Abstract:
A tubular measuring device is disclosed having measuring indicia disposed on an outer surface thereof, wherein the measuring device is bendable to facilitate obtaining a measurement of a distance having a complex and an irregular shape and an efficiency in the measuring thereof is maximized.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/585,325, filed Jul. 2, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a measuring device and more particularly to a tubular measuring device having measuring indicia disposed on an outer surface thereof, wherein the measuring device is bendable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Typically, measurement of a distance necessitates the use of a standard tape measure, wherein a linear distance can be measured. However, measurement of distances involving curves, corners, changes in elevation, and the like is difficult using a conventional distance measuring device, resulting in inaccuracies in the measured distance.  
         [0004]     In gardening and landscaping, for example, it is often desirable to obtain length measurements to determine a total length or quantity of materials required for a particular task. For edging material, fencing, and the like, a distance around the area to be contained must be obtained in order to determine the total length of material required. For landscaping blocks and other individual building elements, a total distance where the elements are to be placed must be obtained. A total length can then be determined by dividing the total distance by an individual element length to determine the total number of elements required.  
         [0005]     The measurements required in gardening and landscaping are typically complex and curvilinear in nature. These measurements are difficult to obtain using conventional distance measuring devices resulting in measurements which are not precise and may require estimating in some cases. This results in wasted time and materials. Additionally, conventional measuring devices are stored at a point away from the area being gardened or landscaped and requiring measurement.  
         [0006]     It would be desirable to produce a tubular measuring device having measuring indicia disposed on an outer surface thereof, wherein obtaining measurements of complex shapes is facilitated and an efficiency of a measuring task is maximized.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Consistent and consonant with the present invention, a tubular measuring device having measuring indicia disposed on an outer surface thereof, wherein obtaining measurements of complex shapes is facilitated and an efficiency of a measuring task is maximized, has surprisingly been discovered.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment, the measuring device comprises an elongate flexible main body having a first open end, a second open end, an outer surface, and a hollow interior; and measuring indicia disposed on at least a part of the outer surface of the main body between the first end and the second end thereof.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, the measuring device comprises an elongate flexible main body having a first open end, a second open end, an outer surface, and a hollow interior, wherein the main body is adapted to have an elongate member inserted therein extending from the first end to the second end of the main body; and measuring indicia disposed on at least a part of the outer surface of the main body between the first end and the second end thereof.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, the measuring device comprises an elongate flexible main body having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, a hollow interior, and a separation formed in the outer surface extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the main body is adapted to have an elongate member disposed therein extending from the first end to the second end of the main body; and measuring indicia disposed on at least a part of the outer surface of the main body between the first end and the second end thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]     The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tubular measuring device according to an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a tubular measuring device according to another embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a tubular measuring device according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  depicts a tubular measuring device  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The tubular measuring device  10  includes a hollow elongate main body  12 . Any conventional hollow tubular device such as a hose, for example, can be used to form the main body  12 . The main body  12  is flexible to permit a bending thereof along a longitudinal axis into arcs, curves, circles, pre-determined patterns, and other complex shapes, for example. Any conventional flexible material can be used to produce the main body  12  such as a plastic, a fabric, a lined fabric, or a reinforced flexible material, for example. In the embodiment shown, the main body  12  is shown as opaque. However, it is understood that at least a part of the main body  12  can be produced from a transparent or a semi-transparent material to permit viewing of the contents of the tubular measuring device  10 .  
         [0017]     The main body  12  includes a first end  14  and a spaced apart second end  16 . In the embodiment shown, the first end  14  includes a fitting  18  and the second end  16  includes a fitting  20  disposed thereon. The fittings  18 ,  20  can be any conventional fitting such as a male and a female hose coupling, for example. The fittings  18 ,  20  are adapted to be connected to various devices such as a source of pressurized fluid (not shown) and an outlet nozzle, for example. It is understood that other types of fittings  18 ,  20  can be used, or that the tubular measuring device  10  can be used without fittings  18 ,  20  as desired, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0018]     An outer surface of the main body  12  includes measuring indicia  22  formed thereon. The indicia  22  can include markings for measurement of a length between points and a volume of fluid contained in the measuring device  10 , for example. It is understood that more than one set of indicia  22  can be provided such as that indicating the length between points and the volume of fluid contained in the measuring device  10 . The indicia  22  illustrated commences at the first end  14  adjacent the fitting  18  and ends at the second end  16  adjacent the fitting  20 , although the indicia  22  can appear on only a part of the main body  12 , if desired.  
         [0019]     In use, the measuring device  10  can be stored either coiled or spooled on a reel, for example. When it is desired to take a measurement, the measuring device  10  is uncoiled or de-spooled. The first end  14  of the main body  12  is placed at a desired starting point (not shown) representing one end of the distance to be measured. The main body  12  is then positioned as desired to represent the shape or contour to be measured, and a total length of the shape or contour being measured is obtained by reading from the indicia  22  at a desired ending point (not shown). For example, if the measuring device  10  is being used to measure a total length for landscaping block around a house, the first end  14  of the main body  12  is positioned at one end of the contour where the landscaping block will be positioned. The main body  12  is then positioned on the ground along a desired path of the landscaping block. Once a desired ending point of the contour is reached, a reading from the indicia  22  is obtained to provide the total distance from the starting point to the ending point of the contour. When used in this fashion, accurate measurements can be obtained around a tree, around a corner of a house, or in any desired linear or non-linear shape, for example. When the desired measurements have been obtained, the measuring device  10  can then be recoiled or re-spooled for storage.  
