A drive assembly for a tool with a rotatable crank and a reel may include a carrier operably coupled to the reel, a stress relief plate interposed between the carrier and the crank and configured to operably couple the carrier to the crank, and mating surfaces disposed on the carrier, the stress relief plate, and the crank in a stacked arrangement to distribute stresses and increase maximum torque capacity of the drive assembly.

An apparatus and method for a reel-to-reel chalk line comprising a first housing comprising a first reel, a first rotatable crank mechanism connected to the first reel, and a first chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing the passage of a continuous impregnable chalk line. The apparatus further comprises an opposed second housing comprising a second rotatable reel, a second crank mechanism connected to the second reel, and a second chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing passage of the continuous impregnable chalk line. The continuous impregnable chalk line is reeled about the first and second reels as the respective crank mechanisms are alternately rotated forward and backward. The chalk may include a variety of substances including powders, reactive powders, liquids, dyes, glass, minerals, plastics, ceramics, metals, and fibers. The continuous chalk line may comprise interconnected impregnable chalk lines joined by mechanical or chemical means forming the continuous impregnable chalk line.

A line lock assembly for locking a retraction assembly of a chalk box may include a line lock cover (250) operably coupled to a housing of the chalk box to form a line lock member enclosure, and a line lock member (260) disposed within the line lock member enclosure. The line lock member may be configured to move responsive to rotation of the line lock cover to alternately lock the retraction assembly and unlock the retraction assembly based on a position of the line lock cover.

A drive assembly for a tool with a rotatable crank and a reel may include a carrier operably coupled to the reel, a stress relief plate interposed between the carrier and the crank and configured to operably couple the carrier to the crank, and mating surfaces disposed on the carrier, the stress relief plate, and the crank in a stacked arrangement to distribute stresses and increase maximum torque capacity of the drive assembly.

An apparatus and method for a reel-to-reel chalk line comprising a first housing comprising a first impregnated chalk line reel, a first rotatable crank mechanism connected to the first reel, and a first chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing the passage of a continuous impregnated chalk line. The apparatus further comprises an opposed second housing comprising a second rotatable reel, a second crank mechanism connected to the second reel, and a second chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing passage of the continuous impregnated chalk line. The continuous impregnated chalk line is reeled about the first and second reels as the respective crank mechanisms are alternately rotated forward and backward. The chalk may include a variety of substances including reactive powders, liquids, dyes, glass, minerals, plastics, ceramics, metals, and fibers. The continuous chalk line may comprise interconnected impregnated chalk lines joined by mechanical or chemical means forming the continuous impregnated chalk line.

An apparatus and method for a reel-to-reel chalk line comprising a first housing comprising a first reel, a first rotatable crank mechanism connected to the first reel, and a first chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing the passage of a continuous impregnable chalk line. The apparatus further comprises an opposed second housing comprising a second rotatable reel, a second crank mechanism connected to the second reel, and a second chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing passage of the continuous impregnable chalk line. The continuous impregnable chalk line is reeled about the first and second reels as the respective crank mechanisms are alternately rotated forward and backward. The chalk may include a variety of substances including powders, reactive powders, liquids, dyes, glass, minerals, plastics, ceramics, metals, and fibers. The continuous chalk line may comprise interconnected impregnable chalk lines joined by mechanical or chemical means forming the continuous impregnable chalk line.

An apparatus and method for a reel-to-reel chalk line comprising a first housing comprising a first impregnated chalk line reel, a first rotatable crank mechanism connected to the first reel, and a first chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing the passage of a continuous impregnated chalk line. The apparatus further comprises an opposed second housing comprising a second rotatable reel, a second crank mechanism connected to the second reel, and a second chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing passage of the continuous impregnated chalk line. The continuous impregnated chalk line is reeled about the first and second reels as the respective crank mechanisms are alternately rotated forward and backward. The chalk may include a variety of substances including reactive powders, liquids, dyes, glass, minerals, plastics, ceramics, metals, and fibers. The continuous chalk line may comprise interconnected impregnated chalk lines joined by mechanical or chemical means forming the continuous impregnated chalk line.

The present invention is directed to a geared chalk line preferably configured for a left-handed user. The geared chalk line may comprise an enclosure, a reel, a string line, a hook, a plurality of gears, and a crank. The geared chalk line may be a tool for striking a straight line across a work surface using chalk. The enclosure may comprise a chalk box and a gear box. The chalk box may house the reel and the chalk. The string line may be deployed from the reel for use. The plurality of gears may be configured for the crank to rewind the string line faster than if ungeared. The plurality of gears be housed in the gear box separate from the chalk such that the chalk does not impede the plurality of gears. The string line may be stretched across the work surface and snapped to deposit the chalk on the work surface.