US5809662A — Tape measure assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 236 words

A tape measure assembly, comprising: a tape measure assembly housing, having a spooling axis, a blade opening, and a first outer wall having at least portions defining a first outer surface normal to the spooling axis, an elongated blade having a first end, a second end, and measurement marks disposed at intervals between the first and second ends, the blade passing through the blade opening and being slidably extractable from the housing to measure distances between the first end and the housing, a retraction mechanism attached to the second end of the blade for retracting the blade into the housing in a coil that surrounds the spooling axis of the housing, a ridge mounted on the housing and disposed along a first edge of the housing, which first edge is in an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the spooling axis of the housing, the ridge having a rigidly placed working surface oriented perpendicularly with respect to the first outer surface, wherein at least two portions of the working surface extend beyond the first outer surface in a direction parallel with the spooling axis, and wherein the working surface and the first outer surface define a volume outside the housing that surrounds the intersection of two generally perpendicular planes, and an accessory portion of the tape measure assembly extending from the tape measure assembly housing at the first outer surface and facing away from the ridge.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 236 words

A tape measure assembly, comprising: a tape measure assembly housing, having a spooling axis, a blade opening, and a first outer wall having at least portions defining a first outer surface normal to the spooling axis, an elongated blade having a first end, a second end, and measurement marks disposed at intervals between the first and second ends, the blade passing through the blade opening and being slidably extractable from the housing to measure distances between the first end and the housing, a retraction mechanism attached to the second end of the blade for retracting the blade into the housing in a coil that surrounds the spooling axis of the housing, a ridge mounted on the housing and disposed along a first edge of the housing, which first edge is in an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the spooling axis of the housing, the ridge having a rigidly placed working surface oriented perpendicularly with respect to the first outer surface, wherein at least two portions of the working surface extend beyond the first outer surface in a direction parallel with the spooling axis, and wherein the working surface and the first outer surface define a volume outside the housing that surrounds the intersection of two generally perpendicular planes, and an accessory portion of the tape measure assembly extending from the tape measure assembly housing at the first outer surface and facing away from the ridge.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing further includes a plurality of angle measurement markings disposed along a second edge of the housing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 2 wherein the housing further includes a notch formed therein at a center that is defined by the angle markings and is adjacent the first edge.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 3 wherein the housing includes a second edge that forms a right angle with the intersection of the two generally perpendicular planes.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a second edge that forms a right angle with the intersection of the two generally perpendicular planes.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a detachable portion bearing the ridge and attached to the housing, and an attachment mechanism mounted on the detachable portion to attach the detachable portion to remaining portions of the tape measure assembly.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 45 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 6 wherein the detachable portion includes a generally planar area perpendicular to the plane of the ridge, the planar area incorporating the first edge, and wherein the attachment mechanism includes a plurality of clips mounted on the planar area.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 1 wherein the blade opening is adjacent a second edge, which second edge is generally parallel to and opposite the first edge.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 1 wherein the ridge is retractable in to the housing.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 1, further including a pen clip attached to the housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 46 words

The tape measure assembly of claim 1 wherein the overall area of the tape measure assembly, at its widest point viewed from the spooling axis, is less than about twice the area of the coil, viewed from the spooling axis when the tape is fully retracted.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

The attachment of claim 1, wherein the accessory portion of the tape measure assembly includes angle markings facing away from the ridge.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The attachment of claim 1, wherein the accessory portion of the tape measure assembly has an area that is less than about 50% of an area of the first outer surface.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

The attachment of claim 1, wherein the portion of the plate has an area that is less than about 50% of an area of the side of the tape measure.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 235 words

