JP2000213904A - Tape measure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tape measure of simple structure, capable of making a stroke large, and capable of effectively absorbing shock at the time of leading a measure tape in. SOLUTION: A bumper member 8 is supported turnably by a supporting shaft 9. A butting part 8a is formed in a front face of the bumper member 8 to receive impact force of a hook 6. A flexible arm 8b extended to the rear side of the bumper member 8 abuts to a contact part 10, and the member 8 is turned by retreating the butting part 8a with impact of the hook 6. The flexible arm 8b is also turned by the turn of the member 8, and the flexible arm 8b is bent thereby by the contact part 10 to absorb impact force.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tape measure in which a flexible measuring tape is accommodated in a case, and a biasing spring for winding in is provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tape measure containing a flexible measuring tape in a case is wound on a winding drum in the case.
An urging spring is attached to the winding drum, and when the measuring tape is pulled out, the urging spring is urged to accumulate a spring force. If you let go of the measuring tape you pulled out,
The measuring tape is automatically wound into the case by the spring force of the biasing spring.

[0003] However, at the time of winding, the winding speed is gradually increased due to the acceleration, and the winding speed is further increased by increasing the winding diameter as the winding is performed. There are problems such as twisting and hitting the finger holding the case.

To cope with this, a tape measure having a built-in brake mechanism is also used to suppress the winding speed. However, at the end of winding, that is, when the hook attached to the tip of the measuring tape is attached to the main body case. It is difficult to operate the brake so that the winding speed at the time of fitting into the pull-out port is always slow. Therefore, the measuring tape may be wound up to the end of the measuring tape at a high speed, and the hook may collide with the outlet of the main body case, thereby damaging the measuring tape and the rivet holding the hook.

To cope with this, a tape measure equipped with a bumper at an outlet of a main body case is known. The simplest structure of the bumper is such that an elastic body such as rubber is attached to the outlet of the main body case and the elasticity thereof is used to absorb the impact force of the hook. This structure has a problem in that the stroke of movement when the hook collides is short, so that the shock absorbing ability is small, and the elastic body is easily damaged and lacks durability.

The tape measure described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1-801501 uses a vertical structure using a ring-shaped spring. In this structure, since the movement of the bumper is linear and the fulcrum of the repulsive force of the bumper is a fixed end, the shock is absorbed only by the rear ring-shaped spring portion. Therefore, when the stroke is increased, the spring portion is overloaded, and the spring portion breaks or buckles. In addition, it is thought that it is possible to increase the stroke by devising a plurality of ring-shaped spring portions, but it is possible to increase the size of the parts,
For this reason, the casing to be stored is large and complicated. In addition, there is a problem that the assemblability and the moldability deteriorate.

The tape measure described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 4-32002 employs a structure in which a leaf spring is used as a cushioning member, and the impact of a hook is absorbed by its elasticity. Also in this structure, it is difficult to increase the stroke, and the shock absorbing ability cannot be increased. It is described that not only the lower portion of the cushioning member may bend around the support portion but also the entire support portion may be moved, but the structure is complicated.

The tape measure described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-85302 uses a resilient metal wire.
It is difficult to increase the stroke as in the case of the cushioning member described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-2002.

The tape measure described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-59201 uses a bumper member that moves linearly. The fulcrum of the repulsive force of the bumper member moves along the rib integrally formed with the casing to absorb the impact. In order to increase the stroke, a length is required, and the structure for supporting the bumper member is not simple.

[0010] In the tape measure described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3045653, it is attempted to rotate the cushioning member with the projection at the top of the cushioning member fitted into the groove provided in the upper jaw as a fulcrum, whereby the eaves is moved. It bends and deforms to suppress rotation and absorb shock. A different structure from the above-mentioned conventional example is adopted in that the linear motion of the measuring tape is changed into a rotational motion to absorb the impact, but in this structure, a bumper member as a buffer member is used. The entire body does not rotate, but instead flexes with the projection on the top of the cushioning member fitted into the groove of the case as a fulcrum, and attempts to rotate, causing the eaves to bend and deform, absorbing shock. The corner is restricted to a very small one, and the amount of movement of the bumper member is small.

