US 12,435,962 B2
Integral finger brake opening
Kuan Chieh Wang, Taichung (TW); Hsuan Sung Liu, Taichung (TW); Somen Jaiswal, Danbury, CT (US); Antony Orsini, Cheshire, CT (US); and Tylan A. Tschopp, Columbus, OH (US)
Assigned to Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., New Britain, CT (US)
Appl. No. 18/721,494
Filed by Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., New Britain, CT (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 20, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/053463
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 18, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/122061, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 29, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/292,410, filed on Dec. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0418493 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. G01B 3/1046 (2020.01); G01B 3/1005 (2020.01); G01B 3/1007 (2020.01); G01B 3/1061 (2020.01)
CPC G01B 3/1046 (2020.01) [G01B 3/1005 (2013.01); G01B 3/1007 (2020.01); G01B 3/1061 (2013.01); G01B 2003/1015 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tape measure comprising:
a housing comprising a first housing portion and a second housing portion;
a reel configured to be secured between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the reel containing a tape blade wound thereon and partially extending therefrom, the tape blade terminating in a hook portion;
an integral component coupled to the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the integral component including an aperture defining a finger brake, the finger brake exposing the tape blade for engagement by a user;
wherein the tape blade is biased to retract into the housing and wind around the reel, such that in a fully retracted position the hook portion abuts the portion of a mouth of the tape measure;
wherein in an extended position the tape blade is unwound from the reel such that the hook extends away from the integral component; and
wherein the integral component includes a first slot shaped to receive a light emitter.