A tape measure device for measuring pipes includes a spring return positioned in a housing. A tape is engaged to and is loopedly positioned around the spring return. The tape is selectively extensible from a front of the housing via a slot. A recess in a bottom of the housing extends from the front to a back and to proximate to the slot. A hook engaged to a second end of the tape can selectively engage a terminus of a substrate, enabling a user grasping the housing in a hand to extend the tape along the substrate. Indicia on the tape allow measurement of a distance from the second end of the tape. A fastener on the bottom of the housing can selectively engage the substrate to removably engage the housing to the substrate so that the user can release the housing.

A tape measure device for measuring pipes includes a spring return positioned in a housing. A tape is engaged to and is loopedly positioned around the spring return. The tape is selectively extensible from a front of the housing via a slot. A recess in a bottom of the housing extends from the front to a back and to proximate to the slot. A hook engaged to a second end of the tape can selectively engage a terminus of a substrate, enabling a user grasping the housing in a hand to extend the tape along the substrate. Indicia on the tape allow measurement of a distance from the second end of the tape. A fastener on the bottom of the housing can selectively engage the substrate to removably engage the housing to the substrate so that the user can release the housing.

A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, and a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly. The reel assembly may be configured to alternately allow the blade to be withdrawn from the reel assembly through the aperture or received in the aperture onto the reel assembly via operation of a spring. The spring is anchored to a post disposed within the housing at a first end of the spring and operably coupled to the blade at a second end of the spring. The post includes a slot dividing the post into a first post portion and a second post portion. Each of the first and second post portions may have rounded edges at portions thereof that define lateral boundaries of the slot.

A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, and a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly. The reel assembly may be configured to alternately allow the blade to be withdrawn from the reel assembly through the aperture or received in the aperture onto the reel assembly via operation of a spring. The spring is anchored to a post disposed within the housing at a first end of the spring and operably coupled to the blade at a second end of the spring. The post includes a slot dividing the post into a first post portion and a second post portion. Each of the first and second post portions may have rounded edges at portions thereof that define lateral boundaries of the slot.

A tape measure device and attachment for measuring and cutting drywall that includes a tape measure with an anchoring member disposed at the rear end of the housing and having a rear surface defining a rear aperture and a rear plane thereon and an upper surface opposing the rear surface of the anchoring member, with an anchor placement member coupled to the anchoring member, having a distal end, and operably configured to have an anchoring position with the distal end displaced a length outwardly away from the rear surface of the anchoring member, and being operably configured to have a first position along an anchoring member translation path with the rear plane non-co-planar with the bottom plane and a second position along the anchoring member translation path with the rear plane co-planar with the bottom plane.

A tape measure device and attachment for measuring and cutting drywall that includes a tape measure with an anchoring member disposed at the rear end of the housing and having a rear surface defining a rear aperture and a rear plane thereon and an upper surface opposing the rear surface of the anchoring member, with an anchor placement member coupled to the anchoring member, having a distal end, and operably configured to have an anchoring position with the distal end displaced a length outwardly away from the rear surface of the anchoring member, and being operably configured to have a first position along an anchoring member translation path with the rear plane non-co-planar with the bottom plane and a second position along the anchoring member translation path with the rear plane co-planar with the bottom plane.

A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The spring-based retraction system includes at least two springs that drive a tape spool during tape retraction. The springs are indirectly coupled to each other via a single center post, in one embodiment, two center posts on a single spool, in another embodiment, or two center posts that are on different spools, in another embodiment.

A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The spring-based retraction system includes at least two springs that drive a tape spool during tape retraction. The springs are indirectly coupled to each other via a single center post, in one embodiment, two center posts on a single spool, in another embodiment, or two center posts that are on different spools, in another embodiment.

A tape measure comprises a housing containing a tape, spring, reel, and hub, with first seal(s) to seal between the reel cartridge and the hub and/or to seal between the reel and the housing and/or a part fixed to the housing. An outermost coil of the spring may extend out of an opening in the reel and be attached to an innermost coil of the tape, and a second seal may be provided on the reel, to seal between the spring and the reel where the spring extends from the reel. Alternatively, the spring may be contained within the reel, and an outermost coil of the spring may be attached to an interior of the reel. An exterior of the reel may include an attachment portion to which an innermost coil of the tape is attached. The housing may be openable to enable contaminants to be removed from the housing.

A tape measure comprises a housing containing a tape, spring, reel, and hub, with first seal(s) to seal between the reel cartridge and the hub and/or to seal between the reel and the housing and/or a part fixed to the housing. An outermost coil of the spring may extend out of an opening in the reel and be attached to an innermost coil of the tape, and a second seal may be provided on the reel, to seal between the spring and the reel where the spring extends from the reel. Alternatively, the spring may be contained within the reel, and an outermost coil of the spring may be attached to an interior of the reel. An exterior of the reel may include an attachment portion to which an innermost coil of the tape is attached. The housing may be openable to enable contaminants to be removed from the housing.