Geometrical instruments – Distance measuring – By flexible tape
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-07
2001-08-14
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Geometrical instruments
Distance measuring
By flexible tape
C033S771000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272764
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tape rule, and more particularly, to a tape rule having a locking mechanism for fixing a drawn out measuring tape, and a brake shoe for reducing the winding back speed of the measuring tape together.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Most of conventional tape rules are generally equipped with springs in housings for winding back measuring tapes. For such a tape rule, in order to prevent a sudden re-winding of the tape on duty by a spring function, a locking mechanism is usually provided to lock the drawn out tape at its position. A tape rule disclosed in Japan Patent No. Shio 51-56664 is a typical example.
Meanwhile, such a tape rule is dangerous due to resilient force of the spring that the tape is apt to beat the user's hand when it is winding back into the housing after the measuring work is finished. For a remedy, a speed reducing device for re-winding tape is provided as disclosed by following four Japanese patents Hei No. 10-89901, Hei 6-28601, 3014697, and Hei 10-232102.
It is preferable that both locking mechanism and brake device are provided together using a common push button for simplifying operation. A tape rule with such structure was disclosed in Japanese Patent Sio No. 59-47802. However, in this example, locking mechanism and brake device are formed by individual device and assembling two parts together such that the push button of the locking mechanism can be used to operate the brake device. As a result, the entire structure of a tape rule becomes so complicated with a lot of parts involved that the cost and fault rate are increased. In addition, in a known tape rule constructed as such whose brake device is functional from the beginning and only operative to release the brake function later will make the user hard to control tape retraction speed according to his/her will.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tape rule having a locking mechanism for fixing a drawn out tape and a brake device for reducing the winding back speed of a tape together operative with one common push button so that the user himself/herself may control speed of tape retraction with the result that the structure for the structure is simplified by reduced parts, and cost is saved with decreasing fault rate which prolongs the lifetime of a tape rule.
To achieve the above mentioned object, gist of the present invention is directed to provide a tape rule which comprises a housing
1
, a measuring tape (abbreviated as tape only)
2
, a reel
3
for the tape
2
to wind around, a spring
4
for winding the tape
2
back to the reel
3
, an arc shaped strap
12
disposed at the periphery of the reel
3
to be freely slidable therearound, a stopper
11
including a push button
13
exposed outside of the housing
1
, and a claw
14
for locking the tape
2
drawn out of the housing
1
at an end of the stopper
11
. Furthermore, a brake shoe
15
is integrally formed at the inner surface of the arc shaped strap
12
of the stopper
11
for releasing the locking state made by the claw
14
so that when the tape
2
is automatically winding back around the reel
3
by a resilient force of the spring
4
. The tape
2
may be made in contact with the edge of the reel
3
to reduce its retracting speed through pushing the push button
13
towards the radius center of the reel
3
.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3942738 (1976-03-01), Rutty
patent: 4976048 (1990-12-01), Blackman
patent: 5575077 (1996-11-01), Jung Tae
patent: 6026585 (2000-02-01), Li
patent: 6115933 (2000-09-01), Li
patent: 6161299 (2000-12-01), Lin
Dougherty & Troxell
Hilten John S.
Index Measuring Tape Co., Ltd.
Tran Mylinh T
LandOfFree
Tape rule does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tape rule, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tape rule will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2530479