A centering apparatus for facilitating alignment with a center of a surface of an object includes a housing containing a pair of coiled rule blades. The rule blades are extendable from the housing in opposite directions from each other and are operably interconnected such that the rule blades extend an equal distance away from the housing when one of the pair of rule blades is urged to extend away from the housing. A laser emitter is mounted to the housing and is centered between free ends of the pair of rule blades with respect to the housing. The laser emitter directs a laser away from the housing to facilitate alignment to measure center of a surface of an object.

A length measuring device and a length measuring system are provided, in which the length measuring device includes a casing, a first rotating portion accommodated in the casing, and rotated with a portion of a circumference thereof being exposed out of the casing and in contact with an object to be measured, a first sensing portion which senses an amount of rotation of the first rotating portion, and a controller which converts the amount of rotation of the first rotating portion into length measurement. Additionally, the length measuring device may further include a second rotating portion coiled with a strip by a plurality of times, and rotated according to the strip being withdrawn or retracted through an outlet formed in the casing, and a second sensing portion which senses an amount of rotation of the second rotating portion, in which the controller may convert the amount of rotation of the second rotating portion into length measurement.

A tool such as a tape measure, including a lighting system is shown. The lighting system includes a light source configured to direct light forward and strong enough to act as a flashlight. The tape measure further includes a housing designed to be compact and rugged enough to protect the internal components related to the lighting system from coming loose or suffering damage due to an impact or vibrations.

A tape measure with built-in angle/pitch finder device that combines a tape measure and an angle/pitch finder into one tool is disclosed. The tape measure with built-in angle/pitch finder device is a 15 to 50 foot, for example, tape measure with the addition of angle/pitch finder markings on the outside face of the case, protected via a clear plastic lens. The tape measure can also be made with a light inside of it to read the markings in low light conditions. Digital models can be available with a readout display on the exterior of the housing. Thus, users can apply the device to measure degree or pitch of a roof, measure dimensions, and other applications with a single tool.

A tool such as a tape measure, including a lighting system is shown. The lighting system includes a light source configured to direct light forward and strong enough to act as a flashlight. The tape measure further includes a housing designed to be compact and rugged enough to protect the internal components related to the lighting system from coming loose or suffering damage due to an impact or vibrations.

A multifunctional laser ranging tape measure includes a laser ranging assembly, a laser projecting assembly, a tape measure assembly and a shell. The tape measure assembly is disposed inside the shell, an optical bracket is arranged along a radial direction of the tape measure assembly, the laser ranging assembly and the laser projecting assembly are fixed side by side on the optical bracket, the optical bracket includes a rear extension part, a PCB is fixed on the rear extension part, a battery and a button plate are disposed in the shell, and functional physical buttons are arranged at positions corresponding to the button plate on the shell. The tape measure integrates the laser ranging, laser projecting and tape measurement, and is more convenient and quicker to use; and pre-installing the laser ranging assembly and the laser projecting assembly on the optical bracket can achieve quick installation and improve production efficiency.