US3436032A

US3436032A - Simply assembled closing casing

Info

Publication number: US3436032A
Application number: US602234A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andre Quenot
Original assignee: Quenot et Cie SARL
Current assignee: Quenot et Cie SARL
Priority date: 1966-09-30
Filing date: 1966-12-16
Publication date: 1969-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 1986-04-01
Also published as: DE1955148U; ES136433U; FR1505447A; ES136433Y; CH442771A

Description

April 1, 1969 A. QUENOT 3,436,032

SIMPLY ASSEMBLED CLOSING CASING Filed Dec. 16. 1966 United States Patent Int. c1. B65h 75/16 US. Cl. 242-843 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure concerns a plastic tape measure casing with a bottom having a tangential tape measure outlet and two spaced circular parallel walls forming a groove therebetween and a cover having a depending peripheral rim force-fitted in the groove of the bottom.

Generally closed round casings of metal or plastic matter such as for example casing containing measuring tapes, consist either of a round dished bottom on which is secured a disk-shaped cover, or of two assembled half casings. These elements can be assembled by screws, gluing, by crimping or by other means.

In the case of a casing containing a tape measure, the cover can also be held in its centre by the winding mechanism which also serves as a link between the two parts of the casing.

This manner of assembling causes a loss of time during assembly owing to the placing of peripheral securing screws.

The assembly is all the more costly and is of questionable aesthetic appearance. Furthermore the screws which must be placed outside the inner useful diameter of the casing require a larger outer diameter.

The operations of gluing, themselves, are lengthy and uncertain and certain materials do not assemble or assemble themselves poorly by gluing.

Consequently the invention proposes to provide a closed casing of synthetic material, such as a tape measure casing, the simplicity of assembly of which permits achieving an appreciable economy in time and construction by eliminating all mistakes in assembling, and the manner of assembling of which confers to the casing an increased solidity as well as excellent hermetic qualities as well as a perfectly acceptable aesthetic appearance.

To this effect the invention is concerned with a closed casing of synthetic material such as for example a tape measure casing characterised by a peripheral groove, continuous or not, located on the periphery of the bottom of the casing and by a continuous or non-cintinuous peripheral rim with which is provided the cover, said r1m being introduced into said groove.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description made by way of non-limiting example as well as to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 represents a plan view of the bottom of the casm FIGURE 2 shows a cross sectional view on aa of the bottom of the casing;

FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of the cover;

FIGURE 4 represents a cross sectional view along the line bb of the cover; and

FIGURE 5 shows a cross section of the groove-rim assembly.

Reference is made to FIGURES 1 and 2.

A casing for tape measures of synthetic material comprises a moulded bottom 1 provided with a peripheral "ice rim 2. The bottom 1 and the rim 2 thus form a kind of cup.

A second rim 3 having a smaller diameter than rim 2 is rigid with bottom 1.

These

concentric rims

2 and 3 thus form a circular groove 4.

Said groove 4 is interrupted at 5 for the tangential opening 6 for the tape (not shown). Finally a circular opening 7 made in bottom 1 permits to receive the corresponding part (not shown) of the winding mechanism.

Reference is made to FIGURES 3 and 4.

The second piece of the casing is formed by a moulded cover 8 provided with an opening 9 intended to receive the corresponding part (not shown) of the winding mechanism.

A peripheral rim 10 is rigid With cover 8. Rim 10 is also interrupted at 11 corresponding to the interruption 5 of groove 4. There is thus no possibility of error in assembling. The average diameter of this rim 10 is equal to the average diameter of groove 4 and its thickness is such that this rim 10 fits exactly in groove 4. In order to augment the efiiciency of assembly, section 12 of rim 10 and section 13 of groove 4 are slightly conical.

FIGURE 5 shows this conicality of rim 10 and of groove 4 in exaggerated fashion. Casing 1 of cover 5 are shown on this figure in the position which they have before forcing. After forcing, the bottom 14 of groove 4 and the peak 15 of rim 10 are in contact one with the other.

The extent of the force fitting obtained is proportional to the distance separating the bottom 14 from the peak 15 before forcing and also of the inclination of the lateral walls 16 of

groove

4 and 17 of rim 10. The slope of these

walls

16 and 17 is less than their frictional angle which renders impossible the coming apart of the casing and the turning of cover 8 and of bottom 1 thus assembled.

The assembly thus made is practically indestructible and furthermore brings gracefulness to the superimposed thicknesses of the three

rims

2, 3 and 10, great rigidity to the casing while making possible an outer diameter smaller than that required by screw assemblies. It is naturally possible to provide additional securing by a suitable arrangement of the winding mechanism. The assembly can also be reinforced by gluing rim 10 in groove 4.

It will be understood that the circular shape of the groove and of the rims is not exclusive and that there can be made casings of any shape with a groove and a rim which are continuous or in several parts espousing the periphery of the casing.

Although the invention has been described with respect to one embodiment thereof, it is understood that the same is in no way limited thereto and that there may be brought various modifications of shapes and materials without departing thereby from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a tape measure casing, a bottom having a tangential tape measure outlet, and two spaced upstanding circular walls forming a groove therebetween; a cover having a depending peripheral rim force-fitted in said groove; said walls and said rim being tapered to provide an interfitting wedging action therebetween; said walls and said rim being interrupted in at least one place to form an opening communicating with said tangential outlet; said cover and said bottom having a central opening for receiving a winding mechanism for said tape measure; the opening in said cover being larger than the opening in said bottom.

2. Casing according to claim 1, wherein said groove has a conical shape and said rim is wedge-shaped to force fit therein.

3 '4 3. Casing according to claim 1, wherein said bottom 2,638,261 5/ 1953 Poole. and said cover are of plastic material. 2,695,115 11/ 1954 Roop.

3,229,928 1/ 1966 Burgess et a1. References Cited 3,307,688 3/1967 Widmont 20652 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 332,505 12/ 1885 Dickhut 242-848 FOREIGN PATENTS 641,050 1/1900 Smith 242 s4.s 1,294,784 4/1962 Ffance- 739,738 9/1903 Starrett 242-843 WILLIAM S. BURDEN, Primary Examiner.