111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US 20060130352Al
`
`(19) United States
`c12) Patent Application Publication
`Huang
`
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0130352 Al
`Jun. 22, 2006
`(43) Pub. Date:
`
`(54) MEASURING TAPE FOR TAPE RULE
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Jason Huang, Taipei (TW)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`DENNISON, SCHULTZ, DOUGHERTY &
`MACDONALD
`1727 KING STREET
`SUITE 105
`ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: INDEX MEASURING TAPE CO,
`LTD.
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`111014,875
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 20, 2004
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`GOJB 3110
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................................................ 33/771
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Disclosed is a measuring tape for tape rule consisting of a
`metallic main body formed into concave upwards shape with
`a hook provided to its free end, and is labeled with succes(cid:173)
`sive graduations and numerals as scales on its upper surface.
`A transparent protective layer is respectively provided on its
`upper and lower surface by coating. The front section of the
`tape near its free end is further protected by enhancing
`protective layers in proper length by coating on both sur(cid:173)
`faces of the tape.
`
`71
`
`3
`
`62
`
`APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC - EX. 1014-001
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 22, 2006 Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 2006/0130352 Al
`
`FIG. 1
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC - EX. 1014-002
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 22, 2006 Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 2006/0130352 Al
`
`FIG.2
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC - EX. 1014-003
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 22, 2006 Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 2006/0130352 Al
`
`FIG.3
`
`APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC - EX. 1014-004
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 22, 2006 Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 2006/0130352 Al
`
`3
`
`71
`
`FIG.4
`
`7
`
`FIG.5
`
`APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC - EX. 1014-005
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 22, 2006 Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 2006/0130352 Al
`
`8
`
`72
`
`FIG.6
`
`APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC - EX. 1014-006
`
`

`

`US 2006/0130352 AI
`
`Jun.22,2006
`
`MEASURING TAPE FOR TAPE RULE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] 1. The Field of the Invention
`
`[0002] The present invention relates to a measuring tape
`for tape rule; and in particular, to a measuring tape each of
`whose surfaces is coated with a layer of transparent painting
`to cover the graduations and numerals, and its front section
`with a length approximately 0-150 em (0-59 inch) which is
`frequently pulled out for measuring is coated at least one
`protecting layer on both upper and lower surfaces.
`
`[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
`
`[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional tape rule
`consists of a housing 100 with a push button 101 provided
`on it above an exit 300 of a measuring tape 200 so as to
`control extension and retrieval of the tape 200.
`
`[0005] As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional measuring
`tape 200 is a long, narrow and thin metallic belt wound on
`a robbin and elongated outside of the housing 100 for
`measuring work and retrieved into the housing 100 after
`finishing the measuring work. The tape 200 when stowed in
`the housing 100 is wound around the robbin. The elongated
`tape 200 is wound back into the housing 100 by resilient
`force of a coil spring (not shown) fastened between the
`robbin and the housing 100.
`
`[0006] However, elongating and retrieving the tape too
`frequent may wear the front section (the part with length
`0-150 em or 0-59 inch) of the tape 200 by scraping of the
`user's finger claws on it or possible abrasion by a frictional
`contract with the edge of tape exit 300. Moreover, the
`numerals 201 and graduation scales 202 provided on that
`part of the tape 200 will be worn out accordingly, and from
`worse to worst, the tape 200 probably will be broken by
`cracks built up on it by the applied tensile force during
`frequent reciprocation of the tape 200 thereby greatly short(cid:173)
`ening the lifetime of the tape rule.
`
`[0007] To improve such noticeable defects on the prior art,
`the inventor has dedicated great efforts for years to studying
`and improving theses defects and come up with a novel
`measuring tape for the tape rule as provided in this invention
`to eliminate the defects mentioned above.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`[0008] Accordingly, the main object of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion is to provide a measuring tape for the tape rule in which
`the front section of the tape with a length about 0-150 em,
`or 0-59 inch where being frequently touched by the user, is
`coated with a protective layer, both on the upper and lower
`surfaces, to cover the transparent layers formed underneath
`so as to protect the abrasion of the tape from scraping by
`user's finger claws and fading of the graduations and numer(cid:173)
`als of the scale labeled thereon so as to prolong the lifetime
`of the tape rule.
`
`[0011] The above objects and other advantages of the
`present invention will become more apparent by describing
`in detail the preferred embodiments of the present invention
`with reference to the attached drawing.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0012] FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of a conven(cid:173)
`tional tape rule;
`
`[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a conventional
`measuring tape showing its front section;
`
`[0014] FIG. 3 is a three dimensional view of a measuring
`tape of the present invention;
`
`[0015] FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view of a
`measuring tape of the present invention;
`
`[0016] FIG. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view of a
`measuring tape in another embodiment of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion; and
`
`[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a tape rule accom(cid:173)
`panied with the measuring tape of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, in which a three dimensional
`view of the measuring tape provided by the present inven(cid:173)
`tion is shown. The measuring tape 3, made of a thin metal
`sheet, preferably steel is formed into concave upwards shape
`and is labeled with successive graduations 4 and numerals 5
`as scales for measuring length or distance. One end of the
`tape 3 is fastened to a robbin (not shown), whereas the other
`end is a free end 31 with a hook 32 to be pulled out of the
`tape rule for measuring work by fixing the hook 32 on
`certain place.
`
`[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, in the transverse cross sec(cid:173)
`tional view of the tape 3, it is shown that after being labeled
`graduations 4 and numerals 5 on the upper surface of the
`tape 3, transparent protective layers 61 and 62 are coated
`respectively on the upper and lower surfaces of the tape 3 so
`as protect the graduations 4 and numerals 5 from fading
`away by friction. Besides, in order to protect the front
`section L of the tape 3 near its free end 31 with the length
`about 0-150 em (0-59 inch) where it suffers from a severe
`abrasion by frequent reciprocating motion of the tape 3, one
`or more enhancing protective layers 71 and 72, which being
`made of nylon or other well adhesive material can be
`respectively coated on the upper and lower surface 61,62 of
`the tape 3.
`
`[0020]
`In another embodiment of the present invention
`shown in FIG. 5, for improving protection, both longitudi(cid:173)
`nal edges of the tape 3 are also coated with the enhancing
`protective layer such that the overall surfaces of the tape 3
`are completely sieged by a integrate enhancing protective
`layer 7.
`
`[0009] Another object of the present invention is that the
`coated protective layer has a strong adhesion being not
`easily exfoliated by contact of the user's finger.
`
`[0021]
`In addition, the enhancing protective layers may be
`colored or added with a fluorescent material so as to facili(cid:173)
`tate visual identification during measuring work.
`
`[0010] Still another object of the present invention is that
`one or two enhancing protective layer is made of the
`painting material such as nylon or others well adhesive to the
`tape surface.
`
`[0022] Referring to FIG. 6, when using a tape rule 8
`associated with the measuring tape 3, as its front section is
`well protected by the enhancing protective layers 71, 72 with
`increased thickness, the user is free from the worry that
`
`APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC - EX. 1014-007
`
`

`

`US 2006/0130352 AI
`
`Jun.22,2006
`
`2
`
`his/her fingers might be cut by the edges of moving tape 3,
`and the tape 3, and the tape 3 itself is also free from the
`worry of cracking or even breaking by forcible impact at the
`fringe of its exit 81 with high retrieving speed.
`
`It emerges from the above description that the
`[0023]
`measuring tape provided by the present invention has sev(cid:173)
`eral noteworthy advantages compared with the conventional
`ones, namely:
`
`[0024] 1. The front section of the measuring tape is well
`protected by the double protecting layers from cracking
`or breaking.
`
`[0025] 2. The graduations and numerals of the scales
`never fade away as being coated with a transparent
`layer.
`
`[0026] 3. No worry of hurting the user's hand because
`both edges of the tape are enclosed by protective layers.
`
`[0027] Those who are skilled in the art will readily per(cid:173)
`ceive how to modifY the invention. Therefore, the appended
`claims are to be construed to cover all equivalent structures
`which fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A measuring tape for tape rule comprising a metallic
`main body formed into concave upwards shape with a hook
`
`provided to its free end, and being labeled with successive
`graduations and numerals as scales on its upper surface
`thereof, a transparent protective layer being respectively
`provided on the upper and lower surface of said tape by
`coating; wherein the front section of said tape near its free
`end is further protected by enhancing protective layers in
`proper length by coating on both upper and lower surfaces
`of said tape.
`2. The measuring tape as in claim 1, wherein the proper
`length of said front section to be coated is about 0-150 em
`or 0-59 inch.
`3. The measuring tape as in claim 1, wherein said enhanc(cid:173)
`ing protecting layer is provided to the overall surfaces of
`said tape including both longitudinal edges so as to com(cid:173)
`pletely siege said measuring tape.
`4. The measuring tape as in claim 1, wherein said pro(cid:173)
`tective layer is made of nylon.
`5. The measuring tape as in claim 1, wherein said pro(cid:173)
`tective layer is single or double.
`6. The measuring tape as in claim 1, wherein said pro(cid:173)
`tective layer is transparent or colored.
`
`APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC - EX. 1014-008
`
`