Patent US3100941A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5060394A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5060394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Measuring apparatus with readout display
Assignee: Homestar International Inc
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Filing: 1989-04-20
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Granted: 1991-10-29
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Expires: 2009-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A tape measure 20 includes a display window 24 for presenting a digital presentation of the measurement being made. The tape measure 20 includes an encoder 74 which provides for a combined absolute scale 95 and relative scale 105 for determining the measurement. Perforations 62 in the tape 26 are mated with pins 60 extending from a capstan 58 in order to cause the encoder 74 to send signals to a microprocessor 76. The microprocessor 76 processes the signal and displays the measurement.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry A. Lincoln
- 👤 Nicholas Vrionis
- 👤 Donald E. Pezzolo
- 👤 James W. Pfeiffer
- 👤 Robert A. Wilk
- 👤 John D. Scheff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B3/00; G01B3/10; G01B3/1061; G01B3/1069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including: a housing; a flexible tape; means located in said housing for allowing said tape to be retracted into and extended from said housing; a capstan; means for rotatingly securing said capstan in said housing; means for operably engaging said tape with said capstan to cause said capstan to rotate with the retraction of the tape into said housing and the extension of said tape from said housing; encoder means for determining movement of said tape; said encoder means including a plurality of coded electrical conductors which include an absolute scale and a relative scale, at least some of the coded electrical conductors having different codes; said encoder means including electrical switch means for contacting said coded electrical conductors and for causing a signal to be created; means for operably coupling said encoder means to said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; and means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including: a housing; a flexible tape; means located in said housing for allowing said tape to be retracted into and extended from said housing; a capstan; means for rotatingly securing said capstan in said housing; means for operably engaging said tape with said capstan to cause said capstan to rotate with the retraction of the tape into said housing and the extension of said tape from said housing; encoder means for determining movement of said tape; said encoder means including a plurality of coded electrical conductors which include an absolute scale and a relative scale, at least some of the coded electrical conductors having different codes; said encoder means including electrical switch means for contacting said coded electrical conductors and for causing a signal to be created; means for operably coupling said encoder means to said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; and means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said operably engaging means includes perforations provided through said tape and pins extending from the capstan which engage said perforations in order to cause the capstan to rotate as said tape moves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said perforations are circular in shape and the pins are sufficiently short so that elongated perforations are not required nor are the circular perforations worn into elongate shapes through usage of the tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said absolute scale includes sets of indicia, with only one indicia of each set changing for each location to be determined.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said absolute scale includes a Gray Scale.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said coded electrical conductors are semicircular in shape.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including: a housing; a a flexible tape; means located in said housing for allowing said tape to be retracted into said extended from said housing; a capstan; means for rotatingly securing said capstan in said housing; means for operably engaging said tape with said capstan to cause said capstan to rotate with the retraction of the tape into said housing and the extension of said tape from said housing; encoder means for determining movement of said tape and for providing a signal representative of said movement; said encoder means including an absolute scale and said relative scale; means for operably coupling said encoder means to said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including: a housing; a a flexible tape; means located in said housing for allowing said tape to be retracted into said extended from said housing; a capstan; means for rotatingly securing said capstan in said housing; means for operably engaging said tape with said capstan to cause said capstan to rotate with the retraction of the tape into said housing and the extension of said tape from said housing; encoder means for determining movement of said tape and for providing a signal representative of said movement; said encoder means including an absolute scale and said relative scale; means for operably coupling said encoder means to said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said operably engaging means includes perforations provided through said tape and pins extending from the capstan which engage said perforations in order to cause the capstan to rotate as said tape moves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said perforations are circular in shape and the pins are sufficiently short so that elongated perforations are not required nor are the circular perforations worn into elongate shapes through usage of the tape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7 whereby said encoder means includes a switch means for contacting said absolute scale and relative scale for generating said signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said relative scale includes first predetermined intervals, and said absolute scale includes means for determining a location within each of said first predetermined intervals; said processor means including counter means for counting said first predetermined intervals and decoder means for decoding said absolute scale.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said absolute scale includes a Gray Scale.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said relative and absolute scales are circular in shape.