Patent Abstract:
A measuring apparatus includes a housing with a retractable tape, a waveform range finder, and a laser pointer disposed within the housing. The retractable tape includes indicia corresponding to a distance. A save button is further disposed on the housing, wherein upon the depression of the save button, the distance measured by waveform range finder is saved to a memory. A display on the housing indicates the dimension measured by the waveform range finder.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   The present disclosure relates to a measuring apparatus, and more particularly to a singularly housed retractable tape measure and range finder. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   In the construction trades, many distances need to be measured quickly and accurately. These distances include the lengths of lumber to be cut, the internal dimensions of a room, dimensions of objects to be placed in rooms and through doorways, distances from a point to a house, and so on. For many years, the tool of choice for each of these dimensions was the conventional retractable tape measure. As is known, the retractable tape measure includes a tape wound about itself inside a housing that is spring loaded such that when the tape is extended and released, the tape is pulled back within the housing. The tape includes indicia to indicate to the user the distance measured. The tape measure can measure any distance, including the length to which a piece of lumber must be cut. 
   The tape measure is an excellent tool, but extending the tape over a long distance can be somewhat clumsy and slow. To address this issue, a sonic range finder was developed. In use of this tool, the user points the range finder at a specified target and presses a button. The range finder emits a waveform which is then reflected off the target back to the range finder. The ranger finder calculates the distance from itself to the target by measuring the time it takes for the reflected waveform to return. 
   The sonic range finder is also an excellent tool, however it is limited in that it can only measure internal dimensions, and not external dimensions. The term internal dimension is used to define a dimension in which at least one of the endpoints includes an inner surface facing the other of the endpoints. The term external dimension, on the other hand, is used to define a dimension in which neither of the endpoints include an inner surface that faces the other of the endpoints. 
   Thus, the dimension between a first and a second wall is an internal dimension, and the sonic range finder can measure such a dimension quickly and accurately, because the waves can be reflected off either wall. However, the dimensions of a piece of lumber are an external dimension, because there is no surface at the end of the piece of lumber to reflect the waveform. Thus, a sonic range finder cannot measure the length of a piece of lumber or the dimensions of a dresser, for example. Further, the sonic range finder cannot indicate a cut location on a piece of lumber at which point the user needs to cut the lumber to a predetermined length. 
   Thus, a user must carry both tools to be efficient. In many situations a user will measure the dimensions inside a room, then cut lumber to fit therein. The user first uses the sonic range finder to measure the internal dimensions of the room. The user then puts away the sonic range finder and grasps a tape measure. The user can then measure the lumber to be cut to fit within the room. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combination measuring apparatus, constructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 2  is a second perspective view of the combination measuring apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts the apparatus of  FIG. 1  being used to measure an internal distance. 
       FIG. 4  depicts the apparatus of  FIG. 1  being used to measure an external distance of an object related to the internal distance of  FIG. 3 . 
   

   While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and the equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a combination tape measure and waveform range finder assembly  10  is disclosed. The assembly  10  includes a housing  12 . The housing can include a left side  14 , a right side  16 , a front side  18 , a back side  20 , a top side  22 , and a bottom side  24 . Disposed within the housing  12  is a tape measuring unit  26 , a waveform range finder unit  28 , and a display unit  30 . Further disposed on the housing is a belt clip  32  which the user can employ to store the assembly  10  on his or her belt. In this example, the belt clip  32  is disposed on the right side  16 . 
   The tape measuring unit  26  includes a retractable tape  34  with a free end  36 . A hook  38  is fastened to the free end  36 . In  FIG. 1 , the retractable tape  34  is shown in an extended position in which the free end  36  has been pulled away from the housing  12 . The retractable tape  34  includes indicia  40 , disposed along its length. The indicia  40  comprise a plurality of individual marks  42  that indicate a distance from the free end  36  to that individual mark  42 , as is known. The retractable tape  34  is wound about itself into a winding (not seen) inside the housing  12 . The retractable tape  34  is spring loaded such it is urged back into the housing  12  and onto the winding, as is known. 
   The tape measuring unit  26  further includes a thumb lock  44 . The thumb lock  44  includes a thumb lever  46  that is disposed in a slot  48  in the housing  12  and is slidable between a first end  50  and a second end  52  of the slot  48 . When the thumb lever  46  is adjacent the first end  50 , the retractable tape  34  can move freely, albeit either with or against the force generated by the spring loading. When the thumb lever  46  is adjacent the second end  52 , the retractable tape  34  is locked and cannot extend or retract from the position that it is in. This functionality of locking the retractable tape  34  in a position is well known by those of skill in the art. 
   In another example not shown, the retractable tape  34  can include optical markings such that the distance indicated by the retractable tape can be read photoelectrically and the measurement can be stored digitally. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,014 to Falk, et. al. 
   The waveform range finder unit  28  includes a cone  54  disposed on the front side  18  of the housing  12 . Inside the cone  54  is a pulse generator (not seen). A laser  56  is also disposed on the front side  18  of the housing  12 . A read button  58  and laser button  60  are both disposed on the left side  14  of the housing  12 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , by pressing the read button  58 , a dimension is measured from the housing  12  to a target  62 . When the read button  58  is pushed, the pulse generator emits waveform pulses  64 . The cone  54  directs the pulses  64  to a predefined projection angle. The emitted pulses  64  travel to the target  62  and are reflected off the target  62  back to the housing  12 . The distance between the housing  12  and the target  62  is calculated from the time interval between the emission of the pulses  64  and their return. Other waveform measuring devices are well known in the art. The scope of this disclosure includes all such devices and is in no way limited to the example given herein. 
