U.S. patent application number 11/790295 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-30 for tape capable of automatically arresting.
This patent application is currently assigned to Top-Long Industrial Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ping-Lin Lin.
Application Number | 20080263885 11/790295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39885305 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080263885 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Ping-Lin |
October 30, 2008 |
TAPE CAPABLE OF AUTOMATICALLY ARRESTING
Abstract
A tape capable of automatically arresting is provided which
includes a casing, a gauge accommodated in the casing, arresting
members, and a button movably mounted on an end of the casing. A
notch is defined at an end of the casing. The gauge includes a reel
shaft and a scale strip spirally enlacing the reel shaft. Each
arresting member includes a rod, an abutting block on an end of the
rod and corresponding to a side of the reel shaft, and a resilient
portion around the rod. A button includes a pressing portion
received in the notch, and a rotating shaft corresponding to the
pressing portion. The rotating shaft includes a first arm and a
second arm in response to the abutting blocks of the arresting
members. In the event the scale strip of the gauge is pulled out,
the arresting members automatically limit movement of the scale
strip.
Inventors: |
Lin; Ping-Lin; (Sanchong
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROXELL LAW OFFICE PLLC
SUITE 1404, 5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
Top-Long Industrial Co.,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
39885305 |
Appl. No.: |
11/790295 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
33/767 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01B 3/1005 20130101;
G01B 3/1007 20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
33/767 |
International
Class: |
G01B 3/10 20060101
G01B003/10 |
Claims
1. A tape capable of automatically arresting, comprising: a casing
forming a central axis, and defining a notch at an end thereof and
a slot nearby the notch, activating grooves being respectively
defined in opposing inner surfaces of the casing, each activating
groove forming a slope therein; a gauge accommodated in the casing,
and including a reel shaft mounted on the central axis, and a scale
strip enlacing the reel shaft, the scale strip having an end
corresponding to the slot of the casing; arresting members
respectively received in the activating grooves of the casing, each
arresting member including a rod, an abutting block on an end of
the rod and corresponding to a side of the reel shaft, and a
resilient portion around the rod, the resilient portion having two
ends respectively abutting against the activating grooves and an
end of the abutting block; and a button movably mounted on an end
of the casing, and including a pressing portion received in the
notch, and a rotating shaft corresponding to the pressing portion,
the rotating shaft including a first arm in response to the
pressing portion, and a second arm in response to the abutting
blocks of the arresting members.
2. The tape capable of automatically arresting as claimed in claim
1, wherein the casing comprises a top cover and a bottom cover
assembled together, a top envelop layer enveloping the top cover,
and a bottom envelop layer enveloping the bottom cover.
3. The tape capable of automatically arresting as claimed in claim
1, wherein the abutting block of each arresting member forms an
interferential portion on a surface thereof for corresponding to
the reel shaft.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a tape capable of
automatically arresting, and particularly to a tape capable of
automatically arresting which automatically stops movement of a
gauge of the tape when the gauge is drawn out at a desired
length.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 5, a conventional tape essentially has a
casing 5 and a gauge 6 accommodated within the casing 5. The casing
5 forms an opening 51, and the gauge 6 has an end extendable
through the opening 51. A pushing button 7 is movably formed on the
casing 5 and corresponding to the opening 51. An arresting member 8
engages with the pushing button 7. Gears 71, 81 are respectively
provided on the arresting member 8 and the pushing button 7 for
meshing with each other.
[0005] For utilizing the tape, an end of the gauge 6 is pulled out
of the opening 51. The pushing button 7 is pushed downwardly when
the gauge 6 reaches a desired length. The gear 71 of the pushing
button 7 meshes with the gear 81 of the arresting member 8, and
drives the gear 81 to rotate. Thereafter the arresting member 8
biases against the gauge 6, whereby the gauge 6 is held at the
desired scale. In order to release the gauge 6, the pushing button
7 is pushed upwardly. The gear 71 of the pushing button 7 meshes
with the gear 81 of the arresting member 8, and drives the gear 81
to rotate reversely. The arresting member 8 deviates from the gauge
6, making the gauge 6 return freely.
[0006] The arresting member 8 usually biases against the gauge 6 to
hold the gauge 6 at a desired scale length. However, the pushing
button 7 and the arresting member 8 are both made of plastic
material. After a period of use, the gears 71, 81 tend to wear out,
and thus the gear 71 of the pushing button 7 is not able to
accurately mesh with the gear 81 of the arresting member 8.
Correspondingly, the pushing button 7 cannot bring the arresting
member 8 to rotate to reach a proper position for pressing the
gauge 6. The gauge 6 may draw back anticipatedly in the case of
stopping. Moreover, for the purpose of holding the gauge 6 at a
desired scale, the pushing button 7 has to move downwardly by a
user's finger. It is troublesome when the tape is being
employed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the above, an objective of the present invention
is directed towards a tape capable of automatically arresting which
holds a gauge of the tape when a scale strip of the gauge is pulled
out, thereby automatically limiting movement of the scale
strip.
[0008] The tape capable of automatically arresting according to the
present invention comprises a casing, a gauge accommodated in the
casing, arresting members, and a button. The casing has a central
axis through a center thereof. A notch is defined at an end of the
casing. A slot is defined nearby the notch. Activating grooves are
respectively defined in opposing inner surfaces of the casing and
beside the notch. Each activating groove forms a slope therein. The
gauge includes a reel shaft mounted on the central axis, and a
scale strip spirally enlacing the reel shaft. The scale strip has
an end corresponding to the slot of the casing. The arresting
members are respectively received in the activating grooves of the
casing. Each arresting member includes a rod, an abutting block on
an end of the rod and corresponding to a side of the reel shaft,
and a resilient portion around the rod. The resilient portion has
two ends respectively abutting against the activating grooves and
an end of the abutting block. The button is movably mounted on an
end of the casing, and includes a pressing portion and a rotating
shaft corresponding to the pressing portion. The pressing portion
is received in the notch. The rotating shaft includes a first arm
in response to the pressing portion, and a second arm in response
to the abutting blocks of the arresting members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape according to the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the tape of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view when the tape is being
used.
[0012] FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view when the tape is
being used.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional tape.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tape capable of
automatically arresting in accordance with the present invention
comprises a casing 1, a gauge 2 accommodated in the casing 1,
arresting members 3 and a button 4.
[0015] The casing 1 comprises a top cover 11 and a bottom cover 12
assembled together. A top envelop layer 111 envelops the top cover
11, and a bottom envelop layer 121 envelops the bottom cover 12.
The casing 1 has a central axis 13 transversely through a center
thereof. A notch 14 is defined at an end of the casing 1. A slot 15
is defined nearby the notch 14. Activating grooves 16 are
respectively defined in opposing inner surfaces of the casing 1.
Each activating groove 16 forms a slope 161 therein.
[0016] The gauge 2 includes a reel shaft 21 mounted on the central
axis 13, and a scale strip 22 spirally enlacing the reel shaft 21.
The reel shaft 21 has a gasket 211 in a center thereof. The scale
strip 22 forms an anchor 221 on an end thereof and extendable
outward beyond the slot 15 of the casing 1.
[0017] The arresting members 3 are respectively received in the
activating grooves 16 of the casing 1. Each arresting member 3
includes a rod 31, an abutting block 32 on an end of the rod 31 and
corresponding to a side of the reel shaft 21, and a resilient
portion 33 around the rod 31. The resilient portion 33 has two ends
respectively abutting against the activating grooves 16 and an end
of the abutting block 32. The abutting block 32 forms an
interferential portion 321 on a surface thereof for corresponding
to the reel shaft 21.
[0018] The button 4 is movably mounted on an end of the casing 1,
and includes a pressing portion 41 and a rotating shaft 42
corresponding to the pressing portion 41. The pressing portion 41
is received in the notch 14. The rotating shaft 41 includes a first
arm 421 and a second arm 422. The first arm 421 corresponds to the
pressing portion 41, and the second arm 422 corresponds to the
abutting blocks 32 of the arresting members 3.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in use, the anchor 221 that is
exposed beyond the slot 15 of the casing 1 is drawn out.
Correspondingly, the scale strip 22 is pulled out. The reel shaft
21 is brought to rotate, and drives the abutting blocks 32 of the
arresting members 3 to move along the slopes 161 of the activating
grooves 16. The resilient portions 33 are forced to shrink, thereby
allowing the scale strip 22 to be drawn out freely.
[0020] When the scale strip 22 is pulled out to a predetermined
position, the reel shaft 21 rotates reversely. Rewinding force of
the reel shaft 21 and returning force of the resilient portions 33
drive the abutting blocks 32 to move upwardly along the slopes 161
of the activating grooves 16. The abutting blocks 32 respectively
bias against the opposite sides of the reel shaft 21. Larger
rewinding force the reel shaft 21 produces, larger pressing force
the abutting blocks 32 generate to bias against the reel shaft 21.
In this manner, the reel shaft 21 is stopped, and a desired length
of the scale strip 22 is retained to be exposed out of the slot 15
of the casing 1.
[0021] In order to draw back the scale strip 22, the pressing
portion 41 of the button 4 is pressed. The first arm 421 of the
rotating shaft 42 rotates downwardly, while the second arm 422 of
the rotating shaft 42 simultaneously pushes the abutting blocks 32
of the arresting members 3 to move backwardly. The resilient
portions 33 are forced to deform and shrink. The abutting blocks 32
let out along the slopes 161 of the activating grooves 16. When the
abutting blocks 32 completely disengage from the opposite sides of
the reel shaft 21, the reel shaft 21 rotates freely to rewind the
scale strip 22 without restraint by the abutting blocks 32.
[0022] During the scale strip 22 winds on, when the pressing
portion 41 of the button 4 is released, rewinding force of the reel
shaft 21 and returning force of the resilient portions 33 push the
abutting blocks 32 to move upwardly along the slopes 161 of the
activating grooves 16. The abutting blocks 32 respectively abut
against the opposite sides of the reel shaft 21 to arrest the gauge
2.
[0023] It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other
forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present
examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be
limited to the details given herein.
* * * * *