Patent Abstract:
A holder and guide for a measuring tape and a process of making and using the holder. The holder is made up of a hollow tube having a rectangular cross section. The tube has a slit or gap running the length of the tube to enable a measuring tape to be inserted. A magnet is attached to an exterior portion of the tube. The holder enables a user to insert any portion of a measuring tape inside the tube without having to insert the end of the tape measure therein. The holder facilitates in making measurements using a measuring tape, especially when a long distance is being measured and it is inconvenient to insert an end of the measuring tape through the guide to secure a middle portion of the measuring tape during measurement. The holder also has a magnet that attaches the holder to metallic objects enabling a single user to more easily make measurements using a measuring tape.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention pertains to a device for holding a middle portion of a measuring tape measure in place while making measurements. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Measuring tape in tape measures can often be lengthy. Their length can be as much as several hundred feet in length. The measuring tape may be rolled up as a coil within the tape measuring case when the tape measure is not in use. When in use, the end of the measuring tape is pulled and the measuring tape is extracted from the case. 
   Measuring tapes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Measuring tape can be made of metal, fiberglass or cloth. The leading end of the measuring tape can have a small, right angled piece of metal attached thereto enabling the user to grip the measuring tape and enabling the end of the measuring tape to be placed on an edge of a structure like a table top when measuring the dimensions of an object. The other end of the measuring tape may be coiled tape inside the case and is carried by the measurer. A problem occurs when the user wishes to measure long distances using measuring tape from a tape measure. Although the small piece of metal at the end of the measuring tape can be secured on an edge of an object, and the other end can be carried by the measurer, a problem occurs in that the middle portions of the measuring tape can move during measurement, especially if the distance being measured is very large. This is because the measuring tape is flexible, and when measuring long distances, the measuring tape often bends and wobbles thereby adding to the difficulty in obtaining an accurate measurement for a long distances. 
   What is needed is one or more holders that can secure in between portions of the measuring tape between the ends of the measuring tape when making a measurement. The holder is to be tube shaped, but having a slit to enable a middle portion of the measuring tape to be inserted into the holder, instead of requiring an end portion of the measuring tape to be fed through the holder while measuring to secure in between portions of the measuring tape in place when making large measurements. Furthermore, what is needed is a magnet attached to the tape holder(s) to allow the tape holder and thus the measuring tape to be attached to a metallic object during measurements. Such metal objects could be a steel beam on the roof of the structure, a metal object, or a metal wall, floor or roof such as those found in metal shops or ships. Such holder or holders will enable the user to more easily make measurements using the measuring tape of a tape measure in any direction, whether it is up and down or across the floor or ceiling. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a holder for a measuring tape that can secure in place a middle portion of the measuring tape when a large measurement is taken by a measuring tape. 
   It is further an object of the present invention to provide an opening in the holder to allow the measuring tape to be inserted into the holder without having to feed through the end of the measuring tape into the holder. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide a magnet attached to the holder to secure the holder and thus the measuring tape to metallic objects and structures. 
   It is still an object of the present invention to provide a holder or a plurality of holders to enable easier measurements using a measuring tape in all directions, such as up and down, or across a ceiling, floor or some other structure. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide a process for making the measuring tape holder. 
   It is further an object of the present invention to provide a method for using the measuring tape holder to measure distances in a variety of directions. 
   These and other objects can be achieved by a guide or holder for a measuring tape. Either the end of the measuring tape can be inserted through the guide or the measuring tape can be inserted into the guide through a slit that runs the entire length of the guide. The guide is essentially tubular in structure to guide a measuring tape that runs within the tube. One side of the tube has a slit opening along the entire length of the guide for insertion of a middle portion of a measuring tape into the guide or holder. Further, the holder or guide has a magnet attached thereto. The magnet can be used for attaching the guide to a metallic object such as a beam, a pipe or a sheet or piece of metal thereby securing a portion of the tape measure in place. By having a middle portion of the measuring tape inserted into the guide, measurements of long distances by a measuring tape becomes much more simpler and more reliable as the measuring tape is not as likely to bend, wobble or move during the course of making a measurement. Attachment of the holder by the magnet to vertical metal structures like a pipe or horizontal structures like a beam makes vertical measurements or horizontal measurements along a ceiling using a measuring tape much more easier, quicker and more reliable, especially if only one person is available to make the measurement. The novel guide can be used with measuring tapes made of various materials such as metal, cloth or fiberglass. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a completely assembled measuring tape holder guide according to the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the measuring tape holder guide of  FIG. 1  guiding a measuring tape according to the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a end view of the measuring tape measure holder guide guiding a measuring tape according to the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the measuring tape holder part of the tape measure holder guide of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the magnet holder part of the measuring tape holder guide of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the magnet found in the measuring tape holder guide of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates one of many uses for the measuring tape holder part for making a vertical measurement; and 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another use for the novel measuring tape holder for measuring a horizontal distance along a ceiling. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a view of a fully assembled measuring tape guide  10  according to the principles of the present invention. The measuring tape guide  10  is made up of measuring tape holder part  20 , magnet holder  50  and magnet  75 . As illustrated in FIGS  1  and  4 , measuring tape holder part  20  is essentially a rectangular-shaped tube with a right side  35 , a left side  37 , a bottom side  40  and a top side  27 . The top side has a slit opening  45  along a length of the top side  27  of measuring tape holder part  20 . The top side  27  therefore has a right top portion  25  and a left top portion  30  divided by slit  45 . The tape holder part  20  may be of some other cross sectional shape, but rectangular is preferred. 
