US 11,988,505 B2
Tape measure with light
Scott Earl McKinster, Watertown, WI (US)
Assigned to Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed by Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/932,579.
Application 17/932,579 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/075917, filed on Sep. 2, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/240,450, filed on Sep. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0076231 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. G01B 3/10 (2020.01); G01B 3/1084 (2020.01)
CPC G01B 3/10 (2013.01) [G01B 2003/1087 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a reel rotatably disposed in the housing;
an elongate blade located within the housing and wound around the reel;
a retraction system coupled to the reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate blade on to the reel; and
a lighting system comprising:
a circuit board;
a light source;
a frame; and
an optical component, the optical component at least partially surrounds the light source and is positioned between an outward facing surface of the frame and the circuit board;
wherein the frame is configured to surround and support the circuit board, the light source and the optical component within the housing;
wherein the lighting system is configured to emit a light in a forward direction such that the lighting system acts as a flashlight.