Measuring tape with variable mass along tape length
View Patent ↗A method of producing a measuring tape may include providing a tape measure blade having a first end configured to extend from a housing and a second end configured to be wound on a reel assembly, defining a first non-critical region from the first end to a start of a critical region, defining a second non-critical region from the second end to an end of the critical region, and modifying a mass per unit length of a portion of the blade such that a mass per unit length of the first and second non-critical regions is less than a mass per unit length of the critical region.
1. A method of producing a measuring tape, the method comprising:
providing a tape measure blade having a first end configured to extend from a housing and a second end configured to be wound on a reel assembly;
defining a first non-critical region from the first end to a start of a critical region;
defining a second non-critical region from the second end to an end of the critical region; and
modifying a mass per unit length of a portion of the blade such that a mass per unit length of the first and second non-critical regions is less than a mass per unit length of the critical region,
wherein the first and second non-critical regions include cutouts formed in the blade to reduce the mass per unit length in the first and second non-critical regions.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutouts are evenly or variably spaced apart over the first and second non-critical regions.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the mass per unit length of the portion of the blade comprises increasing the mass per unit length in the critical region.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein increasing the mass per unit length in the critical region comprises increasing a thickness of the blade in the critical region relative to a thickness of the blade in the first and second non-critical regions.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein increasing the mass per unit length in the critical region comprises adding thickness to the blade in the critical region such that a thickness of the blade increases as distance from the first end increases.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein increasing the mass per unit length in the critical region comprises defining a reinforced portion of the blade in the critical region.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the reinforced portion has a uniform thickness in a transverse direction across the blade.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the reinforced portion has a non-uniform thickness in a transverse direction across the blade.
9. A measuring tape device comprising:
a housing having an aperture;
a reel assembly; 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 blade comprises a first non-critical region from the first end to a start of a critical region, and a second non-critical region extending from the second end to an end of the critical region,
wherein a mass per unit length of a portion of the blade is modified such that a mass per unit length of the first and second non-critical regions is less than a mass per unit length of the critical region, and
wherein the first and second non-critical regions include cutouts formed in the blade to reduce the mass per unit length in the first and second non-critical regions.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the cutouts are evenly or non-uniformly spaced apart over the first and second non-critical regions.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the mass per unit length of the critical region is increased relative to the mass per unit length in the first and second non-critical regions.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein a thickness of the blade in the critical region is increased relative to a thickness of the blade in the first and second non-critical regions.
13. The device of claim 11 , wherein thickness is added to the blade in the critical region such that a thickness of the blade increases as distance from the first end increases within the critical region.
14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the critical region comprises a reinforced portion of the blade.
15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the reinforced portion has a uniform thickness in a transverse direction across the blade.
16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the reinforced portion has a non-uniform thickness in a transverse direction across the blade.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein a density of the cutouts increases as distance from the first end decreases in the first non-critical region.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein a density of the cutouts is constant over an entirety of the first non-critical region.
19. The device of claim 9 , wherein a density of the cutouts increases as distance from the first end decreases in the first non-critical region.
20. The device of claim 9 , wherein a density of the cutouts is constant over an entirety of the first non-critical region.