IMPROVE- MENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH MEASURING TAPES USED BY SURVEYORS AND OTHERS SP
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis. Paschal Casella of Holborn Bars in the city of
London, Scientific Instrument Manufacturer for an Invention of IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH MEASURING TAPES USED BY SURVEYORS AND
OTHERS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Paschal Casella at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th June 1883.
LOUIS PASCHAL CASELLA of Holborn Bars in the City of London, Scientific
Instrument Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH MEASURING
TAPES USED BY SURVEYORS AND OTHERS
"
My invention relates to improvements in measuring tapes used by surveyors and
others and has for its object to improve and facilitate the attachment of the tape
to its winding spindle or its reattachment in case of breakage at this point, and at
the same time to reduce the liability to such breakage, and to provide a better
means of mounting and securing the spindle in the case whereby the rapid wear of
the spindle bearings and the consequent liability of the spindle to run loose is
prevented.
According to my invention the spindle is provided at the end to which the
winding handle is attached, with a rebated disc or flange of larger diameter than
the spindle which is fitted to turn in a bushing or bearing fixed in the side of the
case, the diameter of the disc or flange being such that the opening in which it
runs shall be large enough to allow of the end of the tape being easily drawn out
through it in order to attach the tape to the spindle and the easy insertion of tape
and spindle together when so attached. The bearing at the other end of the
spindle is formed by a detachable flanged collar or thimble fitting on the end of
the spindle and keyed thereon by a spline or feather so as to turn there with this
collar or thimble turning in a corresponding bushing fixed in the side of the case.
This detachable collar or thimble is applied to the spindle after its introduction in
the case and is secured by a screw entering a hole tapped in the end of the spindle
and having its head countersunk in the flanged collar or thimble. By this con-
struction the bearing surfaces of the spindle and case are ample to prevent wearing

page_text: loose as they rapidly do when the spindle runs on the head of this screw only, as
the end pivot.
The spindle is of larger diameter than usual and is split or divided into two
parallel limbs or branches by a diametral slot extending longitudinally from the
extreme point to within a short distance of the base of the spindle the slot being
made flaring at opposite sides so that the two parallel limbs of the spindle are of
approximately oval form in section so as to present no sharp edges to the tape and
facilitate the attachment of the tape to the spindle. The mode of attachment may
consist in doubling the end of the tape and securing it to form a loop and in simply
passing one of the two limbs of the spindle through it the loop of the tape thus
Jying in the slot and around one half of the spindle or the attachment may be
otherwise effected for instance by slipping the doubled end of the tape through the
slot and inserting a retaining pin in the fold of the tape. This operation may be
readily effected even in the field and under circumstances when the reattachment
of a tape to its spindle in the old way could only be effected with a great amount
of difficulty with a corresponding expenditure of time

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filled
by the said Louis Paschal Casella in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th December 1883.
LOUIS PASCHAL CASELLA of Holborn Bars in the City of London, Scientific
Instrument Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH MEASURING
TAPES USED BY SURVEYORS AND OTHERS."
My Invention relates to improvements in measuring tapes used by surveyors and
others and has for its object to improve and facilitate the attachment of the tape
to its winding spindle or its reattachment in case of breakage at this point and at
the same time to reduce the liability to such breakage and to provide a better
means of mounting and securing the spindle in the case whereby the rapid wear of
the spindle bearings and the consequent liability of the spindle to run loose is
prevented.
According to my Invention the spindle is provided at the end to which the
winding handle is attached with a shouldered disc or flange of larger diameter
than the spindle which is fitted to turn in a bushing or bearing fixed in the side of
the case, the diameter of the disc or flange being such that the opening in which it
runs shall be large enough to allow of the end of the tape being easily drawn out
through it in order to attach the tape to the spindle, and also allow of the easy
insertion of the tape and spindle together when so attached. The bearing at the
other end of the spindle is formed by a detachable collar or head screwing on the
end of the spindle and secured by a bolt, or it may be otherwise secured. The
spindle is of larger diameter than usual and is split or divided into two parallel
limbs or branches by a diametral slot extending longitudinally from the extreme
point to within a short distance of the base of the spindle the slot being made
flaring at opposite sides so that the two parallel limbs of the spindle are of
approximately oval form in section so as to present no sharp edges to the tape and
facilitate the attachment of the tape to the spindle. The mode of attachment may
consist in slipping the doubled or folded end of the tape through the slot and
inserting a piece of string or other material in the fold of the tape as a means of
retaining it in the slot, or the attachment may be effected by forming a loop at
the end of the tape and simply passing one of the two limbs of the spindle through
the loop, the tape thus lying in the slot and around one half of the spindle. This
operation may be readily effected in the field and under circumstances when the
re-attachment of a tape to its spindle in the old way could only be effected with
special appliances not usually at hand or easily obtainable or applied in the field.
Figure 1 is a face view of the instrument and Figure 2 is a partial cross section
of the case showing the spindle therein, Figure 3 shows a longitudinal view of the
spindle separately and drawn to a larger scale. Figure 4 is a cross section of the
same. Figure 5 is a face view of the nut or head shown in section in Figures 2
and 3.
A is the case of leather or other suitable material made in the ordinary way and
provided with brass bushings a a' for the spindle to run in. B is the spindle and
C is a shouldered disc or flange formed or fixed on it at one end which runs in the
bushing a of the case. The spindle is turned down at the other end to fit the
other bushing a¹. The internal diameter of the bearing a for the spindle is about
twice (more or less) that of the spindle itself so as to afford plenty of room for

page_text: The spindle is divided
bb between which the
inserting and withdrawing the spindle and tape end.
longitudinally by a saw cut d into two parallel limbs
doubled down end of the tape D is passed as shown in Figure 4, a piece of string
or its equivalent being inserted in the fold c as shown. The end of the spindle is
screwthreaded and a cap nut E screws thereon and secures the spindle in the case,
the cap being locked in position by a radial bolt e received in a corresponding hole
in the end of the spindle, this bolt being split longitudinally and fitting spring-
tight into the hole in the spindle, the motion of the bolt being limited by a screw
stop f
By the construction shown the bearing surfaces of the spindle and case are ample
to prevent wearing loose, which they rapidly do as ordinarily constructed.
Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing the
same I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is.
1st A tape measure winder wherein the winding spindle is divided by a
longitudinal slit into two parallel limbs for more readily securing the end of the
tape thereto substantially as herein shown and described."
2nd A tape measure winder wherein the winding spindle is provided with a
shouldered disc or flange of greater diameter than the spindle which turns in a
corresponding bushing in the side of the case substantially as shown and described
for the purpose specified.
3rd The improved tape measure winder having the spindle constructed and
mounted substantially as herein shown and described.
In Witness whereof I the said Louis Paschal Casella have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fourth day of December, A.D. 1883.
LOUIS P CASELLA (L.S.
LOUIS P CASELLA
(L.S.)