CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. application number 62/546,321 filed August 16,

2017, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Example embodiments generally relate to measuring tape devices, and particularly relate to a measuring tape that has a lightweight design.

BACKGROUND

Measuring tapes have been around for a very long time, and are common measuring tools used in numerous contexts to obtain linear measurements. Measuring tapes can come in many forms and may be made of cloth, fiber glass, metal, plastic, or the like. The materials used are often dictated by the specific measuring application. For example, tailors and dressmakers typically use a flexible tape that can be easily manipulated between two hands to measure a distance therebetween. However, for construction or carpentry applications, a stiff and often metallic tape is preferred to allow the measuring tape to be extended between an a first location at which one end of the tape is anchored, and the location of the user from who's location the measuring tape is paid out from a reel assembly. The reel assembly may have a manual retracting mechanism or a self-retracting mechanism, typically depending upon the length of the measuring tape. For relatively short measuring tapes (e.g., 12 ft or 25 ft), self- retracting mechanisms are very common. For very long measuring tapes (e.g., larger than 100 ft), a manual retracting mechanism is typically employed.

For nearly a century, metallic tape ribbons with a curved and relatively stiff construction have been preferred for use in self-retracting measuring tapes. The metallic tape ribbon tends to be flexible enough to permit the metallic tape ribbon to be wound onto a spring loaded reel assembly, but stiff enough to have a relatively long standout. By employing an end hook at one end of the tape, the user may take advantage of the standout to pay out the measuring tape toward an anchor point on a media that is to be measured and then conduct the measurement without having to physically move to the anchor point to affix the end hook and then move away to make the measurement. Given the time and energy that can be saved by this method of measurement, taking advantage of the standout characteristics of a self-retracting measuring tape is a very popular feature.

Invariably, each measuring tape will have a certain length that effectively defines the maximum standout that can be achieved before the tape blade bends and effectively collapses. The measuring tape can no longer be extended reliably toward the anchor point once this collapse of the blade occurs. However, many users would prefer to reattempt to reach the anchor point, sometimes numerous times, than to physically move to the anchor point and attach the end hook to the anchor point. Thus, having a superior standout could be a powerfully attractive feature for a measuring tape.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

Some example embodiments may enable the provision of a longer than normal standout for a measuring tape by reducing the weight of a blade portion of the measuring tape. The ability to reel in a lighter weight blade of the measuring tape may also be improved. Thus, for example, user experience associated with use of the measuring tape may be improved.

In an example embodiment, a measuring tape device is provided. The device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly, and a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly. The blade may include a plurality of cutouts disposed along a longitudinal length of the blade to reduce a mass per unit length of the blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWF G(S) Having thus described some example embodiments in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a measuring tape device in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the measuring tape device in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a blade portion of a lightweight measuring tape device having cutouts equidistantly spaced apart in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a blade portion of an alternative lightweight measuring tape device having differently shaped cutouts in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a transversal cross section view of the blade portion of the measuring tape device of FIG. 4 taken from A- A' in accordance with an example embodiment; FIG. 6 illustrates a transversal cross section view of the blade portion of the measuring tape device of FIG. 4 taken from B-B' in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates a longitudinal cross section view of the blade portion of the measuring tape device of FIG. 4 taken from C-C in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates the blade portion of FIG. 7 with a topical additive applied thereto in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates the blade portion of FIG. 6 with the topical additive applied thereto in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of a blade portion of a lightweight measuring tape device having cutouts spaced apart by a distance longer than a longitudinal length of the cutouts in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of a blade portion of a lightweight measuring tape device having cutouts provided continuously over a longitudinal length blade in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of a blade portion of a lightweight measuring tape device having cutouts disposed on external longitudinal edges of the blade in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of the lightweight measuring tape device of FIG. 12 with an elastomer filling in the cutouts in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of a blade portion of a lightweight measuring tape device having cutouts on external longitudinal edges and along a longitudinal centerline in accordance with an example embodiment; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of a blade portion of a lightweight measuring tape device with cutouts that overlap each other in a longitudinal direction in accordance with an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some example embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all example embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and pictured herein should not be construed as being limiting as to the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Furthermore, as used herein, the term "or" is to be interpreted as a logical operator that results in true whenever one or more of its operands are true. As used herein, operable coupling should be understood to relate to direct or indirect connection that, in either case, enables functional interconnection of components that are operably coupled to each other.

As indicated above, some example embodiments may relate to the provision of a measuring tape device that may have an improved blade standout. This is accomplished by employing a reinforced segment of the blade at a critical region or zone. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a measuring tape device, and FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of such device, in accordance with an example embodiment.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a measuring tape device 100 of an example embodiment may include a housing 110 inside which a reel assembly 120 and a self-retraction assembly 130 may be provided. A blade 140 (or tape) portion of the device 100 may be wound onto the reel assembly 120. The blade 140 may be paid out through an aperture 150 formed in the housing 110. Although not required, in some cases, a locking assembly 160 may be provided to enable the reel assembly 120 to be locked to prevent the self-retraction assembly 130 from retracting the blade 140 when the locking assembly 160 is engaged.

The blade 140 has an end hook 170 disposed at one end thereof, and is affixed to the reel assembly 120 at the other end of the blade 140. The end hook 170 may be affixed (temporarily) to an anchor point on a medium that is to be measured. Once the end hook 170 is affixed to the anchor point, the blade 140 may be paid out of the aperture 150 and unwound from the reel assembly 120. When a desired length of the blade 140 has been paid out, the user can make any necessary markings, readings, etc., associated with measuring scale markings that may be printed on the blade 140. The measuring scale markings generally measure length from the end hook 170 in one or more units, with divisions and subdivisions of such units clearly marked on the blade 140.

By fixing the end hook 170 to the anchor point, the self-retraction assembly 130 (which may be spring loaded in some cases) may be prevented from retracting the paid out portions of the blade 140 into the housing 110 (via the aperture 150). Similarly, when the locking assembly 160 is engaged, a force (e.g., a pinching force) may be placed on the blade 140 to prevent retraction or motion of the reel assembly 120 may otherwise be inhibited to prevent the self- retraction assembly 130 from retracting the paid out portions of the blade 140. However, when the end hook 170 is not anchored and the locking assembly 160 is not engaged, the self- retraction assembly 130 may cause the reel assembly 120 to wind the blade 140 back onto the reel assembly 120. As mentioned above, for a typical measuring tape, when the blade 140 is paid out through the aperture 150, the blade 140 will extend relatively straight out the aperture 150 (although some sagging or droop may be noticed due to the weight of the blade 140). The blade 140 can be extended in a guided fashion toward an intended target anchor point while the blade 140 continues to have sufficient rigidity to standout. The blade 140 will continue to extend and standout until the weight of the blade 140 extended past the aperture 150 is sufficient to cause the blade 140 to collapse and bend, thereby losing its rigidity and preventing any further guided extension. The loss of sufficient rigidity which causes collapse and bending of the blade 140 generally occurs at a portion of the blade 140 that can be referred to as a "critical region" since it can occur at slightly different points (but generally in the same region) on different extension operations.

Atypical blade is made to have the same width and height, and therefore the same mass, across its entire length. Moreover, a typical blade includes a flat piece of metal that is bent upward at opposing external longitudinal edges (i.e., lateral edges), and the piece of metal is continuous over the entire longitudinal and transverse directions of extensions between opposing edges/ends. This metallic sheet has a given weight, which will impact the standout of the blade. However, it may be possible to decrease the weight of the blade 140 and thereby also improve standout capabilities of the blade 140. For example, mass may be removed along the length of the blade, perhaps without much reduction in the strength and rigidity of the blade 140 and the reduction in mass may enable the standout to be improved. In some cases, mass may be removed by providing cutouts at which portions of the metallic sheet are removed at certain strategic locations/patterns along the length of the blade 140. There may be a number of ways to achieve the capability for greater standout using reduction in mass strategies. FIGS. 3-15 illustrate some of these examples.

In this regard, FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the blade 140 with material removed therefrom to facilitate a reduction in mass of the blade 140, and to show one particular example embodiment for improving standout of the blade 140. As shown in FIG. 3, the blade 140 may have cutouts 200 disposed therein and dispersed substantially equally over the length of the blade 140 extending away from the end hook 170. The cutouts 200 may be formed by notching or stamping, or by any other suitable method as a treatment to a core material used to form the blade 140. For example, in some cases the blade 140 could be run through an extrusion die or bath that may form edges and shapes desired, and the blade 140 may then be coated as described in greater detail below. In some cases, the cutouts 200 (or perforations) may extend only over a region of the blade 140 that is closest to the end hook 170. However, in other cases, the cutouts 200 may extend over the entire length of the blade 140. The cutouts 200 of the example of FIG. 3 may be disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the blade 140 and extend outwardly toward the longitudinal edges of the blade 140, but do not reach the edges on either side in order to maintain the strength and rigidity of the blade 140 since much of the strength and rigidity is typically provided by the curved up edge portions of the blade 140.

The cutouts 200 have a longitudinal length (LI) that is larger than a distance (L2) between adjacent ones of the cutouts 200. In this example, the cutouts 200 have a substantially diamond shape, which means that the amount of material removed from the blade 140 at each cutout 200 increases from a first transverse or longitudinal end of the cutout 200 until a center of the cutout 200 is reached and then decreases until the second (e.g., opposite) transverse or longitudinal end of the cutout 200 is reached. However, different shapes and different spacing can be employed in other examples, as will be demonstrated in greater detail below.

In this regard, FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative design having differently shaped cutouts

210 in accordance with an example embodiment. The cutouts 210 of FIG. 4 have an "X" shape, and therefore remove a more uniform amount of material in both longitudinal and transverse directions than the cutouts 200 of FIG. 3. However, the X-shape could be turned slightly to create a "plus sign" shape, that would have the same amount of material removed along the longitudinal length of such cutouts except at the center thereof, where substantially more material is removed creating a wide transversally extending slot. The strategy for removal of more material along the longitudinal centerline and less near edges may, in some cases, provide a reduction in the loss of rigidity, but may also limit the amount of total material that can be removed. Thus, it may be desirable to have many different strategies and options from which to choose. However, as may be appreciated from the examples of FIGS. 3 and 4, the removal of material may also have the effect of making the blade 140 somewhat like a "cheese grater" when the cutouts 200 or 210 are provided therein. Thus, regardless of the shape and spacing of the cutouts, it may be desirable to mitigate any sharp edges that may be created by simply cutting out material from the blade 140. One mitigation strategy will now be described in relation to FIGS. 5-9.

FIG. 5 illustrates a transversal cross section view of the blade 140 of FIG. 4 taken from A-A' and FIG. 6 illustrates a transversal cross section view of the blade 140 of FIG. 4 taken from B-B' in accordance with an example embodiment. Meanwhile, FIG. 7 illustrates a longitudinal cross section view of the blade 140 of FIG. 4 taken from C-C in accordance with an example embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the blade 140 may have the characteristic U- shape of a typical blade at portions where no cutout exists. However, the cutout 210 leaves a gap in the metallic material of the blade 140 as shown in FIG. 6. The metal at the cutout 210 may have sharp edges, as further demonstrated in FIG. 7 in both longitudinal and transverse directions. Accordingly, to reduce the potential for discomfort or even cutting the operator, a topical coating 220 may be applied to the blade 140 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this regard, FIG. 8 illustrates the blade 140 of FIG. 7 with the coating 220 applied thereto and FIG. 9 illustrates the blade 140 of FIG. 6 with the coating 220 applied thereto in accordance with an example embodiment. In both FIGS. 8 and 9, the coating can be seen to provide a smoother transition around edges of the cutout 210. However, in other alternatives, the coating 220 may provide a continuous surface over a top and/or bottom portion of the blade 140 (e.g., forming a laminate layer on the top and/or bottom of the blade 140). For example, a woven thread coating, Mylar coating, or a similar clear plastic or resin coating may be employed to cover one or more surfaces of the blade 140. The coating 220 may have measurement markings placed thereon, or the coating 220 may cover over such markings. Moreover, in some cases, the coating 220 may include an anti-glare feature to facilitate reading the measurement markings in brightly lit environments. The coating 220 may therefore seal the core and/or markings. The coating 220 may have a uniform thickness over the entire blade 140, or the thickness may vary with a position along the length or width of the blade 140.

As mentioned above, other strategies for material removal may also be employed, and any of these strategies may employ the coating 220 described above. FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of the blade 140 with cutouts 230 spaced apart by a distance (L3) longer than a longitudinal length (L4) of the cutouts 230. The cutouts 230 in this example, have a same width in the transverse direction along their entire length (L4) by virtue of the rectangular shape of the cutouts 230. Since most of the removed material for the cutouts 230 are made along the longitudinal centerline of the blade 140, the rigidity of the blade 140 of FIG. 10 may be almost identical to the rigidity of a blade without any cutouts. However, each of the examples above provide sections of the blade 140 where material removal occurs, and other sections along the longitudinal length of the blade 140 where no material is removed.

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the having cutouts 240 that are configured to extend along substantially the entire length of the blade 140. In order to maintain continuity of the blade 140, the cutouts 240 have start and end points that are disposed offset from each other in the transverse direction. However, the end of one of the cutouts 240 is otherwise positioned at the same longitudinal length as the start of an adjacent one of the cutouts 240 so that the blade 140 has a substantially constant weight distribution over the entire length of the blade 140 whereas the designs of FIGS. 3, 4 and 10 have had alternating portions of more and less weight distribution along the length of the blade 140. As a result, the blade 140 of FIG. 11 distributes the cutouts 240 so that they are provided continuously over a longitudinal length of the blade 140. Thus, the length (L5) of the cutouts 240 along the longitudinal direction of the blade 140 is identical for each one of the cutouts 240 and there is no distance (in the longitudinal direction) between adjacent cutouts 240.

Although all of the preceding examples remove material from a portion of the blade 140 that is along the longitudinal centerline of the blade 140, it is also possible to remove material from lateral edges of the blade 140. FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of the blade 140 having cutouts 260 disposed on external longitudinal edges (i.e., lateral edges) of the blade 140 in accordance with an example embodiment. Of note, the cutouts 260 have a semicircular shape, but could have any other desirable shape (e.g., sinusoidal, rectangular, etc.) in other examples.

One possible issue with placing the cutouts 260 on the lateral edges of the blade 140 may be the fact that the measurement markings that typically extend inwardly from the lateral edges of the blade 140 may be removed by the cutouts 260. To address this issue, an elastomeric material 270 may be used to fill in the cutouts 260, and may be imprinted with the measurement markings as shown in FIG. 13. The elastomeric material 270 may be lighter than the removed metallic material from the blade 140 and therefore may still result in a lighter blade weight overall. As such, rather than employing the coating material 220 to smooth edges, any of the cutouts (200, 210, 230, 240, 260, 280) could be filled with elastomeric material 270 in alternative embodiments. The sizes, shapes and positions of the cutouts may also impact the ability to run measurement markings directly (e.g., perpendicularly) to the lateral edges of the blade 140 at some locations. Thus, for example, angled measurement markings may be employed to lead from the corresponding number to the correct spot on the lateral edge of the blade 140.

It should also be appreciated that multiple different strategies could be employed for a single design. Thus, for example, a combination of lateral edge cutouts (e.g., cutouts 260) and cutouts (e.g., cutouts 230) aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the blade 140 may be employed in some examples. FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of such an example in which a lightweight measuring tape device is provided by employing multiple different types of cutouts.

It is also possible, to have the cutouts overlap to at least some degree along the longitudinal length of the blade 140. In this regard, for example, FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of the blade 140 with cutouts 280 that overlap each other in a longitudinal direction in accordance with an example embodiment. Thus, for example, there is not only no space between cutouts 280 along the longitudinal direction, but there is also at least some parts of the blade 140 where a transverse cross section passes through two adjacent cutouts, and other parts of the blade 140 where a transverse cross section passes through only one cutout 280. However, by extending the cutouts 280 longer, or rotating their orientation, the overlap could be complete, so that every possible cross section of the blade 140 would pass through two cutouts 280.

Of note, the cutouts 280 in FIG. 15 (like the cutouts 240 in FIG. 11) extend parallel to each other, but are not parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the blade 140. Thus, the cutouts (240 and 280) are disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal centerline of the blade 140. Meanwhile, the cutouts of other example embodiments effectively extend parallel to each other and the longitudinal centerline of the blade 140. In some cases, the cutouts lie in the same plane as each other, and the longitudinal centerline of the blade 140. However, such alignment is not required, and other examples may follow different patterns and arrangements.

Example embodiments may therefore reduce the weight of the blade 140. However, since only portions of the blade 140 have materials removed to form the cutouts, the overall weight of the blade 140 may be reduced without sacrificing rigidity to any significant degree. As such, blade standout may be increased while the weight of the blade 140 is lighter so that, for example, the reel assembly 120 may also operate more efficiently and smoothly. This may also result in less wear and tear on the blade 140. Additionally, the impact of dropping the device at a worksite may be reduces, with less risk of damage to equipment or personnel. The tape measure device that results may have better ergonomics including improved maneuverability, reduced carrying weight, a smaller case and less chance of pinching. The rigidity of the material may remain relatively high and, for example, lighter materials may be provided (e.g., in lamination layers) to mitigate any rigidity reductions. Decreased weight may also reduce the likelihood of blade rollover when the blade 140 is extended. As such, a tape measure device that remains relatively light, but which has superior characteristics may be provided.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. In cases where advantages, benefits or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be appreciated that such advantages, benefits and/or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily all example embodiments. Thus, any advantages, benefits or solutions described herein should not be thought of as being critical, required or essential to all embodiments or to that which is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.