Patent ID: 6817110
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
A measuring tape system for measuring a girth of an object, comprising:a housing having a hollow main body portion with an endwall adapted for contacting the object, a first sidewall generally perpendicular to and extending from the endwall, a second sidewall generally perpendicular to and extending from the endwall and parallel to the first sidewall, a tape outlet opening in the first sidewall, the tape outlet opening adjacent the intersection of the endwall and first sidewall, and a cavity proximate the intersection of the endwall and the second sidewall; a spring biased drum rotatably mounted within said housing; a flexible tape with measuring indicia disposed on at least one side thereof, said tape having a first end attached to said drum and a second end extending through the tape outlet opening of the main body portion of said housing; an end piece mounted on the second end of said tape which is adapted to be selectively received by and retained within the cavity formed in the main body portion of said housing, said end piece having a configuration distinct from the configuration of the tape outlet opening of said housing thereby militating against said end piece entering said housing; and means for selectively unlocking and locking said drum to allow said tape to be coiled and uncoiled respectively whereby the coiling of said tape will cause said tape to tightly surround the object.