Disclosed is a rule assembly having a housing, a reel rotatably mounted in the housing, an elongated blade wound on the reel and extendable through an opening in the housing, and an end hook member attached to the elongated blade. A hook portion extends downwardly below a bottom surface of the housing when the blade is in a fully retracted position. The housing has an opening having an upper portion disposed above the blade, and a flexible cover overhanging the opening to inhibit or prevent penetration of debris therein. The cover is flexed by the end hook member upon impact by force (e.g., when dropped) and permits movement of the end hook member into the opening to reduce deformation of the end hook member. Optionally, a grip cover made of elastomeric material is provided on the housing and the cover is part of the grip cover.

An apparatus is configured to employ with a retractable tape measure including a flexible measuring tape. The apparatus includes an electronic system including a laser receiver and a body configured to house the electronic system therein. The laser receiver is configured to detect a laser projected in at least one of a red wavelength and a green wavelength. The body includes an arcuate-shaped cavity configured to receive the flexible measuring tape in a sliding engagement, and a top surface oriented to face in a direction from which the flexible measuring tape is read with the flexible measuring tape received in the cavity. The top surface includes a port configured to align with the laser receiver.

A position-measuring device includes a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly, installable on a first object, has a profiled element that bears a scale having a first and second measuring graduation. The second assembly, installable on a second object, has a first scanning unit that is movable along a travel path in a measuring direction to scan the first measuring graduation. A position of the first object relative to the second object is therefore measurable. A second scanning unit is mounted on the profiled element so as to enable the second measuring graduation to be scanned, and is positioned in a way that allows the first scanning unit to traverse collision-free along the travel path at a distance spaced apart from the second scanning unit orthogonally to the measuring direction such that a displacement of the scale relative to the first object is measurable.

A position-measuring device includes a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly, installable on a first object, has a profiled element that bears a scale having a first and second measuring graduation. The second assembly, installable on a second object, has a first scanning unit that is movable along a travel path in a measuring direction to scan the first measuring graduation. A position of the first object relative to the second object is therefore measurable. A second scanning unit is mounted on the profiled element so as to enable the second measuring graduation to be scanned, and is positioned in a way that allows the first scanning unit to traverse collision-free along the travel path at a distance spaced apart from the second scanning unit orthogonally to the measuring direction such that a displacement of the scale relative to the first object is measurable.

A linear measuring device includes a tape housing and a semi-flexible measuring tape housed within the tape housing of a length L in a generally spiral configuration with an outer end extendable through a tape outlet opening and having a flange thereon. The tape having two sets of measurements, a first set displayed on a top side of the measuring tape with a first incremental measurement X, and second set displayed on a bottom side of the measuring tape with a first incremental measurement X+L.

An optical readout device for providing visual circumference and diameter readings of an object being measured by a linear tape. The tail end of the tape passes by a reader element in a digital device which is equipped electronically with the pi conversion factor to provide selective readings of diameter in English and metric units, as well as circumference readings. The device can be employed for external (outside) and internal (inside) measurements.

Device and method for determining and comparing distances between balls in the game of bocce in which a marker block is magnetically attached to a measuring tape in a position corresponding to the distance between a first thrown ball and a target ball, and the tape with the marker attached is then used to compare that distance with the distance between a second thrown ball and the target ball to determine which of the two thrown balls is closer to the target ball.

A tape measuring device comprising a mount which is integrally formed with or attached to a housing. A specially designed stop plate is disposed on the mount. The stop plate provides a means whereby the indicia located on a tape blade of the tape measuring device may be easily located and read. The stop plate further provides a means for the precise taking and replication of a measurement. The tape measuring device further comprises a marker plate. The marker plate comprises a scribe which can mark an object to be measured. The marker plate is pivotally attached to the mount to allow for the retraction of the scribe when the marker plate is not in use, and for expansion of the scribe when the marker plate is in use.

Apparatuses and methods based thereon are provided for onboard measurements in miter saws. A measurement device may be attached to or incorporated into a miter saw, where the measurement device being configured to provide onboard measurement when cuts are made using the miter saw. The measurement device may comprise a tape based measurement device. The measurement device may be portable to enable detaching it from the miter saw when on-location measurements are made, and attaching it to the miter saw when cut measurements are provided. The measurement device may comprise an output component (e.g., digital display) for outputting measurement readings and/or information associated with cut measurements. The measurement device (and/or the miter saw itself) may be configured for communicating signals wirelessly in accordance with one or more wireless technologies, such as to enable receiving measurements made remotely.

An elevator system having an elevator car in an elevator shaft and having a measuring tape in the elevator shaft for determining the position of the elevator car in the elevator shaft. The measuring tape is arranged vertically in the elevator shaft and has optical coding for length measurement. At least one marking element which has optical marking is arranged on the measuring tape. The marking element is fixedly arranged on the measuring tape. A sensor device which comprises a lighting source and a sensor which form a detection field for detecting the measuring tape is attached to the elevator car. The elevator system comprises an evaluation device for decoding the codings in the detection field and a control device for controlling the elevator system as a function of the coding and/or of the position of the at least one marking element on the measuring tape.