Patent ID: 6108926
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: B44D,G01B

Abstract:
A tape measure including a housing having a plurality of sides, one of said sides extending between a pair of opposite sides of said housing and having an egress/ingress opening therethrough, a spring biased tape spool journaled in said housing between said opposite sides and having a first end portion of an elongated flexible measuring tape anchored thereto for winding said tape upon said tape spool, said tape including a second end portion projecting through and outwardly of said opening, said second end portion being retractable through said opening under the biasing action of said tape spool, said tape including oppositedly facing side surfaces extending between opposite longitudinal side edges, said second end portion including an abutment flange supported therefrom and disposed generally normal to the lengthwise extent of said tape and projecting outwardly of one of said side surfaces, said abutment flange defining an abutment flange opening therethrough spaced laterally outwardly of said one side surface, a generally L-shaped member including first and second generally right angled flanges, said first flange overlying the other of said side surfaces and said second flange overlying said abutment flange, said first flange being mounted from said second end portion for free limited shifting relative thereto lengthwise of said one end portion, said second flange including a sharp, laterally directed projection aligned with and projecting through said abutment flange opening for penetrating a penetrable surface against which said abutment flange is abutted, said projection being shiftable through and retractable relative to said abutment flange opening upon shifting of said first flange between the limit positions of shifting thereof relative to said second end portion.