   The target  62  can be located by pressing the laser button  60 . When the laser button  60  is pressed, the laser  56  emits a laser beam  66  that projects linearly and results in a small dot  68  on the target  62 . The laser beam  66  is substantially coaxial with the emitted pulses  64 . The user of the device sees the dot  68  on the target  62  and understands that the distance being measured is between the housing  12  and the dot  68 . Although in this example two separate buttons  58 ,  60  are shown, it is possible for a single button to actuate both the pulse generator and the laser  56 . 
   Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the waveform range finder unit  28  can further include a switch  70  disposed on the back side  20  of the housing  12 . In one example, when the switch  70  is not engaged, the waveform range finder unit  28  calculates the dimension from the target  62  to the front  18  of the housing  12 . In this example, when the switch  70  is engaged, such as when the back side  20  of the housing  12  is placed flush against a wall, the waveform range finder unit  28  calculates the dimension from the target  62  to the back side  20  of the housing  12 . In another example not shown, a two-position thumb-actuated switch can be implemented to instruct the waveform range finder unit  28  to measure from the target  62  to either the front side  18  or the back side  20  of the housing  12 . In another example, the waveform range finder unit  28  does not include any type of switch  70 , and only measures from either the front side  18  of the housing  12  or the back side  20  of the housing  12  to the target  62 . Although this is the least flexible, it is the least expensive. 
   The display unit  30  includes a display window  72  (hereinafter “window”) and a plurality of control buttons  74  adapted to control the display in the window  72 . The window  72  can be used to digitally display the dimension calculated by the waveform range finder unit  28 . If the tape measuring unit  26  includes components to optically read and digitally store the measurements of the retractable tape  34  as detailed previously, the window  72  can digitally display that dimension, too. 
   The plurality of control buttons  74  can include a standard button  76 , a metric button  78 , a save button  80 , and a toggle button  82 . By pressing the standard button  76 , the window  72  displays the dimensions in standard units. By pressing the standard button  76  multiple times, the display of the window  72  switches between a first display of feet and inches (i.e., 6 feet 2 inches) to a second display of total inches (i.e., 74 inches). Other units are, of course, possible. 
   By pressing the metric button  78 , the window  72  displays the dimensions in metric units. By pressing the metric button  78  multiple times, the window  72  switches between a first display of meters to a second display of centimeters. Again, other units such as millimeters or decimeters are possible. 
   When the save button  80  is pressed, the dimension displayed in the window  72  is saved to a memory (not shown). The memory can save any number of dimension depending on the configuration of the controller, although it is believed that a total of five dimensions would be a sufficient amount to retain and not be confusing to the operator. For example, if 15 dimensions were stored, the user might not remember which dimension corresponded to which of the objects or distances that were measured. However, in other situations this may not be a problem, and it may be desirable to store a number of dimensions even greater than 15. 
   When the toggle button  82  is pressed, the window  72  displays a first of the saved dimensions. The first displayed dimension can be the most recently saved dimension. When the toggle button  82  is pressed again, a second of the saved dimensions is displayed. The second displayed dimension can be the next most recently saved dimension, and so forth. Thus, the user can sequentially review each of the saved dimensions by repeatedly pressing the toggle button  82 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , to use the assembly  10 , the housing  12  can be pointed at a target  62 . In this example, the housing  12  is pointed at a cabin  84  in preparation for constructing a deck. The housing  12  is placed at an end location  86  where the end of the deck is desired to be. The laser button  60  is pressed to locate the target  62  on the cabin  84 . The read button  58  is then pressed to determine the dimension between the end location  86  and the target  62 . The dimension calculated by the waveform range finder unit  28  is then displayed on the window  72 . If the user would like to change the units of the dimension displayed in the window, the standard button  76  or the metric button  78  can be pressed. The dimension can then be saved into the memory by depressing the save button  80 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , lumber  88  can then be cut to build the deck. The assembly  10  can then be placed on the piece of lumber  88  with the hook  38  on the free end  36  disposed about the end of the piece of lumber  88 . The retractable tape  34  can be extended as is known to locate the desired cut length. If the user has forgotten the dimension measured by the waveform range finder unit  28 , the dimension can be accessed by pressing the toggle button  82  until the desired dimension is displayed. 
   Thus, assembly  10  can quickly and efficiently measure both internal and external dimensions. The waveform range finder unit  28  can measure the internal dimension between a first endpoint and a second endpoint. In the example detailed herein, the cabin  84  provides the inner surface facing the end location. The tape measuring unit  26  can measure an external dimension between a third endpoint and a fourth endpoint. In the example detailed herein, the dimension of the length of the piece of lumber  88  is an external dimension because neither of the endpoints include an inner surface that faces the other of the endpoints. By using a single piece of equipment, both internal and external dimensions can be measured and saved, thereby saving time and improving accuracy. The user does not have to carry separate pieces of equipment. Further, by using the save function, the dimensions can be stored directly in the assembly  10  itself, thereby eliminating the possibility that the user will forget or lose the dimension, i.e., lose a piece of paper the dimension was written on, prior to cutting a piece of lumber related to the dimension. 
   The shape of the housing  12  disclosed in  FIGS. 1–4  is that of a typical tape measure that is extended on its front side  18  to accommodate the extra components such as the display unit  30  and the waveform range finder unit  28 . However, those of ordinary skill in the art may determine a different configuration for a housing  12  that includes the components detailed herein. Accordingly, the claims as detailed herein shall in no way be limited to the configuration and/or layout of the housing  12  as disclosed in the  FIGS. 1–4 . 
   From the foregoing, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure sets forth a measuring apparatus. However, one of ordinary skill in the art could readily apply the novel teachings of this disclosure to any number of situations. As such, the teachings of this disclosure shall not be considered to be limited to the specific examples disclosed herein, but to include all applications within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6