According to an embodiment, a tape measure comprises an accessory removably coupleable to either side of the housing. According to another embodiment, a tape measure comprises an accessory removably coupleable to the housing via a locking mechanism that holds the accessory at a plurality of desired orientations. According to another embodiment, a tape measure comprises a slide lock, where movement of the slide lock from a locked position into an unlocked position requires depression of the actuator towards the interior of the housing. According to another embodiment, a motor assembly for a tape measure comprises a backer plate, a motor body, and a spring, where a bond is applied therebetween. According to another embodiment, a motor assembly for a tape measure comprises a motor body and a spring, where one of a metallurgical bond or an adhesive is applied between the motor body and the spring.

Various aspects of tape measures with one or more of a sensor, a motor, and a clutch, are shown. The sensors described herein detect, through various mechanisms, the position of the retraction system of a tape measure. The measurements by the sensors may be used to control a motor to adjust an amount of tension in the spiral spring of a tape measure. In various embodiments a motor interacts with the retraction system of the tape measure via a clutch, which moderates an amount of force that the motor can communicate to the retraction system.

The present invention relates to a device for measuring an object, comprising a winder of a measuring element arranged to form a loop about the said object, which has at least one wall and an exit opening arranged to allow the exit of at least one unwound portion of the said measuring element, which is defined between the said exit opening and a distal end of the said measuring element, which is provided with a connecting element that abuts against the said exit opening, and a connecting means being located at a distance d from the said exit opening, characterised in that the said connecting means is located on the said at least one wall, is adjacent to the said exit opening, is presented in the form of a protrusion which extends towards the said distal end, and is arranged to receive the said connecting element in a stationary manner.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, embodiments of a tape measure include one or more of a belt clip removably coupleable to alternatively the left or right side of the housing, and a belt clip removably coupleable in a plurality of orientations via alignment apertures on the clip shaped to engage with a locking mechanism. According to another aspect of the disclosure, a slide lock includes a lock engagement tab which engages with a protrusion in the housing when moving the slide lock from a locked to unlocked position, requiring depression of a slide lock actuator to disengage the lock engagement tab from the protrusion to move the slide lock into the unlocked position. According to another disclosure aspect, a motor assembly includes a motor body, a spring, a backer plate, and a protrusion formed on one of the motor body and the backer plate, protrusion welded together.

A tape rule having a housing, a hub, a reel, a tape, a spring, and a motor. The hub and reel are rotatably mounted within the housing. The tape is wound around the reel. The spring is wound around the hub and is attached to at least one of the reel and the tape. The motor is disposed adjacent to the hub and is configured, when activated, to rotate the hub to adjust an amount by which the spring is wound around the hub.

According to an embodiment, a tape measure comprises an accessory removably coupleable to either side of the housing. According to another embodiment, a tape measure comprises an accessory removably coupleable to the housing via a locking mechanism that holds the accessory at a plurality of desired orientations. According to another embodiment, a tape measure comprises a slide lock, where movement of the slide lock from a locked position into an unlocked position requires depression of the actuator towards the interior of the housing. According to another embodiment, a motor assembly for a tape measure comprises a backer plate, a motor body, and a spring, where a bond is applied therebetween. According to another embodiment, a motor assembly for a tape measure comprises a motor body and a spring, where one of a metallurgical bond or an adhesive is applied between the motor body and the spring.

A tape rule having a housing, a hub, a reel, a tape, a spring, and a motor is presented. The hub and reel are rotatably mounted within the housing. The tape is wound around the reel. The spring is wound around the hub and is attached to at least one of the reel and the tape. The motor is disposed adjacent to the hub and is configured, when activated, to rotate the hub to adjust an amount by which the spring is wound around the hub.

According to an embodiment, a tape measure comprises an accessory removably coupleable to either side of the housing. According to another embodiment, a tape measure comprises an accessory removably coupleable to the housing via a locking mechanism that holds the accessory at a plurality of desired orientations. According to another embodiment, a tape measure comprises a slide lock, where movement of the slide lock from a locked position into an unlocked position requires depression of the actuator towards the interior of the housing. According to another embodiment, a motor assembly for a tape measure comprises a backer plate, a motor body, and a spring, where a bond is applied therebetween. According to another embodiment, a motor assembly for a tape measure comprises a motor body and a spring, where one of a metallurgical bond or an adhesive is applied between the motor body and the spring.

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.