US812150A - Tape-measure. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

J. MOLEAN- TAPE MEASURE.

APPLICATION FILED um: 10, 1904.

MI'TORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MoLEAN, OF NEWARK, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WHITE- HEAD & HOAG COMPANY, OF NEIVARK, NEIV JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEI/V JERSEY.

TAPE-MEASURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN MoLEAN, of Newark, in the county of Essex, in the State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tape-Measures, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in tape-measures, and refers more particularly to the reel and its inclosing case.

The primary object is to adapt the case and reel for advertising different articles of manufacture by providing the reel with a tape-retaining plate which is a miniature or fullsized representation of some article of manu facturesuch, for instance, as a saw, as shown in the present drawingsand to make the adjacent side of the case transparent, so that the retaining-plate representing the article of manufacture may be readily seen through the transparent side of the case.

Other objects and uses will appear in the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved tape-measure, showing the transparent side of the case. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the detached reel. Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views, respectively, of the transparent side and its metallic supportingring. Fig. 6 is a similar view of a reinforcing ring or guard for the transparent side of the case.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The'inolosing case or shell consists, essentially, of a circular band 1 of celluloid or other suitable material and opposite sides or ends 2 and 3, which fit over and upon the opposite ends of the cylindrical band 1. This band is formed with an opening 4 in its periphery, through which one end of a tape 5 extends, the other end of said tape being wound upon a reel 6, which is actuated by a coil-spring 7 within the reel.

The rear wall or cap 2 of the case consists of a metal disk 8, having a marginal inturned flange 9, and upon the outer face of this disk 8 is placed a covering 10 of celluloid or similar material, which has its marginal edges turned over and inwardly upon the marginal flange 9 of the disk 8, as best seen in Fig. 2, and after the cap 2 is thus formed it is fitted upon the. adjacent end of the circular band 1, so that the overturned edges of the celluloid covering 10 are impinged between the flange 9 and outer face of the band 1 and is usually cemented to hold the parts together.

A second metal disk or plate 11 is fitted within and against the disk 8, and portion's'of this latter disk 11 are cut and turned at substantially right angles to the disk to form a split hub or post 12, upon which the reel 6 is journaled and to which one end of the coilspring 7 is secured, the other end of said coilspring being secured to the reel, so as to rotate the reel to wind up the tape.

The opposite side or cap 3 of the inclosing case comprises a metal ring 13, having a central opening 14 and its marginal edgesbent inwardly to form an annular flange 15.

A covering 16, of transparent celluloid or similar transparent material, is fitted upon and against the outer face of the ring 13 and across the opening 14 and has its marginal edges turned over and inwardly upon the flange 15, so that when the cap 3 is placed upon the adjacent end of the band 1 the inturned edges of the celluoid covering are impinged between the flange 15 and periphery of the band 1 and is also cemented to the band.

A filling 17 of paper or other suitable material is interposed between the celluloid cover 16 and adjacent face of the metallic ring 13 and has its central portion cut away to correspond to the opening 14, so as to afford an unobstructed view through the transparent covering 16 and opening 14 into the interior of the case.

A reinforcing ring or guard 18 is placed against the inner face of the metallic ring 13 to reinforce or strengthen the case, and its central portion is depressed toward the reel 6 and is formed with a central opening 19 of slightly-greater diameter than the reel, the depressed portion forming a guard to prevent displacement of the tape while being wound and unwound from the reel. This reel preferably consists of a metal cup having a retaining plate or disk 20 across its open end, and both the bottom of the cup and the retaining-plate are formed with central openings receiving the hub or stud 12 and constituting bearings for supporting the reel. The spring-motor 7 is arranged Within the cupshaped portion of the reel, and the tape is Wound upon the cup. The disk or plate 20 is secured to the open end of the cup-shaped portion of the reel by soldering or otherwise and projects slightly beyond the periphery of the cup to retain the tape upon the cup or drum when being wound or unwound. This retaining-plate may be of any desired formto represent one or more tools or implementssuch, for instance, as a saw, as shown in the drawin sand this particular tape-measure is there ore adapted as an advertising novelty for saw manufacturers but it is evident that the retaining-plate may be made to represent pulleys, files, and other useful implements which are made and carried in stock by different manufacturers, each manufacturer having a retaining-disk adapted to advertise his particular line of manufacture, and this may be readily seen through the transparent side of the case which is the object sought.

Having thus described my invention, what by said plate, the celluloid covering 10 having its marginal edge turned over upon the marginal flange of said disk, the reel 6 mounted 35 'on said hub, the tape 5 wound on said reel,

the ring 13 having an inturned marginal edge, and the celluloid covering 16 having its marginal edge turned over and inwardly upon the inturned edge of'said plate 13, sub, 4.0 stantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of June,-1904.

JOHN MoLEAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. BATCHUM, FRED B.-REIMERs.

Images