Tape measure device

• US 7,096,596 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alltrade Tools LLC
• Original Assignee: Alltrade Tools LLC
• Inventors: Hernandez, Hector Ray Jr., Nash, Jaime
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US10/945,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 337/55, 337/57, 337/71, 337/67, 721/76
• US Class Current: 33/755
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1003 characterised by structure or material; characterised by layout or indicia

Abstract

A tape measure device has an elongated blade with a central concave-convex segment with at least one planar segment adjoining edgewise the central concave-convex segment to form a junction that extends substantially along the entire length of the elongated blade. During formation of the blade the junction is annealed to avoid formation of a flaw or incipient fracture along the junction.

Claims

1. A tape measure device including an elongated, annealed steel blade having when in a extended position a predetermined cross-sectional curvature formed by a concave-convex segment and at least one planar segment adjoining edgewise the concave-convex segment to form a junction that extends substantially along the entire length of the elongated blade, said junction being essentially free of any flaw or incipient fracture along the junction as a result of annealing the blade.

2. A tape measuring device comprising an annealed, metallic blade stored in a substantially wound up, substantially flatten condition and mounted to enable the blade to be unwound to extend a portion of the blade through an opening in the housing, and upon being unwound, said extended blade portion having a predetermined cross-sectional curvature comprising a central concave-convex segment with planar segments straddling the central concave-convex segment, each planar segment being integral with the central concave-convex segment along a junction that extends substantially along the entire length of the elongated blade, said junction as a result of annealing the blade being essentially free of any flaw or incipient fracture, said predetermined cross-sectional curvature being substantially uniform along the entire length of the extended blade portion.

3. The tape measuring device of claim 2 where the flatten width of the blade is at least 1 inch, the radius of curvature of the central concave-convex segment is substantially from 0.5 inch to 1.0 inch, and the planar segments each have a width substantially from 0.250 to 0.750 inch.

4. The tape measuring device of claim 3 where the planar segments are substantially equal in width.

5. The tape measuring device of claim 2 where the blade has a standout arcuate length measured along the blade of at least 10 feet with a horizontal linear length greater than 97 percent of the standout arcuate length.

6. The tape measuring device of claim 2 where the annealed, metallic blade is made from a material selected from the group consisting of chromium, nickel carbon, and iron.

7. The tape measuring device of claim 2 where the thickness of the annealed, metallic blade is substantially at least 0.0030 inch.

8. The tape measuring device of claim 7 where the thickness of the annealed, metallic blade is substantially from 0.0045 to 0.0060 inch.

9. A tape measuring device comprising an annealed, steel blade stored in a substantially wound up, substantially flatten condition and mounted to enable the blade to be unwound to extend a portion of the blade through an opening in the housing, and upon being unwound, said extended blade portion having a predetermined cross-sectional curvature comprising a central concave-convex segment with planar segments straddling the central concave-convex segment, each planar segment being substantially equal in width and integral with the central concave-convex segment along a junction that extends substantially along the entire length of the elongated blade, said junction as a result of annealing the blade being essentially free of any flaw or incipient fracture, said predetermined cross-sectional curvature being substantially uniform along the entire length of the extended blade portion, said flatten blade having a width of substantially at least 1 inch and a thickness substantially from 0.0030 to 0.0060 inch, said blade having a standout arcuate length measured along the blade of at least 10 feet with a horizontal linear length greater than 97 percent of the standout arcuate length.

10. The tape measuring device of claim 9 where the concave-convex central segment has a radius of curvature substantially from 0.5 inch to 1.0 inch, a height substantially from 0.100 inch to 0.250 inch, a width substantially from 0.600 inch to 0.925 inch, and an angle substantially from 71.0 degrees to 105.0 degrees is formed between a center of the radius of curvature and the junctions.

11. The tape measuring device of claim 10 where the extended, elongated blade has a blade height substantially from 0.125 inch to 0.500 inch, and a width substantially from 0.925 inch to 1.25 inch.