   Attached to the left side  37  of measuring tape holder part  20  is a U-shaped magnet holder part  50 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the magnet holder part  50  has a top side  60 , a bottom side  55  and a right side  65 . The right side  65  joins the top side  60  with the bottom side  55  of magnet holder part  50 . The right side  65  of magnet holder part  50  is welded to the left side  37  of measuring tape holder part  20  by weld  70 . Alternatively, the right side  65  of magnet holder part could instead be welded to right side  35  of measuring tape holder part  20 . I have found that it is not preferable to weld magnet holder part  50  to the bottom side  40  (the side opposite from slit  45 ) of tape holder part  20  as the measuring tape, in such a configuration, could fall out through the slit  45  if the magnet  75  is attached to a metallic ceiling structure such as a metallic beam. Preferably, weld  70  is actually four tack welds of 0.125×0.375 inches long and 0.125 inches in from each corner, but other weld configurations are possible. Magnet holder part  50  is absent a left side so that magnet  75  can be inserted into magnet holder part  50 . 
   Magnet  75  is preferably glued to magnet holder part  50  via glue and is also attached to the magnet holder  50  and measuring tape holder part  20  via screws  80 . I have found that absent the screws  80 , the magnet  75  would separate from the magnet holder part  50  if tape measure guide  10  is dropped. Therefore, screws  80  and the accompanying screw holes are highly recommended. Holes for screws  80  are drilled through magnet  75 , through the right side  65  of magnet holder  50  and through the left side  37  of measuring tape holder  20 . The holes drilled in magnet holder  50  and measuring tape holder  20  are preferably via a drill with a #29 drill bit and preferably tapped for a #8 machine screw. The holes drilled through magnet  75  are often done before assembly in a mass production environment. Preferably, the diameter of the drill holes are 0.187 inches with a 0.12 inch countersink with a 100 degree angle. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates measuring tape guide  10  of  FIG. 1  with measuring tape  90  disposed within measuring tape holder part  20 . Measuring tape  90  may be made of metal, fiberglass or cloth. Measuring tape  90  is inserted into measuring tape holder part  20  through slit  45 . Slit  45  enables measuring tape  90  to be inserted within the measuring tape holder part  20  without requiring an end of the measuring tape to be fed through the measuring tape holder part  20 . This slit  45  feature can come in handy when the tape measure is very long and the measuring tape guide  10  is to secure a middle portion of the measuring tape  90 . In such a scenario, it would be inconvenient to have to feed the tape in through the tape holder part  20 . Slit  45  prevents the necessity of having to feed through the entire measuring tape  90  in order for measuring tape guide  10  to guide or hold tape  90 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an end view of the measuring tape guide  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Like  FIG. 2 , the measuring tape guide  10  is made up of measuring tape holding part  20  with slit  45  extending the length of the measuring tape holder part. Magnet holder  50  is attached by welds W to one of the two external surfaces of the measuring tape holder part that is adjacent to the portion of the measuring tape holding part that bears the slit  45 . Magnet  75  is disposed within the magnet holder  50  and is permanently attached to the magnet holder  50  and the measuring tape holding part  20  by screws  80  and glue. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates measuring tape holder part  20 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the preferable dimensions of the tape holder part  20 . In no way is this invention limited to the exact dimensions illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
   Preferably, tape holder part  20  is preferably made of  14  gauge A  36  steel, however, in no way is this invention limited to the exact materials mentioned. For example, the tape holder part  20  could instead be made of plastic. Top side  27 , bottom side  40 , left side  37  and right side  35  are preferably 2 inches in length. Left side  37  and right side  35  are 1.625 inches tall. Bottom side  40  is preferably 1.375 inches wide. Slit  45  is preferably 0.375 inches wide thereby leaving right top side  25  and left top side  30  preferably 0.5 inches wide. Holes  82  for screws  80  are disposed on a side ( 37  as illustrated or  35 ) of the tape holder part  20  that is adjacent to the side bearing the slit  45  and preferably not on a side  40  of the measuring tape part that is opposite to the slit  45 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the preferred positioning of the holes  82 , however, in no way is this invention limited to the exact dimensions listed in  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates magnet holder  50 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the preferred dimensions of magnet holder  50 . Preferably, magnet holder part  50  is made of 14 gauge A  36  steel however it is also possible to use plastic. Preferably, top side  60  and bottom side  55  are 2 inches long and 0.5 inches wide. Preferably, right side  65  is 2 inches long and 1.0 inch high. Holes  85  are drilled to accommodate the screws  80 . Holes  85  must line up with and be the same size as holes  82  in  FIG. 4  for the invention to work. In no way is magnet holder part  50  limited by the dimensions and materials specified herein. Right side  65  of magnet holder has an inside side and an outside side. It is the outside side of right side  65  that is welded to the tape holder part  20  and it is the inside side of side  65  that is glued to the magnet  75 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates magnet  75 . Preferably, magnet  75  is 0.387 inches thick, 0.875 inches high and 1.875 inches long. Holes  87  are formed before production to accommodate screws  80 . Holes  87  must line up and be the same size as holes  85  in  FIG. 5  and holes  82  in  FIG. 4  in order to properly fasten magnet  75  to magnet holder  50  and tape holder part  20  via screws  80 . In no way is magnet  75  limited to the dimensions of  FIG. 6 . 
