GB2450115A

GB2450115A - Tape measure having a display and audible output

Info

Publication number: GB2450115A
Application number: GB0711372A
Authority: GB
Inventors: A Te Hu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-13
Filing date: 2007-06-13
Publication date: 2008-12-17
Also published as: GB0711372D0

Abstract

A tape measure 1 includes a measuring tape 21 for measuring purposes, a detecting device 30 coupled to the measuring tape for measuring a moving distance of the measuring tape relative to the detecting device, a processing device 31 coupled to the detecting device for calculating a value detected by the detecting device into a digital output. A display 32 is coupled to the processing device 31 for displaying the digital output corresponding to the moving distance of the measuring tape relative to the detecting device, and a driver device 33 for actuating the display to display the digital output, and a speaker 50 may be used to speak the detected or measured output.

Description

TAPE MEASURE HAVING VOCAL OUTPUT

The present invention relates to a tape measure including a digital output and/or a vocal output for precisely converting and showing the detected distance into a digital value and for allowing the user to easily and quickly measure the work pieces or objects to be measured.

Typical tape measures comprise a measuring tape made of such as a metal strip and having suitable indicia on one or both sides of its surface and having a transverse curvature for giving the measuring tape a tendency to expand outwardly and to hold a straight line position when drawn outwardly from its casing.

For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,040,256 to Mills, and U.S. Patent No.5,119,521 to Clontz disclose two of the typical tape measures each also comprising a measuring tape received as a coil within an outer housing or casing and movable out of the outer housing or casing for tape measuring purposes.

U.S. Patent No. 5,802,732 to Malone discloses another typical tape measure also comprising a measuring tape received as a coil within an outer housing or casing and movable out of the outer housing or casing by the users or workers for tape measuring purposes.

However, while measuring, the users have to closely align the measuring tape with the work pieces or objects to be measured and to read the indicia corresponding to the work pieces or objects to be measured. It will be difficult for the user to precisely read and take the measurement from the indicia provided on the measuring tape.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a tape measure including a digital output and/or a vocal output for precisely converting and showing the detected distance into a digital value and for allowing the user to easily and quickly measure the work pieces or objects to be measured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a tape measure comprising:-a measuring tape for measuring purposes, a detecting device coupled to the measuring tape for measuring a moving distance of the measuring tape relative to the detecting device, a processing device coupled to the detecting device for calculating a value detected by the detecting device into a digital output, a displayer coupled to the processing device for displaying the digital output corresponding to the moving distance of the measuring tape relative to the detecting device, a driver device coupled to the displayer for actuating the displayer to display the digital output, and a power supply coupled to the processing device and the displayer for energizing the processing device and the displayer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape measure; FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the parts or elements of the tape measure; FIG. 3 is a plan schematic view illustrating the other arrangement of the tape measure; FIG. 4 is a partial plan schematic view illustrating the further arrangement of the tape measure; and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the still further arrangement of the tape measure.

DESCRIPTION OF TILE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tape measure 1 comprises an outer casing or housing 10, and a measuring tape 20 to be received as a coil within the housing 10 and to be pulled and moved out of the outer housing 10 by the users or workers for tape measuring purposes. The measuring tape 20 may include a metric indicia or graduation 21 and/or a British indicia or graduation 22 provided on either or both sides of its surface. The above-described structure of the tape measure 1 is typical and will not be described in further details.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tape measure 1 further includes a detecting device 30 disposed in the housing 10 and coupled to the measuring tape 20 for detecting or measuring the movement or the moving distance of the measuring tape 20 relative to the housing 10 and/or the detecting device 30. The detecting device 30 may be selected from an infrared detecting device 30, a photo-sensitive detecting device 30, a mechanical or gearing detecting device 30, or the like. A counter or calculator or processing device 31 is also disposed in the housing 10 and coupled to the detecting device 30 for calculating or converting the value detected or measured by the detecting device 30 into a digital output and/or a detected or measured output.

A displayer 32, such as a liquid crystal displayer 32 may also be disposed in the housing 10 and coupled to the processing device 31 for showing or displaying or illustrating the digital output or detected or measured output that corresponds to the movement or the moving distance of the measuring tape 20 relative to the housing 10 and/or the detecting device 30. A driver device 33 may also be disposed in the housing 10 and coupled to the displayer 32 for driving or operating or actuating the displayer 32 to display the digital output. A power supply 34, such as a 3V or 1.5V DC battery 34 may also be disposed in the housing 10 and coupled to the detecting device 30 and/or the processing device 31 and/or the displayer 32 and/or the driver device 33 or other electric parts or elements for energizing the electric parts or elements.

A speaker 50 may also be disposed in the housing 10 and coupled to the power supply 34 and/or the detecting device 30 and/or the processing device 31 and/or the displayer 32 and/or the driver device 33 for speaking the digital output or for showing the digital output with vocal sound and for allowing the measured value or width or length or height or thickness of the work pieces or objects to be easily known by the users.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing 10 may include a key ring 11 attached thereto for forming or acting as a key ring device. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the detecting device 30 and/or the processing device 31 and/or the displayer 32 and/or the driver device 33 (FIG. 2) may also be disposed in the housing 10 of the tape measure for easily and quickly measuring the work pieces or objects to be measured. As shown in FIG. 4, the detecting device and/or the processing device 31 and/or the displayer 32 and/or the driver device 33 (FIG. 2) may also be disposed in the rule housing 10, or may be disposed in the pen as shown in FIG. 5, in which the measuring tape 20 may be replaced by a rope or cable-type measuring tape 20.

The housing 10 of the tape measure 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a greatly or relative reduced size or volume for allowing the tape measure 1 to be easily carried with the users and to be easily operated by the users to quickly measure the work pieces or objects to be measured. The measured value or width or length or height or thickness of the work pieces or objects may be easily known or heard by the users.

Claims

CLAIMS:- 1. A tape measure comprising: a measuring tape for measuring

purposes, a detecting device coupled to the measuring tape for measuring a moving distance of the measuring tape relative to the detecting device, a processing device coupled to the detecting device for calculating a value detected by the detecting device into a digital detected output, a displayer coupled to the processing device for displaying the detected output corresponding to the moving distance of the measuring tape relative to the detecting device, a driver device coupled to the displayer for actuating the displayer to display the detected digital output, and a power supply coupled to the processing device and the displayer for energizing the processing device and the displayer.
2. A tape measure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a speaker for speaking the detected digital output.
3. A tape measure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a housing for receiving the measuring tape and the detecting device and the driver device and the power supply.
4. A tape measure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing includes a key ring attached thereto for forming a key ring device.
5. A tape measure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.