Patent ID: 7584548

Claim:
A tape measure comprising: a housing having a tape outlet opening; a flexible measuring tape movable between a retracted position in which the measuring tape is substantially disposed within the housing, and an extended position in which at least a portion of the measuring tape extends through the tape outlet opening and extends linearly outside the housing, the measuring tape having a free end and a pair of longitudinal edges, and the measuring tape having measuring indicia displayed thereon; a magnifying lens connected to the housing, the magnifying lens overlaying the portion of the measuring tape extending outside the housing when the measuring tape is in the extended position, and the magnifying lens extending laterally beyond one of the longitudinal edges of the measuring tape; and a line extending across the magnifying lens, the line being generally perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the portion of the measuring tape extending outside the housing, the line being aligned with the measuring indicia.