The present disclosure relates generally to the field of tape measures. The present disclosure relates specifically to a tape measure with a protective bumper located below the tape blade opening.
Tape measures are measurement tools used for a variety of measurement applications, including in the building and construction trades. Some tape measures include a graduated, marked blade wound on a reel and a retraction system for retracting the blade onto the reel. In some tape measure designs, the retraction system is driven by a coil or spiral spring that is tensioned, storing energy as the tape is extended, and that releases energy to spin the reel, winding the blade back onto the reel.
One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a tape measure with a bumper coupled to the housing. The bumper defines a shoulder and a recess portion. The shoulder extends outward away from a front face of the tape measure further than the recessed portion. The tape measure comprises an elongate tape blade that transits an opening in the housing. A hook assembly is coupled to an end of the tape blade. The hook assembly comprises an upper hook that extends above the tape blade and a lower hook that extends below the tape blade. In a specific embodiment, the upper blade comprises a pair of wings that extend above the tape blade and away from the primary axis of the elongate tape blade.
The upper hook extends above the blade defining an upper hook height, and the recess portion defines a recess width as the perpendicular distance measured between a front face of the tape measure housing and an inner surface of the tape hook. In one embodiment, a ratio of the upper hook height to the recess width is between 4:1 and 8:1. More specifically the ratio is between 4.5:1 and 7:1, even more specifically the ratio is between 5:1 and 6:1, and even more specifically the ratio of the upper blade height to the recess width is 5.5:1.
In one embodiment, the hook comprises a protrusion and a recessed portion that collectively define an inner surface. The protrusion extends closer to the tape measure housing than the recessed portion.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to a tape measure including a housing comprising a tape opening and a bumper extending below the tape opening. The bumper includes a recess surface located at least partially above the tape opening and a shoulder portion having an exterior surface. The recess surface is setback from the exterior surface of the shoulder portion defining a gap distance. The tape measure includes a reel rotatably mounted within the housing and an elongate blade wound around the reel. The elongate blade has an inner end coupled to the reel and an outer end extending out of the tape opening. The tape measure includes a hook assembly coupled to the outer end of the elongate blade. The tape measure includes a retraction system coupled to the reel, and the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate blade on to the reel.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to a tape measure include a housing, a tape opening defined in the housing and a bumper coupled to the housing. The bumper includes a recess surface located at least partially above the tape opening, and an impact corner located below the tape opening. The impact corner is located in front of the recess surface defining a gap distance measured in the horizontal direction between the impact corner and the recess surface. The tape measure includes a reel rotatably mounted within the housing and an elongate blade wound around the reel. The elongate blade has an inner end coupled to the reel and an outer end extending out of the tape opening. The tape measure includes a hook assembly coupled to the outer end of the elongate blade and a retraction system coupled to the reel. The retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate blade on to the reel.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to tape measure including a housing, a tape opening defined in the housing and an impact protective corner extending below the tape opening. The tape measure includes a reel rotatably mounted within the housing and an elongate blade wound around the reel. The elongate blade has an inner end coupled to the reel and an outer end extending out of the tape opening. The tape measure includes a hook assembly coupled to the outer end of the elongate blade. The hook assembly includes an upper hook extending above the elongate blade and a lower hook extending below the elongate blade. A rear surface of the upper hook is setback from a rear surface of the lower hook defining a hook recess distance. The tape measure includes a retraction system coupled to the reel, and the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate blade on to the reel.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and, in part, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain principles and operation of the various embodiments.
Referring generally to the figures, various embodiments of a tape measure are shown. Various embodiments of the tape measure discussed herein include an innovative bumper design that protects the tape blade and hook assembly. In various tape measures, the hook extends beneath the housing allowing users to place the tape measure against a work object, engage the hook against an edge of the work object, and move the housing away from the hook to extend the tape from the housing and other similar.
However, Applicant has determined that the overhang of the hook (i.e., the portion of the tape hook that extends beneath the lowest point of the housing or bumper) exposes the hook and tape blade to possible damage. For example, when the tape measure is subject to an impact (e.g., after being dropped), the hook and tape blade may receive at least part of the impact force when the hook's lower half impacts the ground first. This force can be transferred to the rivets (or other coupling structure) that couple the hook to the tape blade and to the tape blade itself.
Accordingly, in various designs discussed herein, Applicant has developed a tape measure, tape measure housing and/or bumper design that limits exposure of the tape blade and hook to such forces. In various embodiments discussed herein, the tape measure housing includes bumper with a shoulder that facilitates repositioning of the tape blade and hook during impact in a way that impact force is absorbed by the housing rather than by the hook or the tape blade. In general, the tape measure housing includes a bumper sized and shaped relative to the tape measure hook and/or tape opening to allow the tape hook to move upward and to pivot in a manner that decreases the impact force experienced by the tape hook and/or blade during impact.
As will be explained in detail below, in various embodiments, the shoulder of the bumper is coupled to the housing, and the tape blade transits an opening at least partially in the shoulder. At the moment of impact when the bottom surface of the tape hook initiates contact with a striking surface, the hook slides upward away from the ground until the bottom (lowermost edge or surface) of the hook is sub-flush with respect to the bottom of the bumper, allowing the bumper to contact the ground and to absorb the impact of the fall. In addition, the bumper described herein reduces forces exerted on the hook by providing a recess that allows the hook to move or to pivot inward during an impact on the ground, thereby further eliminating force that the hook experiences during impact.
Referring to
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
A slot 82 is defined along a forward portion 86 of peripheral wall 58. Slot 82 provides an opening in the tape measure housing, which allows tape lock 46 to extend into housing 18. In addition, slot 82 provides a length sufficient to allow tape lock 46 to be moved relative to housing 18 between locked and unlocked positions.
Below the slot 82, a tape blade opening in the housing, shown as tape port 90, is provided in peripheral wall 58. Tape port 90 has an arcuate shape 94, corresponding to an arcuate cross-sectional profile of tape blade 14. The tape port 90 allows for the retraction and extension of tape blade 14 to and from the internal cavity 62 defined within housing 18.
Referring to
Referring to
In general, bumper 120 is a portion of tape measure housing that is located at the lower corner of tape measure housing 18 adjacent the tape opening 114. As shown in
Hook 130 comprises upper hook 132, which extends above tape blade 14, and lower hook 134, which extends below tape blade 14. Lower surface 146 of lower hook 134 and upper surface 148 of upper hook 132 each face away from each other. For example when tape measure 10 is held by a user, lower surface 146 of lower hook 134 extends past lower surface 150 and corner 154 of bumper 120 by distance 144. In various embodiments, distance 144 is at least 3-4 mm, and more specifically distance 144 is 3-4 mm.
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In general, during impact, corner 154 interfaces against striking surface 151 after hook 130 moves vertically away from the striking surface. By comparison, a bumper having a corner with a larger radius (e.g., more rounded) and/or a greater recess, shown as line 152, would require hook 130 to move vertically even further before the more rounded corner would interface against the striking surface. Thus, in such a design, either the tape blade opening would need to be larger in the vertical direction to provide for increased vertical tape movement or the impact would be absorbed by the tape hook prior to engagement of the bumper corner with the striking surface. This differential is illustrated schematically in
However, Applicant has determined that simply increasing the height of the tape opening to accommodate large amounts of vertical tape movement during impact can result in other unsatisfactory tape performance issues. For example, Applicant has found that if the tape blade opening is too large in the vertical direction, tape standout distance can decrease and the degree of tape whip during retraction can increase. Thus, in the present design applicant has determined the size and shape of bumper 120 in combination with the vertical size of the tape opening provides a tape measure with both the drop performance provided by bumper 120 and standout and whip performance provided at least in part by a relatively small vertical height of the tape opening.
Referring to
Another factor that Applicant believes relates to the interaction of hook 130 with tape housing 18 during impact is height 116 of opening 114. As tape opening height 116 increases, the distance that upper hook 132 moves upward also increases. Thus, by utilizing a tape bumper design discussed herein, opening height 116 may be relatively small while still providing for tape hook and blade protection because additional tape blade movement during impact is provided via rotation into recess 124 rather than relying on upward movement alone.
In various embodiments, Applicant has determined that the ratio of the upper blade height 136 to the gap distance 126 relates to the impact performance discussed herein. In one embodiment, the ratio of the upper blade height to the gap distance is greater than 3:1. In a specific embodiment, the ratio of the upper blade height to the gap distance is between 4:1 and 8:1. More specifically the ratio is between 4.5:1 and 7:1, even more specifically the ratio is between 5:1 and 6:1, and even more specifically the ratio of the upper blade height to the gap distance is 5.5:1.
