Abstract
A measuring tape device with mechanical counter is disclosed. Said invention comprised of a conventional tape measure having a plurality of knob and/or disc type counters arranged on one side. Said counters having metric and imperial indicia allowing a user to spin them and temporarily set them into a desired counting arrangement based upon the measurement observed on the device tape. Counting discs and knobs being temporarily set by means of ball and spring assemblies positioned behind each counter. An object of the invention is to enhance the accuracy and precision of existing, conventional tape measures by allowing users to record measurements gleaned from a tape directly on the device rather than writing it down on a separate piece of paper that may lead to potential recording errors.
Claims
1. A measuring tape device with mechanical counter having one or a plurality of mechanical counters as a means for mechanically recording and displaying length values.
2. The device of claim one providing an enhancement to the accuracy and precision of a conventional tape measuring device.
3. The device of claim one providing a temporary means of recording measurements observed on a measuring tape within said device.
4. The device of claim one providing a means to temporarily record imperial and/or metric measurements observed on said measuring tape device.
5. The device of claim one providing a mechanical means for recording measurements using rotating disc and/or knob assemblies that can be set using finger motions.
6. The device of claim one providing recording assemblies within easy reach of those using the device on a side of said device.
7. The device of claim one providing allowing users to record various increments of a measurement upon different counter members.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. In the drawings:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention with metric counter dials.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a metric counter dial
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention with metric counter discs.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a metric counter disc,
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the invention with imperial counter dials.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an imperial counter dial.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a section view A-A of an imperial counter dial
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the invention with imperial counter discs.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a front view of an imperial disc counter.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a section view C-C of a counter disc with rod spring assembly.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a section view B-B of a counter disc with a ball spring assembly.
[0031] Other aspects of the present invention shall be more readily understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the following detailed description, neither of which should be considered limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0032] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only; they are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.
[0033] FIG. 1 being a preferred mode of a metric measuring tape device 1 comprising a square-shaped housing made of, but limited to, a rigid material such as plastic and metal etc. for containing a conventional measuring tape spooled engagement 3 or other suitable engagement and having a tape thumb locking lever 3. In this mode the means for mechanically recording and displaying length values is provided by one or a plurality of counter dials 8-11 and 19-22. Said dials being arranged in a linear fashion in groups of two, but not limited to, four members having a planar, circular outlined base with a protruding knob 6 and being made of a rigid material such as metal and plastic etc. and engaging to at least one exterior sidewall of the device 1. As clearly shown, each counter 8-11 and 19-22 employs an annular array of numerical indicia 5 in the form of, but not limited to, whole numbers, fractions, or decimal values etc. Adjacent to each counter is a registration marking 12 allowing the user to align the desired metric indicia 5 values (shown in FIG. 2) with the registration marking 12 for recording a length value. As is clearly shown, a first set of a plurality of counters 8-11 and 19-22 may be provided for standard unit of measurements, as feet, inches, and fractions of inches, while a second set of counters 13-17 (shown in FIG. 3) may be provided for metric unit of measurements, in meters (1.0 m), tenths of meters (0.1 m), and hundredths of a meter (0.01 m). However, it is noted and anticipated that less or additional sets of counters 13-17 shown in FIG. 4 may be engaged to device 1 and employed to allow the user to record multiple values, if desired. Further, it is within the scope of the invention that one or all of the sets of counters 8-11 and 19-22 or 13-17 can be in either metric or standard units of measurement, as deemed suitable by the designer. As such the depictions shown in the figures should be considered illustrative and not limiting. FIG. 3 also showing another embodiment with at least four counting dials 14-17 arranged in, but not limited to, groups of four arranged in a linear configuration on a side of said device 1. FIG. 7 showing a section view of said dial 6 being affixed to device 1 by means of shaft 31 having a loose fit allowing said dial 6 to be rotated. Dial 6 also being temporarily held in a selectively, stationary position by a spring arm 32 operatively attached to device 1. Said spring 32 having one end adapted in a spherical shape and engaging small orifices located radially at each indicia and inset on the backside of said dial 6.
[0034] As a first illustrative example of an as-used mode of the invention, shown in FIG. 9, without implying limitations thereon, a first set of three counters 13 is shown having indicia 23 for standard units. The first two counters depict indicia 24 and 33 showing whole numbers from 0-9 representing a feet measurement () or an inches measurement (), a third counter 18 having an array of whole numbers from 0-11 representing inches measurement, and a fourth counter 34 having an indicia array of fractions from 0-1, in increments of inch, representing fractions of inches values. As shown, one skilled in the art can clearly discern that the displayed length value is 621 .
[0035] It is noted and anticipated that the quantity and increments of each counter 13-16 may be different than that shown, for example the foot measurement counter 13 may go to more or less than 9, and the fractions measurement counter 34 can be in increments of 1/32, 1/16, , or other suitable value. In addition, as shown, a second set of counters in FIGS. 4 and 2 are provided as counters in metric units of measurement. The first counter in FIG. 1 depicts indicia 5 showing whole numbers from 0-9 representing a meters (1.0 m), a second counter 9 and third counter 10 having an indicia 5 array of whole numbers from 0-9 representing tenths of a meter (0.1 m, centimeters), and a fourth counter 19 having an indicia 5 array of whole numbers from 0-9 representing hundredths of a meter (0.01 m, millimeter). In accordance with yet another preferred mode the device 1 employing one or a plurality of removably engageable disc or dial counters may be provided, which allows the user to replace counters having indicia of different increments, values, or to configure the device 1 to one or both of metric or standard unit system. In the current mode, the means for removable engagement for the dials is provided by a post 31 which the counters can be snap-fit or frictionally engaged to. However it is noted that other means for removable engagement which one skilled in the art will envision as suitable for the intended purpose may be employed and are anticipated, for example set screws may be employed.
[0036] FIG. 10 showing a section view of said counter disc assembly having an axle 26 and temporarily and selectively engagement with said disc member 18 into a fixed position by means of a rod spring assembly 27 that extends into grooves adapted to receive said rod 27. Said pin being compressed and allowing disc 18 to disengage and be turned under normal finger loads expressed by a user. FIG. 11 alternatively showing a section view of said counter disc assembly having a temporarily and selectively engagement with said disc member 18 into a fixed position by means of a ball spring assembly 29 that extends into grooves adapted to receive said ball 29. Once again, said ball being compressed and allowing disc 18 to disengage and be turned under normal finger loads expressed by a user.
[0037] It is additionally noted and anticipated that although the device is shown in its most simple form, various components and aspects of the device may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming the invention herein. As such those skilled in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meant to portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope and intent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in any manner. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
