The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 17, 2020

Filed:

Mar. 21, 2018
Applicant:

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Brookfield, WI (US);

Inventors:

Jonathan F. Vitas, Muskego, WI (US);

Devin W. Herritz, Milwaukee, WI (US);

Scott Earl McKinster, Watertown, WI (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01B 3/10 (2020.01); B65H 75/48 (2006.01); G01B 3/1041 (2020.01); G01B 3/1056 (2020.01); F16H 1/46 (2006.01); G01B 3/1005 (2020.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B65H 75/486 (2013.01); F16H 1/46 (2013.01); G01B 3/1005 (2013.01); G01B 3/1041 (2013.01); G01B 3/1056 (2013.01); G01B 2003/103 (2013.01); G01B 2003/1023 (2013.01);
Abstract

A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The retraction system utilizes an epicyclic gear train coupled between the tape blade winding reel and a rotating arbor or axle within the tape measure. A spiral spring has an outer end coupled to the reel and an inner end coupled to the axle. The gear train may be a reduction gear train such that the axle rotates slower than the reel. By coupling the spiral spring between the gear train input and gear train output, high energy density springs may be used, which may allow for decrease in housing size, increase in tape length or thickness for a given housing size, and/or advantageous retraction speed control.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…