Measuring tape with improved case durability

Abstract

A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, and a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly. The housing may include a first case half and a second case half. The first case half and the second case half may be joined together via fasteners inserted into respective screw bosses formed in the first and second case halves. Mating features may be provided on the first and second case halves to facilitate joining the first and second case halves. The mating features may include case alignment protruding members, boss alignment protruding members, case alignment receiving slots and boss alignment receiving slots. The case alignment protruding members and the case alignment receiving slots may include a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional shape.

Description

[0001] MEASURING TAPE WITH IMPROVED CASE DURABILITY

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] Example embodiments generally relate to measuring tape devices, and particularly relate to a measuring tape that is structured to have improved durability.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Measuring tapes have been around for a very long time, and are common measuring tools used in numerous contexts to obtain linear measurements. Measuring tapes can come in many forms and may be made of cloth, fiber glass, metal, plastic, or the like. The materials used are often dictated by the specific measuring application. For example, tailors and dressmakers typically use a flexible tape that can be easily manipulated between two hands to measure a distance therebetween. However, for construction or carpentry applications, a stiff and often metallic tape is preferred to allow the measuring tape to be extended between a first location at which one end of the tape is anchored, and the location of the user at whose location the measuring tape is paid out from a reel assembly. The reel assembly may have a manual retracting mechanism or a self-retracting mechanism, typically depending upon the length of the measuring tape. For relatively short measuring tapes (e.g., 12 ft or 25 ft), self-retracting mechanisms are very common. For very long measuring tapes (e.g., larger than 100 ft), a manual retracting mechanism is typically employed.

[0006] The reel assembly can often also be locked at a given location so that, for example, the measuring tape can be locked with a given amount of the metallic tape ribbon extending out of the housing of the measuring tape. The locking mechanisms that support this functionality are typically embodied as a sliding lock button that is disposed on a top and / or front portion of the measuring tape housing. The housing is often formed from case halves that are joined together to enclose the tape and at least a drum and spring that are part of the reel assembly. A common failure mode for measuring tapes has been for the drum and spring, or other parts of the reel assembly to become inoperable after an impact event (e.g., dropping the measuring tape from a height). In some cases, the two case halves may become temporarily separated due to the impact, and the tape itself may become bound in the gap formed between the two case halves. In other cases, the drum and spring may become disengaged by the impact thereby preventing functional retraction of the tape blade after it is extended from the housing. Accordingly, it may be desirable to design a measuring tape device with a more robust capability to avoid case half separation.

[0007] BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

[0008] Some example embodiments may enable the provision of a measuring tape that has case halves that are designed to be j oined together in a more robust way. In this regard, for example, some embodiments may provide improved fastening structures and / or mating features between the case halves in order to reduce vulnerability to impact damage.

[0009] In an example embodiment, a measuring tape device is provided. The measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, and a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly. The housing may include a first case half and a second case half. The reel assembly may be configured to alternately allow the blade to be withdrawn from the reel assembly through the aperture or received in the aperture onto the reel assembly. The first case half and the second case half may be joined together via threaded fasteners inserted into respective portions of screw bosses formed in corresponding portions of the first and second case halves. Mating features may be provided on the first and second case halves to facilitate joining the first and second case halves. The mating features may include case alignment protruding members, boss alignment protruding members, case alignment receiving slots and boss alignment receiving slots. The case alignment protruding members and the case alignment receiving slots may include a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional shape.

[0010] In another example embodiment, a housing for a measuring tape device is provided. The housing may include a first case half, a second case half, and an aperture through which a blade of the tape measure device may extend. The first case half and the second case half may be joined together via threaded fasteners inserted into respective portions of screw bosses formed in corresponding portions of the first and second case halves. Mating features may be provided on the first and second case halves to facilitate joining the first and second case halves. The mating features may include case alignment protruding members, boss alignment protruding members, case alignment receiving slots and boss alignment receiving slots. The case alignment protruding members and the case alignment receiving slots may include a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional shape. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] Having thus described some example embodiments in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a measuring tape device in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the measuring tape device in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the measuring tape device to illustrate the case halves thereof in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an inner portion of a first case half in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the inner portion of the first case half in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an inner portion of a second case half in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the inner portion of the second case half in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of the first and second case halves separated from each other to show the length of the mating features in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a self-threading fastener in accordance with an example embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 10 illustrates a close up perspective view of the first and second case halves separated from each other and the mating features on each of the case halves according to an example embodiment;

