GB2052745A - Digital tape measure - Google Patents

Abstract

A digital tape measure comprises a housing from which extends two spring returnable steel tapes of convex curvature in cross section and which are self supporting as extended from the housing. The tapes extend equally leaving the housing exactly central between the two tips of the tapes. When the tapes have been extended to the required length a button is pressed causing the exact length between the tips to be shown in numerical form on an electronic display panel. The number may be fed into one of two memory cells which can either add or subtract the figure from a total stored figure.

Description

SPECIFICATION Digital rule The digital rule is a twin coiled metal strip on a spring which can be pulled out of its housing.

As one rule pulls out so the other automatically moves out to an exactly equal amount.

The rules are physically geared to each other to achieve precise accuracy.

There are no markings on the metal tapes.

When'the tapes are pressed against the surfaces between which the measurement is required, the operator presses a button on the face of the housing box and the exact length is shown on a display screen in either metric or other increments.

The display screen uses silicon chip and batteries to drive the unit.

An additional feature allows the unit to automatically add the readings to accumulate.

As the rule tapes move out of the housing at exactly the same rate, from opposite sides of the housing, so a mid point is always given at the same time as the overall length is displayed.

The housing is intended to be in black shock resistant plastic. The buttons in luminous red/orange.

The display will be red neon numerals on a black background.

A drawing of the machine is shown on the attached drawing sheet.

1. A measuring device comprising one or more tapes contained within a housing which, when extended, show on an electronically operated display panel the length of the extension of the tape or tapes.

2. A measuring device according to Claim 1, comprising two tapes contained within one housing, each tape being wound onto its own spindle, which is sprung to cause a natural retraction of the tapes when extended, and each of the said tapes being notched and each notch to pass across a cogged wheel which is directly in contact with both tapes simultaneously so that -when one of the tapes is withdrawn from the housing, the other tape moves out of the housing at an equal length and that each notched wheel is in contact with the other.

3. A measuring device according to Claim 1, which allows accurate measuring between the tip of the tape in its partial or fully extended position and-the tip of the other tape in its partial or fuliy extended position, the extension of each tape being equal to the extension of the other, allowing the housing to remain exactly centrally located between the two tips of the two tapes, or in the case of a single tape, between the tip of the tape and the end of the housing.

4. A measuring device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 which has incorporated within the electronic components circuits allowing for accumulation and subtraction of individually measured lengths with a memory circuit capable of calling the individual or totalled lengths to be shown on the display panel.

5. A measuring device according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 which has a control mounted on the housing which can be pressed once the tapes have been extended to the desired lengths which when pressed causes the completion of a circuit which allows the electronic display to be activated to show the measured length between the given points.

6. A measuring device substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in the drawings accompanying the provisional specifications.

7. A measuring device according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 which has markings and colours substantially and hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specifications.

8. A measuring device according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 which has a control which switches the power source contained within the housing on and off.

9. A measuring device according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 which has a control which opens an electronic circuit capable of converting the unit measurement from Metric to Imperial and back.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Digital rule The digital rule is a twin coiled metal strip on a spring which can be pulled out of its housing. As one rule pulls out so the other automatically moves out to an exactly equal amount. The rules are physically geared to each other to achieve precise accuracy. There are no markings on the metal tapes. When'the tapes are pressed against the surfaces between which the measurement is required, the operator presses a button on the face of the housing box and the exact length is shown on a display screen in either metric or other increments. The display screen uses silicon chip and batteries to drive the unit. An additional feature allows the unit to automatically add the readings to accumulate. As the rule tapes move out of the housing at exactly the same rate, from opposite sides of the housing, so a mid point is always given at the same time as the overall length is displayed. The housing is intended to be in black shock resistant plastic. The buttons in luminous red/orange. The display will be red neon numerals on a black background. A drawing of the machine is shown on the attached drawing sheet. CLAIMS

1. A measuring device comprising one or more tapes contained within a housing which, when extended, show on an electronically operated display panel the length of the extension of the tape or tapes.

2. A measuring device according to Claim 1, comprising two tapes contained within one housing, each tape being wound onto its own spindle, which is sprung to cause a natural retraction of the tapes when extended, and each of the said tapes being notched and each notch to pass across a cogged wheel which is directly in contact with both tapes simultaneously so that -when one of the tapes is withdrawn from the housing, the other tape moves out of the housing at an equal length and that each notched wheel is in contact with the other.

3. A measuring device according to Claim 1, which allows accurate measuring between the tip of the tape in its partial or fully extended position and-the tip of the other tape in its partial or fuliy extended position, the extension of each tape being equal to the extension of the other, allowing the housing to remain exactly centrally located between the two tips of the two tapes, or in the case of a single tape, between the tip of the tape and the end of the housing.

4. A measuring device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 which has incorporated within the electronic components circuits allowing for accumulation and subtraction of individually measured lengths with a memory circuit capable of calling the individual or totalled lengths to be shown on the display panel.

5. A measuring device according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 which has a control mounted on the housing which can be pressed once the tapes have been extended to the desired lengths which when pressed causes the completion of a circuit which allows the electronic display to be activated to show the measured length between the given points.

6. A measuring device substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in the drawings accompanying the provisional specifications.

7. A measuring device according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 which has markings and colours substantially and hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specifications.

8. A measuring device according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 which has a control which switches the power source contained within the housing on and off.

9. A measuring device according to Claim 1 and Claim 2 which has a control which opens an electronic circuit capable of converting the unit measurement from Metric to Imperial and back.