This disclosure relates to construction tools and more particularly to a combined stud finder and tape measure device.
As is known, stud finders are used to locate a stud or other obstacle behind drywall or other surface finish that prevents visual determination of the location of the obstacle. The stud finder is often used to locate a hidden stud for the purpose of using the stud as a support or mounting point for various objects, for example, pictures, shelves, hanging plants, bicycle holders, etc.
Once a stud is found, a builder, homeowner or handyman may often need to locate a point of interest a certain distance from the stud. For example, the point of interest may be another stud or a point located a certain distance from the stud, such as a picture location or a height from a floor, a ceiling, etc. This locating action can often involve marking the wall with the stud location, putting the stud finder down and then using a tape measure to locate the point of interest. Unfortunately, this process involves numerous steps, is time consuming, and is prone to inaccuracy.
Stud finders having built-in tape measures are known. However, one such combined device limits the routing of the tape strip of the tape measure to one direction, that is, in line with the length of the stud finder, which is not useful in many applications. Additionally, the combined device orients the tape strip perpendicular to the wall or the surface being scanned, so that the scale markings on the tape strip can only be read from one side of the stud finder, which makes the tape measure hard to use. Similarly, a combination stud finder and tape measure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,489 includes a fixed-orientation tape measure mounted perpendicularly to the stud finder.
An enhanced combined stud finder and tape measure device enables use of the tape measure in many situations in which the above-described devices are not useful. The combined stud finder and tape measure device includes a housing having a tape measure mounted therein so that the tape strip of the tape measure is disposed parallel to the surface being scanned and so that the scale markings on the tape strip are visible from virtually any angle. Further, the tape measure is rotatably mounted in the housing so that the tape measure can be rotated, thus enabling the tape strip to be routed to either side of or below the stud finder.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
A combined stud finder and tape measure device includes a stud locating apparatus for detecting studs or other obstacles and a rotatably mounted tape measure. The stud locating apparatus operates by detecting density or capacitance changes or changes in a magnetic field caused by a stud or metallic objects, such as conduit, wires, screws and nails embedded in a stud, etc. The locating apparatus typically may be used for finding studs or other obstacles behind finishing materials, for example, drywall, plaster, paneling, or siding. Such finishing materials can be found in most common residential, commercial and industrial construction. Typically, studs used to support these finishing materials are made of wood, but can be of other material such as steel. Of course, many finishing materials, particularly drywall, are finished to a smooth, flat surface making it nearly impossible in finished construction to locate the studs visually or manually. Because finishing materials rarely have the mechanical strength to support items such as pictures or shelves, it is important to know the location of studs when mounting such items to a wall so that fasteners can be attached directly to the studs, thereby providing increased mechanical support for the mounted item. The stud finder apparatus is useful for the purpose of finding studs and other obstacles.
As discussed above, locating a stud or other structure behind a surface may only be a first step in a project. Once found, the stud may become a measuring point for additional operations. The tape measure of the combined stud finder and tape measure device is useful for this purpose. For example, a handyman may need to measure a height above the floor or a distance from a ceiling when mounting a picture or shelves. In another example, a contractor may need the distance from the stud to a corner or other section of a wall for determining a length of a shelving section, or may need to locate a spot between studs or to locate the position of other studs by first finding a given stud and then measuring a distance from that stud.
Referring to
The housing 102 may be manufactured from any of a number of materials according to weight and durability requirements. For example, the housing 102 can be made of a high impact plastic, a formed powdered metal, or stainless steel. The housing 102 may be contoured, as is illustrated in, for example,
The stud locating apparatus 104 may include any typical or known stud finding circuitry (not depicted) disposed therein. In particular, the stud finding circuitry may be any of several known in the art, such as the circuitry disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,118. As illustrated in
The tape measure 106, which may be constructed similarly to commonly found tape measures, includes a tape strip 116 having a measurement scale 122 thereon with the tape strip 116 wound around a spindle 120. As is common among tape measures, the spindle 120 may be attached to a wind-up retractor spring (not depicted) for rewinding the tape strip 1116 on the spindle 120 when the tape measure 106 is not in use. As illustrated in
The tape measure 106 is preferably rotatably mounted within the housing 102 so that the tape strip 116 can be rotated to a number of different positions with respect to the housing 102. The tape measure 106 may be attached to the housing 102 using a collar and ring, a pin and center hole, or any other mounting technique known in the art for rotatable attachment. This rotatable attachment allows the tape strip 116 to be directed over a range of angles. For example, using a clock analogy with respect to
As best shown in
A stud locating apparatus 104 may be disposed in the housing 102 at a step 204, as discussed above, in such a manner so that a measurement signal from the stud locating device is directed through the back face 118. At a step 206, a tape measure 106 may be assembled so that the tape strip 116 is wrapped around the spindle 120 with the measurement scale 122 facing the spindle 120. At a step 208, the tape measure 106 is then coupled to the housing 102 so that the tape measure 106 may be rotated through at least 180° and is mounted so that the spindle 120 is parallel to the back face 118 and so that the tape strip 116, when extended, is parallel to the plane defined by the back face 118.
This disclosure is intended to explain how to fashion and use various embodiments in accordance with the invention rather than to limit the true, intended, and fair scope and spirit thereof. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/590,064 filed Jul. 21, 2004.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60590064 | Jul 2004 | US |