[0022] FIG. 11 illustrates a close up perspective view of a case alignment protruding member according to an example embodiment; and

[0023] FIG. 12 illustrates a close up perspective view of a case alignment receiving slot according to an example embodiment.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION Some example embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all example embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and pictured herein should not be construed as being limiting as to the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “or” is to be interpreted as a logical operator that results in true whenever one or more of its operands are true. As used herein, operable coupling should be understood to relate to direct or indirect connection that, in either case, enables functional interconnection of components that are operably coupled to each other.

[0025] As indicated above, some example embodiments may relate to the provision of a measuring tape device that may have an improved design for resistance to impact damage. This may be accomplished by providing mating features and / or fastening structures that resist separation of the case halves in response to impact and, in some cases, may also guide the case halves back together to ensure proper alignment of the case halves is maintained or restored responsive to such impact. Additionally, another benefit that may be provided by the mating features is that they may make the housing more resistant to sliding along the plane of the mating faces where the case halves engage one another. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a measuring tape device, FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of such device, in accordance with an example embodiment, and FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the measuring tape device to illustrate the case halves thereof.

[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a measuring tape device 100 of an example embodiment may include a housing 110 comprising a first case half 112 and a second case half 114. The first and second case halves 112 and 114 may house a reel assembly 120 and a self-retraction assembly 130 therein. A blade 140 (or tape) portion of the device 100 may be wound onto the reel assembly 120. The blade 140 may be paid out through an aperture 150 formed in the housing 110. A locking assembly 160 may be provided to enable the reel assembly 120 to be locked to prevent the self-retraction assembly 130 from retracting the blade 140 when the locking assembly 160 is engaged.

[0027] The blade 140 may have an end hook 170 disposed at one end thereof, and may be affixed to the reel assembly 120 at the other end of the blade 140. The end hook 170 may be affixed (temporarily) to an anchor point on a medium that is to be measured. Once the end hook 170 is affixed to the anchor point, the blade 140 may be paid out of the aperture 150 and unwound from the reel assembly 120. When a desired length of the blade 140 has been paid out, the user can make any necessary markings, readings, etc., associated with measuring scale markings that may be printed on the blade 140. The measuring scale markings generally measure length from the end hook 170 in one or more units, with divisions and subdivisions of such units clearly marked on the blade 140.

[0028] By fixing the end hook 170 to the anchor point, the self-retraction assembly 130 (which may be spring loaded in some cases) may be prevented from retracting the paid out portions of the blade 140 into the housing 110 (via the aperture 150). Similarly, when the locking assembly 160 may be engaged, a force (e.g., a pinching force) may be placed on the blade 140 to prevent retraction or motion of the reel assembly 120 to prevent the self-retraction assembly 130 from retracting the paid out portions of the blade 140. However, when the end hook 170 is not anchored and the locking assembly 160 is not engaged, the self-retraction assembly 130 may cause the reel assembly 120 to wind the blade 140 back onto the reel assembly 120.

[0029] As mentioned above, impacts may cause separation of the first case half 112 from the second case half 114, and even sliding of the first case half 112 relative to the second case half 114. Although the separation and sliding may be temporary and / or small, such movement can still cause lasting consequences for operation of the measuring tape device 100. For example, if any portion of the blade 140 gets bound in between the first and second case halves 112 and 114, or if the spring and drum of the self-retraction assembly 130 become misaligned, it may not be possible to continue to rewind the blade 140 onto the reel assembly 120 once the blade 140 is withdrawn from the housing 110. Example embodiments include altering the shape of certain mating features of the measuring tape device 100 in order to strike an optimal balance between the size and weight of the measuring tape device 100 and its robustness.

