US1380184A - Attachment for tape-measures - Google Patents

Description

G. A. BRANDENBURG. ATTACHMENT FOR TAPE MEASURES. APPLICATION FILED JAN-27, 19:9.

1,380,184. Patented Ma 31,1921.

INVENTO/i A TTOR/VEYS PATENT DFFIQE.

GEORGE ALBERT BRANDENIBURG, OF ST. FRANCIS, KANSAS.

ATTACHMENT roe Tarn-nnnsunns.

Application filed January 27, 1919.

To all to 710m it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BRANDEN- none, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Francis, in the county of Cheyenne and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Improved Attachment for Tape-Measures, of which the following is a description.

My invention is more particularly intended for use in connection with a measuring line in the form of a tape, arranged to wind within a case or unwind therefrom. In all its phases the application is not limited to tape lines of the particular character indicated.

The general object of the invention is to provide means at the end of the measure or like tape, adapted to beemployed for securing that end of the tape, by pinning it down, or anchoring it by causing it to grip a fixed object, thereby making it unnecessary for a second person to be present to hold the line at one end. I

The stated objects and others as will appear are attained by the novel means hereinafter particularly described. 1

. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tape measure equipped with my attachment;

Fig. 2 is a side view with the tape partly withdrawn from the case and having the outer end thereof pinned down by my im proved attachment;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged inverted plan View of the attachment, the view including the loop on the tape, a portion of the latter and the clip that secures the loop to the tape;

Fig. 4: is a side edge view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

My invention is shown applied to a known form of measuring tape and having a loop A secured to the tape B at the outer end usually by a clip 10, to prevent the tape from being completely drawn into the case C and also to serve as a means for grasping the tape in drawing it from the case.

The device includes a spur 11 laterally disposed and an element presenting said spur and forming the means for mounting it on the tape. The preferred form of the invention which has advantages as will appear includes a shank 12 on the outer edge Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Serial No. 273,369.

of which the spur 11 is formed and a cross bar 13 pivoted at opposite ends in the sides of the loop A about midway in the length thereof. The described construction thus utilizes the loop of the tape as the means for carrying my attachment. The length of the cross bar 13 relatively to the distance between the sides of the ring or loop A is such that thesides of the loop exert a pressure on the ends of the cross bar to maintain the attachment in the adjusted position either at the outer end of the ring or at the inner end thereof.

When the spur is to be employed for anchoring the end of a. tape to which it is secured, the shank 12 is swung so that the spur lies at the outer end of the loop A. The inner side of the spur is in a line with the end of the ring or loop A for accurate measurement. The spur may be pressed into a wood or other yielding surface or it can be hooked over the end of a beam, rail, timber, or the like, to be measured, thereby causing it to grip the same. In use the shank 12 is swung so that the spur lies at the outer end of the loop A and as the shank 12 extends under the outer end of the loop, it is held by'said loop in the'engag'ed poition. When the tape is not in use, the shank 12 is swung through an arc of approximately 180 so that the spur lies adjacent to the rear end of the loop and in the latter position the spur is accommodated in an opening 14, formed for the purpose, transversely in the clip 10.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the mechanical details herein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied withoutdeparture from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a tape, an end clip comprising a bent strip having the ends bent back to receive the end of the tape therebetween and a means for securing the end of the tape therebetween, a portion of said clip being slitted between the side edges thereof longitudinally of the clip, a loop, said loop comprising side portions and connecting end portions, one of the end portions extending through the bent portion Qf the clip and forming an opening with the slitted portion of the clip, a member extending transversely of the loop, and having its ends pivotally mounted in the side portions of the loop, at a point substantially midway between the connecting end portions, and a device fixed to said member extending longitudinally of the loop, said device having. a bent end portion forming a spur, said device being of such a length that when moved on pivoted member in one direction, the spur will be positioned within the opening of the clip, and when moved on the pivoted member in the opposite direction, the device will contact with the other connecting end member, with the spur extending outward so that the said spur'may be used to position one end of the tape.

2. In a device of the character described, a loop comprising side portions, connecting end portions, and a transversely extending member having the ends thereof pivotally carried in the side portions at a point substantially equidistant from the end portions, and another member extending longitudinally of the loop, having one end thereof fixed in said first named member, and the free end thereof extending under and slightly beyond, an end portionof said loop so as to be held in engaged position thereby, the said end being bent to form a spur.

3. In a device of the character described, a loop comprising the side portions, connecting end portions, and a transversely extending member having the ends thereof pivotally carried in the side portions at a point substantially equidistant from the end portions forming two openings, and another member extending longitudinally of the loop, vhaving one end thereof fixed in said first named member, and the other end thereof extending to a point slightly beyond the end members the said end being bent to form a spur, and a clip bent around one of the end portions of the loop, adapted to re ceive one end of a tape, said clip having a forked end forming an opening to receive the spur of the longitudinally expanding member. 7

at. In the device of the character described an end attachment for a tape, including a loop having side portions, connecting end portions, a clip connecting to one of the end portions, said clip having a forked end forming an opening, and a member having the ends thereof pivotally carried at a point substantially equidistant from the con necting end portions, on the inner side of the side portions, and a longitudinal member having one end thereof fixed to said first named member to move therewith, the other end of said longitudinal extending member being of such a length that the end thereof extends beyond each of the connecting end portions, said end being bent to form a spur adapted to be positioned in the opening of the clip when in contact with one of the connecting end members, and adapted to securely hold the loop when said member is in contact with the other connecting end portion. I

GEORGE ALBERT BRANDENBURG.

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