Patent ID: 7065895

Claim:
A tape measure comprising: a housing including a plurality of walls, at least one of the plurality of walls comprised of a transparent material, the housing including at least one aperture; an illuminable tape positioned within the housing and including a first side with a linear measuring scale of regularly spaced markings, the illuminable tape further including a first end positioned within the housing and a second end; wherein the illuminable tape is operable to pass through the at least one aperture such that the second end of the illuminable tape extends from the housing and a substantial portion of the illuminable tape is outside of the housing; and wherein the illuminable tape is further operable to be retracted back through the at least one aperture such that a substantial portion of the illuminable tape is enclosed within the housing and; a switch, wherein the switch is operable in an on mode to allow electrical power to pass to the illuminable tape, and the switch is operable in an off mode to prevent electrical power from passing to the illuminable tape, and wherein the switch is placed in the on mode upon detection of movement of the tape relative to the housing.