GB2106250A - Tape measure - Google Patents

Abstract

A tape measure 10 has attached to its beginning an indicating means 12 adapted to provide a comparison between a first or waist measurement and a second or hip measurement when measuring a person for trousers. The waist measurement when determined is positioned at a slot 13 in the strip member 12 and the amount of overlap of the tape to the measured hip size is then noted on the tape, the amount being indicated on one of three coloured sections 15, 16, 17 of the tape, each section or colour indicating a code colour size on the racked trousers. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tape measure This invention relates to a tape measure.

Trousers or slacks, hereinafter called trousers, are normally selected according to waist and, if desired, inside leg measurements. If the selected trousers are too large on the hips, an alteration is required. Alternatively if they are too small on the hips, trousers with a larger waist measurement must be selected and the waist measurement altered. Both forms of alteration are undesirable since they disturb the original balance of the trousers.

To overcome this difficulty a range of trousers may be provided having a variety of hip measurements for each waist measurement.

Thereby a pair of trousers may be selected having acceptable waist and hip measurements.

However, in practice, it is necessary to limit the numbers of different sizes which must be stocked to supply customers "off the peg", and it may thus be considered acceptable to provide trousers having two or three different hip measurements for each waist measurement, each hip measurement being intended to cover a range of actual hip measurements appropriate to the particular waist measurement.

According to the invention there is provided a tape measure comprising a tape having attached to its leading end indicating means adapted to provide a comparison between a first measurement and a second measurement.

Preferably the indicating means is a strip extending longitudinally of the tape from its leading end, the strip carrying a plurality of markings, each marking indicating a predetermined relationship between said first and second measurements. Each marking on the strip may be a band of a different colour.

It is also preferred that the strip has an extension beyond the leading end of the tape and.

a transverse slot adjacent the leading end, the slot allowing the tape to slide therethrough and acting as a marker for reading a measurement being taken. Preferably the extension of the strip is suitable to act, in use, as a finger grip for holding the leading end of the tape.

The tape is preferably of a length and form suitable for taking a person's waist and hip measurements. Preferably the tape carries centimetre measurements, and the abovementioned strip carries a set of three markings along its length, each marking representing a range of hip measurements relative to a particular waist measurement.

In a particular embodiment of the invention the three ranges of hip measurements are respectively O to 7 cm, 7 to 1334 cm, and 1334 to 20 cm larger than any particular waist measurement.

By way of example, a specific embodiment in accordance with the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a tape measure.

This example concerns a tape measure for allowing a comparison between a person's waist and hip measurements prior to selecting trousers or slacks from a range including three varying hip measurements for each available waist measurement.

The tape measure comprises a length of tape 10 carrying centimetre measurements on at least one side. Attached to the upper surface of the tape at its leading end is a strip 11, e.g. of metal or rigid plastics material, extending along the tape.

Beneath the tape is attached a cranked extension 12 of the strip 11 extending away from the leading end and acting, in use, as a finger grip for holding the leading end of the tape.

Adjacent the leading end of the tape is a transverse slot 13 in the extension 12 through which the tape may pass freely and which acts as a marker for reading a measurement being taken.

Conveniently both the strip 11 and the extension 12 are attached to the leading end of the tape by a pair of rivets 14.

On the upper surface of the strip 11 there are three markings which in this embodiment are bands 1 5, 1 6, 17 of different colours, e.g. blue, yellow and green respectively, each band having a predetermined length from the leading end of the tape 10 for the purpose which is described below.

In use, the tape measure is used to take a person's hip measurement followed by the person's waist measurement. The tape measure is then used to compare these two measurements by reading off the band 15, 16 or 17 in which the hip measurement falls when the person's waist measurement is aligned with the slot 13.

In this embodiment, the predetermined lengths of the bands 15,16,17 are about 7 cm, 6 4 cm and 6+ cm respectively. Thus a person having a waist measurement of 84 cm and a hip measurement of 101 cm would require trousers or slacks having a waist measurement of 84 cm and a "green" hip measurement.

The invention is not restricted to the specific details of the embodiment described above. For example, the strip may carry different markings or a different number of bands, e.g. only two bands.

However, three bands of the above selected lengths are preferred since a survey has shown that they will provide an acceptable "off the peg" fit for the majority of people without an alteration of the waist or the hip being required.

1. A tape measure comprising a tape having attached to its leading end indicating means adapted to provide a comparison between a first measurement and a second measurement.

2. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the indicating means is a strip extending longitudinally of the tape from its leading end, the strip carrying a plurality of markings, each marking indicating a predetermined relationship between said first and second measurements.

3. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each marking on the strip is a band of a different colour.

