Patent ID: 7458537

Claim:
A power-return tape measure, comprising: a housing having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls; a post disposed between said first and second sidewalls and extending along a longitudinal axis; said post including a proximal end anchored to said first sidewall, at least first and second arms spaced from one another to form a longitudinal slot having an end aperture facing away from said proximal end, and a distal end comprising said end aperture; a tape blade retraction spring coupled to said post via said slot so as to provide a retraction bias for a tape measure blade; a fastener extending through said second sidewall and said end aperture and terminating at a location along said slot, said fastener engaging an interior portion of said post to define a fastener engagement region extending from said end aperture to said terminating location; said fastener anchoring said post distal end to said second sidewall; and a reinforcing collar distinct from said housing and said post, said collar disposed about said post proximate said distal end so as to overlie said post for at least half of said fastener engagement region; said collar engaging said post and limiting movement of said arms away from said longitudinal axis.