US3324560A

US3324560A - Measuring tape stop devices

Info

Publication number: US3324560A
Application number: US487734A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin L Snyder
Original assignee: Pentapco Inc
Current assignee: Pentapco Inc
Priority date: 1965-09-16
Filing date: 1965-09-16
Publication date: 1967-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1984-06-13

Description

B. L. SNYDER MEASURING TAPE STOP DEVICES Filed Sept. 16, 1965 INVENTOR, Benjamin L. Snyder,

ATTORNEY.

3,324,560 MEASURING TAPE STOP DEVICES Benjamin L. Snyder, Elizabeth, N..l., assignor to lentapco, Inc, Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 487,734 9 Claims. (Cl. 33-138) The present invention is in the art of flexible steel measuring tapes which wind up within a casing from which they are withdrawn to any desired extent as need be, and in particular, this invention relates to devices for limiting tape movement.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel device to stop tape withdrawn from the casing, from reentering beyond a selected reading thereon.

Another object thereof is to provide a stop device of the character mentioned, which is simple in construction, capable of being associated with existing steel tape measures, very reasonable in cost to manufacture, easy to use and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For the practice of this invention, the stop device is essentially a collar structure through which the tape is free, but upon shifting said collar in a direction across the tape, the collar becomes releasably secured thereto by a clamping action. Then upon shifting the collar in the opposite direction, the tape is freed for longitudinal motion therethrough.

Various embodiments of this stop device are described herein, and shown in the accompanying drawing which is part of this specification, in which drawing, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of stop device embodying teachings of this invention, shown in condition ready to be mounted on a tape.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing said device mounted on a tape.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stop device of modified construction, in condition ready to be mounted on a tape.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the stop device shown in FIG. 3, as it appears on a tape, that is, FIG. 4 is the collar structure made of the item shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end view of another collar construction.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the collar of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of another collar structure.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of parts of another collar structure, shown in perspective.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the collar which is made of the parts shown in FIG. 8.

In the drawing, the numeral designates generally a collar structure mounted as a slide on the flexible, graduated steel tape 16, which extends from a tape measure casing 17, in which it winds up as a coil and from which it can be withdrawn only up to a certain length. Some casings include spring means biasing the tape to wind up, while others have no such provision, but require that the tape be pushed in by hand, whereupon it winds up inside the casing. Since casing structure and its internal appurtenances to effect tape wind-up are no part of this invention, further details thereof are believed unnecessary for they are well known to those versed in the art.

The collar 15 is made up of the two parts indicated generally by the

numerals

18 and 19 respectively; each being an elongated piece. These are swivelly joined at one end by any suitable means as for instance a screw 20. The other end of the part 18 has a notch 21, to engage 3,324,569 Patented June 13, 1967 a hooleform 22 which is at the other end of the part 19. Said parts are preferably of a transparent plastic having some resilient quality. The collar 15 is movable up and back across the tape 16. In one position of the collar on the tape, the tape is free for longitudinal movement through the collar, but upon shifting said collar in one direction across the tape, the tape enters a reduced portion of the collars hole, where it is frictionally engaged, and so is releasably fixed to the collar, which is another way of saying that the collar becomes releasably fixed to the tape and hence acts as a stop when intercepted by the casing 17.

The collar 15 is made openable so it can be mounted on tape measures in being, for the collars hole cannot admit and of necessity need be smaller than is required to allow passage therethrough of the tapes free end stop tab 23. It is readily understandable without further illustration, that the collar may be a solid piece with a proper hole therethrough, if it is to be mounted on the tape at the factory before the stop tab 23 is affixed.

As particularly shown in FIG. 2, the collar 15 is shown in fixed position on the tape 16, at a setting where the first 4% inches of the tape is exposed. It is practical to have the dimension of the collar along the tape to be one-half inch. Presuming that the dimension of the casing 17 in the line of the tape is two inches, as many commercial forms are, then the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 shows a reading of 4% inches along a line or surface, or a computed reading of 6% inches between spaced opposite surfaces, commonly called an inside reading as when measuring the distance between opposite inside walls of a window frame to determine the required width of a Venetian blind or window shade, suitable therefor.

