US4663854A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tape measure with lock button
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-07-11
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Granted: 1987-05-12
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Expires: 2006-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A tape measure includes a housing having first and second half and a bottom access door which is openable to provide an access port to the interior of the housing. A spool is rotatably mounted upon an axle which has an integrally formed ratchet plate. The ratchet plate engages ratchet teeth that are integrally formed within the interior surface of the housing to provide for rotation of the axle to load a spring within the spool to a desired tension. The ratchet teeth normally prevent rotation of the axle to unload the spring tension. An overriding mechanism allows the axle to axially move to disengage the ratchet plate from the ratchet teeth to provide for rotation of the axle to unload the spring mechanism. A lock button has a thumb operating section at the top portion of the housing and has a pressure regulating section which regulates the pressure that the bottom end of the lock button exerts against the tape.
Inventors
- 👤 Randy Miller
- 👤 Ken Veverka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B3/00; G01B3/10; G01B3/1005; G01B3/1007; G01B2003/101; G01B2003/1015; G01B2003/1033; G01B2003/1038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A tape measure characterized by: a housing having a tape receiving slot therein; a tape passing through said slot; tape receiving means mounted in said housing for receiving said tape; and a lock means normally biased towards an upper release position for releasably maintaining said tape in a fixed position through said slot, said lock means having an operable button at the top of said housing, said button vertically slidable between said upper release position and a lower lock position, said operable button integrally formed with a vertically slidable wall portion having means engaging said tape and forming a section of the exterior wall of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A tape measure characterized by: a housing having a tape receiving slot therein; a tape passing through said slot; tape receiving means mounted in said housing for receiving said tape; and a lock means normally biased towards an upper release position for releasably maintaining said tape in a fixed position through said slot, said lock means having an operable button at the top of said housing, said button vertically slidable between said upper release position and a lower lock position, said operable button integrally formed with a vertically slidable wall portion having means engaging said tape and forming a section of the exterior wall of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A tape measure as defined in claim 1 further characterized by: spring means for biasing said lock means to a release position; engagement means for releasably retaining said lock means in a position to fix said tape against the bias of said spring means; guide means at the side of said wall portion for retaining said lock means with said housing when said lock means is in said release position or said lock position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tape measure as defined in claim 2 further characterized by: said engagement means includes complementary shoulders on said lock means and on said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tape measure as defined in claim 2 wherein said guide means includes; a first and second extension extending from a depending wall of said button; said extension having flanges that engage a forward shoulder of said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tape measure as defined in claim 1 further characterized by: said lock means comprises the front wall of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
182 words
A tape measure characterized by: a housing having a tape receiving slot therein; a tape passing through said slot; tape receiving means mounted in said housing for receiving said tape; and lock means forming a portion of the vertical front wall of said housing for releasably maintaining said tape in a fixed position through said slot, said lock means having an operable button at the top thereof and extending through the top of said housing for slidably moving said lock means between an upper release position and a lower lock position, wherein said lock means includes: a wall portion forming a section of the exterior wall of said housing, said wall portion integral with said operable button; spring means for biasing said lock means to said release position; engagement means for releasably retaining said lock means in a position to fix said tape against the bias of said spring means; and guide means at the sides of said wall portion for slidably retaining said lock means with said housing when said lock means is in said release position and said lock position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
182 words
A tape measure characterized by: a housing having a tape receiving slot therein; a tape passing through said slot; tape receiving means mounted in said housing for receiving said tape; and lock means forming a portion of the vertical front wall of said housing for releasably maintaining said tape in a fixed position through said slot, said lock means having an operable button at the top thereof and extending through the top of said housing for slidably moving said lock means between an upper release position and a lower lock position, wherein said lock means includes: a wall portion forming a section of the exterior wall of said housing, said wall portion integral with said operable button; spring means for biasing said lock means to said release position; engagement means for releasably retaining said lock means in a position to fix said tape against the bias of said spring means; and guide means at the sides of said wall portion for slidably retaining said lock means with said housing when said lock means is in said release position and said lock position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tape measure as defined in claim 6 wherein said engagement means includes complementary shoulders on said lock means and on said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tape measure as defined in claim 6 wherein said guide means includes first and second extensions extending from the sides of said wall portion of said lock means, said extensions having flanges that engage a forward shoulder of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
135 words
A tape measure characterized by: a housing having a tape receiving slot therein; a tape passing through said slot; tape receiving means mounted in said housing for receiving said tape; lock means for releasably maintaining said tape in a fixed position through said slot and slidably movable between an upper release position and a lower lock position, said lock means forming a portion of the front wall of said housing; and means for biasing said lock means to said release position; said lock means including a manually operable thumb engaging portion, a wall portion extending downwardly from said thumb engaging portion and pressure regulator means for regulating the locking pressure on said tape by said lock means, wherein said pressure regulator means, said wall portion and said thumb engaging portion integrally form said lock means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
A tape measure characterized by: a housing having a tape receiving slot therein; a tape passing through said slot; tape receiving means mounted in said housing for receiving said tape; lock means for releasably maintaining said tape in a fixed position through said slot and slidably movable between an upper release position and a lower lock position, said lock means forming a portion of the front wall of said housing; and means for biasing said lock means to said release position; said lock means including a manually operable thumb engaging portion, a wall portion extending downwardly from said thumb engaging portion and pressure regulator means for regulating the locking pressure on said tape by said lock means, wherein said pressure regulator means, said wall portion and said thumb engaging portion integrally form said lock means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tape measure as defined in claim 9 and further comprising an extension extending rearwardly from the wall portion of said lock means, said rearward extension forming a spring seat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The tape measure as defined in claim 9 wherein said pressure regulating means includes two resiliently flexible straps integrally formed with said wall portion of said lock means connecting a tape engaging bottom end with said wall portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-11 | 1990-11-10 | 1991-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-11 | 1994-11-10 | 1995-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-11 | 1998-11-10 | 1999-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |