TAPE MEASURE

• US 20150247716A1
• Filed: 02/25/2015
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Engvall, David P., Johnson, Douglas, Craig, William, Paquette, Matthew Justin
• Application Number:
  US14/630,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20150247716A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1003 characterised by structure or material; characterised by layout or indicia

Abstract

A tape measure has a housing and a blade retractably mounted in the housing such that an end of the blade may be extended from the housing. The blade may have a profile with a sinusoidal shape. A reinforcement member may be attached to the blade over a length of the blade. The sinusoidal shape or the reinforcement member extends from the end of the blade for a predetermined distance. The sinusoidal shape or the reinforcement member may be provided from a point along the blade spaced from the end of the blade and a second point along the length of the blade.

Claims

1. A tape measure comprising:

a housing;

a blade retractably mounted in the housing such that an end of the blade may be extended from the housing;

the blade having a profile with a wave shape.

2. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the wave shape comprises a peak located adjacent each of a longitudinal edge of the blade and a trough located between the peaks.

3. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the peaks are formed slightly toward a centerline of the blade from the longitudinal edges such that the blade dips toward a trough from the peaks to the longitudinal edges.

4. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the trough is located midway between the two peaks.

5. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the profile is a smooth sinusoidal curve where the blade transitions smoothly from the peaks to the trough.

6. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the blade has a width of approximately one inch.

7. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the profile of the blade has an area in the range of approximately 0.006-0.007 in².

8. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the blade is approximately 0.005-0.006 inches.

9. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the overall height of the blade between the peaks and the trough is in the range of approximately 0.2 to 0.3 inches.

10. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the transition between the peaks and the trough is a neutral horizontal axis of the blade and is positioned a distance approximately 0.103-0.143 inches from a top of the peaks.

11. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the second moment of the area is in the range of approximately 0.0000407 to 0.00006 in⁴.

12. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the neutral axis is approximately 40-50% of the height from a top of the peaks.

13. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the wave profile extends from the end of the blade for a length equal to or greater than a desired standout of the blade.

14. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the wave profile extends from the end of the blade for at least 12 feet.

15. The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the wave profile is provided from a point along the blade spaced from the end of the blade and a second point along the length of the blade.

16. A tape measure comprising:

a housing;

a blade retractably mounted in the housing such that an end of the blade may be extended from the housing;

a sleeve over the blade.

17. The tape measure of claim 16 wherein the sleeve is made of a transparent material.

18. The tape measure of claim 16 wherein the sleeve is made of nylon.

19. A tape measure comprising:

a housing;

a blade retractably mounted in the housing such that an end of the blade may be extended from the housing;

a reinforcement member attached to the blade over a length of the blade.

20. The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member extends from the end of the blade for a length equal to or greater than a desired standout of the blade.

21. The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member extends from the end of the blade for at least 12 feet.

22. The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member is provided from a point along the blade spaced from the end of the blade and a second point along the length of the blade.

23. The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the blade has a profile and the reinforcement member has a complimentary profile over at least a portion of a width of the blade.

24. The tape measure of claim 19 wherein a dimension of the reinforcement member varies over the length of the blade.

25. The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member is attached to the blade using a plastic sleeve.

26. The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member is attached to the blade using a nylon sleeve.

27. The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member abuts against a surface of the blade along the entire length and width of the reinforcement member.