Tape measure apparatus

• US 7,992,317 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Scott Cannata
• Original Assignee: Michael Scott Cannata
• Inventors: Cannata, Michael Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US12/356,551
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 337/55, 337/59, 337/60, 337/61, 337/68, 337/69, 337/70, D10/72
• US Class Current: 33/769
• CPC Class Codes: B43L 1/00 Repeatedly-usable boards or tablets for writing or drawing drawing-boards B43L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1041 characterised by casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1094 for recording information or for performing calculations

Abstract

A tape measure apparatus that includes one or more information storage components and one or more protection components.

Claims

1. A tape measure apparatus, comprising:

a housing component including a plurality of external surfaces;

a measuring tape, said measuring tape included an end portion fixed within said housing component;

an information storage component fastened to at least one said external surface, wherein said information storage component includes an erasable writing tablet comprised of anodized metal; and

a protection component, said protection component including a rim, wherein said protection component and said information storage component are fastened to said external surface, and wherein said rim extends further horizontally away from said apparatus than said erasable writing tablet.

2. The tape measure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said erasable writing tablet is adapted to visibly illustrate writings made with a conventional graphite pencil, wherein said rim is substantially continuously surrounding said erasable writing tablet, and wherein said erasable writing tablet is adapted to be erasable by the rubbing of a human hand.

3. The tape measure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rim protrudes at least ⅛

inches outward from the surface of said erasable writing tablet, wherein said rim is removable, and wherein said erasable writing tablet is not comprised of vinyl.

4. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said protection component and said rim are comprised of rubber and wherein said information storage component does not the touch the ground when the rim is placed on the ground.

5. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said erasable writing tablet includes at least one of (a) plastic;

(b) acrylic;

(c) vinyl; and

(d) fiberglass.

6. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said erasable writing tablet is circular in shape.

7. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said erasable writing tablet covers at least 70% of the surface area of said external surface of said housing component on which said erasable table is fixed.

8. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said information display component includes a digital sound player/recorder and an electronic touch screen tablet in addition to said erasable writing tablet.

9. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said erasable writing tablet is comprised of anodized aluminum, and wherein said connection component is a belt clip.

10. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said erasable writing tablet does not require a customized writing instrument.

11. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said erasable writing tablet is substantially circular in shape.

12. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said rim is is part of a removable rubber jacket.

13. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said information storage component includes an electronic touch screen tablet in addition to said erasable writing tablet, wherein said touch screen tablet is configured to store information on a memory unit located on said apparatus and to transmit information using a Bluetooth connection, wherein said information display unit further comprises an MP3 player/recorder and wherein said touch screen tablet is an LED screen, further comprising an automated sensor fastened within said housing component to automatically capture measurements from said retractable measurement tape.

14. The tape measure of claim 1, wherein said information storage component comprises an erasable writing tablet, wherein said said erasable writing tablet covers more than 50% of at least one said external surface, and wherein said rim protrudes further outward then said erasable writing tablet.

15. A tape measure apparatus, comprising:

a housing component, said housing component including a plurality of external surfaces, said plurality of surfaces including a front surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface;

a connecting component fastened to said first side surface, wherein said connecting component comprises at least one of;

(a) a clip;

(b) a snap;

(c) a magnet;

(d) a hook;

(e) a patch;

(f) a strap; and

(g) a button;

a retractable measuring tape, wherein said retractable measuring tape provides for being extended through an opening in said front surface, wherein said retractable measuring tape includes a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is fixed within said housing component and cannot be extended outside said housing component, wherein said second end is attached to a tab located outside said housing component even when said retractable measuring tape is fully retracted;

an erasable writing tablet, wherein said erasable writing tablet is fastened to said second side surface with an adhesive, wherein said erasable writing tablet provides for visibly illustrating written notations from a conventional pencil, wherein said erasable writing tablet provides for the total erasure of marks left by a conventional pencil through the rubbing by a human hand, wherein at least 60% of said second side surface is covered by writing accessible portions of said erasable writing tablet, wherein said erasable writing tablet is comprised of anodized metal; and

a protection component comprising a protrusion, wherein said protection component is fastened to the exterior of said housing component and to the exterior of said erasable writing tablet, wherein at least a portion of said erasable writing tablet is between said housing component and said protection component, wherein said protrusion has an outward extension distance of at least ⅛

inches.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said housing component is comprised of plastic, wherein said erasable writing tablet is not an electrical device requiring power, wherein said retractable measuring tape includes a steel material, wherein said housing component includes a bottom surface that is substantially flat, and wherein said protection component is comprised of a rubber jacket.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said protection component is comprised of a rubber and said protrusion is a rubber rim surrounding the borders of said erasable writing tablet on said second side surface, wherein said rubber rim provides for supporting said apparatus when the second side surface is placed parallel and closest to the ground when the ground is substantially flat, and wherein said housing component is substantially cylindrical in shape.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said erasable writing tablet is configured to display illustrations from a pencil, wherein said erasable writing tablet is substantially in the shape of a circular disk, and wherein said erasable writing tablet is configured to be permanently attached to said second side surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus comprises a plurality of erasable writing tablets, further comprising a plurality of erasable writing tablets, wherein said housing component further comprises a top surface, said plurality of erasable writing tablets include a supplemental writing tablet fastened to said top surface.

20. A tape measure apparatus, comprising:

a housing component, said housing component including a plurality of external surfaces, said plurality of surfaces including a front surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, wherein said housing component is comprised of a plastic;

a clip attached to said first side surface, wherein said first side surface is substantially flat;

a retractable measuring tape, wherein said retractable measuring tape provides for being extended through an opening in said front surface, wherein said retractable measuring tape includes a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is fixed within said housing component and cannot be extended outside said housing component, wherein said second end is attached to a tab which resides outside and adjacent to said housing component when said measuring tape is fully retracted, wherein said retractable measuring tape is comprised of a steel, wherein said retractable measuring tape is approximately 1 inch wide and long enough for said apparatus to measure approximately 25 feet;

an erasable writing tablet, wherein said erasable writing tablet is fastened to said second side surface with an adhesive, wherein said erasable writing tablet is comprised of anodized aluminum, wherein said erasable writing tablet is in the shape of circular disk having a diameter between approximately 2 and 3 inches, wherein said erasable writing tablet provides for written notations from a conventional pencil, wherein said erasable writing tablet provides for the total erasure of marks left by a conventional pencil through the rubbing by a human hand, wherein at least 75% of said second side surface is covered by writing accessible portions of said erasable writing tablet; and

a rubber jacket comprising a rubber rim, wherein said rubber jacket is permanently fastened to the exterior of said housing component and to the exterior of said writing tablet, wherein at least a portion of said erasable writing tablet is between said housing component and said rubber jacket, wherein said rubber rim has an outward extension distance of at least ⅛

inches.