Reel Rotation mount arrangement equipped with friction reduction means for tape measure

Abstract

A tape measure is constructed to enhance a rotational movement of the tape reel with respect to the supporting axle which has two ends supported at the sidewalls of a casing respectively. The tape reel is rotatably supported by the supporting axle and the elongated measuring blade has an outer end being blocked at the opening of the casing, wherein a friction reduction device is provided between the supporting axle and the tape reel for substantially reducing a friction therebetween.

1 . A tape measure, comprising: 
 a housing assembly including:    a casing having two opposed sidewalls, a receiving cavity forming therebetween and an opening communicating with said receiving cavity, and    a reel rotation mount arrangement comprising a supporting axle extended between said sidewalls within said receiving cavity;    a tape reel which is disposed in said receiving cavity of said casing and is rotatably supported by said supporting axle;    an elongated measuring blade, which is disposed in said receiving cavity, having an inner end attached to said tape reel and an outer end being blocked at said opening of said casing and arranged to extend out of said housing through said opening;    a retracting means for winding up said measuring blade in a coil rolled manner about said tape reel; and    a friction reduction device comprising a blade bearing provided on said casing at said opening thereof for reducing a friction between said casing and said measuring blade during an in and out sliding movement of said measuring blade with respect to said casing.    
   
   
       2 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said friction reduction device further comprises a bearing unit coaxially mounted at said tape reel to rotatably contact with said supporting axle for minimizing a friction between said tape reel and said supporting axle.  
   
   
       3 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said tape reel has an axle supporting slot for said supporting axle slidably passing therethrough to rotatably support said tape reel within said casing and a mounting groove formed on said tape reel at a position coaxially aligning with axle supporting slot, wherein said bearing unit is received in said mounting groove to contact with said supporting axle.  
   
   
       4 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further has a first through slot having a non-circular shape formed at one of said sidewalls of said casing and a second through slot formed on another said sidewall to concentrically align with said first through slot, wherein said supporting axle has an enlarged axle head shaped in a non-circular shape fittedly engaged with said first through slot to lock up said supporting axle in said casing in a non-rotatable manner.  
   
   
       5 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further has a first through slot having a non-circular shape formed at one of said sidewalls of said casing and a second through slot formed on another said sidewall to concentrically align with said first through slot, wherein said supporting axle has an enlarged axle head shaped in a non-circular shape fittedly engaged with said first through slot to lock up said supporting axle in said casing in a non-rotatable manner.  
   
   
       6 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said supporting axle further has a longitudinal slot extending therealong, wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further comprises a locking element inserted into said locking slot through said second through slot to lock up said supporting axle between said two sidewalls of said casing.  
   
   
       7 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said supporting axle further has a longitudinal slot extending therealong, wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further comprises a locking element inserted into said locking slot through said second through slot to lock up said supporting axle between said two sidewalls of said casing.  
   
   
       8 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said friction reduction device further comprises a plurality of bearing protrusions spacedly protruded on inner circumferential side of said tape reel to contact with said supporting axle for reducing a friction between said tape reel and said supporting axle.  
   
   
       9 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said tape reel has an axle supporting slot for said supporting axle slidably passing therethrough to rotatably support said tape reel within said casing, wherein said bearing protrusions are spacedly protruded from a circumferential wall of said axle supporting slot to contact with said supporting axle.  
   
   
       10 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of said bearing protrusions has a round surface to contact with said supporting axle so as to minimize a contacting surface therebetween.  
   
   
       11 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein each of said bearing protrusions has a round surface to contact with said supporting axle so as to minimize a contacting surface therebetween.  
   
   
       12 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further has a first through slot having a non-circular shape formed at one of said sidewalls of said casing and a second through slot formed on another said sidewall to concentrically align with said first through slot, wherein said supporting axle has an enlarged axle head shaped in a non-circular shape fittedly engaged with said first through slot to lock up said supporting axle in said casing in a non-rotatable manner.  
   
   
       13 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further has a first through slot having a non-circular shape formed at one of said sidewalls of said casing and a second through slot formed on another said sidewall to concentrically align with said first through slot, wherein said supporting axle has an enlarged axle head shaped in a non-circular shape fittedly engaged with said first through slot to lock up said supporting axle in said casing in a non-rotatable manner.  
   
   
       14 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said supporting axle further has a longitudinal slot extending therealong, wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further comprises a locking element inserted into said locking slot through said second through slot to lock up said supporting axle between said two sidewalls of said casing.  
   
   
       15 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said supporting axle further has a longitudinal slot extending therealong, wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further comprises a locking element inserted into said locking slot through said second through slot to lock up said supporting axle between said two sidewalls of said casing.  
   
   
       16 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said friction reduction device further comprises a plurality of bearing protrusions spacedly protruded on an inner side of said respective sidewall of said casing to contact with said tape reel for reducing a friction between said tape reel and said supporting axle.  
   
   
       17 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each of said bearing protrusions has a round surface to contact with said supporting axle so as to minimize a contacting surface therebetween.  
   
   
       18 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further has a first through slot having a non-circular shape formed at one of said sidewalls of said casing and a second through slot formed on another said sidewall to concentrically align with said first through slot, wherein said supporting axle has an enlarged axle head shaped in a non-circular shape fittedly engaged with said first through slot to lock up said supporting axle in said casing in a non-rotatable manner.  
   
   
       19 . The tape measure, as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said supporting axle further has a longitudinal slot extending therealong, wherein said reel rotation mount arrangement further comprises a locking element inserted into said locking slot through said second through slot to lock up said supporting axle between said two sidewalls of said casing.