Improvements in Measuring Tapes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Measuring Tapes.
I, THOMAS BEDINGTON, of the Firm of Thomas Beddington & Sons of
Northwood Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention has for its object improvements in measuring tapes and refers
mainly to those having flush handles although part of my said invention may be
used with measuring tapes of all kinds by which means I so arrange it that the
screw which secures the stale in position cannot become detached from the case and
lost, while in the case of flush handle tapes I can produce them at a much less cost
than has been done hitherto.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practise I have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings.
Figure 1, is a general view of the front or handle side of the tape case with the
handle shown open.
Figure 2, is a cross section through Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a similar cross section of the pivot to that shown in Figure 2 but
illustrating the screw, only with stale removed.
Figure 4, is a similar cross section through the handle to that shown in Figure 2
but with the handle illustrated in a closed position.
In carrying my invention into effect I mount in one side of the casing N of the
tape the bush B in which the pivot screw A is inserted and retained in position by
the lock-nut E which nut however is only screwed up sufficiently tight upon the
screw pin A to retain it in position and at the same time give the pin sufficient
liberty to turn freely in the bush B. Upon the pin A. I screw the stale F of the
handle which is tapped to receive the said pin A by which means it will be readily
seen that it is impossible for the screw pin A to become accidentally detached and lost
as the screw is always retained in position as shown by Figure 3 and this arrange-
ment I may apply to tapes other than those of the flush handle kind although I
have illustrated in connection with a flush handle which forms another part of my
said invention.
The stale F forms part of or is rivetted into the plate or cover H which revolves
in the recessed bush K and is provided with the projecting shoulder k¹ to which the
handle M is hinged at m' in such a manner as to open and close as shown. The
bushes B and K are secured in the casing of the tape by an eyelet socket m³ fixed
to or forming part of the bush which is rivetted over the casing at m² while the
cover plate H is provided with the aperture for the entrance of the handle
knob m² the aperture being boxed in with the cover h² cut to form a spring or a spring
The stale,
may be formed in the usual way for retaining the knob in the recess.
handle, & cover arranged in this manner are easy of manufacture and a saving
in the cost of production is effected over the usual types of flush handle tapes.
The plate H and handle M may be either cast or stamped and the stale F may
be either cast, stamped or formed of ordinary tubing.
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 :-
1st. In measuring tapes the pivot screw A and lock nut E substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth and shown.

page_text: 2nd. In measuring tapes the flush handle M cover plate H and stale F mounted'
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and shown.
3rd. In measuring tapes the combination of the locked pivot screw and flush
handle arrangement substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and
shown.
Dated this 26th day of January 1894.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.