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

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tape measure This invention relates to a tape measure. Trousers or slacks, hereinafter called trousers, are normally selected according to waist and, if desired, inside leg measurements. If the selected trousers are too large on the hips, an alteration is required. Alternatively if they are too small on the hips, trousers with a larger waist measurement must be selected and the waist measurement altered. Both forms of alteration are undesirable since they disturb the original balance of the trousers. To overcome this difficulty a range of trousers may be provided having a variety of hip measurements for each waist measurement. Thereby a pair of trousers may be selected having acceptable waist and hip measurements. However, in practice, it is necessary to limit the numbers of different sizes which must be stocked to supply customers "off the peg", and it may thus be considered acceptable to provide trousers having two or three different hip measurements for each waist measurement, each hip measurement being intended to cover a range of actual hip measurements appropriate to the particular waist measurement. According to the invention there is provided a tape measure comprising a tape having attached to its leading end indicating means adapted to provide a comparison between a first measurement and a second measurement. Preferably the indicating means is a strip extending longitudinally of the tape from its leading end, the strip carrying a plurality of markings, each marking indicating a predetermined relationship between said first and second measurements. Each marking on the strip may be a band of a different colour. It is also preferred that the strip has an extension beyond the leading end of the tape and. a transverse slot adjacent the leading end, the slot allowing the tape to slide therethrough and acting as a marker for reading a measurement being taken. Preferably the extension of the strip is suitable to act, in use, as a finger grip for holding the leading end of the tape. The tape is preferably of a length and form suitable for taking a person's waist and hip measurements. Preferably the tape carries centimetre measurements, and the abovementioned strip carries a set of three markings along its length, each marking representing a range of hip measurements relative to a particular waist measurement. In a particular embodiment of the invention the three ranges of hip measurements are respectively O to 7 cm, 7 to 1334 cm, and 1334 to 20 cm larger than any particular waist measurement. By way of example, a specific embodiment in accordance with the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a tape measure. This example concerns a tape measure for allowing a comparison between a person's waist and hip measurements prior to selecting trousers or slacks from a range including three varying hip measurements for each available waist measurement. The tape measure comprises a length of tape 10 carrying centimetre measurements on at least one side. Attached to the upper surface of the tape at its leading end is a strip 11, e.g. of metal or rigid plastics material, extending along the tape. Beneath the tape is attached a cranked extension 12 of the strip 11 extending away from the leading end and acting, in use, as a finger grip for holding the leading end of the tape. Adjacent the leading end of the tape is a transverse slot 13 in the extension 12 through which the tape may pass freely and which acts as a marker for reading a measurement being taken. Conveniently both the strip 11 and the extension 12 are attached to the leading end of the tape by a pair of rivets 14. On the upper surface of the strip 11 there are three markings which in this embodiment are bands 1 5, 1 6, 17 of different colours, e.g. blue, yellow and green respectively, each band having a predetermined length from the leading end of the tape 10 for the purpose which is described below. In use, the tape measure is used to take a person's hip measurement followed by the person's waist measurement. The tape measure is then used to compare these two measurements by reading off the band 15, 16 or 17 in which the hip measurement falls when the person's waist measurement is aligned with the slot 13. In this embodiment, the predetermined lengths of the bands 15,16,17 are about 7 cm, 6 4 cm and 6+ cm respectively. Thus a person having a waist measurement of 84 cm and a hip measurement of 101 cm would require trousers or slacks having a waist measurement of 84 cm and a "green" hip measurement. The invention is not restricted to the specific details of the embodiment described above. For example, the strip may carry different markings or a different number of bands, e.g. only two bands. However, three bands of the above selected lengths are preferred since a survey has shown that they will provide an acceptable "off the peg" fit for the majority of people without an alteration of the waist or the hip being required. CLAIMS

1. A tape measure comprising a tape having attached to its leading end indicating means adapted to provide a comparison between a first measurement and a second measurement.

2. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the indicating means is a strip extending longitudinally of the tape from its leading end, the strip carrying a plurality of markings, each marking indicating a predetermined relationship between said first and second measurements.

3. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each marking on the strip is a band of a different colour.

4. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the strip has an extension beyond the leading end of the tape and a transverse slot adjacent the leading end, the slot allowing the tape to slide therethrough and acting as a marker for reading a measurement being taken.

5. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the extension of the strip, in use, forms a finger grip for holding the leading end of the tape.

6. A tape measure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tape is of a length and form suitable for taking a person's waist and hip measurements.

7. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 6 when dependent on any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the tape carries centimetre measurements, and the strip carries a set of three markings along its length, each marking representing a range of hip measurements relative to a particular waist measurement.

8. A tape measure as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the three ranges of hip measurements are respectively 0 to 7 cm, 7 to 13- cm, and 134 to 20 cm larger than any particular waist measurement.

9. A tape measure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.