Patent Abstract:
This description, together with the objects of the invention and the various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantage is in the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated at least one preferred embodiment of the invention.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to marking systems, and more particularly relates to a versatile tool which is adapted to be used in conjunction with a measuring tape to enable a worker to make accurate alignment marks while engaging in the arts of carpentry, drywall installation, etc.  
           [0003]    2. Background Art  
           [0004]    Carpenters, drywall installers, sheet metal technicians, steel fabricators and the like often rely on aides to assist them in drawing lines and circles. A common technique used by carpenters or others for marking a line on a work piece is to clamp a measuring tape between two fingers at the desired length relative to an edge of the work piece and then slide their fingers along the edge of the workpiece while holding a pencil with the other hand at the end of the tape, drawing a line along the top of the work piece as the tape is moved. This, however, is dangerous because of splinters and/or burns that occur while sliding one&#39;s fingers along a edge in direct contact with the workpiece . Also, the tape measure may not always be at right angles to the edge of the workpiece with the result of there being an error as to the correct location for the line end or variation in the straightness of the line.  
           [0005]    The typical tape measure device includes a thin, flexible, narrow steel tape which has a slight upward transverse curvature and typically retractably unrolls from a slot in a compact housing. the tape is provided with a short metal end flange which serves the dual function of preventing the free end of the steel tape from entering the housing of the tape measure through the slot in the housing when retracted and providing the user of the tape measure with a means of conveniently grasping the free end of the tape when manipulating the tape.  
           [0006]    Various complex structures have been disclosed for marking and even cutting work pieces. a number of built in or retrofit constructions have been developed for association with tape measuring devices to carry out the simultaneous measuring and marking of a workpiece. These devices are used to make a mark on a workpiece at a given length by attaching the marking device to the case of the tape measure and creating the mark by moving the case back and forth.  
           [0007]    A number of prior art patents reveal attempts to provide devices which can assist the workman in marking and cutting along a workpiece. Examples of such attempts are disclosed in:  
                                                       Patent No   Issue Date   Inventor                           USA                   RE. 36,887   Oct. 3, 2000   Jay Goldman           3,192,630   Jul. 6, 1965   L. H. Dineson           4,890,393   Jan. 2, 1990   Joseph D. P. St. Jean           5,172,486   Dec. 22, 1992   Arthur Waldherr           5,295,308   Mar. 22, 1994   Mark D. Stevens           6,070,338   Jun. 6, 2000   Michael Garity           6,108,926   Aug. 29, 2000   Robert A. Fraser           6,115,931   Sep. 12, 2000   Stephane Arcand           6,212,787 B1   Apr. 10, 2001   Thomas J. Dixon           6,223,443 B1   May 1, 2001   Danny L. Jacobs           FOREIGN           JP401267100A   Oct. 24, 1989   Takayoshi Oitate                      
 
           [0008]    None of the teachings in any of these patents, however, provide a simple, easy-to-use, add on to existing retractable measuring tapes which provides a multiple of features in a single system. Further, it is believed that prior inventions intended to address the shortcomings present in the relevant industries are not widely available because of manufacturing difficulties and the matter in which the device is operated.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,787, to Dixon discloses a tape measure having a writing instrument mounting structure at the free end of the tape. Dixon does not, however, provide any means whatsoever for assisting the operator in sliding the tape measure housing along the edge of a workpiece during a measurement, marking or cutting operation.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,443, to Jacobs discloses a pattern developing tool having a belt clip to which can be mounted a writing instrument adjacent the tape housing and a pivotal bracket and marker holder adapted to be attached to the free end of the tape. Jacobs also does not disclose any means for assisting the operator in sliding the tape measure housing along the edge of a workpiece.  
           [0011]    Furthermore, the belt clip of Jacobs does not appear to be universally adaptable to the wide variety of makes of retractable tape measure devices on the market today.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. RE36000,887 to Goldman discloses a custom-made tape measure and marking device in which a secondary tape free and is mounted to the primary free end of the tape by inserting a slot on the secondary free end into a corresponding loop fixedly mounted to the primary free end of the tape, and a pivotally disposed element connected to the housing for protecting the index finger of the hand of a person holding the casing and moving it along an edge of the workpiece. The Goldman device must be manufactured with the custom features disclosed, and therefore cannot be retrofit on any of the existing wide variety of devices on the market. Moreover, the Goldman device lacks most of the features of the instant invention.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,931 to Arcand discloses a tape measure device with a measuring tape blade having a swivelling end assembly adapted to hold an attachment rotatably with respect to the free end of the tape. The Arcand device, like that of the two previous devices, must be custom made as it lacks the downwardly depending flange found on virtually all tape measure on the market today.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No.6,108,926 to Fraser discloses a retractable tape measure having a custom tape end assembly adapted to be fixedly connected via a mechanical screw-type fastener to the free end of the tape having a sharp pointed hook shiftably supported thereto. In addition, the Fraser device does not include any means for assisting the user in sliding the housing along the edge of a workpiece.  
