Patent ID: 6918191

Claim:
A linear measuring device comprising: a tape housing having an outer surface, a tape outlet opening and inner volume; a generally semi-flexible measuring tape housed within said tape housing in a generally spiral configuration with an outer end extendable through said tape outlet opening; an extendable generally flat planar rear tail having an outer end and an inner end and a fixed length as measured between said outer end and said inner end, said rear tail movably mounted on said tape housing generally opposite said tape outlet opening, said rear tail operative to project outwards from said tape housing; a generally flat planar forward tongue having inner and outer ends, said inner end of said forward tongue hingedly mounted on said outer end of said measuring tape with said forward tongue extending forwards therefrom, said forward tongue being pivotable between a retracted position in general parallel alignment with and contacting said measuring tape and an extended position extending outwards generally parallel with said measuring tape, said outer end of said forward tongue being generally free of projecting objects mounted thereon whereby said outer end of said forward tongue is operative to be extended into narrow openings; at least two sets of measurements displayed on said measuring tape, an outer measurement of said at least two sets of measurements displaying the total extended distance of said measuring tape from said outer end to said tape outlet opening, an inner measurement of said at least two sets of measurements displaying the total distance between said outer end of said rear tail and said outer end of said forward tongue such that outer and inner measurements are simultaneously displayed on said measuring tape; and said inner measurement including the length of said rear tail plus the length of said forward tongue plus the length of said tape housing between said tape outlet opening and the connection of said rear tail to said tape housing plus the total extended distance of said measuring tape from said outer end to said tape outlet opening (L Rear Tail +L Forward Tongue +L Tape Housing +L Tape ) whereby the total distance between the outer end of said rear tail and said outer end of said forward tongue is shown by said inner measurement free of addition of the individual length measurements of each of the rear tail, forward tongue, tape housing and measuring tape.