Concealed radio transmitter in a tapemeasure

• US 5,319,805 A
• Filed: 12/17/1992
• Issued: 06/07/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pangratz, Konrad K., Holcomb, Jack N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US07/991,947
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 455/95, 455/97, 455/100, 455/128, 455/344, 455/347, 455/66, 455/89, 455/90, 455/351, 358/108, 33/761, 33/769
• US Class Current: 455/128
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/1084 Tapes combined with arrangements for functions other than measuring lengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters

Abstract

According to the invention there is provided a concealed radio transmitting device which includes a radio transmitter, an antenna coupled to the radio transmitter, power supply for supplying electric power to the transmitter, an on/off device connected between the power supply and the radio transmitter, and a housing shaped as a tape measure adapted for containing the radio transmitter, the antenna, the power supply and the on/off device, and wherein further the concealed radio transmitting device includes in the radio transmitter an audio input, and a microphone connected to the audio input for transferring audio signals to the transmitter.

Claims

1. A concealed radio transmitting device comprising:

a radio transmitter, an antenna coupled to said radio transmitter, power supply means for supplying electric power to said radio transmitter, an on/off device connected between said power supply means and said radio transmitter, and a housing shaped as a tape measure comprising a housing shell having two spaced apart opposing face panels and a peripheral wall connecting said two opposing face panels, adapted for containing said radio transmitter, said antenna, said power supply means and said on/off device, said housing further comprising a segment of flexible tape marked to resemble measuring tape, a housing slot in said housing shell through which a portion of said segment of flexible tape passes, guide means which slidably retain said segment of flexible tape along said peripheral wall such that said portion of said segment of flexible tape is extensible from said housing slot for creating the illusion to an observer of said housing of a functioning tape measure, and stop means for retaining said segment of flexible tape against complete removal from said housing shell.

2. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 1, including in said radio transmitter an audio input, and a microphone connected to said audio input for transferring audio signals to said transmitter.

3. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 2, including in said power supply means at least one electric battery connected to said on/off switch.

4. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 3, comprising in said at least one electric battery two interconnected alkaline batteries.

5. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 1, including in said radio transmitter an audio circuit, a radio frequency oscillator with an input connected to said audio circuit, and a radio frequency amplifier having an input connected to said radio frequency oscillator and an output connected to said antenna.

6. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 1, comprising a printed circuit board assembly for mounting said antenna.

7. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 6, comprising an antenna printed circuit board, first and second interconnected antenna loops disposed on said antenna printed circuit board, and coaxial connection from said radio transmitter to said antenna.

8. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 7, including a tuning capacitor connected to one of said antenna loops for tuning said antenna to maximum output.

9. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein said on/off device is a push-on-switch.

10. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 1, including in said housing at least one compartment for containing said power supply means.

11. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 10, including at least one other compartment for containing said radio transmitter, and said antenna.

12. A concealed radio transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises an axial guide slot in said segment of flexible tape, said axial guide slot having a guide slot end, and a guide projection extending from said housing shell through said guide slot, said guide projection comprising shaft portion having a tape retaining head, and wherein said stop means comprises said guide slot end and said guide projection.