US3838520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape measure
Assignee: Stanley Mabo SA
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Filing: 1972-05-12
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1992-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A tape measure includes a case including an auxiliary outer wall slidably mounted outside and spaced apart from one lateral wall. A plate slidably mounted between these walls carries sheets forming an inscription device, the sheets being accessible through a window in the outer wall in a rest position of the plate to enable inscription, and means being provided for removing inscriptions as the plate is withdrawn.
Inventors
- 👤 M Quenot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:27
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43L; B43L1/00; B43L1/12; B43L1/123; B43L1/126; G; G01; G01B; G01B3/00; G01B3/10; G01B3/1084; G01B3/1089; G01B3/1094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
366 words
A tape measure comprising: a. a case comprising parallel lateral walls including top and bottom walls and end walls integral with a first rectangular lateral wall, means defining a tape withdrawal aperture in one of said end walls, said top and bottom walls each having one of a pair of opposed mutually parallel shoulders extending in a longitudinal direction of said first rectangular lateral wall, said shoulders defining substantially parallel opposed lateral bearing surfaces on said top and bottom walls between said shoulder and an edge of the top and bottom walls respectively, another lateral wall secured between the bearing surfaces with top and bottom edges of said another lateral wall disposed parallel to and spaced from said bearing surfaces and said shoulders respectively to define therebetween top and bottom sliding channels; b. a drum rotatably mounted between said lateral walls about an axis perpendicular to the lateral walls; c. a graduated tape wound on said drum; d. an outer wall including a pair of opposed parallel edges with flanges extending therealong and protruding therefrom substantially perpendicular to an inner face of said outer wall, opposed inside faces of said flanges comprising means defining longitudinal grooves equally spaced from said inner face of said outer wall, said flanges being received along said sliding channels with said grooves engaging said top and bottom edges of said second lateral wall to hold the outer face of the outer wall flush with the edges of the top and bottom walls, said outer wall having means defining a window therethrough; e. a plate slidably mounted between said outer wall and said case and slidable from a first position under said window to a second position extending from said case; f. means for removably displaying impressed inscriptions disposed on a surface of said plate and accessible through said window when said plate is in said first position; g. means for effacing said inscriptions on said display means as said plate is moved from said first position to said second position; and h. means for releasably holding said outer wall in a fixed position from sliding relative to said case and for releasing said outer wall to slide relative to said case.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
366 words
A tape measure comprising: a. a case comprising parallel lateral walls including top and bottom walls and end walls integral with a first rectangular lateral wall, means defining a tape withdrawal aperture in one of said end walls, said top and bottom walls each having one of a pair of opposed mutually parallel shoulders extending in a longitudinal direction of said first rectangular lateral wall, said shoulders defining substantially parallel opposed lateral bearing surfaces on said top and bottom walls between said shoulder and an edge of the top and bottom walls respectively, another lateral wall secured between the bearing surfaces with top and bottom edges of said another lateral wall disposed parallel to and spaced from said bearing surfaces and said shoulders respectively to define therebetween top and bottom sliding channels; b. a drum rotatably mounted between said lateral walls about an axis perpendicular to the lateral walls; c. a graduated tape wound on said drum; d. an outer wall including a pair of opposed parallel edges with flanges extending therealong and protruding therefrom substantially perpendicular to an inner face of said outer wall, opposed inside faces of said flanges comprising means defining longitudinal grooves equally spaced from said inner face of said outer wall, said flanges being received along said sliding channels with said grooves engaging said top and bottom edges of said second lateral wall to hold the outer face of the outer wall flush with the edges of the top and bottom walls, said outer wall having means defining a window therethrough; e. a plate slidably mounted between said outer wall and said case and slidable from a first position under said window to a second position extending from said case; f. means for removably displaying impressed inscriptions disposed on a surface of said plate and accessible through said window when said plate is in said first position; g. means for effacing said inscriptions on said display means as said plate is moved from said first position to said second position; and h. means for releasably holding said outer wall in a fixed position from sliding relative to said case and for releasing said outer wall to slide relative to said case.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
A tape measure according to claim 1, in which said outer wall includes an integral end wall protruding from and perpendicular to said inner face of the outer wall along an edge of the outer wall perpendicular to said pair of opposed parallel edges, a housing defined between said second lateral wall and said top and bottom walls for receiving said end wall when the outer wall is slid along the sliding channels to bring the outer wall to said fixed position, a member included in said housing for stopping further sliding of the outer wall beyond said fixed position, and bosses included in said end wall and recesses included in said housing for releasably holding the outer wall in said fixed position against sliding movement relative to the case.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A tape measure according to claim 2, in which said second lateral wall and said top and bottom walls include, towards an end opposite to said housing, means defining a second housing accessible from outside the case, said second housing including means for removably securing a substantially cylindrical pointed inscription instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
123 words
A tape measure according to claim 1, in which the means for removably displaying inscriptions include a pair of superimposed sheets carried by said plate, said sheets being mutually adhesive at locations where they are pressed together so as to display impressed inscriptions, said means for effacing inscriptions including a strip disposed between said sheets transversal to the direction of sliding of the plate and protruding from opposite edges of said sheets, and said case includes means for receiving protruding parts of said strip and for holding said strip stationary relative to the case during movement of the plate between the first and the second positions, for separating adhering parts of the sheets as said parts of the sheets pass by the strip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A tape measure according to claim 4, in which said flanges of said outer wall are each provided with a shoulder for separating an inner face of said outer wall from said grooves, and said means for receiving protruding parts of the strip are notches each disposed in a shoulder of one of said flanges of the outer wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |