A tape measure includes a housing, a rule blade coilable within the housing, and an edge guide coupled to the housing. The edge guide may be oriented in either a first position, in which the edge guide contacts the edge of a work surface, or a second position, in which the edge guide does not contac
A tape measure includes a housing, a rule blade coilable within the housing, and an edge guide coupled to the housing. The edge guide may be oriented in either a first position, in which the edge guide contacts the edge of a work surface, or a second position, in which the edge guide does not contact the edge of the work surface. The edge guide may be permanently or releasably connected to the housing. The tape measure may further include a laser assembly that generates a laser line intersecting the rule blade and the work surface and a calibration mechanism to adjust the alignment of the laser line. In use, the edge guide may orient the tape measure on the work surface such that the laser line is generally perpendicular to the work surface edge.
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We claim: 1. A measuring device disposable on a work surface including an edge, the measuring device comprising: a housing including a top side, a bottom side, a first side and a second side; a rule blade adapted to extend from the housing, wherein: the rule blade is disposed between the first and
We claim: 1. A measuring device disposable on a work surface including an edge, the measuring device comprising: a housing including a top side, a bottom side, a first side and a second side; a rule blade adapted to extend from the housing, wherein: the rule blade is disposed between the first and second sides, and the rule blade extends along a plane parallel to the top and bottom sides; and an edge guide operable to selectively contact the edge of the work surface, wherein: the edge guide comprises a bracket pivotally coupled to either the first housing side or the second housing side, and the edge guide is repositionable with respect to the housing from a first, storage position to a second, deployed position and vice versa. 2. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured to selectively rotate from the first, storage position, in which the bracket does not contact the edge of the work surface, to the second, deployed position, in which the bracket contacts the edge of the work surface. 3. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a first flange coupled to the housing via a shaft. 4. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a first flange pivotally coupled to the first housing side and a second flange pivotally coupled to the second housing side. 5. The measuring device of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second flanges is configured to selectively rotate from the first, storage position, in which the flange does not contact the edge of the work surface, to the second, deployed position, in which the flange contacts the edge of the work surface. 6. A measuring device disposable on a work surface including an edge, the measuring device comprising: a housing including a top side, a bottom side, a first side and a second side, wherein the first housing side and the second housing side each includes a slot; and a rule blade disposed between the first and second sides, the rule blade operable to extend from the housing along a plane generally parallel to the top and bottom sides; and an edge guide adapted to contact the edge of the work surface, wherein: the edge guide is repositionable with respect to the housing from a first, storage position to a second, deployed position and vice versa, and the edge guide comprises a bracket having: a generally vertical portion including a first surface and a second surface; and a generally horizontal portion extending from the first surface of the vertical portion, wherein the generally horizontal portion is configured to releasably mate with each of the slots formed in the first housing side and the second housing side. 7. The measuring device of claim 6, wherein: in the first, storage position the bracket does not contact the edge of the work surface, and in the second, deployed position the bracket contacts the edge of the work surface. 8. A measuring device disposable on a work surface including an edge, the measuring device comprising: a housing including a top side, a bottom side, a first side, and a second side; a rule blade operable to extend from the housing, wherein: the rule blade is disposed between the first and second sides, and the rule blade extends along a plane generally parallel to the top and bottom sides; and an edge guide operable to contact the edge of the work surface, wherein the edge guide comprises an extensible portion formed into the first housing side or the second housing side, the extensible portion repositionable from a first, storage position, in which the extensible portion does not contact the edge of the work surface, to a second, deployed position, in which the extensible portion contacts the edge of the work surface. 9. The measuring device of claim 8, wherein the extensible portion extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the rule blade. 10. The measuring device of claim 8, wherein: in the storage configuration, the extensible member is generally flush with the bottom housing side; and in the deployed configuration, the extensible member extends beyond the bottom housing side. 11. The measuring device of claim 8, wherein the extensible member comprises a panel configured to slide along one or more rails. 12. A method of orienting a measuring device on a work surface including a work surface edge, the method comprising: (a) disposing a measuring device on a work surface, the measuring device comprising: a housing including a top side, a bottom side, a first side and a second side, a rule blade adapted to extend from the housing, wherein: the rule blade is disposed between the first and second sides, and the rule blade extends along a plane generally parallel to the top and bottom sides, and an edge guide adapted to contact the edge of the work surface comprising a first portion pivotally coupled to either the first housing side or the second housing side, wherein the edge guide is repositionable with respect to the housing from a first, storage position to a second, deployed position and vice versa; and (b) rotating the first portion from a first, storage position, in which the portion is configured to not contact the edge of the work surface, to a second, deployed position, in which the portion is configured to contact the edge of the work surface. