US5829152A — Integrated measuring and marking system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 118 words

An integrated system for measuring and marking on a surface, having a housing, measuring means at least partially contained within said housing, and marking means for marking said surface, said system being characterized in that: said marking means is supported by a support, said support being connected to said housing, said marking means is maintained in a spaced-apart relationship from a base, said base being resiliently connected to said support by resilient connection means, and said marking means is maintained in a spaced-apart relationship from said surface until a user moves said housing relative to said surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said surface, whereupon said marking means extends outward beyond said base to mark said surface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 118 words

An integrated system for measuring and marking on a surface, having a housing, measuring means at least partially contained within said housing, and marking means for marking said surface, said system being characterized in that: said marking means is supported by a support, said support being connected to said housing, said marking means is maintained in a spaced-apart relationship from a base, said base being resiliently connected to said support by resilient connection means, and said marking means is maintained in a spaced-apart relationship from said surface until a user moves said housing relative to said surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to said surface, whereupon said marking means extends outward beyond said base to mark said surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

An integrated system for measuring and marking on a surface as recited in claim 1, wherein said marking means is enclosed within said base until moved outward beyond said base to mark said surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 124 words

An integrated system for measuring and marking on a surface, having measuring means at least partially contained within a housing, said system comprising: a) marking means for marking said surface, said marking means being disposed in at least partial alignment with said housing; b) a support connected to said housing and to said marking means for supporting said marking means; c) resilient connection means connected to said housing; and d) a base resiliently connected to said housing by said resilient connection means; said base being disposed to maintain said marking means in a spaced-apart relationship from said surface until said housing is moved substantially perpendicular relative to said surface, such that said marking means is moved outward beyond said base to mark said surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 124 words

An integrated system for measuring and marking on a surface, having measuring means at least partially contained within a housing, said system comprising: a) marking means for marking said surface, said marking means being disposed in at least partial alignment with said housing; b) a support connected to said housing and to said marking means for supporting said marking means; c) resilient connection means connected to said housing; and d) a base resiliently connected to said housing by said resilient connection means; said base being disposed to maintain said marking means in a spaced-apart relationship from said surface until said housing is moved substantially perpendicular relative to said surface, such that said marking means is moved outward beyond said base to mark said surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system as in claim 3, further comprising: e) cursor means attached to said housing to indicate a position of said measuring means relative to said housing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as in claim 3, wherein said marking means (a) comprises a quantity of marking material.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

A system as in claim 3 wherein said at least partial alignment is adjustable.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as in claim 3, further comprising means for releasably locking said marking means to prevent inadvertent marking.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

A system as in claim 3 wherein said marking means (a) is replaceable.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

A system as in claim 3, wherein said housing has a bottom surface, and said marking means (a) is disposed adjacent to said bottom surface of said housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as in claim 3, wherein said measuring means comprises linear graduations for performing a linear measurement.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as in claim 3, wherein said measuring means comprises angular graduations for performing an angular measurement.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as in claim 3, further comprising means for providing a visual indication that said surface is being marked.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as in claim 3, further comprising means for providing audible indication that said surface is being marked.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as in claim 3, wherein said marking means (a) comprises means for making an indentation in said surface.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

A system as in claim 3, wherein said resilient connection means comprises one or more springs.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

A system as in claim 4, wherein said cursor means (e) comprises a magnifier.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

A system as in claim 5, wherein said marking material is selected from the list consisting of: ink, pencil lead, chalk, dye, light-sensitive material, soapstone, crayon, wax, pigment, paint, and mixtures, compounds, and composites thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as in claim 7, further comprising a trigger for releasing said means for releasably locking said marking means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 60 words

A system as in claim 8, wherein said housing has a slot for receiving and holding said marking means, and said marking means (a) further comprises: (i) a removable cartridge fitting within said slot and having means for aligning said cartridge relative to said housing; and (ii) a quantity of marking material at least partially contained within said removable cartridge.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 27 words