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including a housing a capstan; means for rotating securing said capstan in said housing; means for causing said capstan to rotate so that the measurement can be made; encoder means for determining movement of said capstan; said encoder means including a plurality of coded electrical conductors which include an absolute scale and a relative scale, at least some of the coded electrical conductors having different codes; said encoder means includes electrical switch means for contacting said coded electrical conductors and for causing a signal to be created; means for operably coupling said encoder means with said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; and means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including a housing a capstan; means for rotating securing said capstan in said housing; means for causing said capstan to rotate so that the measurement can be made; encoder means for determining movement of said capstan; said encoder means including a plurality of coded electrical conductors which include an absolute scale and a relative scale, at least some of the coded electrical conductors having different codes; said encoder means includes electrical switch means for contacting said coded electrical conductors and for causing a signal to be created; means for operably coupling said encoder means with said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; and means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said coded electrical conductors of said encoder means include a first scale means for measuring first predetermined intervals, and a second scale means for determining a location within each of said first predetermined intervals; said processor means including counter means for counting said first predetermined intervals of said first scale means and decoder means for decoding said second scale means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 15: wherein said second scale means includes indicia from absolutely determining a position within each of said first predetermined intervals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said absolute scale includes sets of indicia, with only one indicia of each set changing for each location to be determined.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein: said absolute scale includes a Gray Scale.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said coded electrical conductors are semicircular in shape.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including: a housing; a capstan; means for rotably securing said capstan in said housing; means for causing said capstan to rotate so that the measurement can be made; encoder means for determining movement of said capstan and for generating a signal dependant on said movement; said encoder means including an absolute scale and a relative scale; means for operably coupling said encoder means to said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; and means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including: a housing; a capstan; means for rotably securing said capstan in said housing; means for causing said capstan to rotate so that the measurement can be made; encoder means for determining movement of said capstan and for generating a signal dependant on said movement; said encoder means including an absolute scale and a relative scale; means for operably coupling said encoder means to said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; and means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein: said operably engaging means includes perforations provided through said tape and pins extending from the capstan which engage said perforations in order to cause the capstan to rotate as said tape moves.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein: said perforations are circular in shape and the pins are sufficiently short so that elongated perforations are not required nor are the circular perforations worn into elongate shapes through usage of the tape.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said encoder means includes switch means for contacting said absolute scale and said relative scale in order to create said signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said relative scale includes first predetermined intervals, and absolute scale includes means for determining a location within said first predetermined intervals; said processor means including counter means for counting said first predetermined intervals and decoder means for decoding said absolute scale.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said relative and absolute scales are circular in shape.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
221 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including: a housing; a flexible tape; means located in said housing for allowing said tape to be retracted into and extended from said housing; a capstan; means for rotatingly securing said capstan in said housing; means for operably engaging said tape with said capstan to cause said capstan to rotate with the retraction of the tape into said housing and the extension of said tape from said housing; encoder means for determining movement of said tape; said encoder means including a plurality of coded electrical conductors, at least some of the coded electrical conductors having different codes; wherein said coded electrical conductors of said encoder means includes a first scale means for measuring first predetermined intervals, and a second scale means for determining a location within each of said first predetermined intervals; said encoder means including electrical switch means for contacting said coded electrical conductors and for causing a signal to be created; means for operably coupling said encoder means to said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; wherein said processor means includes counter means for counting said first predetermined intervals of said first scale means and decoder means for decoding said second scale means; and means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
221 words
An apparatus for making a measurement including: a housing; a flexible tape; means located in said housing for allowing said tape to be retracted into and extended from said housing; a capstan; means for rotatingly securing said capstan in said housing; means for operably engaging said tape with said capstan to cause said capstan to rotate with the retraction of the tape into said housing and the extension of said tape from said housing; encoder means for determining movement of said tape; said encoder means including a plurality of coded electrical conductors, at least some of the coded electrical conductors having different codes; wherein said coded electrical conductors of said encoder means includes a first scale means for measuring first predetermined intervals, and a second scale means for determining a location within each of said first predetermined intervals; said encoder means including electrical switch means for contacting said coded electrical conductors and for causing a signal to be created; means for operably coupling said encoder means to said capstan; processor means connected to said encoder means for determining a measurement dependant on the signal from the encoder means; wherein said processor means includes counter means for counting said first predetermined intervals of said first scale means and decoder means for decoding said second scale means; and means for displaying the measurement.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 26: wherein said second scale means includes indicia for absolutely determining a position within each of said first predetermined intervals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said second scale means includes sets of indicia, with only one indicia of each set changing for each location to be determined.
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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) | 1994-10-28 | 1995-04-29 | 1995-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-04-29 | 1999-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-28 | 2003-04-29 | 2003-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |