Compact measuring device
First Claim
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1. Compact measuring device which comprises:
- tape means up to 400 feet in length and of a width in the range of 2-10 mm., said tape having suitable measurement scale indicia along its length;
a housing for containing the measuring device, said housing comprising;
an outer cup-shaped housing member;
an inner cup-shaped housing member having a circumferential flange extending outwardly from its open end and positioned oppositely to and within said outer housing member, said flange being affixed to said outer housing member on its base wall, said opposed housing members thereby forming an inner chamber therebetween; and
a cover to be positioned on the open end of said outer housing member to enclose the compact measuring device;
a shaft centrally disposed, transversely positioned and rotatably journalled in both said members of said housing, said shaft extending through said inner chamber;
cup-shaped spool means for said tape means to be unwound and rewound thereon, said spool means being mounted on and for rotation with said shaft, being positioned adjacent said inner housing member outside said inner chamber and having its tape-storing end wall portion offset with respect to its hub mounted on said shaft so that said offset end wall portion concentrically overlies and substantially surrounds said inner housing member and substantially occupies the space between the circumferential end wall of said inner housing member and the circumferential end wall of said outer housing member; and
means for returning and rewinding said tape means on said spool means, said return and rewind means being mounted operatively on said shaft and being positioned within and substantially occupying said inner chamber.
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Abstract
A compact extra-length tape measuring device with capacity for four hundred foot measurement, sized so that no dimesion exceeds six inches, uses a narrow thin tape suitably marked with measuring indicia and held to be unwound and rewound on a space-saving offset storage spool. Rotation of the spool during tape withdrawal tightens a coiled flat spring through a gear reduction drive; the tape, when released, is automatically rewound on the spool by action of the unwinding spring. A lock-release mechanism and a tape-viewing magnifying window also may be provided.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. Compact measuring device which comprises:
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tape means up to 400 feet in length and of a width in the range of 2-10 mm., said tape having suitable measurement scale indicia along its length; a housing for containing the measuring device, said housing comprising; an outer cup-shaped housing member; an inner cup-shaped housing member having a circumferential flange extending outwardly from its open end and positioned oppositely to and within said outer housing member, said flange being affixed to said outer housing member on its base wall, said opposed housing members thereby forming an inner chamber therebetween; and a cover to be positioned on the open end of said outer housing member to enclose the compact measuring device; a shaft centrally disposed, transversely positioned and rotatably journalled in both said members of said housing, said shaft extending through said inner chamber; cup-shaped spool means for said tape means to be unwound and rewound thereon, said spool means being mounted on and for rotation with said shaft, being positioned adjacent said inner housing member outside said inner chamber and having its tape-storing end wall portion offset with respect to its hub mounted on said shaft so that said offset end wall portion concentrically overlies and substantially surrounds said inner housing member and substantially occupies the space between the circumferential end wall of said inner housing member and the circumferential end wall of said outer housing member; and means for returning and rewinding said tape means on said spool means, said return and rewind means being mounted operatively on said shaft and being positioned within and substantially occupying said inner chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification