← Back to Patent Explorer
US4786010A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tape measure

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-10-23
•
Granted: 1988-11-22
•
Expires: 2006-10-23
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An erasable writing tablet for notation of dimensions and other information. The erasable writing table is adapted to be attached to a tape measure or any other conforming receptive surface. The material composition of the erasable writing tablet is sold under the trade name "Corian". The abrasiveness of this material permits the effacement of the notations by sandpaper or an eraser while maintaining the desired surface properties of the erasable writing tablet. A storage pocket is adapted to receive the means for effacing writing on the erasable writing tablet.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael V. Dynan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 16:19
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43L; B43L1/00; G; G01; G01B; G01B3/00; G01B3/10; G01B3/1084; G01B3/1089; G01B3/1094; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S242/00; Y10S242/905

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 146 words
A tape measure comprising: (a) a housing having an outer flat surface, (b) a measuring tape coiled and enclosed in said housing, the tape being extendable and retractable into the housing, and (c) a writing tablet formed of a solid and rigid polymer block with abrasive properties, the abrasive properties being a characteristic of the tablet's composition which contains inorganic filler of abrasive particles, the tablet having an inner surface, an edge surface and a flat outer surface, said inner surface being attached to said outer flat surface of the housing, the tablet being sufficiently hard and abrasive to permit said outer surface to be inscribed by a standard graphite pencil, said tablet being softer than sandpaper to enable the inscribed outer surface to be abraded with sandpaper, whereby the outer surface is renewed and receptive to further inscription after subsequent and repeated abrading by sandpaper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 146 words
A tape measure comprising: (a) a housing having an outer flat surface, (b) a measuring tape coiled and enclosed in said housing, the tape being extendable and retractable into the housing, and (c) a writing tablet formed of a solid and rigid polymer block with abrasive properties, the abrasive properties being a characteristic of the tablet's composition which contains inorganic filler of abrasive particles, the tablet having an inner surface, an edge surface and a flat outer surface, said inner surface being attached to said outer flat surface of the housing, the tablet being sufficiently hard and abrasive to permit said outer surface to be inscribed by a standard graphite pencil, said tablet being softer than sandpaper to enable the inscribed outer surface to be abraded with sandpaper, whereby the outer surface is renewed and receptive to further inscription after subsequent and repeated abrading by sandpaper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
A tape measure as recited in claim 1, wherein the writing tablet comprises a polymethyl methacrylate resin having a uniformly dispersed alumina trihydrate filler, said tablet being manufactured by E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. and sold under the trademark "CORIAN".
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 61 words
A tape measure as recited in claim 1 wherein the inner flat surface includes a recess which extends through said edge surface to form a storage pocket between said inner flat surface and the outer flat surface of the housing, said pocket adapted for storage of sandpaper to provide the means for abraiding inscriptions on said outer surface of the tablet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 48 words
A tape measure as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for attaching said inner surface of the writing tablet to said outer flat surface of the housing is silicon rubber caulk, said silicon rubber caulk further providing shock absorbing properties against impacts received by said writing tablet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 124 words
A tape measure comprising a housing having an outer flat surface and a writing tablet, said writing tablet being formed by a solid and rigid polymer block with abrasive properties, the abrasive properties being a characteristic of the writing tablet's composition which contains a uniformly dispersed inorganic filler of abrasive particles, the writing tablet having an inner surface, an edge surface and a flat outer surface, the writing tablet being sufficiently hard and abrasive to enable said outer surface to be inscribed on by a standard graphite pencil, said writing tablet being softer than sandpaper to enable the inscribed outer surface to be abraded with sandpaper, whereby said outer surface is renewed and receptive to further inscriptions after subsequent and repeated abraiding by sandpaper.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 124 words
A tape measure comprising a housing having an outer flat surface and a writing tablet, said writing tablet being formed by a solid and rigid polymer block with abrasive properties, the abrasive properties being a characteristic of the writing tablet's composition which contains a uniformly dispersed inorganic filler of abrasive particles, the writing tablet having an inner surface, an edge surface and a flat outer surface, the writing tablet being sufficiently hard and abrasive to enable said outer surface to be inscribed on by a standard graphite pencil, said writing tablet being softer than sandpaper to enable the inscribed outer surface to be abraded with sandpaper, whereby said outer surface is renewed and receptive to further inscriptions after subsequent and repeated abraiding by sandpaper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 44 words
A tape measure as recited in claim 1, wherein the writing tablet comprises a polymethyl methacrylate resin having a uniformly dispersed alumina trihydrate filler, said polymethyl methacrylate resin being manufactured by E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. and sold under the trademark "CORIAN".
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 67 words
A taper measure as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner flat surface includes a recess which extends through said edge surface to form a storage pocket between said inner flat surface and said outer flat surface of the housing of the tape measure, said pocket adapted for a storage of sandpaper to provide the means for abraiding inscriptions on said outer surface of the writing tablet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 52 words
A tape measure as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the writing tablet is attached to said outer flat surface of the housing of the tape measure by means of silicon rubber caulk, said silicon rubber caulk further providing shock absorbing properties against impacts received by said writing tablet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 34 words
A tape measure as recited in claim 1, wherein said inner surface of the writing tablet is attached to said outer flat surfce of the housing of the tape measure by an adhesive glue.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1839439A Cited
US2914269A Cited
FR1547479A Cited
US3672597A Cited
US3847865A Cited
US3838520A Cited
GB1534971A Cited
US4636582A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-11-22 1992-05-23 1992-11-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-11-22 1996-05-23 1996-11-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-11-22 2000-05-23 2000-11-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag