Patent ID: 7103988
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. An electronic measuring instrument comprising: a housing; a rotatable storage spool contained within said housing; a thin, flexible line provided on said storage spool and extendible from said housing for measuring distances, wherein said storage spool is rotatable in a first direction for unwinding said line from said storage spool and a second direction for winding said line onto said storage spool; a rotatable drum in engagement with said line so that movement of said line causes movement of said drum; a sensor in communication with said rotatable drum for sensing movement of said rotatable drum when unwinding said line from said storage spool and winding said line onto said storage spool; electronic circuitry in communication with said sensor for calculating distances based upon the sensed movement of said rotatable drum during unwinding and winding; a spring-less, manually operated crank assembly for winding said line onto said storage spool; a well formed in said housing and adapted to receive said storage spool; a removable side cover attachable to said housing over said well for covering said storage spool, said side cover having a manually operated release for selectively detaching said side cover from said housing for uncovering said well, wherein said manually operated release comprises a slidable lock.