           [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,338 to Garity discloses a device for measuring and cutting sheet rock which includes a tape free end-mounted edge guide which has a smooth surface for sliding the edge along the edge of a workpiece and a tape which is of substantially larger width than normal readable in both directions. The edge guide is adapted to allow a knife blade to be held by hand by the operator there against so as to allow the sheet rock to be cut along a line parallel to its edge. Garity does not disclose any means for assisting the user in sliding the housing along the edge of the workpiece, and requires the use of another type of custom made tape free end.  
           [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,308 to Stevens discloses a measuring, cutting and marking tool incorporating a tape measure having a case with a holder for a marking or cutting device integrally formed thereon. The Stevens device discloses a sliding member which is a custom made arrangement permanently mounted to the free end of the tape and which is used to slide the free end of the tape along the edge of the workpiece which the writing instrument attached to the tape measure housing is used to mark a line parallel to the edge of the workpiece. The Stevens device is cumbersome in that it is easier to slide the housing along the edge of the workpiece than the end of the tape due to the inertia created by the moving tape housing during marking operations.  
           [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,486 to Waldherr discloses a fixture for use with a retractable tape measure having a tab at the free end of the tape perpendicular to the tape. The fixture has a base with opposed sidewalls at least one of which defines a recess for receiving the tape end tab therein. Like the device of Stevens, the Waldherr device requires the writing instrument to be attached to the housing while the free end of the tape is slid along the edge of the work piece.  
           [0018]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,393 to Saint Jean discloses a measuring tape guide attachment having a guide for marking which attaches to the opening or slot in the housing through which the measuring tape is extended and retracted. The attachment, however, is overly long and barely extends into the tape measure housing, rendering it susceptible to the torsional forces exerted upon the writing instrument which is hand-held against the free end of the tape during the marking operation.  
           [0019]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,630 to Dineson, discloses a tape measure device which employs a guard member having an arm that is fixedly attached to the exterior of the tape measure housing and a downwardly depending, narrow, flat portion adapted to slide along an edge of a workpiece. The Dineson device also includes a writing or cutting tip adapted to be removably attached to the free end of the tape. The Dineson device does not, however, provide a stabilizing element on the housing-mounted guide, and the guide can be easily dislodged from connection to the housing due to its attachment by only a small spring element. Furthermore, the Dineson device does not provide the additional inventive features disclosed in the invention herein.  
           [0020]    Japanese Patent No. 4,0126,7100A discloses, as best can be discerned, a tape measure device having a tape which assumes an inflexible shape when drawn out from the housing, and a support for attaching a writing instrument to the free end of the tape. The device disclosed in the Japanese patent is only directed toward drawing an arc on a workpiece and requires a custom tape element of which the inventors of the instant invention are unaware.  
           [0021]    Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a marking or cutting system which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use.  
           [0022]    It is also an object of this invention to provide a marking system having a variety of features but which, in combination, will satisfy the needs of the average construction worker needing to mark lines and arcs accurately, quickly and with a minimum of manual labor.  
           [0023]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a clip which connects through a slot in a tape measure housing parallel to an extended measuring tape, which has alignment extensions for greatly facilitating the visual identification of the markings on the tape, a sliding facilitator, and a variety of marking or cutting tips adapted to be mounted to either the clip or a standard depending flange at the free end of the tape.  
           [0024]    Further objects of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0025]    The invention is directed to a system for permitting highly accurate marking to be made upon a workpiece such as drywall, plywood, etc including a clip comprised of a body member, a tongue member attached at right angles thereto, and a spring member, the tongue member and spring member cooperating to retain the tongue member within a slot of a tape measure housing. The tongue member may be contoured to conform to the arcuate shape of a measuring tape. A pointed attachment will also be provided which is adapted to be attached to the distal end of the measuring tape to act as a measuring tape distal end anchor or writing implement. The pointed attachment and clip are adapted to cooperate to permit a user of the measuring tape and housing to draw arcs on the workpiece or straight lines on a workpiece parallel to an edge of the workpiece.  
           [0026]    This description, together with the objects of the invention and the various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantage is in the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated at least one preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the system of the preferred embodiment of this invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a component of the system.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the component shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an additional feature of the invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the clip of the instant invention connected to a tape measure housing.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the instant invention attached to a tape measure housing.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified component of the invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the component shown in FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 1 through 3 disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention which includes a clip  20  adapted to be releasably attached to a tape measure housing  24 . The tape measure housing  24  can be of any of the multitude of designs available today having an interior cavity adapted to house a semi-flexible measuring tape  25  in spooled orientation which is deployed and retracted though an opening slot  26 . Such tape measures typically have a braking or locking device actuated by a button  29  or the like, and may have such accessories as a belt clip  31 . the position, location and operation or features of the tape measure may vary without affecting the scope of the invention. Tape  25  is provided with spaced demarcations for purposes of measuring distances, and has a distal end  40  bearing a hook-shaped member  42  which can be grasped to withdraw the tape  25  from housing  24 , and can be placed against a surface or edge to allow one-handed retraction of the tape from the housing, as is well known with devices of this type.  