In another embodiment, Applicant has determined that the ratio of the upper blade height 136 to the total gap distance (e.g., gap distance 126 plus distance 142) relates to the impact performance discussed herein. In one embodiment, the ratio of the upper blade height to the total gap distance is greater than 3:1. In a specific embodiment, the ratio of the upper blade height to the total gap distance is between 4:1 and 8:1. More specifically the ratio is between 4.5:1 and 7:1, even more specifically the ratio is between 5:1 and 6:1, and even more specifically the ratio of the upper blade height to the total gap distance is 5.5:1.
In one embodiment, opening 114 is defined entirely by shoulder 122. In an alternate embodiment, opening 114 is partially defined by bumper 120 and partially defined by housing 18, and housing 18 at least partially defines recess 124 into which hook 130 rotates.
In one embodiment, housing 18 and bumper 120 are separate components coupled together. In another embodiment, housing 18 and bumper 120 are molded as a single component. In various embodiments, bumper 120 is formed from a polymer material and may be formed from an impact absorbing polymer material.
Referring to
Bumper 170 includes a central region 184 that recessed relative to surfaces 180 and 182 and surrounds tape opening 178. Specifically, central region 184 includes a first upper recess region 186 and second upper recess region 188. Upper recess regions 186 and 188 are located above left and right sides of tape opening 178. In general, recess regions 186 and 188 are shaped to receive upper hook portions 132 of tape hook 130 and provide extra space to receive and protect tape hook 130 during drop as discussed above.
Specifically, as shown best in
To further facilitate receipt of upper portions 132 of tape hook 130, each recess 186 and 188 are defined between outer sidewall 190 and inner sidewall 192. In general, the width dimension between sidewalls 190 and 192 is sized to closely accept upper hook portion 132 such that lateral movement of the tape hook is restricted via contact between sidewalls 190 and 192 during drop or other impact.
Similarly, to further provide a close fit to the upper portions 132 of tape hook 130, sidewalls 190 and 192 are positioned relative to each other to provide a shape similar to the shape of upper portions 132. Specifically, in the embodiment shown, sidewalls 190 are angled laterally inward toward central plane 194 of tape measure 10. Sidewalls 192 are angled laterally outward toward central plane 194 of tape measure 10.
Bumper 170 further includes lower, outer sidewalls 196. Lower, outer sidewalls 196 are contiguous with outer sidewall 190 and extend downward toward lower edge 198 of bumper 170. This arrangement defines a lower recess portion 200 located below tape opening 178 and defined laterally by lower outer sidewalls 196.
Lower recess portion 200 is recessed relative to surfaces 180 and 182, and is generally shaped to closely receive a lower portion 134 of tape hook 130. Similar to the arrangement of recesses 186 and 188, the closely conforming shape of lower recess portion 200 limits lateral movement of tape hook 130 during drop or impact further protecting tape hook 130. As shown, sidewalls 196 are angled inward toward plane 194 in a direction toward lower edge 198. In this arrangement, the lower end of recess portion 200 has a width that is less than the width of upper end of recess portion 200.
It should be understood that the figures illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, and it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for description purposes only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and arrangements, shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process, logical algorithm, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that any particular order be inferred. In addition, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more component or element, and is not intended to be construed as meaning only one. As used herein, “rigidly coupled” refers to two components being coupled in a manner such that the components move together in a fixed positional relationship when acted upon by a force.
Various embodiments of the invention relate to any combination of any of the features, and any such combination of features may be claimed in this or future applications. Any of the features, elements or components of any of the exemplary embodiments discussed above may be utilized alone or in combination with any of the features, elements or components of any of the other embodiments discussed above.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/110,031, filed Dec. 2, 2020, which is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2020/035707, filed Jun. 2, 2020, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/856,483, filed on Jun. 3, 2019, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
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International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/035707 dated Sep. 11, 2020 (11 pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230099675 A1 | Mar 2023 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62856486 | Jun 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17110031 | Dec 2020 | US |
Child | 18052446 | US | |
Parent | PCT/US2020/035707 | Jun 2020 | WO |
Child | 17110031 | US |