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein: the first portion is pivotally coupled to the first housing side; the edge guide further comprises a second portion pivotally coupled to the second housing side; and (b) further comprises (b.1) selectively rotating at least one of the first portion and the second portion from a first, storage position, in which the selected portion is configured to not contact the edge of the work surface, to a second, deployed position, in which the selected portion is configured to contact the edge of the work surface. 14. A method of orienting a measuring device on a work surface including a work surface edge, the method comprising: (a) disposing a measuring device on a work surface, the measuring device comprising: a housing including a top side, a bottom side, a first side and a second side, a rule blade adapted to extend from the housing, wherein: the rule blade is disposed between the first and second sides, and the rule blade extends along a plane generally parallel to the top and bottom sides, and an edge guide comprising an extensible portion configured to extend along an axis perpendicular to the rule blade the extensible portion repositionable from a first, storage position to a second, deployed position; and (b) moving the extensible portion from the first storage position, in which the portion is configured to not contact the edge of the work surface, to the second, deployed position, in which the extensible portion is configured to contact the edge of the work surface. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein: in the first, storage position, the extensible portion is generally flush with the bottom side, and in the second, deployed position, the extensible portion extends beyond the bottom side. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the extensible portion comprises a panel slidingly coupled to at least one rail and (b) comprises (b.1) sliding the extensible portion from the first, storage position, to the second, deployed position. 17. A method of aligning a measuring device comprising: (a) providing a tape measure including: a housing; a rule blade adapted to extend from the housing, the rule blade including a blade surface extending between a first blade edge and a second blade edge, and indicia on the blade surface, the indicia configured for making a measurement; an edge guide adapted to contact the edge of the work surface, wherein the edge guide is repositionable with respect to the housing from a first edge guide position to a second edge guide position and vice versa, and a light generator operable to emit a light plane extending from a point located on the blade surface to a point located beyond at least one of the first blade edge and the second blade edge; (b) disposing the measuring device on a work surface including an edge; (c) orienting the edge guide to contact the work surface edge and position the rule blade generally parallel with the work surface edge; (d) activating the light generator to emit the light plane such that the light plane is oriented generally perpendicular to each of the rule blade and the work surface edge; and (e) directing the light plane to align the indicia on the blade surface with the point located beyond at least one of the first blade edge and the second blade edge. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein measuring device further includes a calibration mechanism and the method further comprises step (e) calibrating the light plane to reorient the plane with respect to the rule blade and the work surface edge. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the calibration mechanism includes a ramp with an angled surface and a screw that engages the ramp, and step (e) comprises (e.1) adjusting the screw to reorient the plane with respect to the rule blade and the work surface. 20. A measuring device comprising: a housing; a rule blade adapted to extend from the housing, the rule blade including: a blade surface extending between a first blade edge and a second blade edge, and indicia on the blade surface configured for making a measurement; a laser assembly operable to emit a light plane extending from a point located on the blade surface to a point located beyond the first blade edge or the second blade edge; and a reorientation mechanism operable to pivot the laser assembly from a first laser assembly position, in which the light plane extends from the point on the blade surface to the point beyond the first blade edge, to a second laser assembly position, in which the light plane extends from the point on the blade surface to the point beyond the second blade edge, wherein the light plane is configured to align the indicia on the blade surface with the point located beyond the first blade edge or the second blade edge. 21. The measuring device of claim 20, wherein the laser assembly comprises: a laser barrel configured to generate a beam of laser light; a line generating lens adapted to diffract the beam of laser light into the light plane; and a mirror configured to reflect a portion of the laser plane toward the rule blade. 22. The measuring device of claim 20, wherein the reorientation mechanism comprises a post extending from the laser assembly and a spring configured to engage the post and bias the laser assembly in either the first laser assembly position or the second laser assembly position. 23. The measuring device of claim 20 further comprising a calibration mechanism to operable to align of the light plane with respect to the rule blade. 24. The measuring device of claim 23, wherein the calibration mechanism comprises an adjustable portion configured to selectively engage the laser assembly and permit the partial rotation of the laser assembly about its axis.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (79)
Jan Der-Shyang,TWX ; Chen Tony Kuo-Ti,TWX, 3D laser leveler.
Bickford Dudley V. (Chester CT) Cofek Henry R. (Groton MA) Robinson Hugh (Wenham MA) Wilder Bruce A. (Clinton CT), Coilable tape rule with improved connection between spring and blade.
Hastings Michael R. (25 Dole Rd. Gill MA 01376) Remillard John E. (Box 271 Bernardston MA 01337), Combination tape measure and straight edge apparatus.
McKnight Fred H. (2085 Lincolnshire Dr. Marrero LA 70072), Lighted and magnetized tape measure with combination marker and clothing-attachment arm member.
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