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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 20, 1995
Tsutomu Usami, Kyoto, JP;
Kyoto Measuring Instruments Corp., Kyoto, JP;
Abstract
The present invention is directed to provide a tape measure which is capable of applying a frictional braking force to a winding reel by using a simple mechanism that may produce a larger friction force acting on the reel when winding a measuring strip downward into the housing. A housing accommodates a winding reel having a bearing rotatably supported by a supporting shaft. The winding reel contains a driving spring. The supporting shaft has a sectional form represented by a combination of two arcs, one of which has a large radius and the other has a small radius. In case of drawing a substantially horizontal measuring strip into the housing with the bearing being supported by large diameter portion of the supporting shaft, the winding reel whose bearing is loosely fitted on the supporting shaft may dance in the housing at an increased speed of its rotation and, at the same time, may contact at its projecting circumferences and side surfaces with the inside wall of the housing. The rotation speed of the winding reel can be reduced by the friction. In case of drawing the measuring strip into the housing placed with its port upward, the winding reel is supported at its bearing by the small diameter portion of the supporting shaft (1a) and rotates, keeping contact of its projecting circumference with the guide portion of the housing, being subjected to a large friction force.