A tape measure assembly, comprising: a tape measure assembly housing, having a spooling axis, a blade opening and a first outer wall having at least portions defining a first outer surface normal to the spooling axis, an elongated blade having a first end, a second end, and measurement marks disposed at intervals between the first and second ends, the blade passing through the blade opening and being slidably extractable from the housing to measure distances between the first end and the housing, a retraction mechanism attached to the second end of the blade for retracting the blade into the housing in a coil that surrounds the spooling axis of the housing, a ridge mounted on the housing and disposed along a first edge of the housing, which first edge is in an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the spooling axis of the housing, the ridge having a rigidly placed working surface oriented perpendicularly with respect to the first outer surface, wherein at least two portions of the working surface extend beyond the first outer surface in a direction parallel with the spooling axis, and wherein the working surface and the first outer surface define a volume outside the housing that surrounds the intersection of two generally perpendicular planes, and a pen clip attached to the housing, wherein the pen clip is oriented to hold the pen parallel with the spooling axis of the housing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 235 words

A tape measure assembly, comprising: a tape measure assembly housing, having a spooling axis, a blade opening and a first outer wall having at least portions defining a first outer surface normal to the spooling axis, an elongated blade having a first end, a second end, and measurement marks disposed at intervals between the first and second ends, the blade passing through the blade opening and being slidably extractable from the housing to measure distances between the first end and the housing, a retraction mechanism attached to the second end of the blade for retracting the blade into the housing in a coil that surrounds the spooling axis of the housing, a ridge mounted on the housing and disposed along a first edge of the housing, which first edge is in an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the spooling axis of the housing, the ridge having a rigidly placed working surface oriented perpendicularly with respect to the first outer surface, wherein at least two portions of the working surface extend beyond the first outer surface in a direction parallel with the spooling axis, and wherein the working surface and the first outer surface define a volume outside the housing that surrounds the intersection of two generally perpendicular planes, and a pen clip attached to the housing, wherein the pen clip is oriented to hold the pen parallel with the spooling axis of the housing.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 164 words

An attachment for a tape measure that includes a marked, elongated blade passing through a blade opening in its housing, and a retraction mechanism attached to the blade for retracting the blade into the housing in a coil that surrounds a spooling axis of the housing, comprising: a plate having first and second sides and a plurality of edges, a ridge mounted on the plate and being rigidly placed in an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the first side of the plate, wherein the ridge has a working surface, with at least a portion of the working surface extending beyond the remaining parts of the plate, an attachment mechanism mounted on the plate for attaching the plate to a side of the tape measure, and wherein at least a portion of the second side of the plate extends beyond an edge of the side of the tape measure and faces away from the ridge when the plate is attached to the tape measure.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 164 words

An attachment for a tape measure that includes a marked, elongated blade passing through a blade opening in its housing, and a retraction mechanism attached to the blade for retracting the blade into the housing in a coil that surrounds a spooling axis of the housing, comprising: a plate having first and second sides and a plurality of edges, a ridge mounted on the plate and being rigidly placed in an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the first side of the plate, wherein the ridge has a working surface, with at least a portion of the working surface extending beyond the remaining parts of the plate, an attachment mechanism mounted on the plate for attaching the plate to a side of the tape measure, and wherein at least a portion of the second side of the plate extends beyond an edge of the side of the tape measure and faces away from the ridge when the plate is attached to the tape measure.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 17 words

The attachment of claim 16, wherein a first edge of the plate is perpendicular to the ridge.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The attachment of claim 17, wherein the plate further includes angle markings on one of the sides of the plate along the first edge.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The attachment of claim 18, wherein the plate further includes a center notch cut out of the plate adjacent the ridge.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

The attachment of claim 19, wherein the attachment is constructed to leave the blade opening unobstructed when the attachment is attached to the tape measure.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

The attachment of claim 19, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a plurality of clips for attachment to the housing.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

The attachment of claim 16, wherein the portion of the plate is a generally flat portion including angle markings on the second side of the plate.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-09-21	2002-03-23	2002-09-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-09-21	2006-03-23	2006-09-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-09-21	2010-03-23	2010-09-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tape measure assembly

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