Improvements in and connected with Attachments for Tape Measures.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Attachments for Tape
Measures.
I WILLIAM ORDIDGE SHEPPARD, of Greenhill Lane, near Alfreton, in the
County of Derby, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The automatic tape measure attachment forming the subject of the present
invention has for objects to facilitate the use of tape measures by decreasing the
distance walked by the operator when using the same, and to dispense in many
cases with the employment of an attendant.
The usual practice when one person uses a tape measure to measure floors, timber,
lengths of braiding or like purposes, is to employ, say, a bradawl or similar article
to secure the free end of the tape to the object, or by the side of the object to be
measured.
After taking a measurement the operator returns for the bradawl in order to
release the tape before beginning a fresh measurement and in this way frequently
walks three times over the distance measured.
Thus in measuring, say, a platform one hundred feet long, the operator walks
three hundred feet assuming that after the measurement he leaves the platform at
the end opposite to the one from which he began the measurement, whereas he
would walk only one hundred feet had he the means of withdrawing the bradawl or
otherwise releasing the end of the tape measure without retracing his steps from
each place where he has read off a measurement.
The automatic tape measure attachment forming the subject of the present
invention is intended to take the place of the bradawl or other article generally
used for securing the end of a tape measure, its arrangement being such, that after
a measurement has been read off, the tape attachment is capable of being withdrawn
from the object to which it is attached without the operator having to retrace his
steps; the tape can then be hauled in with the attachment still affixed to its end,
and a fresh measurement proceeded with.
Referring to the drawings :-
Figure 1 is a plan, Figures 2 and 3 are end elevations, and Figure 4 is a side
elevation of an automatic tape measure attachment according to the present
invention.
Figure 5 is a view of the underside of the same.
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 show modifications.
Figure 14 is a side view of a tape measure attachment in position when a
measurement is being taken.
In all the figures the same reference numbers refer to the same or to corresponding
parts.
1 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4) is a plate of steel, wrought iron, brass, or other suitable
material, having a rectangular hole 2. One end 23 of the plate is turned up at a
right angle to the main portion of the plate so as to form a guard for the hasp 7.
A fixed bracket or arm 3, hereinafter called a bracket, is riveted, soldered or other-
wise suitably attached to the said plate. 4 is a projection or widened part of the
said bracket. 5 is a steel spring, hereinafter called a main spring,-attached at
one end to the underside of the plate 1 by screws or rivets 6, 6 or other suitable
means.
A portion 7 of the opposite or free end of the spring is bent at right angles
to the body part and formed into a hooked projection, catch, jaw or hasp,-herein-
after called a hasp,-comprising a prolongation 8 and a recess 9. 10 (Fig. 5) is a
hole in the body part of the spring.
4

page_text: 11 (Fig. 4) is a pointed projection or spike, preferably of steel, screwed, riveted,
or otherwise suitably attached to the underside of the plate 1.
12 is a bar or bolt,--hereinafter called a bolt,-of steel or other suitable material,
provided at one end with a projection, arm, or trigger 13, and having on one of its
sides a projection 14.
15 is a bracket of steel, iron, brass or other suitable material, attached to the
plate 1 by screws or rivets 16, 16, or by other suitable means, and forming with
the plate 1 a bearing in which the bolt 12 is capable of sliding longitudinally.
17 is a steel spring attached at one end to the bracket 3, and bearing or pressing
with its other end on the projection 14 of the bolt 12 in such manner as to tend to
move the bolt 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow 18.
19 is a line, mark or notch on the sides and top of the plate 1 corresponding with
the outer edge of the loop or ring on the end of a tape measure when the said loop
or ring is in position on the projection 4 of the bracket 3.
When the tape attachment is in use the mark 19 is set to correspond with the
line or point to be measured from.
Figure 6 shows in end view a modification of a tape attachment with a curved
plate spring 5 held by set screws 24 with heads projecting from the underside of
the plate 1, the holes in the spring through which the set screws pass, having
sufficient clearance to allow of the lateral movement of the ends of the spring when
the latter is compressed.
Fig. 8 is a portion of a side view of the same.
Fig. 7 shows in end view a modification with two springs similar to the spring
shown in Figs. 6 and 8, a hasp 7 being attached to the lower spring. In this case
the bolts holding the springs slide in the holes in the plate 1 when the springs are
compressed.
