Lighted and magnetized tape measure with combination marker and clothing-attachment arm member

Claim 2

A flexible retractable tape rule having a case with bottom, top, front, rear and side walls and a flexible tape coiled within the casing which is extendable and recoilable through an opening of the front of the casing, and an improvement for removably securing said apparatus to clothing articles and the like for storage comprising: a. a flexible arm member pivotally affixed to a side wall so that clothing and the like can be inserted between the casing the flexible arm member; b. a spring means affixed to the flexible arm member which biases the flexible arm member to pivot against the casing; and c. an upper plate attached to and extending from the flexible arm member to a position above another wall surface of the casing so that the flexible arm member can be pivoted by depressing the upper plate without the need for direct operator access to the flexible arm member.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 which further provides a high friction surface between the flexible arm member and the casing to inhibit clothing and the like secured by the flexible arm member from sliding between the flexible arm member and the casing.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 1 in which the flexible arm member is pivotally secured to a base plate which is affixed to the casing.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 1 in which the upper plate forms an angle to extend the flexible arm member to a position above the top surface of the casing so the flexible arm member can be pivotally actuated from the top surface of the casing.

Claim 6

A tape measuring apparatus which comprises: a. a casing with a front, back, top, bottom and side wall surfaces in which the top and bottom surfaces are parallel; b. flexible tape coiled within the casing which is extendable and recoilable through an opening in the front wall of the casing; c. a protrusion of the front wall of the casing; d. light emitting means recessed within the lower portion of the protrusion such that light is focused on the tape as it extends through an opening of the front wall of the casing; e. a magnetized hook at the end of the tape which prevents the end of the tape from entering the opening of the front wall of the casing and magnetically anchors the end of the tape during measuring operations; f. magnetized feet on the lower surface of the casing for magnetically adhering the casing to metallic surfaces; g. a switch means mounted on the top wall of the casing near the end proximate the rear wall for controlling the light emitting means; h. a flexible arm member pivotally affixed to a side wall of the casing for removably securing the tape measuring apparatus to clothing articles and the like for storage which further comprising; i. a spring means affixed to the flexible arm member which biases the flexible arm member to pivot against the casing; j. an upper plate attached to and extending from the flexible arm member to a position above the top surface of the casing so the flexible arm member can be pivotally actuated from the top surface of the casing; and k. a chalk line coiled in a housing affixed to the side wall of the casing opposite the side wall on which the flexible arm is affixed, the housing having an opening through which the chalk line can be extended and retracted in a direction substantially similar to the tape, said chalk line having a stop means at its end to prevent complete retraction of the chalk line to the housing.

Claim 7

A tape measuring apparatus which comprises: a. a casing with a front, back, top, bottom and side wall surfaces in which the top and bottom surfaces are parallel; b. flexible tape coiled within the casing which is extendable and recoilable through an opening in the front wall of the casing; c. a protrusion of the front wall of the casing; d. light emitting means recessed within the lower portion of the protrusion such that light is focused on the tape as it extends through an opening of the front wall of the casing; e. a magnetized hook at the end of the tape which prevents the end of the tape from entering the opening of the front wall of the casing and magnetically anchors the end of the tape during measuring operations; f. magnetized feet on the lower surface of the casing for magnetically adhering the casing to metallic surfaces; g. a switch means mounted on the top wall of the casing near the end proximate the rear wall for controlling the light emitting means; h. a flexible arm member pivotally affixed to a side wall of the casing for removably securing the tape measuring apparatus to clothing articles and the like for storage which further comprising; i. a spring means affixed to the flexible arm member which biases the flexible arm member to pivot against the casing; j. an upper plate attached to and extending from the flexible arm member to a position above the top surface of the casing so the flexible arm member can be pivotally actuated from the top surface of the casing; and k. a chalk line coiled in a housing affixed to the side wall of the casing opposite the side wall on which the flexible arm is affixed, the housing having an opening through which the chalk line can be extended and retracted in a direction substantially similar to the tape, said chalk line having a stop means at its end to prevent complete retraction of the chalk line to the housing.