A tape measure including an elongate tape blade is shown. The tape measure includes a relatively short protective polymer film coupled to an end of the tape blade adjacent to the hook end of the tape blade.

A tape measure including an elongate tape blade is shown. The tape measure includes a relatively short protective polymer film coupled to an end of the tape blade adjacent to the hook end of the tape blade.

A sports field marking assembly and method of marking creates a boundary reference point and field lines on a field or for coaching. The assembly provides a marker anchoring device that is loaded with field markers. The marker anchoring device comprises a translatable handle coupled to a spring-loaded piston that discharge the field markers into the surface of the sports field. Bristles couple to a rear end of the marker body for visibility above the surface of the field. A tape canister couples to the marker anchoring device to dispense a measuring tape. The measuring tape couples to the field markers, serving to delineate the boundaries and lines on the field. Multiple aligners anchor into the sports field to retain the measuring tape in the formed patterns. The aligners have collapsible and moveable guide posts that can be selectively raised to guide the measuring tape though the chosen guide posts.

A sports field marking assembly and method of marking creates a boundary reference point and field lines on a field or for coaching. The assembly provides a marker anchoring device that is loaded with field markers. The marker anchoring device comprises a translatable handle coupled to a spring-loaded piston that discharge the field markers into the surface of the sports field. Bristles couple to a rear end of the marker body for visibility above the surface of the field. A tape canister couples to the marker anchoring device to dispense a measuring tape. The measuring tape couples to the field markers, serving to delineate the boundaries and lines on the field. Multiple aligners anchor into the sports field to retain the measuring tape in the formed patterns. The aligners have collapsible and moveable guide posts that can be selectively raised to guide the measuring tape though the chosen guide posts.

An improved tape measure apparatus which includes a catch that is both slidable and rotatable relative to the rule blade in a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rule blade when the rule blade is extended from the tape casing. In one embodiment the catch can both rotate and slide relative to the rule blade when frictional forces exceed a predefined minimum or are within a predefined range.

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.

A deployable stabilizer cooperates with a tape of a tape measure to stabilize the tape measure with the tape extended therefrom to facilitate hands free stability of the tape measure. The stabilizer may be pivotally coupled with a body of the tape measure to facilitate pivoting between a deployed and a stowed position. The stabilizer may comprise an extendable member that is guided by channels defined by tape measure body. Locations or orientations of pivot holes or channel guides may result in contact of the bottom of the tape in an extended position with a top of the stabilizer in a deployed position to facilitate stability of the tape measure body.

A deployable stabilizer cooperates with a tape of a tape measure to stabilize the tape measure with the tape extended therefrom to facilitate hands free stability of the tape measure. The stabilizer may be pivotally coupled with a body of the tape measure to facilitate pivoting between a deployed and a stowed position. The stabilizer may comprise an extendable member that is guided by channels defined by tape measure body. Locations or orientations of pivot holes or channel guides may result in contact of the bottom of the tape in an extended position with a top of the stabilizer in a deployed position to facilitate stability of the tape measure body.

A measurement device that allows all users to conveniently and discreetly determine appropriate general footwear measurements at any age is disclosed. The device may include a housing having a contact edge configured to receive the heel or a first side edge of the user's foot, a retractable tape configured to extend outwardly from the housing, and a toe flange proximate the distal end of the retractable tape that is configured to receive the toe or a second side edge of the user's foot. The retractable tape may have indicia of barleycorn units of measurement that can be easily be used to determine footwear sizes (length and width) in English speaking countries.

A measurement device that allows all users to conveniently and discreetly determine appropriate general footwear measurements at any age is disclosed. The device may include a housing having a contact edge configured to receive the heel or a first side edge of the user's foot, a retractable tape configured to extend outwardly from the housing, and a toe flange proximate the distal end of the retractable tape that is configured to receive the toe or a second side edge of the user's foot. The retractable tape may have indicia of barleycorn units of measurement that can be easily be used to determine footwear sizes (length and width) in English speaking countries.