IP Library Granted Patent US 11,898,839
Granted Patent B2
US 11,898,839 · App. 17/800,962 · Granted Feb 13, 2024

Measuring tape with improved roll-over prevention

Inventors: Kai Zhang (Charlotte, NC); Charles Wang (Charlotte, NC)
Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
G01B3/1056G01B3/1071G01B2003/1076
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,898,839
App. No.
17/800,962
Granted
Feb 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A measuring assembly for a measuring tape device may include a blade, an end hook and an anti-rollover attachment. The blade may include a first end configured to extend from an aperture in a housing of the measuring tape device and a second end configured to be wound on a reel assembly. The end hook may be disposed at the first end of the blade to engage an object for measurement, and may extend substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the blade to extend away from an underside of the blade. The anti-rollover attachment may be disposed proximate to the end hook at the first end of the blade such that a center of gravity of the anti-rollover attachment is spaced apart from the underside of the blade. A combined weight of the end hook and the anti-rollover attachment may be in a range between about 10 grams and about 55 grams.

Claims (37)

1. A measuring tape device comprising:

a housing having an aperture;

a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, the reel assembly being configured to alternately allow the blade to be withdrawn from the reel assembly through the aperture or received in the aperture onto the reel assembly;

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;

an end hook disposed at the first end of the blade to engage an object for measurement, the end hook extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the blade to extend away from an underside of the blade; and

an anti-rollover attachment is operably coupled to the end hook at the first end of the blade such that a center of gravity of the anti-rollover attachment is disposed proximate to the end hook and lower than the underside of the blade,

wherein a combined weight of the end hook and the anti-rollover attachment is in a range between about 10 grams and about 55 grams.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the end hook comprises a front face facing away from the measuring tape device in a direction of extension of the blade and a rear face facing toward the measuring tape device opposite the direction of extension of the blade, and

wherein the anti-rollover attachment is operably coupled to the front face of the end hook.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment has a weight of between about 15 grams and about 50 grams.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is removable from the end hook.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment comprises a magnetic material configured to enable the magnetic material to adhere the anti-rollover attachment to the front face of the end hook.

6. The device of claim 2 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is permanently affixed to the front face of the end hook.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is operably coupled to the underside of the blade proximate to a rear face of the end hook.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is removable from the underside of the blade.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment comprises a magnetic material configured to enable the magnetic material to adhere the anti-rollover attachment to the front face of the end hook.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is permanently affixed to the underside of the blade.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a pocket forming a receiving space,

wherein the anti-rollover attachment is removable, and

wherein when the anti-rollover attachment is removed from the first end of the blade, the anti-rollover attachment is configured to be inserted into the receiving space for retention by the pocket.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the combined weight of the end hook and the anti-rollover attachment to blade extension at 4 feet is greater than 31%.

13. A measuring assembly for a measuring tape device, the assembly comprising:

a blade having a first end configured to extend from an aperture in a housing of the measuring tape device and a second end configured to be wound on a reel assembly;

an end hook disposed at the first end of the blade to engage an object for measurement, the end hook extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the blade to extend away from an underside of the blade; and

an anti-rollover attachment is operably coupled to the end hook at the first end of the blade such that a center of gravity of the anti-rollover attachment is disposed proximate to the end hook and lower than the underside of the blade,

wherein a combined weight of the end hook and the anti-rollover attachment is in a range between about 10 grams and about 55 grams.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is operably coupled to a front face of the end hook, and

wherein the anti-rollover attachment comprises a magnetic material configured to enable the magnetic material to removably adhere the anti-rollover attachment to the front face of the end hook.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is permanently affixed to the front face of the end hook.

16. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is operably coupled to the underside of the blade proximate to a rear face of the end hook.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is removable from the underside of the blade.

18. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment comprises a magnetic material configured to enable the magnetic material to adhere the anti-rollover attachment to the front face of the end hook.

19. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the anti-rollover attachment is permanently affixed to the underside of the blade.

20. A measuring assembly for a measuring tape device, the assembly comprising:

a blade having a first end configured to extend from an aperture in a housing of the measuring tape device and a second end configured to be wound on a reel assembly; and

an end hook disposed at the first end of the blade to engage an object for measurement, the end hook extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the blade to extend away from an underside of the blade,

wherein a portion of the end hook that is disposed at the first end of the blade such that a center of gravity of the portion of the end hook is lower than the underside of the blade has a weight greater than about 15 grams.

Assignments (7)
NEW SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073377/0567 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NOS. 7444851 AND 11203070 WHICH WERE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORD PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073078/0477 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT NO. 11191173 WHICH WAS INCORRECTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 67310 FRAME 54. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS. Recorded Aug 22, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068791/0141 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NO. 16/672703 PAT. NO. 11191173 WAS INCORRCTLY INCLUDED AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE RECORDS. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 66631 FRAME: 791. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT. Recorded Jun 25, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 067884/0469 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 3, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.; APEX TOOL GROUP, LLC
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067310/0054 →
SUPER PRIORITY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: APEX BRANDS, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 066631/0791 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2022
From: ZHANG, KAI; WANG, CHARLES
To: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060963/0500 →