A system as in claim 9, further comprising a cover for covering said marking means, said cover being disposed adjacent to said bottom surface of said housing.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as in claim 10, wherein said measuring means comprises a tape measure retractably coiled within said housing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 33 words

A system as in claim 11, wherein said measuring means comprises a protractor and wherein said marking means (a) is adapted to mark said surface with a mark indicative of a measured angle.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system as in claim 19, wherein said means for aligning said cartridge relative to said housing comprises a detent in at least one of said cartridge and said housing.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as in claim 20, wherein said cover is adapted to be manually opened and closed.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system as in claim 20, wherein said cover is normally closed, and further comprising means for opening said cover automatically when said housing is moved relative to said surface.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 166 words

An integrated tape measure system for measuring and marking on a surface, comprising: a) a housing having a bottom surface and having a slot adjacent to said bottom surface; b) tape measure means retractably coiled within said housing; c) cursor means attached to said housing to indicate a position of said tape measure means relative to said housing; d) a removable cartridge fitting within said slot of said housing; e) means for aligning said removable cartridge relative to said cursor; f) a quantity of marking material for marking said surface, said marking material being at least partially contained within said removable cartridge; g) one or more resilient connection means connected to said housing; and h) a base resiliently connected to said housing by said resilient connection means, said base being disposed to maintain said cartridge and said marking material in a spaced-apart relationship from said surface until a user moves said housing in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to said surface, whereby said surface is marked.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 166 words

An integrated tape measure system for measuring and marking on a surface, comprising: a) a housing having a bottom surface and having a slot adjacent to said bottom surface; b) tape measure means retractably coiled within said housing; c) cursor means attached to said housing to indicate a position of said tape measure means relative to said housing; d) a removable cartridge fitting within said slot of said housing; e) means for aligning said removable cartridge relative to said cursor; f) a quantity of marking material for marking said surface, said marking material being at least partially contained within said removable cartridge; g) one or more resilient connection means connected to said housing; and h) a base resiliently connected to said housing by said resilient connection means, said base being disposed to maintain said cartridge and said marking material in a spaced-apart relationship from said surface until a user moves said housing in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to said surface, whereby said surface is marked.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 23 words

An integrated tape measure system as recited in claim 26, wherein said one or more resilient connection means comprises at least one spring.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 169 words

An integrated protractor system for measuring and marking on a surface, comprising: a) a housing having a bottom surface and having a slot adjacent to said bottom surface; b) arcuate angular scale means at least partially retained by said housing; c) cursor means attached to said housing to indicate a position of said arcuate angular scale means relative to said housing; d) a removable cartridge fitting within said slot of said housing; e) means for aligning said removable cartridge relative to said cursor; f) a quantity of marking material for marking said surface, said marking material being at least partially contained within said removable cartridge; g) one or more resilient connection means connected to said housing; and h) a base resiliently connected to said housing by said resilient connection means, said base being disposed to maintain said cartridge and said marking material in a spaced-apart relationship from said surface until a user moves said housing in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to said surface, whereby said surface is marked.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 169 words

An integrated protractor system for measuring and marking on a surface, comprising: a) a housing having a bottom surface and having a slot adjacent to said bottom surface; b) arcuate angular scale means at least partially retained by said housing; c) cursor means attached to said housing to indicate a position of said arcuate angular scale means relative to said housing; d) a removable cartridge fitting within said slot of said housing; e) means for aligning said removable cartridge relative to said cursor; f) a quantity of marking material for marking said surface, said marking material being at least partially contained within said removable cartridge; g) one or more resilient connection means connected to said housing; and h) a base resiliently connected to said housing by said resilient connection means, said base being disposed to maintain said cartridge and said marking material in a spaced-apart relationship from said surface until a user moves said housing in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to said surface, whereby said surface is marked.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 22 words

An integrated protractor system as recited in claim 28, wherein said one or more resilient connection means comprises at least one spring.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-11-02	2002-05-04	2002-11-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-11-02	2006-05-04	2006-11-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-11-02	2010-05-04	2010-11-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Integrated measuring and marking system

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