The general scheme of the hole structure indicated by the numeral 24, is substantially the same in all of the different embodiments of collar constructions shown in the drawing, namely, when the tape 16 is through one section of the hole, it is free for longitudinal movement through the collar, and when laterally shifted into another section of the hole, it is frictionally gripped by the collar, so the collar is releasably fixed to the tape.

The collar shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, has the parts 18' and 19' which are similar to the

parts

18 and 19 respectively, and is made of plastic material possessing some resilient quality so it is bendable in the short, thin section 25 connecting said parts 18, 19', as a hinge 25'. The hole 24 is essentially identical to the hole 24, and comprises a section 26 through which the tape is free to slide longitudinally, and the reduced section 27, which is a slit. This slit may be offered by a slight opening as 28 in FIG. 6, or the parts 18, 19' may be in contact, but such slit is slightly opened upon insertion of the tape 16 therein, because of the resiliency or slight lo-oseness oifered by the collar structure. When the tape is through such slit section, it is frictionally tightly gripped by the collar, from which it is releasable by a lateral shift of the tape.

The two

parts

29, 30 are joined at their ends by the

screws

31 and 32, to complete the collar structure 33 illustrated in FIG. 7. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the tenon 34 at one end of the part 35 fits into the mortise 36 in the lateral extension 37 at the corresponding end of the part 33; said

parts

35 and 38, being joined at their other ends by the screw 39, to complete the collar structure 40, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 6, the parts 41 and 42 are integral at one end and joined by the screw 43 at the other end, to complete the collar structure 44.

The said screws being removable, it is evident that the collar structures of FIGS. 6, 7 and 9, are openable, as of course are the collar structures of FIGS. 2 and 4, as indicated in the FIGS. 1 and 3 respectively, so each may be mounted on a tape of tape measures already having a tab as 23. It is preferred that the hole for the tape in every collar structure, shall have one flat wall for the tape to constantly rest on, in order to facilitate traverse movement of the tape to and from the hole sections, where in one hole section it is loose, and in the other it is frictionally held.

The collar structure 15, set to be engaged on the tape 16 as shown in FIG. 2, exposes the tape to the extent of 4% inches, and acts as a stop against the casing 17, holding the tape from retracting into the casing. In such condition, the device is usea-ble to measure oif one or more lengths of 4% inches. If for instance the width of a board is to be measured, the tab 23 is placed against one longitudinal edge of such board, and the casing is pulled to withdraw tape. The collar is then shifted towards the tab 23, to contact the other longitudinal edge of the board; the tape of course being in the larger hole section in the collar 15. Upon establishing such contact, the collar 15 is shifted in a direction across the tape, so the latter shall become engaged in the slit section of the hole 24, as is specifically shown in FIG. 2. The exposed portion of the tape 16, would indicate the width of the board being measured, and if the collar 15 would be locked on the tape as shown in FIG. 2, then 4% inches is the board width. If for instance a measurement is to be taken between two opposite walls, the tab 23 is held on one of them while the loosened collar 15 is slid along the tape being withdrawn from the casing, until the remote vertical edge of the casing 17 is in contact with the other of said walls. Now, the collar 15 is shifted across the tape to become frictionally locked thereon. The user can remove the device from between the walls and take the reading as heretofore set forth, for the tape is stopped from entering the casing.

It is advisable to make one size collar structure to fit tapes of different widths. Tape widths usually start at about one-quarter of an inch. So if the larger portion of the hole 24 can loosely carry a tape which is one-half inch wide, ,it is also suitable for tapes of smaller width, so a dealer in these tape attachments need only carry two sizes, to accommodate all customers, and of course, only two sizes need be manufactured, because tape widths in commerce do not exceed one inch.

