U.S. Tape Company, Inc.

Douglas Patrick

Michael Cousins

Carol T Bassett

A container is provided for retractable measuring tape rulers, wherein the tape is wound around an internal spring and the tape is pulled from the container for the desired length of the measurement. A novel flexible wiper flap is provided at the opening of the container, to prevent dust and contaminants from entering the interior of the measuring tape container and causing damage to the tape itself. The wiper flap is insertable within a grooved recess within the container, and the wiper flap extends down and is flexibly urged against the surface of the tape. The measuring tape is urged into a bowed configuration, so that when extended the measuring tape extends in a semi-rigid fashion during measuring. The wiper flap is also bow shaped at the bottom, and the wiper flap extends down from a tongue coupling portion insertable within corresponding longitudinally extending receptacle portions of the container. The bowed portion of the wiper flap is flexibly urged against the tape, and is responsive to moving from its vertical orientation upon the measuring tape in a slidable manner when the tape is being pulled from the container. The container also includes finger locks at the corners of the container. The internal spring is reduced in size to minimize space within the container. Moreover, a rounded lock portion is provided to ease manual locking of the tape in place at the desired extended length, wherein the rounded lock portion has a rippled elastomeric surface to facilitate gripping during use.

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Lexington, KY, United States of America

Douglas Patrick