| US 7,549,235 B2 | ||
| Multifunctional tape measure device | ||
| Troy L. Alders, 13472 Riley Peak Rd., Conifer, Colo. 80433 (US) | ||
| Filed on Nov. 10, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/595,183. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/735784, filed on Nov. 10, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0101600 A1, May 10, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01B 3/10 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 33—760 [33/770] | 18 Claims |

| 1. A multifunctional tape measure device, said device comprising:
(a) a housing having each of a first side, an opposed second side, a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall and a rear wall,
said housing having an interior chamber formed therein;
(b) a tape reel mounted within said interior chamber for rotation in forward and reverse directions, said tape reel having
a spring means to bias said tape reel for rotation in said reverse direction;
(c) a flexible measuring tape which is wound on said tape reel and which extends through an aperture formed in said front
wall of said housing;
(d) a brake means for releaseably holding said measuring tape being extended from said housing;
(e) a magnet rigidly mounted within a recess formed in said bottom wall of said housing, whereby an outer surface of said
magnet is coplanar with said bottom wall;
(f) a light means mounted within said housing and manually operable for generating a visible light beam, said visible light
beam extending parallel to said flexible measuring tape when said flexible measuring tape is extended, said light means positioned
in said front wall underneath said aperture having said flexible measuring tape extending therethrough, said light means including
a light member and a switch juxtaposed therewith in a plane substantially parallel to a plane having said flexible measuring
tape extending therewithin, said switch operable from an exterior surface of said front wall of said housing;
(g) a magnifying lens positioned adjacent one of said first and second side of said housing;
(h) a pivot means for attaching said magnifying lens to said housing, whereby said magnifying lens is rotatable about an axis
parallel to an edge of said housing between a first position wherein a surface of said magnifying lens is juxtaposed with
said one of said first and second side of said housing coplanar with said tape reel and perpendicular to a plane of said flexible
measuring tape when said flexible measuring tape is extended and a second position wherein said magnifying lens extends beyond
a boundary of said housing;
(i) a write-on member which is retained within a recess formed in an opposed one of said first and second side of said housing;
(j) a holder disposed on said housing for retaining a writing instrument; and
(k) a calculator having a calculator casing, a keypad operable from one surface thereof, a display mounted adjacent to said
keypad, a hinged pivot member secured to each of a side edge of said calculator casing and a side of said housing disposed
in a plane being planar with said tape reel, whereby said calculator casing is manually pivotable about an axis parallel to
a side edge of said housing between a first position wherein said one surface of said calculator casing is juxtaposed with
said side of said housing carrying said side edge thereof and a second position wherein said calculator casing extends beyond
a boundary of said side of said housing.
|