A gauge for verifying that an airfield's runway and taxiway markings are a specific size. It is a complete reference tool for assessing markings manually by a technician; that is a tool to help reduce the subjectivity of the assessment by the technician. The gauge is flexible and can be rolled or folded for transport. In order to make the gauge easier to use, the measurements are made using very specifically placed and sized slots that conform to ideal airfield markings. Graduation markings at the end of the slots help the technician determine the size of marking discrepancies.

A gauge for verifying that an airfield's runway and taxiway markings are a specific size. It is a complete reference tool for assessing markings manually by a technician; that is a tool to help reduce the subjectivity of the assessment by the technician. The gauge is flexible and can be rolled or folded for transport. In order to make the gauge easier to use, the measurements are made using very specifically placed and sized slots that conform to ideal airfield markings. Graduation markings at the end of the slots help the technician determine the size of marking discrepancies.

A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The spring-based retraction system is driven by a spiral spring, that has a variable preformed stress profile along the length of 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 digital workpiece measurement system and method for intelligent measurements measures the length, angles, and characteristics of a workpiece, and then automatically displays the measurement and the other identifying measurement related data in a digital, incrementally adjustable manner. The workpiece measurement system provides a flexible measuring tape and micrometer head that electronically measures the distance between a starting measuring point and an ending measuring point. The short point, long point, square cut angle, and characteristics of the workpiece are inputted into the system. Various functions controlled by short, long, and square check switch mechanisms allow for manually inputting the measurements, incrementally editing the measurements, identifying the short point, long point, and square edges of the workpiece, and transmit the measurements and other data to a remote data storage unit for future processing and measurement analysis. The system also detachably attaches to a belt or wall through a clip or adhesive.

A tape measure device for measuring pipes includes a spring return positioned in a housing. A tape is engaged to and is loopedly positioned around the spring return. The tape is selectively extensible from a front of the housing via a slot. A recess in a bottom of the housing extends from the front to a back and to proximate to the slot. A hook engaged to a second end of the tape can selectively engage a terminus of a substrate, enabling a user grasping the housing in a hand to extend the tape along the substrate. Indicia on the tape allow measurement of a distance from the second end of the tape. A fastener on the bottom of the housing can selectively engage the substrate to removably engage the housing to the substrate so that the user can release the housing.

A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The retraction system utilizes an epicyclic gear train coupled between the tape blade winding reel and a rotating arbor or axle within the tape measure. A spiral spring has an outer end coupled to the reel and an inner end coupled to the axle. The gear train may be a reduction gear train such that the axle rotates slower than the reel. By coupling the spiral spring between the gear train input and gear train output, high energy density springs may be used, which may allow for decrease in housing size, increase in tape length or thickness for a given housing size, and/or advantageous retraction speed control.

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 tape measuring device includes a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly disposed in the housing, a tape having a first end operably coupled to an end hook and configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and having a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly, and a retraction assembly configured to interface with the reel assembly to enable the tape, after extension from the housing, to be wound onto the reel assembly. The retraction assembly includes a crank operably coupled to the reel assembly to turn the reel assembly responsive to rotation of the crank, and includes a knob operably coupled to the crank via a knob hinge. The knob hinge is rotatable between a closed position for storage or transport and an open position for operation of the retraction assembly, and is configured to be retained in each of the open position and the closed position.

A tape measuring device includes a housing having a first case half, a second case half, and an aperture. The device also includes a reel assembly disposed in the housing, a tape having a first end operably coupled to an end hook and configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and having a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly, and a retraction assembly configured to interface with the reel assembly to enable the tape, after extension from the housing, to be wound onto the reel assembly. The first case half includes a first metallic case plate operably coupled thereto without a fastener, and the second case half includes a second metallic case plate operably coupled thereto without a fastener. The first and second case halves may be operably coupled together via one or more fasteners operably coupling the first metallic case plate to the second metallic case plate.