TAPE MEASURE
A tape measure has a housing and a blade retractably mounted in the housing such that an end of the blade may be extended from the housing. The blade may have a profile with a sinusoidal shape. A reinforcement member may be attached to the blade over a length of the blade. The sinusoidal shape or the reinforcement member extends from the end of the blade for a predetermined distance. The sinusoidal shape or the reinforcement member may be provided from a point along the blade spaced from the end of the blade and a second point along the length of the blade.
1 . A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a blade retractably mounted in the housing such that an end of the blade may be extended from the housing;
the blade having a profile with a wave shape.
2 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the wave shape comprises a peak located adjacent each of a longitudinal edge of the blade and a trough located between the peaks.
3 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the peaks are formed slightly toward a centerline of the blade from the longitudinal edges such that the blade dips toward a trough from the peaks to the longitudinal edges.
4 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the trough is located midway between the two peaks.
5 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the profile is a smooth sinusoidal curve where the blade transitions smoothly from the peaks to the trough.
6 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the blade has a width of approximately one inch.
7 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the profile of the blade has an area in the range of approximately 0.006-0.007 in 2 .
8 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the blade is approximately 0.005-0.006 inches.
9 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the overall height of the blade between the peaks and the trough is in the range of approximately 0.2 to 0.3 inches.
10 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the transition between the peaks and the trough is a neutral horizontal axis of the blade and is positioned a distance approximately 0.103-0.143 inches from a top of the peaks.
11 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the second moment of the area is in the range of approximately 0.0000407 to 0.00006 in 4 .
12 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the neutral axis is approximately 40-50% of the height from a top of the peaks.
13 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the wave profile extends from the end of the blade for a length equal to or greater than a desired standout of the blade.
14 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the wave profile extends from the end of the blade for at least 12 feet.
15 . The tape measure of claim 1 wherein the wave profile is provided from a point along the blade spaced from the end of the blade and a second point along the length of the blade.
16 . A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a blade retractably mounted in the housing such that an end of the blade may be extended from the housing;
a sleeve over the blade.
17 . The tape measure of claim 16 wherein the sleeve is made of a transparent material.
18 . The tape measure of claim 16 wherein the sleeve is made of nylon.
19 . A tape measure comprising:
a housing;
a blade retractably mounted in the housing such that an end of the blade may be extended from the housing;
a reinforcement member attached to the blade over a length of the blade.
20 . The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member extends from the end of the blade for a length equal to or greater than a desired standout of the blade.
21 . The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member extends from the end of the blade for at least 12 feet.
22 . The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member is provided from a point along the blade spaced from the end of the blade and a second point along the length of the blade.
23 . The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the blade has a profile and the reinforcement member has a complimentary profile over at least a portion of a width of the blade.
24 . The tape measure of claim 19 wherein a dimension of the reinforcement member varies over the length of the blade.
25 . The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member is attached to the blade using a plastic sleeve.
26 . The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member is attached to the blade using a nylon sleeve.
27 . The tape measure of claim 19 wherein the reinforcement member abuts against a surface of the blade along the entire length and width of the reinforcement member.