The present invention relates measuring tapes and methods for making thereof. In particular, the measuring tape of the present invention contains a wipe mechanism for cleaning the tape as it retracts into its housing. The wipe mechanism contains a top wipe and a bottom wipe for removing debris from the top and bottom surfaces of the tape, respectively, when it is retracted after use.

A method of producing a measuring tape may include providing a cupped blade with substantially uniform cupping over a longitudinal length of the cupped blade, applying a stress relief operation to a selected portion of only a convex side of the cupped blade to increase curvature of the cupped blade in the selected portion of the cupped blade where the stress relief operation includes bead blasting the selected portion via a dual nozzle shot peening assembly to define a combined bead blast area that is substantially centered with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the blade, and operably coupling the cupped blade to a reel assembly and providing the cupped blade and reel assembly within a housing to define the measuring tape device.

A method of producing a measuring tape may include providing a tape measure blade having a first end configured to extend from a housing and a second end configured to be wound on a reel assembly, defining a first non-critical region from the first end to a start of a critical region, defining a second non-critical region from the second end to an end of the critical region, and modifying a mass per unit length of a portion of the blade such that a mass per unit length of the first and second non-critical regions is less than a mass per unit length of the critical region.

A blade for a measuring tape device may include a first end configured to extend from a housing of the measuring tape device through an aperture, a second end configured to be wound on a reel assembly within the housing, and a first cupped portion having a first amount of cupping over a selected portion of a longitudinal length of the blade. The first cupped portion may be defined by a curved portion extending from an apex of the curved portion toward lateral edges of the blade, and wings extending from each of the lateral edges toward the curved portion on each side of the apex. The curved portion includes a first radius proximate to the apex of the curved portion, and a second radius at a point spaced apart from the apex on both sides of the apex, the second radius being different than the first radius.

A method of producing a measuring tape may include providing a cupped blade with substantially uniform cupping over a longitudinal length of the cupped blade, applying a stress relief operation to a selected portion of only a convex side of the cupped blade to increase curvature of the cupped blade in the selected portion of the cupped blade, and operably coupling the cupped blade to a reel assembly and providing the cupped blade and reel assembly within a housing to define the measuring tape device.

A measuring tool comprises an end hook having a mounting portion, blade, hole extending through the blade, and a fastener extending through the hole and securing the blade to the mounting portion. The blade generally has an average first thickness along its length. The hole formed in the blade has a depth which is greater than the first thickness through a protrusion of blade material extending from the blade. Similarly, a method of forming a tape measure blade may forming a blade generally having an average first thickness along its length, forming a hole in the blade along a hole axis, near a first end of the blade, the hole having a depth that is greater than the first thickness through a protrusion of blade material extending from the blade, and extending a fastener through the hole to secure the blade to a mounting portion of the end hook.

A blade for a measuring tape device may include a first end configured to extend from a housing of the measuring tape device through an aperture, a second end configured to be wound on a reel assembly within the housing, and a first cupped portion having a first amount of cupping over a selected portion of a longitudinal length of the blade. The first cupped portion may be defined by a curved portion extending from an apex of the curved portion toward lateral edges of the blade, and wings extending from each of the lateral edges toward the curved portion on each side of the apex. The curved portion includes a first radius proximate to the apex of the curved portion, and a second radius at a point spaced apart from the apex on both sides of the apex, the second radius being different than the first radius.

The present invention relates measuring tapes and methods for making thereof. In particular, the measuring tape of the present invention contains a wipe mechanism for cleaning the tape as it retracts into its housing. The wipe mechanism contains a top wipe and a bottom wipe for removing debris from the top and bottom surfaces of the tape, respectively, when it is retracted after use.

A method of producing a measuring tape may include providing a cupped blade with substantially uniform cupping over a longitudinal length of the cupped blade, applying a stress relief operation to a selected portion of only a convex side of the cupped blade to increase curvature of the cupped blade in the selected portion of the cupped blade, and operably coupling the cupped blade to a reel assembly and providing the cupped blade and reel assembly within a housing to define the measuring tape device.

The present invention relates measuring tapes and methods for making thereof. In particular, the measuring tape of the present invention contains a wipe mechanism for cleaning the tape as it retracts into its housing. The wipe mechanism contains a top wipe and a bottom wipe for removing debris from the top and bottom surfaces of the tape, respectively, when it is retracted after use.