Tape measure with extended standout

Abstract

A tape measure comprises a main case having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between the sidewalls; a flexible tape blade selectively deployable from the case; the tape blade having a generally curved cross-sectional profile when deployed from the main case and having a generally flat profile when retracted into the main case; a hook attached to a first end of the tape blade so as to be movable a distance along a longitudinal axis of the tape blade; the hook having a first section disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second section connected thereto and disposed generally normal to the longitudinal axis, the hook comprising titanium and having a weight factor of not more than about 0.60. The tape blade may advantageously be not more than about 1.10 inch in width and have a standout of at least 9½ feet.

1 . A tape measure, comprising: 
 a main case having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;    a flexible tape blade selectively deployable from said case; said tape blade having a generally curved cross-sectional profile when deployed from said main case and having a generally flat profile when retracted into said main case;    a hook attached to a first end of said tape blade so as to be movable a distance along a longitudinal axis of said tape blade; said hook having a first section disposed generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second section connected thereto and disposed generally normal to said longitudinal axis, said hook comprising titanium and having a weight factor of not more than about 0.60.    
   
   
       2 . The tape measure of  claim 1  wherein said hook consists essentially of titanium.  
   
   
       3 . The tape measure of  claim 1  wherein said tape blade is not more than about 1.10 inch in width and has a standout of at least 9½ feet.  
   
   
       4 . The tape measure of  claim 3  wherein said tape blade has a standout of between 9½ feet and about 10½ feet.  
   
   
       5 . The tape measure of  claim 1:   wherein said blade is subject to a retraction bias;    wherein said tape blade is not more than about 1.10 inch in width and has a standout of at least 9½ feet.    
   
   
       6 . The tape measure of  claim 1:   wherein said blade comprises a distal end portion, an inner end portion, and an expected buckling region therebetween; said distal end portion being deployed before said expected buckling region and said inner end portion when said blade is deployed from said main case;    further comprising a reinforcement attached to said blade in said expected buckling region, said distal end portion and said inner end portion being free of said reinforcement; and    wherein said expected buckling region includes a location where said blade would normally buckle in a standout test absent said reinforcement.    
   
   
       7 . The tape measure of  claim 6  wherein said tape blade is not more than about 1.10 inch in width and has a standout of at least 9½ feet.  
   
   
       8 . A tape measure, comprising: 
 a main case having first and second sidewalls and a peripheral wall extending between said sidewalls;    a flexible tape blade selectively deployable from said case; said tape blade having a generally curved cross-sectional profile when deployed from said main case and having a generally flat profile when retracted into said main case; said blade comprising a distal end portion, an inner end portion, and an expected buckling region therebetween; said distal end portion being deployed before said expected buckling region and said inner end portion when said blade is deployed from said case;    a hook attached to said distal end portion of said tape blade so as to be movable a distance along a longitudinal axis of said tape blade; said hook comprising a first section disposed generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second section connected thereto and disposed generally normal to said longitudinal axis;    a reinforcement distinct from but attached to said blade in said expected buckling region, said distal end portion and said inner end portion being free of said reinforcement;    said expected buckling region including a location where said blade would normally buckle in a standout test absent said reinforcement.    
   
   
       9 . The tape measure of  claim 8  wherein said reinforcement comprises a metallic plate.  
   
   
       10 . The tape measure of  claim 8  wherein said reinforcement comprises a longitudinally disposed fiber reinforcement.  
   
   
       11 . The tape measure of  claim 13  wherein said fiber reinforcement comprises a material selected from the group consisting of carbon and aramid.  
   
   
       12 . The tape measure of  claim 8  wherein said reinforcement is attached to said blade in said expected buckling region by adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . The tape measure of  claim 8  wherein said expected buckling region is located between about nine and ten-and-one-half feet from said hook.  
   
   
       14 . The tape measure of  claim 8  wherein said hook has a weight factor not more than about 0.60.  
   
   
       15 . The tape measure of  claim 8  wherein said reinforcement is attached to said blade on an upper side thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The tape measure of  claim 8:   wherein said expected buckling region is located between about nine and ten-and-one-half feet from said hook;    wherein said hook has a weight factor not more than about 0.60; and    wherein said reinforcement comprises a metallic plate.    
   
   
       17 . The tape measure of  claim 8:   wherein said expected buckling region is located between about nine and ten feet from said hook;    wherein said reinforcement comprises a longitudinally disposed fiber reinforcement, said fiber reinforcement comprising a material selected from the group consisting of carbon and aramid; and    wherein said hook has a weight factor not more than about 0.60.