As described above, in the conventional shock absorbing structure, the stroke of the bumper itself is short, and the bumper retreats when it receives an impact and strongly hits the tape outlet of the casing, whereby the measuring tape, the hook at the tip of the measuring tape, and It cannot be said that a strong impact to the tape outlet of the casing cannot be completely absorbed and damage to each part can be sufficiently avoided. In addition, some bumpers have strong rebound force, and the amount of retreat is small even if they receive an impact.They cannot absorb the strong impact on the measuring tape, the hook at the tip of the measuring tape, and the tape outlet of the casing, and damage to each part. Was to give.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a simple structure, a bumper member can be stably supported on a case body, a large stroke can be taken, and measurement can be performed. Provides a tape measure with a bumper mechanism that can effectively absorb strong impacts on the measuring tape, the hook at the end of the measuring tape, and the tape outlet of the casing at the end of tape retraction, and prevent damage to each part. It is intended to do so.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape measure provided with an urging spring, which is rotatably supported by a main body case and is attached to the measuring tape at an outlet of the measuring tape. A bumper member having an abutting portion for abutting on the hook and having a flexible arm provided eccentrically with respect to the center of rotation, and a circle provided on the body case side and centered on the center of rotation A contact member having a cross-sectional shape that extends away from the circumference through a point on the circumference and that contacts the flexible arm so as to bend as the bumper member rotates by abutment of the hook. It is a feature.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the tape measure according to the first aspect, the cross-sectional shape of the contact member changes the repulsive force due to the amount of rotation of the bumper member in order to effectively absorb the impact. It is characterized in that it has a shape to be attached.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the tape measure according to the first or second aspect, the flexible arm is formed integrally with the bumper member by a wear-resistant and flexible resin. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the tape measure according to any one of the first to third aspects, the contact member is formed integrally with the main body case. It is.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an example of an embodiment of a tape measure according to the present invention, and FIG. Side view,
FIG. 1B is a front view. The measurement tape and the hook are shown by broken lines in FIG. 1A to make the inside easy to see, and are not shown in FIG. 1B. In the figure,
Reference numerals 1 and 2 denote a main body case, 3 a knob, 4 a lock piece, 5 a measuring tape, 6 a hook, 7 a winding drum, and 8 a bumper member.

The main body cases 1 and 2 are formed separately and are united by screws or the like (not shown). A knob 3 is provided on the front of the main body cases 1 and 2, and by sliding the knob with a finger, the lock piece 4 is moved and the measuring tape 5 is pressed.

Since the energy storage spring is provided inside the winding drum 7 for winding the measurement tape 5, the measurement tape 5 pulled out by hooking the finger on the hook 6 tends to return by the spring force of the energy storage spring. When performing the measurement, it is required that the measurement tape 5 be locked so as not to return with the measurement tape 5 pulled out. The lock piece 4 responds to the demand, and the knob 3 is slid to press the lock piece 4 against the measuring tape 5 to lock the knob 3 so that the pulled out measuring tape can be locked at the pulled-out position. . Further, when the drawn-out measuring tape is automatically wound by the spring force of the stored energy storage spring, the acceleration is applied, the winding speed gradually increases, and further, the winding diameter increases as the winding is performed. As a result, the winding speed is increased, and there is a problem that the measuring tape is twisted or hits the finger holding the case. By operating the knob 3 before the lock position, the measuring tape 5 can be braked by the lock piece 4, and the winding speed can be suppressed. In addition, the brake mechanism and the lock mechanism may have appropriate structures, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described structure using the knob 3 and the lock piece 4,
It is apparent from the following description that the present invention is also applied to a tape measure that does not include one or both of the brake mechanism and the lock mechanism.

The bumper member 8 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 9. In this embodiment, the support shaft 9 is provided integrally with the main body case 2. An abutment portion 8 a is formed on the front surface of the bumper member 8 and receives the impact force of the hook 6. The flexible arm 8b extending rearward of the bumper member abuts on the contact portion 10, and the bumper member 8 is rotated by the retreat of the abutment portion 8a due to the impact of the hook 6. The rotation of the bumper member 8 causes the flexible arm 8b
Also rotates, and the flexible arm 8b is bent by the contact portion 10 to absorb the impact force.

FIG. 2 is a side view in which only the main body case of FIG. 1 is partially cut away so that the inside can be seen.
In (A), knob 3, lock piece 4, measuring tape 5,
This corresponds to a state where the hook 6, the winding drum 7, and the bumper member 8 are removed. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 11 is a receiving part. The receiving portion 11 is provided to receive the back surface of the measuring tape when the lock piece 4 described with reference to FIG. 1 presses the measuring tape.

The part of the main body case 1 that is seen to be broken is the part provided in the main body case 2. In a preferred embodiment, the main body case is made by integral molding of a synthetic resin. Since the support shaft 9 is formed so as to extend to the inside of the main body case 1, no support shaft is formed on the main body case 1. The contact part 10 and the receiving part 11 are
Similarly, it is similarly formed by integral molding of a synthetic resin.

An example of an embodiment of the bumper member provided in the main body case will be described with reference to FIG. 3 (A) is a front view, FIG. 3 (B) is a left side view, FIG. 3 (C) is a right side view,
FIG. 3D is a rear view, and FIG.
It is E sectional drawing. In the figure, 8 is a bumper member, 8a is an abutment portion, 8b is a flexible arm, 8c is a shaft hole, 8d is a shaft member, 8
e is a missing part, 8f is a measurement tape insertion hole.

The bumper member 8 is formed as shown in FIGS.
As shown in (D), a shaft member 8d in which a shaft hole 8c is formed
Is provided with a notched portion 8e as shown by a white arrow. By providing the notch 8e, at the time of assembly,
It becomes easy to pass the measuring tape through the measuring tape insertion hole 8f. Even if the notch 8e is not provided, the measurement tape insertion hole 8
If it is possible to pass the measuring tape through f, the shaft member 8
d may be provided on both sides without providing the cutout 8e.

A flexible arm 8d is provided behind the abutting portion 8a which becomes a front portion when the bumper member 8 is attached to the main body case. The distal end of the flexible arm 8d has a rounded shape, but need not necessarily be rounded. However, it is preferable that a portion in contact with a contact portion described later is rounded.

The flexible arm 8d is preferably formed integrally with the bumper member so that the bumper member 8 shown in FIG. Since the number of assembling steps is reduced and the number of parts is also reduced, it is advantageous in terms of cost. For this purpose, it is preferable to form the bumper member 8 by integral molding using a flexible material, for example, a synthetic resin such as polyacetal, as the material of the bumper member.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the bumper member is assembled in the case bodies 1 and 2. Measurement tape 5 pulled out
Is wound by the urging force of the energy storage spring, the hook 6 abuts against the abutting portion 8a of the bumper member 8 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the abutting portion 8a retreats due to the impact force, and the bumper member 8 rotates as it retreats. When the abutment portion 8a further retreats, the bumper member 8 further rotates as shown in FIG. Due to the rotation of the bumper member 8, the flexible arm 8d also rotates and bends outward according to the shape of the contact portion 10 while contacting the contact portion 10, and absorbs an impact force by its elastic force.

Flexible arm 8d accompanying rotation of bumper member 8
7, the flexible arm 8d bends outward as the bumper member 8 rotates clockwise from the initial state shown by the solid line as shown by the broken line. Absorbs impact force.

The relationship between the flexible arm 8d and the shape of the contact portion will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 illustrates only the contact surface between the flexible arm 8d and the contact portion 10. Point P is the center of rotation of the bumper member, R is a virtual circle, point A is the base point of the flexible arm 8d,
Point B indicates the contact point of the flexible arm 8d, and Q indicates the cross-sectional shape of the contact surface of the contact portion. The position of each part in FIG. 8 is the moment when the hook collides with the abutting part of the bumper member, and shows a state where the bumper member starts to rotate. The virtual circle R is a circle centered on the point P with the line segment PB as the radius. Contact surface Q
Is assumed to coincide with the circumference of the virtual circle, the point B moves on the circumference as the bumper member rotates, so that the shape of the flexible arm 8d does not change. In the above-described embodiment, as shown by Q, the contact surface extends away from the virtual circle R at the point where the point B is in contact with the virtual circle, and becomes flexible as the bumper member rotates. Sex arm 8
d rotates together with the bumper member while being bent outward. The shape of Q can be a straight line or a curve, and a desired impact force absorbing characteristic can be obtained by selecting an amount and a pattern deviating from the virtual circle.

The flexible arm 8d is not limited to being bent outward with the rotation of the bumper member. It may be bent inward. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the shape of the contact surface in that case. The same parts as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, a contact surface is provided outside the flexible arm 8d. As shown in Q, the contact surface has a flexible arm 8d
Point B on the outside of the tip is in contact. The cross-sectional shape of the contact surface extends inside the virtual circle so as to be away from the virtual circle, and as the bumper member rotates, the flexible arm 8d rotates together with the bumper member while being bent inward. The shape of Q can be a straight line or a curve, and a desired impact force absorbing characteristic can be obtained by selecting an amount and a pattern deviating from the virtual circle.

The bumper member is supported by providing a shaft hole in the bumper member and inserting it into the support shaft provided on the body case side. However, the support shaft is provided on the bumper member side.
A bearing may be provided on the body case side to support the bumper member.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the bumper member is rotatably supported, the bumper member is stably supported by the case main body, and the impact upon impact is provided. A large stroke can be taken to move the joint, and strong shocks to the measuring tape, the hook at the end of the measuring tape, and the tape outlet of the casing at the end of drawing in of the measuring tape are effectively absorbed, and each part is damaged. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are views for explaining an example of an embodiment of a tape measure according to the present invention, and FIG. 1A is a side view in which a part of a main body case is cut off so that the inside can be seen; ) Is a front view.

FIG. 2 is a side view in which only the main body case of FIG. 1 is partially broken so that the inside can be seen.

3 (A) is a front view, FIG. 3 (B) is a left side view, FIG. 3 (C) is a right side view, and FIG. 3 (D) is a rear view, FIG.
(E) is a sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 3 (A).

FIG. 4 is a side view in which a part of the main body case is cut off when the hook abuts on the abutting portion of the bumper member so that the inside can be seen.

FIG. 5 is a side view in which a part of the main body case is cut away so that the inside can be seen when the abutting portion retreats after the hook abuts against the abutting portion of the bumper member.

FIG. 6 is a side view in which a part of the main body case is cut away so that the inside can be seen when the abutting portion is further retracted after the hook has abutted against the abutting portion of the bumper member.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of movement of a flexible arm accompanying rotation of a bumper member.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a flexible arm and a shape of a contact portion according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a flexible arm and a shape of a contact portion according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, body case, 3 knob, 4 lock piece, 5 measuring tape, 6 hook, 7 winding drum, 8 bumper member, 8a butting portion, 8b flexible arm, 8c: shaft hole, 8
d: shaft member, 8e: missing part, 8f: measuring tape insertion hole,
9: support shaft, 10: contact portion, 11: receiving portion.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tape measure in which an urging spring is mounted, the tape measure being rotatably supported by a main body case and having an abutting portion which abuts on a hook attached to the measuring tape at an outlet of the measuring tape. A bumper member having a flexible arm provided eccentrically with respect to the center of movement, and a bumper member provided on the main body case side and passing through a point on the circumference centered on the rotation center so as to be separated from the circumference A tape measure, comprising: a contact member that extends and has a cross-sectional shape that causes the flexible arm to bend and contact as the bumper member rotates by the abutment of the hook. 2. The cross-sectional shape of the contact member is such that the repulsive force is changed according to the amount of rotation of the bumper member in order to effectively absorb an impact. Tape measure described in. 3. The tape measure according to claim 1, wherein the flexible arm is formed integrally with the bumper member by a wear-resistant and flexible resin. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said contact member is formed integrally with said main body case.
The tape measure according to any one of the above.