Compact measuring tape with dual brakes

Abstract

The present invention provides a measuring tape having a dual brake that includes both a manual brake and an automatic self-locking function, which can temporarily secure the blade exposed outside the housing. [Solution] A measuring tape having a housing, a reel rotatably mounted inside the housing, and a blade that is pulled out through an entrance to the housing includes an indirect brake for indirectly locking the reel through the blade wound on the reel, a direct brake for directly locking the reel by contacting the reel, and a release button exposed outside the housing, the release button which can simultaneously release the locks of the indirect and direct brakes on the reel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a measuring tape, and more particularly, to a measuring tape having a dual brake including a manual brake capable of temporarily fixing a blade exposed outside a housing and an automatic self-lock function.

Background Art

[0002] A general measuring tape includes a housing, a reel elastically supported inside the housing, a blade wound around the reel in a coil form, and an end hook coupled to an end of the blade. A user can pull out the blade from the end to which the end hook is coupled for measurement and pull out a desired length to measure the length or distance of an object.

[0003] A blade pulled out by a general measuring tape may be wound inside the housing by the elasticity of a spring built into the reel. However, a blade pulled out by a measuring tape having a self-lock function is not wound inside the housing and maintains a stopped state in the pulled-out state. Therefore, in a measuring tape having a self-lock function, a separate release button or the like can be operated to retract the blade.

[0004] In relation to a measuring tape having a self-lock function, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-39732 (Patent Document 1) is disclosed. As shown in FIG. 1, in Patent Document 1, a roller presses the upper surface of the blade, the force applied by the bottom surface of the inclined surface is increased, and the upper surface of the blade is pressed against the bottom surface below the center of the roller so that it cannot move.

[0005] Furthermore, Korean Patent Registration No. 472991 (Patent Document 2) is disclosed in relation to a measuring tape with a self-locking function. Patent Document 2 shows that, as shown in Figure 2, the blade passes between the lower roller and the upper roller, and a wedge-shaped stopper is pressurized between the upper roller and the blade to prevent the automatically ejected blade from flowing back in.

[0006] Measuring tapes with self-locking mechanisms include a button to temporarily release the self-locking function, but even a slight press of the button can release the self-locking function and cause the blade to retract abruptly, which can be inconvenient. Furthermore, conventional self-locking measuring tapes feature a stopper that is held close to the blade by a spring. However, this type of mechanism can sometimes show a tendency for the self-locking function to weaken over time. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-39732 [Patent Document 2] Korean Patent No. 472991 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] This invention provides a compact measuring tape with a dual brake that can compensate for the self-locking function while reducing the number of parts and pursuing miniaturization.

[0009] The present invention provides a compact measuring tape having a dual brake that allows for a margin of error in the operation of the self-locking mechanism, and the self-locking function is released when the button moves beyond a certain depth. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention for achieving the aforementioned objectives, a compact measuring tape having a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, a reel rotatably mounted inside the housing, and a blade that is pulled out through an entrance to the housing, but further includes an indirect brake for indirectly locking the reel through the blade wound on the reel, a direct brake for directly locking the reel by contacting the reel, and a release button exposed outside the housing, the release button which can simultaneously release the locks of the indirect and direct brakes on the reel.

[0011] Both indirect and direct brakes share the common purpose of restricting the movement of the reel, but direct brakes restrict the reel's movement by directly contacting the reel, while indirect brakes restrict the reel's movement by contacting the blade or other components wound around the reel.

[0012] Direct brakes can restrict the movement of adjacent reels, reducing the space occupied by the manual brake in the measuring tape housing, while indirect brakes can supplementarily restrict the movement of the reels, increasing the reel's fixing force.

[0013] An indirect brake may include a fork load that pressurizes the blade inside the housing entrance, and the release button may rotate around a button pivot axis formed in the housing, and the fork load may have a tendency to rotate around the button pivot axis in a direction that pressurizes the top or bottom surface of the blade.

[0014] The end of the fork load, i.e., the fork, can apply pressure to the top or bottom surface of the blade, automatically stopping the blade's movement and maintaining it in the extended position.

[0015] The release button and the fork load can be formed as a single unit and rotate together around the button's rotation axis, and the operating structure of the button's rotation axis can also be easily formed. In some cases, the release button and the fork load can be separated from each other and rotate independently around the button's rotation axis, with the upper end of the fork load located above the button's rotation axis positioned inside the release button, and a gap existing between the release button and the upper end of the fork load, which may come into contact with the upper end of the fork load when the release button is pressed beyond a certain depth.

[0016] If there is a gap between the release button and the upper end of the fork load and they are separated from each other, the slight movement of the release button can be transmitted to the fork load, allowing the self-locking to be released with precise intent.

[0017] Furthermore, if the fork load and the release button are integrally formed, the self-locking mechanism will repeatedly release and lock as the blade is pulled out of the housing, allowing the release button to move up and down in succession. For the release button to move up and down, a sufficient gap must be formed between the release button and the housing, but foreign matter can easily flow into this gap and into the inside of the measuring tape. However, in this embodiment, even if the self-locking mechanism is repeatedly released and locked, the release button will remain stopped without moving up and down in succession, and because the button does not move, the gap between the release button and the housing can be made minimal or almost nonexistent.

[0018] In other embodiments, the indirect brake may include a wedge portion that makes close contact with the blade wound on the reel, and a pressurizing load connected to one end of the wedge portion that applies pressure in a direction that brings the wedge portion into close contact with the blade.

[0019] The release button rotates around a button rotation axis formed in the housing, and the pressurizing load can also rotate around the button rotation axis. As mentioned earlier, the release button and pressurizing load can be formed as a single unit and rotate together around the button rotation axis, or they can rotate separately around the button rotation axis, and both the direct and indirect brakes can be released when the lock button is pressed beyond a certain depth.

[0020] The direct brake may include a reel locking button that rotates relative to a button pivot axis formed in the housing to pressurize, lock, or release the reel. The reel locking button may include a locking projection that protrudes toward the outermost rim of the reel, and the locking projection can reinforce the braking force of the indirect brake while directly pressing the rim of the reel.

[0021] If the reel locking button rotates excessively, the locking projection may disengage from the outermost rim of the reel. To prevent this, the release button may include a rising projection that supports the lower end of the reel locking button in a position where the locking projection engages with the outermost rim. The rising projection limits the range of downward movement of the reel locking button, and when the release button is pressed and the rising projection is lifted, the reel locking button is also lifted together with the release button, and the locking projection can also be separated from the outermost rim.

[0022] When the release button moves beyond a certain depth, the indirect brake is released, and at the same time, the direct brake applied by the fixed projection is also released.

[0023] While it may be more efficient for the reel locking button to be exposed from the housing at the front and lower part of the unlock button, structural modifications can also allow the reel locking button to be formed above or next to the unlock button.

[0024] The pressing load and the unlocking button can be separated and move independently. Conventionally, the pressing load and the unlocking button were integrally formed or always in contact with each other, and the self-lock function might be immediately released even if the unlocking button moved slightly. In this embodiment, the pressing load and the unlocking button are separated so that the fine movement of the unlocking button is not immediately linked to the release of the self-lock.

[0025] Also, conventionally, the pressing load and the unlocking button were integrally formed or always in contact with each other. However, during the process of pulling the blade out of the housing, the release and locking of the self-lock were repeatedly performed, and the unlocking button could move continuously up and down. Also, in order for the unlocking button to move up and down, a sufficient gap must be formed between the unlocking button and the housing, but foreign objects might easily flow into the inside of the tape measure through this gap.

[0026] In this embodiment, the pressing load is separated from the unlocking button, and the upper end of the pressing load located above the button rotation axis is positioned inside the unlocking button. There is a play gap between the unlocking button and the upper end of the pressing load, and when the unlocking button is pressed more than a certain depth, it can contact the upper end of the pressing load. Therefore, even if the release and locking of the self-lock are repeatedly performed during the process of pulling the blade out of the housing, if the unlocking button is maintained in a stopped state without continuously moving up and down, a gap between the unlocking button and the housing can be formed to be minimized or almost non-existent because the button does not move, and foreign objects flowing into the gap can be blocked.

[0027] Moreover, even if the unlocking button is pressed shallowly unintentionally during the process of pulling out the blade, the movement of the button is not transmitted to the pressing load, and the user can safely and conveniently perform the blade pulling operation.

[0028] The release button can be supported by a spring such that there is a gap between the release button and the upper end of the pressurized load, or a torsion spring mounted around the button's rotation axis can be used.

[0029] Indeed, a portion of the rear of the release button can be supported by a torsion spring, and the other portion of the rear of the release button can be supported by the upper end of a pressure load. By aligning the torsion spring and the upper end of the pressure load along the button's rotation axis, the internal space of the housing can be optimized.

[0030] A pressurized load can be attached to the button rotation axis, a release button can be attached to the outside of the pressurized load, and a reel locking button can be attached to the outside of the release button, and the reel locking button can rotate along the outer surface of the lock rotation button. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] The compact measuring tape with dual brakes of the present invention can compensate for indirect brakes or self-locking functions that weaken over time, and while embodying dual brakes, it can reduce the number of overall parts and pursue miniaturization of the measuring tape by having the direct brake directly or indirectly brake the outermost rim of the reel.

[0032] The compact measuring tape with dual brakes according to the present invention allows for a margin of error in the operation of the self-locking mechanism, and the self-locking function can be released when the release button moves beyond a certain depth.

[0033] If the release button remains stationary without moving up and down even when the indirect brake is repeatedly released and locked during the process of the blade being pulled out of the housing, the gap between the release button and the housing can be made minimal or almost nonexistent because the button does not move, and foreign matter can be prevented from entering the gap.

[0034] Furthermore, by using a direct brake that applies direct pressure to the reel, the reel's locking force can be further improved, and this process can achieve an improved braking effect without requiring any additional treatment of the blade surface. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0035] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating a conventional self-locking measuring tape. [Figure 2] Similarly, this is a diagram illustrating a conventional self-locking measuring tape. [Figure 3] This is a drawing illustrating a compact measuring tape having a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure and gaps of a compact measuring tape with dual brakes. [Figure 5] This is a diagram illustrating the structure and operation of the unlock button and reel locking button on a compact measuring tape with a dual brake system. [Figure 6] Similarly, this is a diagram illustrating the structure and operation of the unlock button and reel lock button on a compact measuring tape with dual brakes. [Figure 7] This is a diagram illustrating the self-locking and unlocking states of a compact measuring tape with a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a diagram illustrating the reel fixing and release process of a compact measuring tape with a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a drawing illustrating a compact measuring tape having a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the structure and operation of the unlock button and reel locking button of a compact measuring tape with a dual brake. [Figure 11]This is a drawing illustrating a compact measuring tape having a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the structure and operation of the unlock button and reel locking button of a compact measuring tape with a dual brake. [Figure 13] This is a drawing illustrating a compact measuring tape having a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the structure and operation of the unlock button and reel locking button on a compact measuring tape with a dual brake. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0036] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings, but the present invention is not limited or restricted by these embodiments. In this description, the same number refers to substantially the same element, and the description may be based on reference to the other drawings under the same rules, and the description may be based on reference to the other drawings, and the description may be based on reference to the other drawings, and the description may be based on reference to the other drawings, or present invention, and the description may be based on reference to the attached drawings, but the present invention is not limited or restricted by these embodiments.

[0037] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a compact measuring tape with a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the interior and gaps of the compact measuring tape with a dual brake shown in Figure 3, and Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating the structure and operation of the unlock button and reel locking button of the compact measuring tape with a dual brake.

[0038] Referring to Figures 3 to 6, the measuring tape 100 with dual brakes according to this embodiment basically includes a housing 110, a reel 120 rotatably mounted inside the housing 110, a blade 130 that is pulled out through the entrance of the housing 110, and an end hook 140 attached to the end of the blade 130.

[0039] In particular, the measuring tape 100 according to this embodiment may include an indirect brake that enters between the portion of the blade 130 wound on the reel 120 and the portion pulled out to the entrance and makes close contact with the blade 130, and a direct brake that directly applies pressure to the outer rim of the reel 120.

[0040] An indirect brake may include a wedge portion 160 and a pressurized load 170 to which the wedge portion 160 is connected at one end, while a direct brake may include a reel locking button 180 with a fixing projection 182 formed thereon. The unlock button 150 can be used in conjunction with the upper end 172 of the pressurized load 170 to temporarily separate the wedge portion 160 from the blade 130.

[0041] The pressurized load 170, the release button 150, and the reel locking button 180 can rotate around a single button rotation axis (Bx), and can be mounted on the button rotation axis (Bx) to perform their own independent functions, or in some cases, to perform interconnected functions. For example, the pressurized load 170 can perform its independent function while the blade 130 is being pulled out of the housing 110, but if the release button 150 is pressed and pressurizes the upper end 172 of the pressurized load 170 while it is moving, the pressurized load 170 can be forcibly separated from the blade 130. Also, the reel locking button 180 can perform its independent function of manually locking the rotation of the reel 120 using the locking projection 182, but if the release button 150 is pressed and the rising projection 152 lifts the bottom surface of the reel locking button 180, the locking projection 182 of the reel locking button 180 can be forcibly separated from the outermost rim of the reel 120.

[0042] Specifically, the pressure load 170 is rotatably mounted on the button rotation axis (Bx), and a wedge portion 160 is attached to its lower end. A leaf spring 174 can be installed between the pressure load 170 and the housing 110, and the pressure load 170 can be elastically supported in a direction that brings it into close contact with the blade 130.

[0043] The upper end 172 of the pressurizing load 170, opposite the lower end to which the wedge portion 160 is connected, is located on the rear surface of the release button 150 and is separated from the rear surface of the release button 150 by a certain distance. As shown in Figure 6, since the rear surface of the release button 150 is always supported by the torsion spring 154, the release button 150 can maintain a certain distance from the upper end 172 of the pressurizing load 170 and can maintain a state of maximum contact with the housing 110 without any gaps.

[0044] The release button 150 can be supported by a torsion spring 154 on the left side of its rear surface, and by the upper end 172 of a pressure load 170 on the right side of its rear surface. By arranging the torsion spring 154 and the upper end 172 of the pressure load 170 side by side along the button rotation axis (Bx) without overlapping, space usage can be minimized.

[0045] As shown in the enlarged portion of Figure 4, the release button 150 tends to maintain a tight seal with the housing 110, and the gap (g) between the housing 110 and the release button 150 can always be kept to a minimum. Because the release button 150 and the pressurizing load 170 are separated, even during the process of the blade 130 being pulled out, only the pressurizing load 170 moves around the button rotation axis (Bx), allowing the release button 150 to remain in a stopped position and keeping the gap (g) to a minimum to prevent foreign matter from entering.

[0046] The release button 150 can be mounted on the button rotation axis (Bx) so as to face the upper end 172 of the pressurized load 170. The release button 150 can be elastically supported by a torsion spring 154 or other spring, and may include a rising projection 152 that protrudes forward at its lower end.

[0047] Then, the reel fixing button 180 can be mounted on the button rotation axis (Bx) such that it partially surrounds the release button 150 between the button body of the release button 150 and the rising projection 152. The button body of the reel fixing button 180 can be positioned forward and exposed to the outside of the housing 110, and fixing projections 182 can be formed at both ends opposite the button body.

[0048] The fixing projection 182 of the reel fixing button 180 can approach the outermost rim of the internal reel 120, and when the reel fixing button 180 rotates and the fixing projection 182 pressurizes the rim of the reel 120, the rotation of the reel 120 can be restricted.

[0049] As shown in Figure 5(c), a pressurized load 170 is mounted around the button rotation axis (Bx), a release button 150 is mounted on the outside of the pressurized load 170 so as to cover the upper end 172 portion of the pressurized load 170, and a reel fixing button 180 can be mounted on the outside of the release button 150 between the button body and the rising projection 152. The reel fixing button 180 can pivot between the button body and the rising projection 152 along the outer surface of the release button 150, and fixing projections 182 are formed at both inner ends of the reel fixing button 180 so that they can contact the outermost rim of the reel 120.

[0050] As shown in Figure 3, the button bodies of the unlock button 150 and the reel locking button 180 are exposed together on the front upper part of the housing 110. The user can stop the blade 130 in the extended position with just a simple action of pulling out the blade 130, and can also press the unlock button 150 to separate the internal wedge portion 160 from the blade 130 in order to retrieve the blade 130 in whole or in part. Furthermore, to more firmly fix the extended position of the blade 130, the user can press down on the reel locking button 180 to further restrict the rotation of the reel 120.

[0051] The button bodies of the unlock button 150 and the reel locking button 180 for such operations are located at the front upper part of the housing 110, allowing the user to easily perform the desired operation or function.

[0052] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the self-locking and unlocking state of a compact measuring tape with a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the reel fixing and unfixing process of a compact measuring tape with a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] As shown in Figure 7(a), the pressurized load 170 is supported by the leaf spring 174 when the blade 130 is extended or during the extension process, and the wedge portion 160 is connected to the lower end of the pressurized load 170 and can enter between the blades 130 to make a tight fit. The wedge portion 160 can restrict the rotation of the reel 120 and the blades 130.

[0054] Furthermore, even during the process of extending the blade 130, the wedge portion 160 and the pressure load 170 can move from side to side while performing the self-locking function, and the release button 150 can remain separated from the upper end 172 of the pressure load 170 and remain in a stopped state.

[0055] The fixing projection 182 of the reel fixing button 180 is also separated from the rim of the reel 120, and may not restrict the rotation of the reel 120.

[0056] As shown in Figure 7(b), when the user presses the release button 150 to a certain depth (d) or more, pressing the upper end 172 of the pressurized load 170, the lower end and wedge portion 160 of the pressurized load 170 are separated from the blade 130, and the blade 130 is recovered as the reel 120 rotates.

[0057] If the release button 150 is pressed to a depth less than a certain depth (d), the upper end 172 of the pressurizing load 170 will not be pressed, and the self-locking function will be maintained. In other words, by intentionally separating the upper ends of the release button 150 and the pressurizing load 170, it is possible to prevent the self-lock from being released even if there is a small, unintended press or a slight vibration of the release button 150.

[0058] When the force applied to the release button 150 is removed, the release button 150 returns to its original position by the torsion spring 154, and the release button 150 can remain stopped at a certain distance from the upper end 172 of the pressurized load 170.

[0059] Figure 8(c) shows a state where the reel locking button 180 is pressed down and the locking projection 182 pressurizes the rim of the reel 120. This may occur when the user has pressed the reel locking button 180 down, as shown in Figure 7(a).

[0060] Essentially, the self-locking function is realized by the wedge section 160 and the pressurized load 170, and by adding the fixing with the reel fixing button 180, the fixed measuring tape can be maintained even more stably.

[0061] The downward movement range of the reel locking button 180 can be limited by the rising projection 152 of the unlock button 150, and as the reel locking button 180 moves to the boundary limited by the rising projection 152, the locking projection 182 can also move naturally to the angle that pushes the rim of the reel 120 to its maximum extent.

[0062] As shown in Figure 8(d), when the user presses the release button 150 and pushes the upper end 172 of the pressurized load 170, the rising projection 152 can lift the reel locking button 180. Before the release button 150 is pressed beyond a certain depth, the locking projection 182 of the reel locking button 180 separates from the rim of the reel 120, and as it is pressed beyond a certain depth, the locking projection 182 separates completely from the reel 120, and the upper end 172 of the pressurized load 170 may be pressed by the release button 150.

[0063] In other words, even when the lock by the reel fixing button 180 is maintained, pressing the unlock button 150 simultaneously releases both the lock by the reel fixing button 180 and the self-lock by the wedge portion 160.

[0064] In this embodiment, the pressurized load 170, the release button 150, and the reel fixing button 180 are fixed to a single button rotation axis (Bx), which minimizes the installation space and provides the lowest fixing effect with minimal force by directly fixing or releasing the reel 120. Furthermore, the fixing force of the reel can be further improved by forming an additional frictional resistance surface or protrusion on the surface of the rim or fixing projection 182 of the reel 120, and this improved effect can be achieved without additional treatment of the blade surface.

[0065] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating a compact measuring tape with a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the structure and operation of the unlock button and reel locking button of the compact measuring tape with a dual brake shown in Figure 9.

[0066] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the measuring tape with dual brakes according to this embodiment can basically include a housing 210, a reel 220 rotatably mounted inside the housing 210, a blade 230 that is pulled out through an entrance in the housing 210, and an end hook 240 attached to the end of the blade 230.

[0067] The measuring tape may include an indirect brake that presses the upper surface of the blade 230 against the end of the fork load 270 on the reel 220, and a direct brake that directly presses the outer rim of the reel 220.

[0068] An indirect brake may include a fork load 270 with a fork 276 formed at its end, while a direct brake may include a reel locking button 280 with a locking projection 282 formed thereon. A release button 250 can be used in conjunction with the upper end 272 of the fork load 270 to temporarily separate the fork 276 from the upper surface of the blade 230.

[0069] The fork load 270, the release button 250, and the reel locking button 280 can rotate around a single button rotation axis (Bx) and are mounted on the button rotation axis (Bx) to perform their respective independent functions. The fork load 270 can perform its independent function while the blade 230 is pulled out of the housing 210, but when the release button 250 is pressed and pressure is applied to the upper end 272 of the fork load 270, the fork 276 can be forcibly separated from the blade 230. A leaf spring 274 can be installed between the fork load 270 and the housing 210, and the fork load 270 can be elastically supported in a direction that brings it into close contact with the blade 230.

[0070] The reel locking button 280 can perform an independent function of manually locking the rotation of the reel 220 using the locking projection 282, but when the unlock button 250 is pressed and the rising projection lifts the bottom surface of the reel locking button 280, the locking projection 282 of the reel locking button 280 can be forcibly separated from the outermost rim of the reel 220.

[0071] As shown in Figure 10(c), the upper end 272 of the fork load 270 is located on the rear surface of the release button 250 and is separated from the rear surface of the release button 250 by a certain distance. The rear surface of the release button 250 is supported by a torsion spring, which allows the release button 250 to maintain a certain distance from the upper end 272 of the fork load 270 and to maintain a state of maximum contact with the housing 210 without any gaps.

[0072] Because the release button 250 and the fork load 270 are separated, even when the blade 230 is pulled out, only the fork load 270 moves around the button rotation axis (Bx), allowing the release button 250 to remain in a stopped state and maintaining a fixed gap between the button and the housing.

[0073] A rising projection is formed at the bottom of the unlock button 250, extending forward. The reel fixing button 280 can be rotatably mounted on the button rotation axis (Bx) between the button body of the unlock button 250 and the rising projection. The button body of the reel fixing button 280 is positioned forward and can be exposed to the outside of the housing 210.

[0074] The fixing projection 282 of the reel fixing button 280 can approach the outermost rim of the internal reel 220, and as the reel fixing button 280 rotates, the fixing projection 282 can pressurize and restrict the rotation of the reel 220 by contacting the outermost rim of the reel 220.

[0075] The user can stop the blade 230 in the extended position simply by pulling it out, and can also separate the internal fork 276 from the blade 230 by pressing the unlock button 250 to retrieve the blade 230 in whole or in part. In addition, to further firmly fix the extended position of the blade 230, the user can directly restrict the rotation of the reel 220 by pressing down the reel lock button 280.

[0076] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a compact measuring tape with a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating the structure and operation of the unlock button and reel locking button of the compact measuring tape with a dual brake shown in Figure 11.

[0077] Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the measuring tape with dual brakes according to this embodiment basically includes a housing 310, a reel 320, a blade 330, and an end hook 340, and may include an indirect brake that presses on the upper surface of the blade 330 and a direct brake that directly presses on the outer rim of the reel 320 as brakes for fixing the reel.

[0078] An indirect brake may include a fork load 370 with a fork 376 formed at its end, while a direct brake may include a reel locking button 380 with a locking projection 382 formed thereon. Unlike previous embodiments, the unlock button 350 is formed integrally with the fork load 370 and moves together to temporarily separate the end of the fork load 370 from the upper surface of the blade 330.

[0079] The fork load 370, the release button 350, and the reel locking button 380 can rotate around a single button pivot axis (Bx), and the fork load 370 can maintain the extended position of the blade 330 in a locked state while the blade 330 is pulled out of the housing 310, supported by the leaf spring 374. When the release button 350 is pressed and the end of the fork load 370 is separated from the blade 330, the blade 330 can be wound around the reel 320 and retrieved into the housing 310.

[0080] The reel locking button 380 can perform an independent function of manually locking the rotation of the reel 320 using the locking projection 382, ​​but when the unlock button 350 is pressed and the rising projection lifts the bottom surface of the reel locking button 380, the locking projection 382 of the reel locking button 380 can be forcibly separated from the outermost rim of the reel 320.

[0081] Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating a compact measuring tape with a dual brake according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating the structure and operation of the unlock button and reel locking button of the compact measuring tape with a dual brake shown in Figure 13.

[0082] Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the measuring tape with dual brakes according to this embodiment basically includes a housing 410, a reel 420, a blade 430, and an end hook 440, and may include an indirect brake that approaches and applies pressure between the blades 430 and other components as a brake to secure the reel, and a direct brake that directly applies pressure to the outer rim of the reel 420.

[0083] An indirect brake may include a pressurized load 470 with a wedge portion 460 attached to its end, while a direct brake may include a reel locking button 480 with a fixing projection 482 formed thereon. Unlike previous embodiments, the unlock button 450 is formed integrally with the pressurized load 470 and moves integrally with the pressurized load 470, temporarily separating the wedge portion 460 from the blade 430.

