Patent ID: 6115933
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
A tape measure comprising:a. a housing providing a chamber and having a peripheral wall with an opening;b. an elongated measuring tape blade coiled within said housing chamber, said tape blade having two ends, said inner end of said tape blade secured to a spool by a recoil spring and said outer end of said tape blade extending outwardly through said opening in said housing and having a hook secured to said outer end; said tape blade is extended beyond said housing by pulling on said hook and is retracted automatically into said housing when said hook is released;c. a locking means in mounted on said peripheral wall for locking said tape blade in position while said tape blade is in an extended position outside said housing; andd. a decelerating means is mounted on said peripheral wall for controlling the speed of retraction of said extended tape blade into said housing thereby preventing damage to said outer end of said tape blade and said hook, wherein said decelerating means comprising a lever having two extensions on a distal end of said lever, a spring, and an anvil, wherein said spring partially positions and secures a proximal end of said lever in said housing and allows said two extensions of said lever to be out of contact with said tape blade in a normal position, wherein when external manual pressure is applied to said lever said two extensions of said lever contact said tape blade with said anvil, thereby slowing the movement of said tape blade during its automatic retraction into said housing, and wherein said spring is plastic, V shaped, and is bent at each end to more positively secure the lever within said housing, said spring having an opening at the V intersection for positioning said spring on a boss whereby said spring is securely positioned in said housing, and wherein one end of said spring is positioned adjacent to said housing and the other end is adjacent to said lever.