[0030] In this regard, the size of the reel assembly 120 (e.g., the diameter of the reel) may be a significant determiner of the minimum dimensions of the measuring tape device 100. The housing 110, which is desirably kept to a light and compact construction, must have at least sufficient height (H), length (L) and width (W) to enclose the reel assembly 120 when the full length of the blade 140 is stored thereon. The diameter of the reel assembly 120 may therefore be referred to as a “defining diameter” for the measuring tape device 100. The defining diameter controls the height (H) and length (L) dimensions for the housing 110 (and therefore also for the first and second case halves 112 and 114). The width of the reel assembly 120 also determines a minimum width for the measuring tape device 100, and the width (W) of the housing 110 will be desirably kept relatively close to the minimum width.

[0031] Some example embodiments may define optimal characteristics for certain fastening structures or mating features that join the first and second case halves 112 and 114 together. In this regard, for example, the optimal characteristics may be defined as a function of the defining diameter and / or the width (W) of the housing 110. Fastening structures such as screw bosses may be increased in diameter relative to typical screw bosses. For example, the screw bosses may be increased in diameter to define an optimal screw boss diameter as a function of the defining diameter. Doing so may make the screw bosses much less likely to fail due to cracking, stripping out, or other failure modes, and may also increase the ability of the screw bosses and the fasteners provided therein to retain the first and second case halves 112 and 114 in contact in response to impact. Meanwhile, some of the mating features may be substantially trapezoidal in shape to define an optimal mating feature shape. In other words, the cross sectional shape of some of the mating features of the first and second case halves 112 and 114 may have angled side edges rather than squared side edges. Doing so may increase the strength of the operably coupling between the first and second case halves 112 and 114 by enabling the mating features to have a stronger hold on one another. Additionally, the flared out shape of the mating features may also increase the ability of the measuring tape device 100 to avoid failure on impact since the mating features may ensure that contact and alignment is maintained between the first and second case halves 112 and 114 during any minor movement thereof, and the alignment will ensure that the first and second case halves 112 and 114 guide themselves back together in response to impact.

[0032] FIGS. 4-8 illustrate various different views of the first and second case halves 112 and 114 in isolation in order to facilitate a discussion of the optimization of the housing 110 construction in accordance with an example embodiment. In this regard, FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an inner portion of the first case half 112 and FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the inner portion of the first case half 112. FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an inner portion of the second case half 114 and FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the inner portion of the second case half 114. FIG. 8 illustrates a front view of the first and second case halves 112 and 114 separated from each other to show the length of the mating features.

[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 4-8, the first and second case halves 112 and 114 may each include sidewalls and an end wall that form a cup-like structure. An end wall 200 of the first case half 112 and an end wall 202 of the second case half 114 may each extend substantially parallel to each other when the first and second case halves 112 and 114 are joined together to form the housing 110. Sidewalls 210 of the first case half 112 may extend substantially perpendicularly away from the end wall 200 of the first case half 112. However, there may be a curved transition from the end wall 200 of the first case half 112 to the sidewalls 210 of the first case half 112. Similarly, sidewalls 212 of the second case half 114 may extend substantially perpendicularly away from the end wall 202 of the second case half 114. However, there may also be a curved transition from the end wall 202 of the second case half 114 to the sidewalls 212 of the second case half 114. A receiving opening 220 may be defined between the sidewalls 210 and 212 inside which the reel assembly 120 may be housed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the defining diameter (D) may be defined at least in part by the radial length (i.e., diameter) of the receiving opening 220.

[0034] The first and second case halves 112 and 114 may interface with each other at a first mating surface 230 and a second mating surface 232, respectively. The first and second mating surfaces 230 and 232 may each lie in a respective plane and, when joined together, may meet at a common plane and be coplanar with one another. The first mating surface 230 may be disposed at a distal end of the sidewalls 210 of the first case half 112 and may define a continuous flat surface that lies perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel assembly 120 at or near an outer periphery of the side of the first case half 112 that faces the second case half 114. The second mating surface 232 may be disposed at a distal end of the sidewalls 212 of the second case half 114 and may define a continuous flat surface that lies perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel assembly 120 at or near an outer periphery of the side of the second case half 114 that faces the first case half 112. The first and second mating surfaces 230 and 232 may meet each other upon assembly of the housing 100 at the common plane to define a nearly continuous enclosure around the reel assembly 120 and the self-retraction assembly 130 within the receiving opening 220.

[0035] Screw bosses 240 may be incorporated into the first and second case halves 112 and 114 to enable fasteners (e.g., screws) to be threaded therein to hold the first case half 112 and the second case half 114 together. In this regard, the first and second mating surfaces 230 and 232 may substantially mirror each other, and the screw bosses 240 may be positioned to also mirror each other so that any portion of one of the screw bosses 240 that lies in the first case half 112 will align with a corresponding portion of one of the screw bosses 240 that lies in the second case half 114 when the first and second mating surfaces 230 and 232 are mated together.

[0036] The screw bosses 240 may be mounting features that are formed as substantially hollow cylindrical structures configured to receive a screw in the internally hollow portion thereof. Although the outer shape of the screw bosses 240 need not necessarily be perfectly cylindrical, a general cylindrically shaped structure may be formed (e.g., during molding) of the base material (e.g., resin, plastic, polymers, or other rigid materials such as, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)) used to form the first and second case halves 112 and 114. The screw bosses 240 could be threaded. However, in an example embodiment, the screw bosses 240 may be initially be formed without any threads therein, and a thread forming fastener 300 (see FIG. 9) may be used to form threads in the screw bosses 240 when the thread forming fastener 300 is inserted therein.

[0037] The screw bosses 240 may be formed to have a diameter (DB) that is substantially the same for each screw boss 240 and portion thereof. Moreover, the diameter (DB) of the screw bosses 240 may be optimized as a function of the defining diameter (D), as a function of the cross sectional area enclosed by the meeting of the first and second mating surfaces 230 and 232 and / or as a function of the diameter (DF) of the thread forming fastener 300 (see FIG. 9). In this regard, for example, the diameter (DB) of the screw bosses 240 may be about double (e.g., from 1 ,5x to 2.5x) the diameter (DF) of the thread forming fastener 300. In this example, if the diameter (DF) of the thread forming fastener 300 is 0.125 inches, the diameter (DB) of the screw bosses 240 may be about 0.25 inches.

[0038] Additionally or alternatively, the diameter (DB) of the screw bosses 240 may be structured to occupy about 2.4% (e.g., from 2% to 3%) of the cross sectional area enclosed by the meeting of the first and second mating surfaces 230 and 232. Thus, for this example in which the diameter (DB) of the screw bosses 240 is about 0.25 inches, the cross sectional area enclosed by the meeting of the first and second mating surfaces 230 and 232 (e.g., the area enclosed , normal to the centerline of the case, as a line drawn around the perimeter of the case at the meeting of the first and second case halves 112 and 114, substrate and over-mold included) may be about 8.14 square inches.

[0039] Additionally or alternatively, the diameter (DB) of the screw bosses 240 may be structured to have a ratio to the defining diameter (D) of about 8.3% (e.g., from about 7.8% to about 8.8%). It is generally advantageous to maximize each of the relationships discussed above while still maintaining good clearance for proper operation of the reel assembly 120. Thus, for example, the relationships discussed above are selected to be as large as they can be while still keeping the housing 110 as small and light as it can be while still enabling the reel assembly 120 and the self-retraction assembly 130 to operate properly. The particular relationships identified above can be followed for any size of measuring tape device 100 in order to give optimal balance between minimizing weight and size, while maximizing strength and durability.

[0040] As perhaps best seen in FIG. 8, one or both of the first and second case halves 112 and 114 may include mating features that extend from and are received within corresponding portions of the first and second case halves 112 and 114. The mating features may include protruding members that extend perpendicularly away from a respective one of the first and second mating surfaces 230 and 232 and corresponding receiving slots that are shaped to receive respective ones of the protruding members. Some of the protruding members (e.g., case alignment protruding members 260) may be formed to correspond to edges of the sidewalls 210 or 212 and / or edges defining the receiving opening 220. Others of the protruding members (e.g., boss alignment protruding members 270) may be formed to facilitate alignment of the screw bosses 240 when the first and second case halves 112 and 114 are joined together. As used herein, the term “protruding members” can therefore be understood to refer to either or both of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the boss alignment protruding members 270. Also, as used herein, the term “receiving slots” can therefore be understood to refer to either or both of the case alignment receiving slots 262 and the boss alignment receiving slots 272.

[0041] In this example, the first case half 112 and the second case half 114 may each include case alignment protruding members 260, and case alignment receiving slots 262. However, in some other cases, all or some of the case alignment protruding members 260 could extend from the same case half into respective instances of the receiving slots positioned at the other case half. Also in this example, the first case half 112 may include each of the boss alignment protrusion members 270 and the second case half 114 may include each of the boss alignment receiving slots 272. However, in some other cases, the first case half 112 and the second case half 114 may each include boss alignment protruding members 270, and boss alignment receiving slots 272. In an example embodiment, the boss alignment protruding members 270 may be disposed at each of the screw bosses 240. In some cases, the boss alignment protruding members 270 may be disposed only on the first case half 112, and the boss alignment receiving slots 272 may be disposed only on the second case half 114.

[0042] FIGS. 10-12 illustrate various different views of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 in isolation in order to facilitate a discussion of the optimization of the housing 110 construction in accordance with an example embodiment. As mentioned above, in some example embodiments, the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may have a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional shape. In other words, the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may have a dovetail shape that may improve the strength of the operable coupling of the case alignment protruding members 260 to the case alignment receiving slots 262. By improving the strength of the operable coupling of the case alignment protruding members 260 to the case alignment receiving slots 262, the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may therefore improve the ability of the housing 110 to resist separation and sliding of the first and second case halves 112 and 114 in response to impact.

[0043] The shape of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may be substantially trapezoidal in that the cross section does not resemble a “perfect” trapezoid. In this regard, a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the radially outer surface of the case alignment receiving slots 262 (note the case alignment receiving slots 262 may not include a radially inner surface in some cases) may be arcuate to maintain the curvature of the receiving opening 220 around which a majority of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may be circumferentially disposed. The side surfaces of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 that extend between the radially outer and radially inner surfaces may thus extend at an angle such that the side surfaces are not perpendicular to either of the radially outer and radially inner surfaces. In this example, the side surfaces may extend such that they flare outward as they extend from the radially inner surface to the radially outer surface of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262. This shape of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may better lock the case alignment protruding members 260 into respective ones of the case alignment receiving slots 262 by reducing the likelihood of the case alignment protruding member 260 exiting the case alignment receiving slot 262 in a radially inward direction (e.g. towards the reel assembly 120).

[0044] In an example embodiment, the first case half and the second case half may each include at least one of the case alignment protruding members 260 and at least one of the case alignment receiving slots 262. In some cases, the housing 110 as a whole may include six total pairs of case alignment protruding members 260 and corresponding ones of the case alignment receiving slots 262. In an example embodiment, the first case half 112 may include two case alignment protruding members 260 and four case alignment receiving slots 262 while the second case half 114 may include four case alignment protruding members 260 and two case alignment receiving slots 262 placed in corresponding positions to their respective counterparts on the first case half 114 so that the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may engage one another when the first and second case halves 112 and 114 may be joined together. In some other cases, the first case half 112 may include three case alignment protruding members 260 and three case alignment receiving slots 262 while the second case half 114 may also include three case alignment protruding members 260 and three case alignment receiving slots 262. In other example embodiments, the total number of the case alignment protruding members 260 and case alignment receiving slots 262 may be more or less than the six described herein. Additionally, the distribution of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 on each of the first and second case halves 112 and 114 may vary as well.

[0045] In some cases, in order to have ample space to alter the shape of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 to the substantially trapezoidal shape, the thickness of the walls (i.e. end walls 200, 202 and sidewalls 210, 212) may be increased relative to the housing 110 on most measuring tape devices 100. Specifically, the substrate thickness may be about three millimeters thick and the overmold may be about two millimeters thick. This may be an increase of about 33% for the substrate and of about 14% for the overmold. The increased thickness of the end walls 200 and 202 and the sidewalls 210 and 212 may also give the housing 110 additional resistance to separation and sliding responsive to impacts.

[0046] In any case, the case alignment protruding members 260 of the first case half 112 may be inserted into the case alignment receiving slots 262 of the second case half 114 responsive to the first case half 112 operably coupling to the second case half 114. Similarly, the case alignment protruding members 260 of the second case half 114 may be inserted into the case alignment receiving slots 262 of the first case half 112 responsive to the first case half 112 operably coupling to the second case half 114.

[0047] As mentioned briefly above, and seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, a majority of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may be disposed circumferentially around a perimeter of the receiving opening 220 of the measuring tape device 100. In fact, in this example, five out of the six pairs of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may be disposed around the perimeter of the receiving opening 220. In some cases, at least one case alignment protruding member 260 and at least one case alignment receiving slot 262 may be disposed proximate to the aperture 150, radially further away from the reel assembly 120 than the majority of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262. In some example embodiments, the only mating features that the housing 100 may include may be the single case alignment protruding member 260 and corresponding case alignment receiving slot 262 disposed proximate to the aperture 150. Having the at least one case alignment protruding member 260 and at least one case alignment receiving slot 262 disposed proximate to the aperture 150, specifically at a bottom of the housing 110, may also improve the lock performance of the measuring tape device 100. This may be because of the added rigidity provided to the housing 110 by the at least one case alignment protruding member 260 and at least one case alignment receiving slot 262 disposed proximate to the aperture 150 may increase the effectiveness of the lock button action. This overall distribution and placement of the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 may ensure that the first and second case halves 112 and 114 of the housing 110 have the best chance at resisting any separation responsive to impact or an impact event. Additionally, another benefit that may be provided by the case alignment protruding members 260 and the case alignment receiving slots 262 is that they may make the housing 110 more resistant to sliding along the plane of the mating faces 230 and 232. As also seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, the first case half 112 and the second case half 114 may each include one case alignment protruding member 260 and one case alignment receiving slot 262 disposed proximate to each other on opposing sides of a horizontal axis 280. Similarly, the first case half 112 and the second case half 114 may each include one case alignment protruding member 260 and one case alignment receiving slot 262 disposed proximate to each other on opposing sides of a vertical axis 290.

[0048] In an example embodiment, a measuring tape device is provided. The measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, and a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly. The housing may include a first case half and a second case half. The reel assembly may be configured to alternately allow the blade to be withdrawn from the reel assembly through the aperture or received in the aperture onto the reel assembly. The first case half and the second case half may be joined together via threaded fasteners inserted into respective portions of screw bosses formed in corresponding portions of the first and second case halves. Mating features may be provided on the first and second case halves to facilitate joining the first and second case halves. The mating features may include case alignment protruding members, boss alignment protruding members, case alignment receiving slots and boss alignment receiving slots. The case alignment protruding members and the case alignment receiving slots may include a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional shape.

[0049] In some embodiments, the features of the device described above may be augmented or modified, or additional features may be added. These augmentations, modifications and additions may be optional and may be provided in any combination. Thus, although some example modifications, augmentations and additions are listed below, it should be appreciated that any of the modifications, augmentations and additions could be implemented individually or in combination with one or more, or even all of the other modifications, augmentations and additions that are listed. As such, for example, the first case half and the second case half may each include at least one of the case alignment protruding members and at least one of the case alignment receiving slots. In some cases, the case alignment protruding members of the first case half may be inserted into the case alignment receiving slots of the second case half responsive to the first case half operably coupling to the second case half. In an example embodiment, the case alignment protruding members of the second case half may be inserted into the case alignment receiving slots of the first case half responsive to the first case half operably coupling to the second case half. In some cases, a majority of the case alignment protruding members and the case alignment receiving slots may be disposed circumferentially around a perimeter of a receiving opening of the measuring tape device. In an example embodiment, at least one case alignment protruding member and at least one case alignment receiving slot may be disposed proximate to the aperture. In some cases, the first case half and the second case half may each include one case alignment protruding member and one case alignment receiving slot that may be disposed proximate to each other on opposing sides of a horizontal axis. In an example embodiment, the first case half and the second case half may each include one case alignment protruding member and one case alignment receiving slot that may be disposed proximate to each other on opposing sides of a vertical axis. In some cases, the boss alignment protruding members may be disposed at each of the screw bosses. In an example embodiment, the boss alignment protruding members may be disposed only on the first case half. In some cases, the boss alignment receiving slots may be disposed only on the second case half.

[0050] In another example embodiment, a housing for a measuring tape device is provided. The housing may include a first case half, a second case half, and an aperture through which a blade of the tape measure device may extend. The first case half and the second case half may be joined together via threaded fasteners inserted into respective portions of screw bosses formed in corresponding portions of the first and second case halves. Mating features may be provided on the first and second case halves to facilitate joining the first and second case halves. The mating features may include case alignment protruding members, boss alignment protruding members, case alignment receiving slots and boss alignment receiving slots. The case alignment protruding members and the case alignment receiving slots may include a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional shape. Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and / or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and / or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. In cases where advantages, benefits or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be appreciated that such advantages, benefits and / or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily all example embodiments. Thus, any advantages, benefits or solutions described herein should not be thought of as being critical, required or essential to all embodiments or to that which is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED:

1. A measuring tape device comprising: a housing having an aperture, the housing comprising a first case half and a second case half; a reel assembly enclosed within the housing; and a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly; wherein the reel assembly is configured to alternately allow the blade to be withdrawn from the reel assembly through the aperture or received in the aperture onto the reel assembly, wherein the first case half and the second case half are joined together via threaded fasteners inserted into respective portions of screw bosses formed in corresponding portions of the first and second case halves, wherein mating features are provided on the first and second case halves to facilitate joining the first and second case halves, wherein the mating features comprise a case alignment protruding member, a boss alignment protruding member, a case alignment receiving slot and a boss alignment receiving slot, and wherein the case alignment protruding member and the case alignment receiving slot have a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional shape.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first case half and the second case half each comprise at least one case alignment protruding member and at least one case alignment receiving slot.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the case alignment protruding member of the first case half is inserted into the case alignment receiving slot of the second case half responsive to the first case half operably coupling to the second case half.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the case alignment protruding member of the second case half is inserted into the case alignment receiving slot of the first case half responsive to the first case half operably coupling to the second case half.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of case alignment protruding members and case alignment receiving slots are disposed circumferentially around a perimeter of a receiving opening of the measuring tape device.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein at least one case alignment protruding member and at least one case alignment receiving slot are disposed proximate to the aperture and away from the perimeter of the receiving opening.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first case half and the second case half each comprise one case alignment protruding member and one case alignment receiving slot disposed proximate to each other on opposing sides of a horizontal axis.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first case half and the second case half each comprise one case alignment protruding member and one case alignment receiving slot disposed proximate to each other on opposing sides of a vertical axis.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the boss alignment protruding member is disposed at each screw boss.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the boss alignment protruding member is disposed only on the first case half.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the boss alignment receiving slot is disposed only on the second case half.

13. A housing for a measuring tape device, the housing comprising: a first case half; a second case half; and an aperture through which a blade of the measuring tape device extends, wherein the first case half and the second case half are joined together via threaded fasteners inserted into respective portions of screw bosses formed in corresponding portions of the first and second case halves, wherein mating features are provided on the first and second case halves to facilitate joining the first and second case halves,wherein the mating features comprise case alignment protruding members, boss alignment protruding members, case alignment receiving slots and boss alignment receiving slots, and wherein the case alignment protruding members and the case alignment receiving slots have a substantially trapezoidal cross sectional shape.

14. The housing of claim 13, wherein the first case half and the second case half each comprise at least one of the case alignment protruding members and at least one of the case alignment receiving slots.

15. The housing of claim 14, wherein the case alignment protruding members of the first case half are inserted into the case alignment receiving slots of the second case half, and the case alignment protruding members of the second case half are inserted into the case alignment receiving slots of the first case half, responsive to the first case half operably coupling to the second case half.

16. The housing of claim 13, wherein a majority of the case alignment protruding members and the case alignment receiving slots are disposed circumferentially around a perimeter of a receiving opening of the measuring tape device, and wherein at least one case alignment protruding member and at least one case alignment receiving slot are disposed proximate to the aperture.

17. The housing of claim 13, wherein the first case half and the second case half each comprise one case alignment protruding member and one case alignment receiving slot disposed proximate to each other on opposing sides of a horizontal axis, and18. The housing of claim 13, wherein the first case half and the second case half each comprise one case alignment protruding member and one case alignment receiving slot disposed proximate to each other on opposing sides of a vertical axis.

19. The housing of claim 13, wherein the boss alignment protruding members are disposed at each of the screw bosses.

20. The housing of claim 19, wherein the boss alignment protruding members are disposed only on the first case half, andwherein the boss alignment receiving slots are disposed only on the second case half.

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