US5400521A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking mechanism for retractable tape
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-03-01
•
Granted: 1995-03-28
•
Expires: 2013-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A retractable tape measure having a housing with an opening therein through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled. Opposed annular ends on the hub retain the tape coiled therearound. One of the annular ends has a serrated circular peripheral edge with about 100 to about 150 serrations. A first locking mechanism is shiftably mounted on the housing movable vertically into and out of engagement with the tape. Second locking mechanism is shiftably mounted on the housing movable radially into and out of engagement with the serrated edges. The second locking mechanism has a plurality of serrations thereon which when engaged with a plurality of serrations on each annular end provide a positive lock for the tape coiled around the reel hub to prevent further withdrawal of the tape. The second locking mechanism may be spring biased.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Waldherr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B3/00; G01B3/10; G01B3/1005; G01B3/1007; G01B2003/1015; G01B2003/1017; G01B2003/1033; G01B2003/1035; G01B2003/1038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A retractable tape measure having a housing for a flexible measuring tape and an opening in the housing through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled and opposed annular ends on said hub retaining said tape coiled therearound, one of said annular ends having a circular peripheral serrated edge with about 100 to about 150 serrations, locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable radially into and out of engagement with said serrated edge, said locking mechanism having a plurality of serrations thereon which when engaged with a plurality of said serrations on said one of said annular ends provides a positive lock for said tape coiled around said reel hub to prevent further withdrawal of the tape from said housing and means for maintaining said locking mechanism in engagement with said serrated edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A retractable tape measure having a housing for a flexible measuring tape and an opening in the housing through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled and opposed annular ends on said hub retaining said tape coiled therearound, one of said annular ends having a circular peripheral serrated edge with about 100 to about 150 serrations, locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable radially into and out of engagement with said serrated edge, said locking mechanism having a plurality of serrations thereon which when engaged with a plurality of said serrations on said one of said annular ends provides a positive lock for said tape coiled around said reel hub to prevent further withdrawal of the tape from said housing and means for maintaining said locking mechanism in engagement with said serrated edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 1, wherein the serrations of said locking mechanism are of the same size as the serrations on said one of said annular ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 2, wherein at least three of said serrations of said one annular end and said locking mechanism are in engagement when said locking mechanism is in locked engagement with said serrations on said annular end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism is slidably mounted on said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 4, wherein said locking mechanism is mounted on the top of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
155 words
A retractable tape measure having a housing for a flexible measuring tape and an opening in the housing through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled and opposed annular ends on said hub retaining said tape coiled therearound, one of said annular ends having a serrated circular peripheral edge with about 100 to about 150 serrations, and a locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable into and out of engagement with said serrations on said reel, said locking mechanism including a fixture having a wedge shaped cam and a serrated member movable radially, by sliding movement of said wedge shaped cam, into and out of contact with the serrated reel, whereby when said locking mechanism is engaged further uncoiling of the measuring tape is prevented as said reel is locked against rotation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
155 words
A retractable tape measure having a housing for a flexible measuring tape and an opening in the housing through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled and opposed annular ends on said hub retaining said tape coiled therearound, one of said annular ends having a serrated circular peripheral edge with about 100 to about 150 serrations, and a locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable into and out of engagement with said serrations on said reel, said locking mechanism including a fixture having a wedge shaped cam and a serrated member movable radially, by sliding movement of said wedge shaped cam, into and out of contact with the serrated reel, whereby when said locking mechanism is engaged further uncoiling of the measuring tape is prevented as said reel is locked against rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 6, wherein the serrations are teeth having a pitch in the range of from about 70° to about 90°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 7, wherein the teeth have a pitch of about 70°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 6, and further comprising a spring biasing said locking mechanism to the unlocked position thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 6, wherein the housing has a top wall having an aperture therein in which said locking mechanism is mounted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 10, wherein guide means extends from the housing top to restrict movement of said locking mechanism serrated member radially.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
168 words
A retractable tape measure having a housing for a flexible measuring tape and an opening in the housing through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled and opposed annular ends on said hub retaining said tape coiled therearound, one of said annular ends having a serrated circular peripheral edge with about 100 to about 150 serrations, a first locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable vertically in and out of frictional engagement with said tape, and a second locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable radially into and out of engagement with said serrated edges, said second locking mechanism having a plurality of said serrations thereon which when engaged with a plurality of serrations on at least one of said annular ends provides a positive lock for said tape coiled around said reel hub to prevent further withdrawal of the tape from said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
168 words
A retractable tape measure having a housing for a flexible measuring tape and an opening in the housing through which a portion of the tape extends with the remainder of the tape being coiled around a spring biased reel having a hub around which the tape is coiled and opposed annular ends on said hub retaining said tape coiled therearound, one of said annular ends having a serrated circular peripheral edge with about 100 to about 150 serrations, a first locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable vertically in and out of frictional engagement with said tape, and a second locking mechanism shiftably mounted on said housing movable radially into and out of engagement with said serrated edges, said second locking mechanism having a plurality of said serrations thereon which when engaged with a plurality of serrations on at least one of said annular ends provides a positive lock for said tape coiled around said reel hub to prevent further withdrawal of the tape from said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 12, wherein said second locking mechanism is mounted above the axis of rotation of said reel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 12, wherein the serrations of said second locking mechanism are of the same size as the serrations on said one of said annular ends.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 14, wherein at least three of said serrations of said one annular end and said second locking mechanism are in engagement when said second locking mechanism is in locked engagement with said serrations on said annular end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 12, wherein said first and second locking mechanisms are mounted on the front of said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 16, wherein said first and second locking mechanisms are provided with a common actuator for moving said first and second locking mechanisms between a disengaged position thereof wherein said first locking mechanism is out of engagement with said tape and said second locking mechanism serrations are out of engagement with said serrated edge and an engaged position wherein said first locking mechanism is in frictional engagement with said tape and said second locking mechanism serrations are engaged with said serrated edge to provide a positive lock.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 17, wherein said common actuator has a position wherein said first locking mechanism is engaged to provide friction contact between said first locking mechanism and said tape and said second locking mechanism is disengaged.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 17, wherein said common actuator carries first and second fixtures for respectively moving said first and second locking mechanisms between the engaged and disengaged positions thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The retractable tape measure of claim 19, wherein said common actuator is slidably mounted on said housing front and said first and second fixtures extend into said housing for sliding engagement with said first and second locking mechanisms between the engaged and disengaged positions thereof.
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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) | 1998-03-27 | 1998-09-26 | 1999-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-27 | 2002-09-26 | 2003-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-27 | 2006-09-26 | 2007-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |