Measuring device

Abstract

A hand held measuring device for measuring for construction or other industries using measuring tapes to ascertain measurements. The device features an extendable tape engaged to an electronic sensor communicating the measurement to a data processor and digital display. Software operating on the data processor stores and employs the taken measurements to estimate time and materials for a given industry. The software may be changed by engaging a memory card with industry specific software adapted to employ the measurements taken for calculations. A camera will take digital photos of measured areas and store them in association with individual measurements. A second video display provides a software driven graphic interface for display and input of data.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention deals with the instruments for measuring dimensions. More particularly, the disclosed device relates to measuring tapes used for everyday measuring for construction, manufacturing, estimation, and the like. Using a unique coupling of electronics and mechanical components, the disclosed measuring device eliminates the need to transfer measurements visually accessed from a tape to paper or other storage media. It also eliminates the errors frequently encountered when figures must be taken visually and transposed to written form. In modes of the device with additional capabilities, actual calculations for differing construction, recording, estimating, and manufacturing requirements may be provided by the device. Still further, the device may be linked to a computer network for transfer of stored measurements to a remote location for use enhancing delivery times for everything from remodeling to home appraisals.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]It is a further general object of the invention to supply such a device that eliminates the need to remove the user's hand from the device to record measurements.

[0018]Another object of this invention is to eliminate the need to read the measured distance on the extended tape and record it in writing and thereby also alleviate errors in transcription that inevitably occur.

[0025]The device herein disclosed and described provides an improved measuring device which eliminates errors in transcription thereby increasing accuracy. The device features an exterior housing sized to accommodate an extendable tape in an interior cavity. The tape is biased to wind into the housing through an opening as is conventional with tape measures.

[0027]In a simple mode of the device an onboard data processor with requisite ROM and / or Ram memory is placed in operative electronic engagement with the input pad, the video display, the number display, and some means for concurrent electronic determination of the measurement taken by the tape when extended for a measurement. Many such means for electronic tape measurement are available, including magnetic and optical types and any electronic measuring component as would occur to those skilled in the art is anticipated.

[0031]In the case of painting, the software, of course, would be adapted to calculate time and / or material for the painting job measured based on the sum of individual and aggregate total of all the final measurement notations held in memory. Included would be software routines for the painting trade to ascertain the gallons of paint required to cover the total area determined by the sum of the final measurement notations which were the two dimensional wall surface areas ascertained as the sum of the length and width of each wall measured. Also using the measurements taken, other materials and / or labor can be easily calculated with no transcription of the taken measurements using a library of industry specific calculation related to the area of measurements taken and stored in the device. The software can even break down the job measured into individual areas and store them as individual sub-jobs, since painting one job site may involve many different colors and textures in many different rooms.

[0033]Finally, in an especially preferred mode of the device, a digital camera would also be provided. The camera would allow the user to photograph each area measured, and using onboard or loaded software, associate it with the measurements taken. This would be especially helpful in highly customized areas of construction where the surface or material being custom cut is done so at a place remote to the actual installation site. In combination with the electronic measurements and graphic depictions available of the two dimensional areas measured, a photograph when associated electronically with specific measurements can help alleviate errors and can provide much needed visual aids to the fabrication personnel who may not be able to visualize the job at hand using the two dimensional stored measurements on the device.

Problems solved by technology

A vexing problem which frequently arises is the high possibility of error in transcribing the measurements viewed by the user onto paper.

Busy professionals are frequently interrupted while taking complex measurements for custom installations, retrofit, or repairs.

Consequently, it is all too easy for such a user to view the measurement printed on the tape, and either forget to write it down, or to write it down incorrectly.

The same errors occur more often with do-it-yourself users and amateurs.

Building codes and other issues can affect this total of materials needed.

As can be ascertained, this process is fraught with peril for the amateur and infrequent user of the tape measure and is overly time-consuming and poses the risk of mental and transcription errors when employed by the professional.

Further, with no real template or means for orderly calculation of the different trades and tasks for which the measurements are taken, many hours can be lost in making the ultimate products, and much waste can occur with improperly purchased or manufactured products using improperly recorded or calculated measurements.

However, Lipsey simply provides a calculator in the proximity of the tape to the user and offers no organized means of recording measurements that are trade-specific or which are stored for use in relation to each other and the trade for later custom fabrication.

Neither does Biggle provide any means to change the tape to provide calculations and measurement storage in a manner conventional to individual trades like carpentry or drywall and the like.

However, this device too lacks any onboard storage of data in a manner that allows logical relation of measurements to each other, and in a trade-specific format that provides for both calculation of materials, and storage of related measurements for use to cut or build components to size.

However, such devices provide no means to adapt the measuring device to the trade for which it is being used and to provide means to store the measurements in a relational form for later use, nor any industry specific calculation ability that aids individual professional and amateur users with error free and accurate calculations and renditions of the measurements.

Images