A brake for a steel tape wound on a drum in a casing includes an elongate resilient brake member 12 pivotally mounted at one end in the casing. When the brake is in its curved rest condition it defines with a backing member 8 a gap through which the tape can pass when being wound on or unwound from the drum. A control knob 22 is slidably mounted in the casing to move the brake member 12 between its rest condition and a straightened operational condition in which the other end 16 of the brake member clamps the tape against the backing member 8. In one construction, a cam 26 on the control knob 22 can be located in one or more recesses 28 in the brake member 12 to effect positive locking of the brake member. In another construction, a cam 32 on the control knob 22 is locatable in an aperture 34 in the brake member 12 when the brake member is in its rest condition, and the cam 32 is arranged to ride over a front face 36 of the aperture 34 to reduce the movement of the control knob 22 required to move the brake member 12 between its rest and operational conditions.
A steel measuring tape having a plastic casing with the tape coiled around a reel which encloses a recoiling spring. The tape projects through a slot at the bottom of the front wall of the casing, and is withdrawn in the standard manner against the action of the spring. A tape locking mechanism of unique design is positioned on the front face of the casing with a slide which is moved downwardly to lock the tape. An elongated locking strip has its bottom portion positioned directly above the tape, and is preset against the tape and clamps it against the bottom wall of the casing. Two unique mechanisms are disclosed for moving the locking strip to and from the locking position. Each of those mechanisms includes two angular arms which are engaged and elongated to move the locking slide downwardly into locking engagement with the tape.
A stop block device of a measuring tape includes a stop block button with an improved structure that displaces a latch bracket having stop block surfaces to press down on the measuring tape.
The tape measure includes a lock for locking the tape in an extended position from its case. The lock includes a toggle pivotably mounted on the case and a lock shoe extending from one end of the toggle to a position adjacent the tape. When the toggle is depressed, the lock shoe is forced against the tape so as to wedge the tape between the lock shoe and the case to prevent its retraction. The lock shoe includes a series of opposed recesses to permit the lock shoe to compress in length upon engagement with the tape. The lock shoe also includes a bend which translates the diagonal movement of the toggle into a vertical movement of the lock shoe.
The tape measure includes a lock for locking the tape in an extended position from its case. The lock includes a toggle pivotably mounted on the case and a lock shoe extending from one end of the toggle to a position adjacent the tape. The case includes guides, such that when the toggle is depressed, the lock shoe is forced against the tape so as to wedge the tape between the lock shoe and the case to prevent its retraction.
A sliver can for receiving a sliver has a can body with an open upper end. A spring plate is vertically moveable by a verticle travel stroke in the can body. At least one spring is arranged in the can body biasing the spring plate upwardly into a rest position. The spring plate is downwardly moveable against the force of the at least one spring by the weight force of a sliver received in the can body. A retaining device is connected to the spring plate and acts on the spring plate for preventing a return movement of the spring plate into the rest position over the entire length of the vertical travel stroke. The retaining device includes a locking element for locking the spring plate against the force of the at least one spring.