         [0036]    Hook member  42  typically defines an elongated through-slot  44 .  
         [0037]    Clip  20  has a generally horizontally disposed tongue or finger  50 , which may (or may not depending upon the shape of the tape) have an arcuate shape when viewed elevationally to conform to the shape of a standard measuring tape  25 . Finger  50  is connected to the remainder of clip  20  at a point where a pair of left and right alignment tabs  52 ,  54  are provided. Alignment extensions or tabs  52 ,  54  extend generally beyond the outer edges  27 ,  28  of tape  25  to act as alignment guides, making it easier to ascertain the point at which demarcations on the tape align with clip  20  for purposes which will be apparent herein below.  
         [0038]    Clip  20  also includes guide plates  56 ,  58  which end in a slight flare. Clip  20  also includes a depending, pointed, tang  60  defining a slot  64  similar in shape and size to slot  44  of hook member  42 . A biasing element  66  extends rearwardly of tang  64  on clip  20 , and is spaced by a distance from the underside of finger  50  which corresponds to, or is slightly less than the thickness of housing  24  below access slot  26  thereof. In this way, clip  20  may be held in place against housing  24  by sliding finger  50  into slot  26  below tape  25 , whereupon spring member  66  will bear upon the underside of housing  24 , retaining clip  20  in place with respect to housing  24 . A useful feature of the invention is found in marking implement  70 , which includes a body portion which defines a hook-tab receiving slot  74  for receiving hook member  42 , and a writing or other marking or pivot element  72 . As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a series of ridges or serrations  78  are integrally connected to member  70  within slot  74 , and have a width generally corresponding to the width of slot  44  in hook member  42 . In this way, member  70  can be remissably connected to hook member  42  of measuring tape  25 . The provision of a parality of ridges  78  is intended to facilitate connection of member  70  to tapes having variously sized hook members.  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a radial alignment tool  90  which, in its preferred form, is comprised of a circular suction cup having a raised central portion  93  having a tang receiving depression  95  therein adapted to receive the pointed end  60  of clip  20 . Tool  90  permits a user to place clip  20  into depression  95  and rotatably pivot clip  20 , and tape measure housing  24 , thereabout and to deploy measuring tape  25  a distance equal to the radius of an arc or circle for purposes of inscribing an arc or circle on a work piece or surface. Measuring tape  25  is deployed a distance corresponding to the arc or circle radius, and inscribing tool  70  is attached to hook end  42  of the tape  25 . Tape  25  is locked in the deployed position by depressing locking mechanism  29  such that the demarcation on tape  25  corresponding to the desired radial distance aligns with measurement indicating extensions  52 ,  54  of clip  20 . Tool  90  may employ angular position demarcations which tape  25  can be placed in alignment with to precisely measure angles to be marked on a workpiece.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified scribing instrument comprising a body member  70  adapted to be connected to hook end  42  of measuring tape  25  in a manner similar to that described for member  70 . Ridges or serrations  178  are provided within a slot  174  defined by body member  170 . A writing or scribing element  172  is provided, which may be a pencil point or sharp metal point about which hook end  42  may be rotated.  
         [0041]    Another improvement is found in the form of a structure for facilitating sliding movement of scribing element  172  along a work piece or surface and includes a body extension portion  171  which defines a pair of parallel apertures there through  175  through which are disposed a pair of guide pins  173 , each preferably having a rounded or other surface having a low co-efficient of friction. A pair of corresponding compression springs  179  are disposed about guide pins  173  between body extension member  171  and a depression tab  177 . In this way, when scribe element  172  is to be dragged or otherwise translated along a work piece or surface, tab  177  is depressed which will cause the bottom ends of pins  173  to come into contact with said work piece or surface, and consequently be aligned with the bottom most edge of element  172 , to facilitate the translation of element  172  along a work surface. For example, where element  172  is a writing tip, such as a lead pencil, such point might tend to snag or get caught on irregularities in the work piece or surface and low-friction bottom sections of pins  173  will assist in avoiding such tendencies. Releasing tab  177  will cause springs  179  to force tab  177  and pins  173  to raise up to the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0042]    It is to be understood that the inventions disclosed herein are not limited to the precise constructions shown and described but that changes are contemplated which will readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the following claims:

Technology Classification (CPC): 6