US 12,228,393 B2
Tape measure with compact retraction system
Collin J. Nelson, Milwaukee, WI (US); David Andrew Wortelboer, Milwaukee, WI (US); Kyle C. Anderson, Wauwatosa, WI (US); Abhijeet A. Khangar, Pewaukee, WI (US); and Jonathan F. Vitas, Muskego, WI (US)
Assigned to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed by Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed on Dec. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/529,907.
Application 18/529,907 is a continuation of application No. 17/937,910, filed on Oct. 4, 2022, granted, now 11,846,504.
Application 17/937,910 is a continuation of application No. 17/129,348, filed on Dec. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,466,970.
Application 17/129,348 is a continuation of application No. 16/573,712, filed on Sep. 17, 2019, granted, now 10,876,825.
Application 16/573,712 is a continuation of application No. 16/168,286, filed on Oct. 23, 2018, granted, now 10,458,771.
Application 16/168,286 is a continuation of application No. 15/845,870, filed on Dec. 18, 2017, granted, now 10,132,605.
Application 15/845,870 is a continuation of application No. 15/782,978, filed on Oct. 13, 2017, granted, now 9,874,428.
Application 15/782,978 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/055166, filed on Oct. 4, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/404,635, filed on Oct. 5, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0102783 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. G01B 3/1005 (2020.01); G01B 3/1041 (2020.01)
CPC G01B 3/1005 (2013.01) [G01B 3/1041 (2013.01); G01B 2003/103 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a shaft coupled to the housing;
a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing around the shaft, the tape reel comprising a radially outward facing surface;
an elongate tape blade wound around the radially outward facing surface of the tape reel;
a spiral spring located within the housing and outside of the tape reel; and
a gear train coupled between the spiral spring and the tape reel such that, when the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing, the spiral spring stores energy and the spiral spring releases energy driving rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel.