| US 7,559,154 B2 | ||
| Tape measure | ||
| Steven R. Levine, Mooresville, N.C. (US); James Alan Weir, Cornelius, N.C. (US); Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney, Troutman, N.C. (US); Matthew R. Shute, Charlotte, N.C. (US); and James M. Burry, Troutman, N.C. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Irwin Industrial Tool Company, Huntersville, N.C. (US) | ||
| Filed on Oct. 17, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/550,070. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/728173, filed on Oct. 19, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0101599 A1, May 10, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01B 3/10 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 33—769 [33/755; 33/761] | 31 Claims |
| 1. A tape measure comprising:
a substantially enclosed housing having a substantially annular shape and including an outer wall integral with and extending
from the outside diameter of the substantially annular shape, the outer wall including a flat surface, wherein the flat surface
of the outer wall may be placed on another flat surface to allow the tape measure to stand upright in a fixed position, and
wherein the extension of the outer wall defines a volume in addition to that defined by the substantially annular shape;
a tape blade extending through an opening in the housing and wound in the housing; and
an automatic retraction mechanism for retracting the tape blade into the housing, wherein the automatic retraction mechanism
is substantially disposed in the additional volume defined by the extension of the outer wall.
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