These stop collar structures Work equally well whether the tape 16 is flat or transversely arched.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein set forth. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments described herein shall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific showings and description herein, to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with the graduated flexible steel tape of a tape measure of the type in which the tape is withdrawable from and retractable into a casing wherein it is wound up automatically, of a stop means comprising a collar structure carried on the tape exterior the casing; said tape being through the hole in said collar structure; said hole having a wall and having one section through which the tape is free for longitudinal movement and a second section into which the tape is shiftable by a lateral movement whereupon said tape and collar structure are in relatively tight frictional engagement, whereby said collar structure acts as a stop when against the casing, so the tape is restrained from movement into the casing; the wall of said hole including a fiat portion common to both hole sections, and said tape being manually slidable laterally from one hole section into the other, on and along said flat wall portion which is common to both hole sections.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the collar structure comprises at least two normally fixed parts, one of which is releasable for movement in relation to the other and which when moved, will create an opening in the collar structure along the hole, through which opening the tape can be moved laterally out of and into the collar structure.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the collar structure includes two parts, each having two ends, means at the first ends of each of said parts, releasably connecting said ends, and means at the other ends of said parts, hingedly connecting said other ends; said parts being spaced between said means whereby the space between them consitutes the hole of the collar structure.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the axis of the hinge connection is perpendicular to the plane of the tape.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the axis of the hinge connection is parallel to the tape.

6. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the releasable connection constitutes a hook at the first end of one of said parts, releasably engaged in a notch provided in the first end of the other of said parts; at least said hook having some resilient quality.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the collar structure includes two parts, each having two ends; the first ends of each of said parts being connected; said parts being spaced at their second ends and continuing spaced a predetermined distance towards their first ends, and a removable element across said space at said second ends; the space between said parts, extending from said element towards said first ends, constituting the hole of said collar structure; said tape being laterally removable from said collar structure, when said element is moved out of said space.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein the first ends of said parts of the collar structure, are integral.

9. The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein the first end of one of the parts presents a tenon in extension thereof, and the first end of the other of said parts has a lateral extension provided with a mortise; said tenon being fitted in said mortise.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 421,133 2/1890 Grierson 33-138 1,057,543 4/1913 Green 242-1072 1,876,744 9/1932 Posgate 33-138 XR 2,048,969 7/1936 Ritter 33-l38 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

JOEL M. FREED, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. THE COMBINATION WITH THE GRADUATED FLEXIBLE STEEL TAPE OF A TAPE MEASURE OF THE TYPE IN WHICH THE TAPE IS WITHDRAWABLE FROM AND RETRACTABLE INTO A CASING WHEREIN IT IS WOUND UP AUTOMATICALLY, OF A STOP MEANS COMPRISING A COLLAR STRUCTURE CARRIED ON THE TAPE EXTERIOR THE CASING; SAID TAPE BEING THROUGH THE HOLE IN SAID COLLAR STRUCTURE; SAID HOLE HAVING A WALL AND HAVING ONE SECTION THROUGH WHICH THE TAPE IS FREE FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT AND A SECOND SECTION INTO WHICH THE TAPE IS SHIFTABLE BY A LATERAL MOVEMENT WHEREUPON SAID TAPE AND COLLAR STRUCTURE ARE IN RELATIVELY TIGHT FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT, WHEREBY SAID COLLAR STRUCTURE ACTS AS A STOP WHEN AGAINST THE CASING, SO THE TAPE IS RESTRAINED FROM MOVEMENT INTO THE CASING; THE WALL OF SAID HOLE INCLUDING A FLAT PORTION COMMON TO BOTH HOLD SECTIONS, AND SAID TAPE BEING MANUALLY SLIDABLE LATERALLY FROM ONE HOLE SECTION INTO THE OTHER, ON AND ALONG SAID FLAT WALL PORTION WHICH IS COMMON TO BOTH HOLE SECTIONS.