         [0020]     As can be appreciated, the tubular measuring device  10  is well suited for a garden hose, for example. The garden hose is typically stored in and around gardens and decorative landscaping and is easily accessible and available for use. The user is not required to obtain a measuring device from a location remote from the area where the task is to be performed. Additionally, the flexibility of the garden hose facilitates taking accurate measurements along both a linear and non-linear contour as desired. The use of the garden hose as the tubular measuring device  10  maximizes a task efficiency by allowing a dual use as fluid conveying device and the measuring device  10 . When used in this manner, the main body  12  is substantially fluid tight to militate against leaks.  
         [0021]     The garden hose described herein and shown in the drawings is meant to be exemplary. It is understood that other shapes and configurations such as a flexible cord or other flexible member, for example, can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a tubular measuring device  30  according to another embodiment of the invention. The tubular measuring device  30  includes a hollow elongate main body  32 . Any conventional hollow tubular device such as a hose, for example, can be used to form the main body  32 . The main body  32  is flexible to permit a bending thereof along a longitudinal axis into arcs, curves, circles, pre-determined patterns, and other complex shapes, for example. Any conventional flexible material can be used to produce the main body  32  such as a plastic, a fabric, a lined fabric, or a reinforced flexible material, for example. The main body  32  includes a first end  34  and a spaced apart second end  36 .  
         [0023]     An outer surface of the main body  32  includes measuring indicia  38  formed thereon. The indicia  38  can include any increment, as desired. It is also understood that more than one set of indicia  38  can be provided on the measuring device  30 , as desired. The indicia  38  illustrated commences at the first end  34  of the main body  32  and ends at the second end  36  of the main body  32 .  
         [0024]     The main body  32  is adapted to be disposed around an elongate member  40 . In the embodiment shown, the elongate member  40  is a hose, although it is understood that the elongate member  40  can be any conventional solid or tubular elongate member, as desired. Additionally, although a gap is shown between the main body  32  and the elongate member  40 , it is understood that the gap could be eliminated to facilitate a close fit between the main body  32  and the elongate member  40 , or that the main body  32  can be adhered to the elongate member  40 . The elongate member  40  includes a first end  42  having a fitting  44  and a second end  46  having a fitting  48  disposed thereon. The fittings  44 ,  48  can be any conventional fitting such as a male and a female hose coupling, for example.  
         [0025]     In use, the measuring device  30  is disposed around the elongate member  40 . This facilitates the conversion of a conventional elongate member  40  such as a hose, for example, into a flexible measuring device. Once disposed around the elongate member  40 , the tubular measuring device  30  is used as described above for the tubular measuring device  10 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  illustrates a tubular measuring device  60  according to another embodiment of the invention. The tubular measuring device  60  includes an elongate main body  62 . The main body  62  includes an elongate separation  64  formed therein. Any conventional hollow tubular device such as a hose, for example, can be used to form the main body  62 . Additionally, an elongate flat sheet can be used to form the main body  62 , whereby the tubular shape is accomplished by a rolling or bending of the elongate flat sheet. The main body  62  is flexible to permit a bending thereof along a longitudinal axis into arcs, curves, circles, pre-determined patterns, and other complex shapes, for example. Any conventional flexible material can be used to produce the main body  62  such as a plastic, a fabric, a lined fabric, or a reinforced flexible material, for example. The main body  62  includes a first end  66  and a spaced apart second end  68 .  
         [0027]     An outer surface of the main body  62  includes measuring indicia  70  formed thereon. The indicia  70  can include any increment, as desired. It is also understood that more than one set of indicia  70  can be provided on the tubular measuring device  60 , as desired. The indicia  70  illustrated commences at the first end  66  of the main body  62  and ends at the second end  68  of the main body  62 .  
         [0028]     The main body  62  is adapted to be disposed around an elongate member  72 . In the embodiment shown, the elongate member  72  is a hose, although it is understood that the elongate member  72  can be any conventional solid or tubular elongate member, as desired. The main body  62  can be adhered to the elongate member  72 , or snap fit around the elongate member  72  to grip the elongate member  72 , as desired. The elongate member  72  includes a first end  74  having a fitting  76  and a second end  78  having a fitting  80  disposed thereon. The fittings  76 ,  80  can be any conventional fitting such as a male and a female hose coupling, for example.  
         [0029]     In use, the main body  62  of the measuring device  60  is disposed around the elongate member  72 . This facilitates the conversion of a conventional elongate member  72  such as a hose, for example, into a flexible measuring device. As described previously, the main body  62  can be adhered to the elongate member  72 , or snap fit around the elongate member  72  to grip the elongate member  72 , as desired. The separation  64  may be present after the main body  62  is disposed around the elongate member  72 . Alternatively, the separation  64  can be eliminated if desired by abutting the edges of the main body  62  forming the separation  64  against one another or by overlapping one edge over the other. Once the main body  62  of the measuring device  60  is disposed around the elongate member  72 , the measuring device  60  is used as described above for the tubular measuring device  10 .  
         [0030]     From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.