Patent ID: 9239217
Filing Date: 2016-01-19
CPC Classification: G01B

Claim Text:
1. A retractable tape rule assembly locking system, the system comprising: an elongated tape rule blade configured for measurement, the elongated tape rule blade including measurement indicia; a reel configured to retract the elongated tape rule blade from an extended position to a wound position; a spring configured to apply a rotational bias to the reel that rotates the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade into the wound position; a stop assembly configured to selectively engage the elongated tape rule blade to maintain the elongated tape rule blade in the extended position or the wound position, the stop assembly configured to be moveable between a default position and an open position by a user, a stop surface associated with the reel and configured to engage the stop assembly to prevent rotation of the reel to retract the elongated tape rule blade, the stop surface configured to engage the stop assembly responsive to the stop assembly being in the default position and responsive to less than a pre-determined length of the elongated tape rule blade being in the wound position; and a housing assembly configured to house one or more of the reel, the spring, or at least a portion of the elongated tape rule blade.