Geometrical instruments – Distance measuring – By flexible tape
Patent
1993-10-29
1995-01-24
Wirthlin, ALvin
Geometrical instruments
Distance measuring
By flexible tape
33760, 33765, 33771, 182231, 182236, G01B 310, A62B 106
Patent
active
053832850
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a scale usable as life line. More particularly, it relates to a scale which is usually used for measuring a relatively long distance like a tape measure and utilizable, in case of emergency, as a life line for permitting a person to escape from a structure such as a building.
BACKGROUND ART
Heretofore, there has been known a tape measure, or a convex scale wherein a tape of textile or thin steel sheet which is graduated on either side thereof is windably accommodated within a casing for winding.
On the other hand, there has been known a life line wherein a rope-unwinding device with a braking mechanism is provided in a casing which is securely anchored to a window of a building, and a rope (or Seil) of about 10 mm in diameter which is partially wound around the drum of the rewinding device is secured at each end thereof to a belt for holding the body of a person. This life line is arranged so that when one person is saved using the belt at one end of the rope, the other belt at the other end would be raised for saving another person.
It should be noted that conventionally the aforesaid tape measure and life line have been manufactured and used completely independently of each other.
The conventional tape measure can measure a distance of at most about 20 m. If a longer measuring tape is accommodated in the casing, the casing would be made extremely large in size. There has also been known a small scale of the type which is convenient to be carried but can measure a distance of only about 2 to about 3 m.
The aforesaid life line is installed in a building and, hence, one who is about to escape from the building must reach the window equipped with such a life line.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a scale usable as a life line which is convenient to be carried and capable of measuring a long distance substantially equal to or longer than the distance that can be measured by the conventional scale, while, in case of emergency, being utilizable as a private-use life: line which permits a person to escape from any window of a building.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A scale usable as a life line comprising a metal wire of high tensile strength with graduations in a longitudinal direction thereof, a drum for winding the metal wire thereonto, a casing accommodating the drum while permitting the same to rotate, and a magnifying glass for allowing the graduations to be read, wherein the metal wire of high tensile strength is formed of a strand comprised of a plurality of steel wires of a fine grained composition each having a diameter of 10 to 100 .mu.m or a plurality of carbon fibers each having a diameter of 5 to 20 .mu.m and a coat of a synthetic resin covering the strand.
It is preferable that the tensile strength of said metal wire is more than 400 kgf/cm.sup.2.
With the scale usable as a life line according to the present invention, when it is used for measuring purposes, the metal wire of high tensile strength is drawn out of the drum like a common tape measure and used to measure something with the help of the magnifying glass, followed by rewinding the metal wire onto the drum upon completion of the measurement. In case of emergency, for example, of fire, the scale can be used as a life line for permitting a person to escape from a window with the metal wire tied at an end portion thereof to a window frame, a piece of furniture or the like and with the casing secured to the person with a belt or the like.
The scale of the present invention employs the metal wire of high tensile strength. Hence, even if the wire is relatively long, it can be wound onto the drum and accommodated within the casing. Further, the metal wire is not shaped into a tape but into a wire; therefore, relatively even stress is exerted on the cross section thereof, assuring a high tensile strength. In addition, the strength of the metal wire will not largely decrease even if it undergoes torsion.
Graduations provided on a wire material are inevitably small and, hence
REFERENCES:
patent: 288447 (1883-04-01), Keith et al.
patent: 2602233 (1952-07-01), Irving
patent: 2994958 (1961-08-01), Beeber
patent: 3630488 (1971-12-01), Stangl
patent: 5042613 (1991-08-01), Hermann
Takahashi Masakatsu
Wirthlin Alvin
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