A tape measure, including a tape measure blade having a cross-sectional profile to increase standout is provided. The profile has a curved shape that increases standout. The tape blade may have a flat width greater than or equal to 29 mm and less than 32 mm.

A tape measure, including a tape measure blade having a cross-sectional profile to increase standout is provided. The profile has a curved shape that increases standout. The tape blade may have a flat width greater than or equal to 29 mm and less than 32 mm.

A digital linear measuring device that digitizes the length of the extended tape and displays this measurement on a primary display screen that continually updates to a current measurement. The user can decide when to save a measurement, at which point the saved measurement will appear on a secondary screen (either a portion of the primary display, or a secondary adjacent display) as a previously taken measurement. These measurements can account for both an external measurement read from the tape measure, as well as an internal measurement, and the measurement may be adjusted where necessary to take into consideration the length of the device body. In use, there is no need to write down or remember a previous measurement, as they are displayed and easily accessible.

A tape measure including a tape measure blade having an edge design to increase tape blade durability is provided. The metal portion of the tape blade may include lateral edge surface sections that have a non-planar, tear reducing shape. The metal portion of the tape blade may include lateral edge surface sections that include a tear reducing surface treatment such as a polished lateral edge surface section.

A tape measure including a tape measure blade having an edge design to increase tape blade durability is provided. The metal portion of the tape blade may include lateral edge surface sections that have a non-planar, tear reducing shape. The metal portion of the tape blade may include lateral edge surface sections that include a tear reducing surface treatment such as a polished lateral edge surface section.

Stud gap marker tape 10 comprises a strip element 12; and a plurality of gap marks 14, to facilitate stud positioning, to thus facilitate wall building. Preferably a portion or a whole of an underside of the strip element is adhesive, to facilitate sticking the strip element to a plate. Preferably the stud gap marker tape is provided rolled up, as a roll of tape. Disclosure is also provided of an apparatus 501, to make gap marks on a plate, to facilitate stud positioning, to thus facilitate wall building.

A tool, such as a tape measure, including a retraction system is shown. The tape measure includes a magnetic retraction speed controller. The magnetic retraction speed controller includes a magnet that induces an eddy current in a conductive component of the tool and slows a retraction speed.

A tool, such as a tape measure, including a retraction system is shown. The tape measure includes a magnetic retraction speed controller. The magnetic retraction speed controller includes a magnet that induces an eddy current in a conductive component of the tool and slows a retraction speed.

In one embodiment, a method includes writing, using a magnetic head, a set of parallel shingled tracks onto a magnetic recording tape using specified drive parameters, changing one of the specified drive parameters, reading a set of selected data tracks on the magnetic recording tape using the changed drive parameter, changing a lateral head position while reading the set of selected data tracks using the changed drive parameter, comparing track error rates observed during reading at the different lateral head positions, selecting a reader offset value based on the comparing, and performing a further action using the selected reader offset value.

In one embodiment, a method includes writing, using a magnetic head, a set of parallel shingled tracks onto a magnetic recording tape using specified drive parameters, changing one of the specified drive parameters, reading a set of selected data tracks on the magnetic recording tape using the changed drive parameter, changing a lateral head position while reading the set of selected data tracks using the changed drive parameter, comparing track error rates observed during reading at the different lateral head positions, selecting a reader offset value based on the comparing, and performing a further action using the selected reader offset value.