Improvements in Tape Measures or Measuring Bands.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tape Measures or Measuring Bands.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM GOLBY, of 36 Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex; Patent Agent; do hereby delare the nature of this invention as
communicated to my by Hermann May Junior, of Georgstrassenecke, Meiningen,
(Saxe Meiningen), Germany; Merchant; to be as follows:-
All the so-called tape measures or measuring bands or rolling up measures
now in use labour under the disadvantage that (1) when a long time in use, the
measure is unreliable, as the fabric often stretches to the extent of several centi-
metres, and (2) the fabric is quickly and casily torn.
The measures made of sheet metal heretofore in use and intended to remedy
the evils above indicated cannot be easily bent and in consequence of being ill
suited for certain branches of industry for instance, the ready made clothing
branch, are unserviceable. In order to obviate this defect, the present invention
is introduced. By means thereof a measuring band is produced of an extremely
durable quality and that will remain unstretched even in constant use.
The so-called warp of the material of which the new band measure is made
consists, wholly or partially of metal strips, wire or so-called lametta, whilst the
weft and possibly a part of the warp also is of cotton, linen, jute, silk wool or
the like. If special importance be attached to the durability of the measuring
bands, they are partly finished off with metallic weft threads.
The material to be used in making the bands is preferably of specially pre-
pared metal or metal that is not easily oxidised, this, however, being always in
combination with a fabric that is capable of being prepared and printed.
In order to duly determine the length of the measuring band and to prevent
any shifting of the metallic threads, in case of a stretching of the textile fabric, a
mount or furniture of light sheet metal is provided, in the end part of which the
ends of the metal warp threads are soldered or durably fixed in some other way,
whereupon the opposite end of the mount is turned as a metal covering over the
fastening, both ends being fastened to one another, so that a firmly joined frame is
formed, within which the fabric cannot stretch. It is obvious that for this purpose
any other kind of mount may be used, without departing from the scope of this
invention.
Dated thin 95th day of Tonuom 1807
Improvements in Tape Measures or Measuring Bands.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM GOLBY, of 36 Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex; Patent Agent; do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
Price 8d.1

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
Hermann May, Junior, Merchant; of Georgstrassenecke, Meiningen, (Saxe
Meiningen) Germany, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
-
The so-called tape measures or measuring bands as heretofore made are found
in use to possess the following disadvantages, (a) they either shrink during use
and so lose in length, or (b) they expand and thus increase in length, or (c) their
durability when used for a time is far from what might be desired.
Tape measures with inserted pieces of metal intended to get rid of the before-
mentioned disadvantages do not fulfil that purpose, because, first, the durability
of these measures is seriously impaired by the oxidation of the more
or less
exposed metallic pieces; and secondly, the fine wires forming the inserted pieces
of metal are bent in undulations by the weft threads. In use again there is
a more or less greater tension of the tapes which leads to the two following draw-
backs: (1) Owing to the sharp friction of the metal wires the textile material
is soon in a very bad condition and thereby; (2) the original length of the tape
is altered, and it can no longer be properly spoken of as a measure, not having
the high degree of non-expansibility which is indispensibly necessary thereto.
Furthermore, the measuring tapes with inlaid pieces of metal are affected by
the action of the temperature on the white or polished metal, and, owing to the
stiffness of the material, the ease with which they can be manipulated is some-
what limited.
The object of the present invention is to get rid of all the beforementioned
disadvantages, and to make a tape measure or measuring band in which the
warp threads are either partially, as shown in Fig 1 or wholly composed of
metallic wire strips, which are covered with some isolating material and
preferably with one that is a bad conductor of heat, for instance, silk, whilst for
the weft and, in certain cases, also in part for the warp, linen, cotton, silk, jute,
wool or the like are employed. If it be necessary for the measure to have great
powers of resistance and of durability, metallic threads c as shown in Fig 2 are
also used partially as weft threads.
A's inserted pieces, metals which do not easily become oxidised or those which
are specially protected against oxidation are preferably employed; nevertheless
always in combination with fibrous material capable of wear and of being
properly prepared. In order to increase the flexibility of the inserted metal
pieces, several exceedingly fine wire threads may be taken and covered, instead
of a single one of larger diameter.
These tape measures or measuring bands have the property of not shrinking,
or losing in length, even when constantly used in water, and even at boiling
heat. In order to make the measure suitable for the various uses, whether by
tailoresses tailors, or for measuring work, and to ensure inexpansibility when
expansive power is applied during use, more or less strong or fine metal wires,
but always covered, are introduced into the tissue or fabric of which the measure
is made according to the different purposes for which the measures are employed.
In order to prevent unravelling of the material should any of the measure
mountings or furniture be loosened, small metal plates as shown in Fig 3 can
be soldered or otherwise inseparably fastened on or to the metallic threads a at
the ends of the measures so that even if the metal mountings or furniture be
loosened, the measure will retain its original length.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A woven tape-measure or measuring band with strips or pieces of metal
in the warp and weft, each separate or individual metallic wire thread of the
former being covered over or isolated substantially as described and for the
nurnose indicated

page_text: 2. A woven tape measure or measuring band of the kind indicated in claim 1
hereof, in which at the beginning and end or at one of the two, the interwoven
metallic warp threads are inseparably fastened to small metal end plates sub-
stantially as described and for the purposes indicated.
Dated this 12th day of October 1897.
F. W. GOLBY
36 Chancery Lane, London, W.C.