a spool; a housing having a first side and a second side that cooperate to define a housing interior and an opening; a gear assembly coupled to the spool and the housing to enable rotation of the spool 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; and a wiper disposed within the housing interior and including a cleaning portion, a first tubular portion that extends from the cleaning portion in a first direction, and a second tubular portion that extends from the cleaning portion in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first tubular portion supported by the first side of the housing and the second tubular portion supported by the second side of the housing to position the cleaning portion into direct contact with the blade as the blade moves between the retracted position and the extended position.

15 . The tape measure of claim 14 , wherein the gear assembly defines a gear ratio of at least 3 to 1.

16 . The tape measure of claim 14 , wherein the cleaning portion includes a plate member that extends toward the opening at an acute angle with respect to the blade.

17 . The tape measure of claim 16 , wherein the plate includes an angled end surface that defines a planar portion that directly contacts the blade.

18 . The tape measure of claim 14 , wherein the blade includes a top surface and a bottom surface and wherein the cleaning portion is in direct contact with the top surface of the blade.

19 . The tape measure of claim 18 , wherein the wiper is a first wiper, and wherein a second wiper is connected to the housing and includes a second cleaning portion in direct contact with the bottom surface of the blade.

20 . The tape measure of claim 19 , wherein the blade defines a mirror plane and the second wiper is a mirror image of the first wiper with respect to the mirror plane.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Hoppe Christopher S
• Hyma Steven W

Classifications

• G01B3/1048

  Integrated means for affixing or holding · CPC title

• 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

• G01B2003/1048

  Physics · mapped topic