IP Library Granted Patent US 11,913,779
Granted Patent B2
US 11,913,779 · App. 17/829,663 · Granted Feb 27, 2024

Measuring tape with transverse locating aperture

Inventors: Adam Day (Apex, NC); Jonathan Beckwith (Charlotte, NC); Adam Baxter (Apex, NC); Vlad Petru Patrangenaru (Ellicott City, MD)
Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
G01B3/1071B25H7/04G01B3/1041G01B3/1056G01B3/1089
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,913,779
App. No.
17/829,663
Granted
Feb 27, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly defining an axis, 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, and a transverse aperture extending through the housing in a direction substantially parallel to the axis.

Claims (31)

1. A measuring tape device comprising:

a housing having a blade aperture;

a reel assembly defining an axis;

a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the blade aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly; and

a transverse aperture disposed in a heel portion of the housing and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis;

wherein the transverse aperture comprises an externally accessible open passageway through the housing.

2. The measuring tape device of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the blade, the blade aperture, and an axis of the transverse aperture are substantially coplanar to facilitate taking linear measurements from the transverse aperture to the first end of the blade.

3. The measuring tape device of claim 1 , wherein the transverse aperture is configured to receive a fastener that passes through the transverse aperture to pivotally secure the measuring tape device to a surface into which the fastener is secured.

4. The measuring tape device of claim 3 , wherein a diameter of the transverse aperture is configured to be larger than a diameter of the fastener and a head of the fastener such that the device is alternately capable of hanging on the fastener and being removed therefrom.

5. The measuring tape device of claim 3 , wherein a diameter of the transverse aperture is configured to be larger than a diameter of the fastener and smaller than a diameter of a head of the fastener.

6. The measuring tape device of claim 1 , wherein an end hook is affixed to the first end of the blade and the end hook is configured to secure a marking device thereto for marking measurements.

7. The measuring tape device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion.

8. The measuring tape device of claim 7 , wherein the transverse aperture comprises a first hole post extending from the first housing portion and a second hole post extending from the second housing portion;

wherein the first hole post and the second hole post meet at a joint.

9. The measuring tape device of claim 8 , wherein a first beveled outer edge is disposed on the first hole post at an end thereof that is opposite the joint, and

wherein a second beveled outer edge is disposed on the second hole post at an end thereof that is opposite the joint.

10. The measuring tape device of claim 8 , wherein a sleeve is disposed around the joint to facilitate holding the first and second hole posts together.

11. The measuring tape device of claim 8 , wherein the joint comprises a mechanical press fit, a threaded interface, a swaged interface, or a crimped interface.

12. The measuring tape device of claim 8 , wherein the first hole post and the second hole post are joined together at the joint via a bonding agent or adhesive.

13. The measuring tape device of claim 1 , wherein the transverse aperture is disposed, at least partially, within a post.

14. The measuring tape device of claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises at least one slot disposed in the heel portion to enable a lanyard to be passed through the slot to be secured to the post.

15. The measuring tape device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a slot disposed in the heel portion extending parallel to the axis to enable a lanyard to be passed through the slot to engage the transverse aperture.

16. The measuring tape device of claim 15 , wherein the slot is disposed at a back wall of the heel portion.

17. The measuring tape device of claim 15 , wherein the slot is disposed at a bottom wall of the heel portion.

18. A measuring tape device comprising:

a housing having an aperture;

a reel assembly defining an axis;

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; and

a transverse aperture comprising an externally accessible open passageway through the housing from a first external side of the housing to a second external side of the housing, the first external side of the housing being opposite the second external side of the housing.

19. The measuring tape of claim 18 , wherein the first end of the blade, the blade aperture, and an axis of the transverse aperture are substantially coplanar to facilitate taking linear measurements from the transverse aperture to the first end of the blade.

20. The measuring tape device of claim 19 , wherein the transverse aperture is configured to receive a fastener that passes through the transverse aperture to secure the device to a surface into which the fastener is secured.

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 Jun 1, 2022
From: DAY, ADAM; PATRANGENARU, VLAD PETRU; BECKWITH, JONATHAN; BAXTER, ADAM
To: APEX BRANDS, INC
Reel/Frame 060068/0805 →