Fig. 9 shows in end view a modification in which a volute spring 5 is employed
as a main spring. Instead of a volute spring, a spiral spring may be applied in the
same manner.
Fig. 10 is a side view of a modification in which the plate 1 and spring 5 are in
one piece.
Fig. 11 is a side view of another modification in which a spring 5 acts upon a
lever 25 pivoted at 26 to the plate 1. A hasp 7 is attached to the lever.
Fig. 12 is a side view of a modification comprising a spring 5 with coils 27.
Fig. 13 is a view of the underside of the same.
In the above named modifications the parts not mentioned are similar to those
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Fig. 14 is a side view of a tape measure attachment showing it in position
when a measurement is being taken. 21 is a portion of a tape measure, and 20 is
the loop or ring on the end of the same. 28 represents a piece of timber to which
the attachment, is shown affixed.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
The spring 17 is passed through the ring or loop 20 on the end of a tape
measure 21; this is effected by pressing the spring at the point 22 away from the
projection 14 on which it normally bears, so that the ring 20 of the tape measure
can be threaded upon it, and passed along the spring over the bracket 3 and the
trigger 13.
The tape measure is thus securely attached to the tape measure
attachment, the pressure of the spring against the projection 14 effectually preventing
the escape of the ring.
Assuming that the object to be measured is, say, a boarded floor, the operator
places the tape measure attachment on the floor with the spike 11 downwards and
the mark 19 against or corresponding with the point to be measured from, that end
of the attachment to which the tape is secured being on the side towards which the
measurement is to be made. On pressing down the end 23 of the plate 1 it
approaches the free end of the main spring and the spike 11 passes through the
When the spike is
hole 10 in the said spring, and enters the timber of the floor.
pressed home, the hasp 7 on the main spring having by that time assumed such a

page_text: position that the bolt 12,-which normally presses against the prolongation 8,-can
now engage with the said hasp, the bolt impelled by the spring 17 slides into the
recess 9 thus securing or locking the main spring 5. The operator now adjusts the
ring 20 of the tape on the projection 4 near the top of the bracket 3 to the position.
shown in Fig. 14, and keeping a slight strain or tension on the tape as it pays out,
he walks in the direction in which the measurement is to be taken. After the
measurement is read off the tape is allowed to fall slack and on being slightly
shaken, the ring 20 on the tape slides down from its position on the upper part of
the bracket 3 and encloses the trigger 13 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 14. A
gentle pull is now given to the tape drawing back the trigger 13 with the bolt 12
and releasing the main spring 5 which by its recoil raises the plate 1 and so with-
draws the spike 11 from the floor, when the tape and its attachment can be.
hauled in.
_as seen in
The bracket 3 and the trigger 13 form au angle of about 45 degrees,-
end view, with the upper side of the plate 1, so that whether the tape measure
attachment be applied to a floor or to a vertical object, such for instance as a door-
post, the bracket 3 and the trigger 13 will present inclined surfaces for the ring 20.
on the tape measure to slide down when the tape is relieved from strain or pull.
So long as a slight pull is kept on the tape measure the ring 20 retains its
position on the projection 4 of the bracket 3.
The bracket 3 and the trigger 13 instead of being inclined, as seen in end view,
to the upper surface of the plate 1, may be at right angles to the said surface, in
which case the tape measure attachment will not be available for application to the
vertical side of an object.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention and in what.
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
(1.) In a tape measure attachment, a spring or springs which by its or their
rebound or recoil releases or release the said attachment from the object to which
it is affixed.
(2.) In a tape measure attachment the combination of a pointed projection or
spike for securing the said attachment to an object, and a spring or springs for
releasing the said attachment by withdrawing the pointed projection or spike from
the said object.
(3.) In a tape measure attachment the combination of a spring 5 and a bolt 12
for locking the said spring, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
(4.) In a tape measure attachment a part or bracket 3 to which a tape measure
is connected during the taking of a measurement, combined with a part or trigger 13,.
in such manner that when the tape measure is relieved from strain the ring or loop
on the said tape measure will slide down or from the part or bracket 3 and enclose
the part or trigger 13 substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
(5.) In a tape measure attachment the combination of a spike for affixing the
said attachment to an object, a spring for releasing the same, a bolt for locking
the said spring, an arm or trigger for withdrawing the said bolt and a fixed bracket
or arm to which a measuring tape is attached during the taking of a measurement,.
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings..
Dated the 7th day of March 1893.
W. O. SHEPPARD,
Applicant.