   Now, the process for making the measuring tape guide  10  will be described. Magnets  75  with holes  87  are formed in a mass production environment. Then, the right side  65  of magnet holder  50  is welded to the left side  37  of tape holder part  20 . Instead, the magnet holder  50  can be welded to the right side  35  of tape holder part  20 , but for this explanation, it will be assumed that the magnet holder  50  is welded to the left side  37  of tape holder part  20 . Then, the holes  85  in the magnet holder and the holes  82  in the tape holder part are drilled and tapped. The combination of magnet holder  50  welded to tape holder part  20  is then sandblasted to clean the parts. Masking tape is then placed on the inside side of right side  65  of magnet holder  50 . This is because this inside side of side  65  of magnet holder  50  will later be glued to the magnet  75  and it is preferred that this inside side of right side  65  is not painted before the glueing. This is because painting the surfaces used for glueing may provide a poorer bond than of the glued surfaces are not painted. Then, the combination magnet holder  50  welded to the tape holder part  20  is painted, preferably by spray paint. After the painting, the masking tape is removed from the inside surface of right side  65  of magnet holder  50 . Glue is applied to the inside surface of right side  65  of magnet holder  50  and to one side of the magnet  75 . Then, the magnet  75  is attached to the magnet holder  50  so that the holes  87  line up with the holes  85  and  82 . Lastly, the screws  80  are inserted into the holes  87  of magnet  75 , the holes  85  of the magnet holder  50  and holes  82  of the tape holder part  20  thereby completing the construction process. The above described process for making measuring tape holder  10  is the preferred process but in no way is the only way to build the measuring tape holder  10 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 7  illustrates the one use for a plurality of measuring tape holders for measuring a vertical distance along a metallic pipe. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , pipe  110  runs up and down in a room. A plurality of measuring tape holders  10  are attached to pipe  110 . It is the magnet  75  in magnet holder  50  that is stuck onto the pipe  110 . Then, tape  90  is inserted into the slits  45  of tape holder part  20  of measuring tape guide  10  to measure a distance in the vertical direction. Because of the presence of the plurality of measuring tape holders  10  stuck to pipe  110 , a vertical measurement can more easily be made, especially if there is only one person present to make the measurement. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates another use for a plurality of measuring tape holders  10 . In  FIG. 8 , there is a horizontal beam  120  that runs across a ceiling. As in  FIG. 7 , the measuring tape holders are placed on the horizontal beam  120  by attaching the magnet  75  of each measuring tape holder  10  to the beam  120 . After the measuring tape holders  10  are attached to the beam  120 , the user inserts measuring tape  90  into slit  45  of each measuring tape holder  10  to make the measurement. Since the magnet  75  and the magnet holder  50  are attached to an exterior surface of the tape holder part  20  that is adjacent to and not opposite to the exterior surface bearing the slit  45 , the tape  90  will not fall out through slit  45  in the arrangement of  FIG. 8  when a measurement is being made. This is because the slit  45  is facing sideways and not down, preventing the tape  90  from inadvertently falling out through slit  45  during the measurement. By using the measuring tape holder  10  in the strategic manner as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a single person can much more easily make measurements along a ceiling with a measuring tape of a tape measure. 
   It is to be appreciated that measuring tape holder  10  is not limited in any way by the uses illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Measuring tape holder  10  is an all position tool capable of making measuring tape measurements easier in all directions. 
   It is to be appreciated that the present holder enables easy securing of a measure tape at a middle portion of the measuring tape when a measurement is taking place without requiring the user to feed through the entire tape into each holder. The holder secures a middle or in between portion of the tape in place making it easier to make big measurements in any direction using a measure tape. As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , many holders may be used in making a measurement using a measuring tape, especially if the distance being measured is very large. 
   It is noted that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above, and it is apparent that variations and modifications by those skilled in the art can be effected within the spirit and scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6