Illuminated tape measure

A tape measure includes a housing having an opening and a measuring tape retractably carried within the housing and extendable via the opening. A locking mechanism is provided for maintaining the measuring tape in an extended position relative to the housing and the locking mechanism includes a lock actuator that is mounted to the housing. An illumination device is incorporated into the lock actuator. The illumination device includes a light emitting diode (LED) wherein the light emitting diode may be arranged on the locking mechanism to illuminate the measuring tape in an area adjacent to the opening and a user activatable switch for causing power to be selectively provided to the LED wherein the user activatable switch is mounted to an exterior surface of the lock actuator.

BACKGROUND

Locking tape measures are know in the art as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 7,398,604 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,866. Additionally, illuminated tape measures are known in the art as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,804,538, 7,584,548, and EP Publication No. 1,789,751.

While the tape measure described in these publications, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, generally work for their intended purpose, disclosed hereinafter is an improved tape measure, particularly a tape measuring having an illuminating device incorporated into a blade lock actuator.

SUMMARY

The subject disclosure is directed to an improved, illuminated tape measure. More particularly, the tape measure includes a housing having an opening and a measuring tape retractably carried within the housing and extendable via the opening. A locking mechanism is provided for maintaining the measuring tape in an extended position relative to the housing and the locking mechanism includes a lock actuator that is mounted to the housing. An illumination device is incorporated into the lock actuator. The illumination device includes a light emitting diode (LED) wherein the light emitting diode may be arranged on the locking mechanism to illuminate the measuring tape in an area adjacent to the opening and a user activatable switch for causing power to be selectively provided to the LED wherein the user activatable switch is mounted to an exterior surface of the lock actuator. A better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties and relationships of the subject tape measure will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative, preferred embodiments indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIG. 1, the following describes an improved, illuminated tape measure10. As is conventional, the tape measure comprises a body portion12in which is disposed a measuring tape or blade14which is calibrated in inches, centimeters, and or the like. The measuring tape14terminates with a hook16. Within the interior of the body portion12, the measuring tape14is associated with a spring which functions to retract the measuring tape14into the body portion12when the measuring tape14is extended from a slot18formed in the housing. As will be appreciated, the hook16also functions to prevent the measuring tape14from being drawn completely into the interior of the body portion12via the retracting force of the spring. When the measuring tape14is extended from the body portion12, a locking mechanism is provided to lock the measuring tape14in an extended position against the retracting force of the spring. Because those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the components which enable movement of the measuring tape14between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the body portion12and which enable locking of the measuring tape14in an extended position may be components such as disclosed in the previously incorporated references, for the sake of brevity these components need not be further described herein in greater detail.

For controlling the locking mechanism, the body portion12has mounted thereon a moveable lock actuator20. As particularly illustrated inFIG. 1, the lock actuator20is positioned on a front face of the body portion12above the slot18where the lock actuator20is adapted to be slid relative to the body portion12. To assist a user in sliding the lock actuator20relative to the body portion12to thereby cause the locking mechanism associated with the lock actuator20to lock and release the measuring tape14, a lower end of the lock actuator20is provided with a generally arcuate surface20a, i.e., a surface that can be interacted with by a thumb of the user to easily force the lock actuator20upward into a position that causes the blade locking mechanism to lock or engage the measuring tape14, and the upper end of the lock actuator20is provided with an angled and/or flat surface20band/or20cto assist a user in returning the lock actuator20to a position in which the blade locking mechanism unlocks or releases the measuring tape14.

Further incorporated into the lock actuator20is an illuminating device22, such as a light emitting diode (“LED”) or the like. As shown inFIG. 1, the illuminating device22is preferably mounted to the lower end of the lock actuator20and the surface20A of the lock actuator20and/or the arrangement of the illuminative device22when mounted to the lock actuator20may be such that the illuminating device22will function to generally illuminate the measuring tape14in the area adjacent to the slot18. To this end, an appropriate lens may also be provided over the illuminating device22. By way of example, when the slide-lock switch is in the LOCK mode and the LED light activated, the LED may be arranged to focus light at a 40 degree angle (as measure against vertical) down upon the tape whereby the measuring tape14is primarily illuminated in a location that spans from 1″ to 4″ outside the case with a focus of the light being on an area between 2″ and 3″ outside the case. It will be understood that, with such an arrangment, light may still illuminate the tape as far as 7″ or 8″ outside the case.

For controlling activation of the illumination device22, a depressible switch24may be mounted to the upper end of the lock actuator20. For providing power to the illumination device22, the lock actuator20additionally houses a battery26as further shown inFIG. 2. The switch24may be a toggle switch whereby the switch24is to be actuated to both connect the illumination device22to the battery26and disconnect the illumination device22from the battery26or the circuit may include a timing device, e.g., a digital count down timer, a capacitive timer, or the like, whereby the switch24need only be actuated to cause the illumination device22to be powered whereupon, after a given period of time, the illumination device22will no longer be provided with power. By way of example only, the system may be arranges such that the light times-out at a time between 15-30 seconds after each push of the button associated with the switch24. In some instances, the circuit may be further modified to allow a user to adjust this time-out period, override this time-out period, and the like.

While specific examples of a tape measure have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of this disclosure. For example, while the lock actuator20is described in the context of a sliding actuator, it will be appreciated that other types of lock actuators may be used to engage with any provided locking mechanism. Similarly, it will be appreciated that other shapes may be provided to the lock actuator20as needed to facilitate user interaction therewith. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.