Power-movement measuring tape

• US 6,295,740 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitchell, Bradley E.
• Original Assignee: Mitchell, Bradley E.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Bradley E.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US09/524,425
• Time in Patent Office: 570 Days
• Field of Search: 337/55, 337/59, 337/60, 337/61, 337/67, 242/250, 242/390, 242/390.8, 242/390.9, 242/916
• US Class Current: 33/761
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2003/1028 operated by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1005 Means for controlling winding or unwinding of tapes

Abstract

Disclosed is a power-movement tape measure that has a tape wound on a spool rotatably mounted on a housing shaft. An electric motor having a worm gear affixed to its output slat is engaged in the external toothing of the spool. This motor is provided for driving the tape at a controlled speed both out of the housing and retracting the tape back into the housing. A switch energizes and selects the direction of the motor. The switch may be of constant speed or speed controlling type. The worm gear and spool toothing drive reduction mechanism also serves as resistance to unwanted tape movement, since a force applied to move the tape and spool imparts only a small vector of this force in a direction to spin the worm gear and motor. A rechargeable or a disposable battery may be contained in a housing battery receptacle for powering the motor. A flexible strap, that slides on part of the outer diameter of the tape, may be included to prevent the tape from uncoiling from the spool. The flexible strap may be resilient or fixed in length and kept in tension by a spring.

Claims

1. A power-movement measuring tape comprising:

a housing having a battery receptacle, housing shaft, and housing opening,

a spool rotatably mounted on said housing shaft with at least one externally toothed section,

a tape having measuring indicia thereon, said tape being wound around said spool with an end portion extending through said housing opening of said housing,

a motor mounted in said housing and having an output shaft,

a worm gear mounted on said output shaft and engaged in said externally toothed section of said spool,

a switch mounted on said housing and electrically connected with said battery receptacle of said housing for energizing said motor to selectively rotate said spool and drive said tape in a direction out of said housing and in a reverse direction into said housing.

2. The power-movement measuring tape according to claim 1 wherein said switch is of the speed controlling type.

3. The power-movement measuring tape according to claim 1 wherein said battery receptacle contains a rechargeable battery.

4. The power-movement measuring tape according to claim 3 wherein the battery is of the disposable type.

5. A power-movement measuring tape comprising:

a housing having a battery receptacle, housing shaft, housing opening, and means for connecting a flexible strap,

a spool rotatably mounted on said housing shaft,

a tape having measuring indicia thereon, said tape being wound on said spool with an end portion extending through said housing opening of said housing,

a motor mounted in said housing and having an output shaft,

a drive reduction mechanism connected to said output shaft and said spool,

a switch mounted on said housing and electrically connected with said battery receptacle of said housing for energizing said motor to selectively rotate said spool and drive said tape in a direction out of said housing and in a reverse direction into said housing,

a flexible strap at least partially encircling said tape on said spool and held by said means for connecting a flexible strap to said housing provided for preventing said tape uncoiling by means of contact and sliding contact to said tape.

6. The power-movement measuring tape according to claim 5 wherein the drive reduction mechanism is a worm gear mounted on said output shaft and said spool has at least one externally toothed section for engaging said worm gear.

7. The power-movement measuring tape according to claim 5 wherein said switch is of the speed controlling type.

8. The power-movement measuring tape according to claim 5 wherein said battery receptacle contains a rechargeable battery.

9. The power-movement measuring tape according to claim 8 wherein the battery is of the disposable type.

10. The power-movement measuring tape according to claim 5 wherein said flexible strap is of resilient material.

11. The power-movement measuring tape according to claim 5 wherein said flexible strap is of fixed predetermined length and is able to expand and contract with said tape by at least one spring connecting said flexible strap to said means for connecting flexible strap of said housing.