Patent ID: 7458536
Filing Date: 2008-12-02
Classification: B65H,G01B

Abstract:
1. A measuring tape comprising: a first shaft; a spool and a first sheave turnable together about said first shaft; an elongate flexible blade having a free end and a terminal end, the free end adapted to extend out of a housing, said blade wound upon said spool when in a fully retracted position on said spool; a second shaft; a spiral spring assembly and a second sheave turnable together about said second shaft, said spiral spring assembly including a spring housing and a spirally wound spring, the spirally wound spring wound around the second shaft and contained within the spring housing so as to wind and unwind about said second shaft as said spring housing and said second sheave turn; and a belt connecting said first sheave and said second sheave, whereby extension of said blade from its retracted position causes turning of said spool which in turn causes turning of said spring assembly to place the spring of said spring assembly in a spring-wound condition which spring will cause retraction of said blade upon release of said blade from an extended position.