[0084] The pressurized load 470, the release button 450, and the reel locking button 480 can rotate around a single button pivot axis (Bx), and as the blade 430 is pulled out of the housing 410, the pressurized load 470 is supported by the leaf spring 474 and can maintain the pulled-out state of the blade 430 in a locked position. When the release button 450 is pressed and the pressurized load 470 and the wedge portion 460 are separated from the blade 430, the blade 430 can be wound around the reel 420 and retrieved into the housing 410.

[0085] The reel locking button 480 can perform an independent function of manually locking the rotation of the reel 420 using the locking projection 482, but when the unlock button 450 is pressed and the rising projection lifts the bottom surface of the reel locking button 480, the locking projection 482 of the reel locking button 480 can be forcibly separated from the outermost rim of the reel 420.

[0086] As described above, the invention has been explained with reference to preferred embodiments, but those skilled in the art will understand that the invention can be modified and altered in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

Claims

1. A measuring tape having a housing, a reel rotatably mounted inside the housing, and a blade that is pulled out through an opening in the housing, An indirect brake for indirectly locking the reel through the blade wound around the reel; A direct brake for contacting the reel and directly locking the reel; and Includes an unlock button exposed to the outside of the housing; A measuring tape in which the lock on the indirect brake and the direct brake on the reel are simultaneously released by the aforementioned release button.

2. The measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the indirect brake includes a fork load that pressurizes the blade inside the entrance of the housing.

3. The measuring tape according to claim 2, wherein the unlock button rotates around a button rotation axis formed in the housing, and the fork load tends to rotate around the button rotation axis in a direction that presses on the upper or lower surface of the blade.

4. The measuring tape according to claim 3, wherein the unlock button and the fork load are integrally formed and rotate together around the button rotation axis.

5. The measuring tape according to claim 3, wherein the unlock button and the fork load are separated from each other and rotate around the button rotation axis, the upper end of the fork load located above the button rotation axis is located inside the unlock button, there is a gap between the unlock button and the upper end of the fork load, and the fork load only makes contact with the upper end of the fork load when the unlock button is pressed to a certain depth or more.

6. The measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the indirect brake includes a wedge portion that is in close contact with the blade wound on the reel, and a pressurizing load connected to one end of the wedge portion that applies pressure in a direction that brings the wedge portion into close contact with the blade.

7. The tape measure according to claim 6, wherein the unlock button rotates around a button rotation axis formed in the housing, and the pressurizing load rotates around the button rotation axis.

8. The measuring tape according to claim 7, wherein the unlock button and the pressurizing load are integrally formed and rotate together around the button rotation axis.

9. The tape measure according to claim 7, wherein the release button and the pressure load are separated from each other and rotate around the button rotation axis, the upper end of the pressure load located above the button rotation axis is located inside the release button, and there is a gap between the release button and the upper end of the pressure load so that the release button makes contact with the upper end of the pressure load only when it is pressed to a certain depth or more.

10. The measuring tape according to claim 9, wherein the release button remains stationary during the process of the blade being pulled out, and the gap between the release button and the housing remains constant.

11. The tape measure according to claim 9, wherein the release button is supported by a spring such that there is a gap between the release button and the upper end of the pressurized load.

12. The tape measure according to claim 11, wherein the release button is supported by a torsion spring with respect to the button rotation axis, and the upper end of the torsion spring and the pressurizing load are arranged side by side along the button rotation axis inside the release button.

13. The direct brake includes a reel locking button that rotates relative to a button rotation axis formed in the housing to pressurize the reel and restrain or release the reel. The measuring tape according to claim 1, wherein the reel locking button also releases the reel while the unlock button moves beyond a certain depth.

14. The measuring tape according to claim 13, wherein the reel locking button includes a locking projection that protrudes toward the outermost rim of the reel, and the unlocking button includes a rising projection that supports the lower end of the reel locking button at a position in which the locking projection engages with the outermost rim, the rising projection restricts the range of downward movement of the reel locking button, and when the unlocking button is pressed and the rising projection is lifted, the reel locking button also moves together with the unlocking button so that the locking projection also separates from the outermost rim.

15. The measuring tape according to claim 13, wherein the reel locking button is exposed from the housing at a lower front position of the unlocking button.

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