Marker and stop accessory for extensible measuring tapes

Claim 2

An accessory for an extensible measuring tape contained in a casing, which tape is issuable through an opening in the casing for measuring an article, said accessory comprising: a housing adapted to be fixed to the casing adjacent to the tape opening, an operator slideably disposed within the housing for movement generally orthogonal to the direction of tape issuance, spring means disposed within the housing and engaging the operator for urging same to an upper position within the housing, said operator carrying at its lower end a tape stop element to overlie the tape issuing from the casing opening and a marker element to overlie the article being measured, said operator being depressable against the action of the spring to simultaneously bring the stop element into engagement with the tape and the marker element into engagement with the article being measured.

Claim 3

An accessory as defined in claim 1, wherein said stop element is in the shape of a pointer whereby it indicates the length of tape issued from the opening as well as stopping any further movement thereof.

Claim 4

An accessory as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is formed with an opening in its bottom through which said marker element projects in the depressed position of the operator, and with a slot in a side portion thereof through which an extension of said operator carrying said stop element extends, whereby said stop element moves as the operator is moved downwardly to its depressed posiTion.

Claim 5

An accessory as defined in claim 1, wherein said operator includes a latch cooperable with said housing for retaining the operator in its depressed position.

Claim 6

An accessory as defined in claim 4, wherein said latch comprises a tab attached intermediate its ends to the operator by a flexible web, said housing being formed with a shoulder, the lower end of said tab including a latching element adapted to engage said shoulder, whereby the upper end of said tab may be pressed toward said operator to move said latching element away from said shoulder to unlatch the operator.

Claim 7

An accessory as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is mounted on an arm attached to the tape casing by an adhesive.

Claim 8

An accesory as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is mounted on an arm attached to the tape casing, said arm including a plurality of cylindrical recesses for receiving spare marker elements.

Claim 9

An accessory for an extensible measuring tape contained in a casing, which tape is issuable through an opening in the casing for measuring an article, said accessory comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to the casing adjacent to the tape opening, an operator slidably disposed within said housing, for movement generally orthogonal to the direction of tape issuance, spring means disposed within said housing for urging the operator to an upper position, said housing being formed with an opening in its bottom side overlying said article laterally of the tape as it issues from the casing, and with a slot in a side portion thereof, facing the tape as it issues from the casing, means connected to said operator and extending outside said housing for depressing said operator to a lower position, a marker element carried by the lower end of said operator and adapted to pass through the opening in the bottom of the housing when the operator is in its lower position, and a pointer element carried by a projection of said operator which passes through the slot in the side portion of the housing to the pointer element overlying the tape issuing from the casing and being aligned with the marker element.

Claim 10

An accessory for an extensible measuring tape contained in a casing, which tape is issuable through an opening in the casing for measuring an article, said accessory comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to the casing adjacent to the tape opening, an operator slidably disposed within said housing, for movement generally orthogonal to the direction of tape issuance, spring means disposed within said housing for urging the operator to an upper position, said housing being formed with an opening in its bottom side overlying said article laterally of the tape as it issues from the casing, and with a slot in a side portion thereof, facing the tape as it issues from the casing, means connected to said operator and extending outside said housing for depressing said operator to a lower position, a marker element carried by the lower end of said operator and adapted to pass through the opening in the bottom of the housing when the operator is in its lower position, and a pointer element carried by a projection of said operator which passes through the slot in the side portion of the housing to the pointer element overlying the tape issuing from the casing and being aligned with the marker element.

Claim 11

An accessory for an extensible measuring tape contained in a casing, which tape is issuable through an opening in the casing for measuring an article, said accessory comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to the casing adjacent to the tape opening, an operator slidably disposed within said housing for movement generally orthogonal to the direction of tape issuance, spring means disposed within said housing for urging said operator to an upper position, said housing being formed with a slot in a side portion thereof, facing the tape issuing from the casing, a stop element carried by said operator and passing through the slot in the side portion of the housing, means connected to said operator and extending outside said housing for depressing the operator thereby causing the stop element to engage the tape issuing from the casing, said stop element being in the shape of a pointer whereby it indicates the length of tape issuing from the opening as well as stopping any further movement thereof, and a releasable latch attached to said operator and cooperable with said housing for retaining the operator in its depressed position.

Claim 12

An accessory for an extensible measuring tape contained in a casing, which tape is issuable through an opening in the casing for measuring an article, said accessory comprising a housing adapted to be fixed to the casing adjacent to the tape opening, an operator slidably disposed within said housing for movement generally orthogonal to the direction of tape issuance, spring means disposed within said housing for urging said operator to an upper position, said housing being formed with a slot in a side portion thereof, facing the tape issuing from the casing, a stop element carried by said operator and passing through the slot in the side portion of the housing, means connected to said operator and extending outside said housing for depressing the operator thereby causing the stop element to engage the tape issuing from the casing, said stop element being in the shape of a pointer whereby it indicates the length of tape issuing from the opening as well as stopping any further movement thereof, and a releasable latch attached to said operator and cooperable with said housing for retaining the operator in its depressed position.