A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly defining an axis, 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, a locking assembly configured to alternately allow and prevent winding of the blade onto the reel assembly based on a position of the locking assembly, and a guard assembly comprising guard members extending on opposing lateral sides of the locking assembly to protect the locking assembly from impact.

A tape rule comprises a blade, a reel, a spring, a lock, and a housing. The blade comprises a substrate and a coating. The coating is configured to provide color, environmental protection, and/or abrasion resistance. In some embodiments, (1) the coating is formed from non-polymer materials; (2) the blade comprises reinforcements metallurgically bonded to the blade at or near a free end; (3) measurement indicia comprise laser marked portions of the substrate that create color contrasts with other portions of the substrate; (4) the measurement indicia comprise portions of the substrate visible through gaps in the coating; (5) the measurement indicia comprise voids in the substrate filled with a coating material having a contrasting color; and/or (6) the substrate has a surface texture configured to change an appearance of the coating relative to an appearance of the coating on an as-rolled surface finish of the metal substrate.

A tape rule comprises a blade, a reel, a spring, a lock, and a housing. The blade comprises a substrate and a coating. The coating is configured to provide color, environmental protection, and/or abrasion resistance. In some embodiments, (1) the coating is formed from non-polymer materials; (2) the blade comprises reinforcements metallurgically bonded to the blade at or near a free end; (3) measurement indicia comprise laser marked portions of the substrate that create color contrasts with other portions of the substrate; (4) the measurement indicia comprise portions of the substrate visible through gaps in the coating; (5) the measurement indicia comprise voids in the substrate filled with a coating material having a contrasting color; and/or (6) the substrate has a surface texture configured to change an appearance of the coating relative to an appearance of the coating on an as-rolled surface finish of the metal substrate.

A measuring ruler with self-locking function is presented. The ruler includes a shell and a ruler belt that can be pulled out from the shell. A roller and a shaft body are arranged in the shell, the shaft body connected to the shell. The roller is plugged into the shaft body and rotates along the shaft body to drive the ruler belt. The shaft body includes an inner hollow column which can be elastically deformed in the radial direction. The shaft body interacts with a self-locking column that includes a protrusion area with an increased diameter, the protrusion area extending along an axial direction of the column. When the self-locking column is plugged into the shaft body to a locking position, the protrusion area causes the shaft body to deform and widen in the radial direction, so that the roller is clamped and fixated by the shaft body.

A measuring ruler with self-locking function is presented. The ruler includes a shell and a ruler belt that can be pulled out from the shell. A roller and a shaft body are arranged in the shell, the shaft body connected to the shell. The roller is plugged into the shaft body and rotates along the shaft body to drive the ruler belt. The shaft body includes an inner hollow column which can be elastically deformed in the radial direction. The shaft body interacts with a self-locking column that includes a protrusion area with an increased diameter, the protrusion area extending along an axial direction of the column. When the self-locking column is plugged into the shaft body to a locking position, the protrusion area causes the shaft body to deform and widen in the radial direction, so that the roller is clamped and fixated by the shaft body.

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 tape winding device includes a fixed plate having a fixed plate side notch, a rotation plate having a rotation plate side notch which the linear member to be inserted into or removed from when a position of the rotation plate side notch is aligned with a position of the fixed plate side notch, a tape support unit and a position regulating member configured to regulate a position of the linear member in the fixed plate side notch and the rotation plate side notch such that the linear member is located at the bottom region of the fixed plate side notch and the rotation plate side notch, the position regulating member having a distal end arm portion, the distal end arm portion running across an opening of the fixed plate side notch and extending over two opposing inner edges of the fixed plate side notch at a regulation position.

A tape winding device includes a fixed plate having a fixed plate side notch, a rotation plate having a rotation plate side notch which the linear member to be inserted into or removed from when a position of the rotation plate side notch is aligned with a position of the fixed plate side notch, a tape support unit and a position regulating member configured to regulate a position of the linear member in the fixed plate side notch and the rotation plate side notch such that the linear member is located at the bottom region of the fixed plate side notch and the rotation plate side notch, the position regulating member having a distal end arm portion, the distal end arm portion running across an opening of the fixed plate side notch and extending over two opposing inner edges of the fixed plate side notch at a regulation position.

When extending the leader or tape from a traditional tape measure over a large distance, a user situated away from the body of the tape measure is unable to determine the length that has been extended at the leading edge. Presented herein is a retractable measuring device in which the body of the measuring device is configured to compute and broadcast the amount of tape that has been withdrawn from the body to a receiver. The receiver may be located at the leading edge of the tape or comprise a secondary device such as a smartphone. Alternatively, the broadcast may include tactile, audible, or visual feedback relating to the distance that may be received directly by the user. Additionally, the retractable device may include an interface for setting a desired length and provide either the user or receiver with feedback when the desired length has been reached.