AU608968B2

AU608968B2 - Measuring device

Info

Publication number: AU608968B2
Application number: AU33132/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Keith Allen Esling
Original assignee: Active Bowls Specialists Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Active Bowls Specialists Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1988-04-18
Filing date: 1989-04-18
Publication date: 1991-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2008-07-15
Also published as: AU3313289A

Description

I

lin 111 .8 lllji i 11~ ZAXMAO11SbdO0NW1NF IH O)UJV Id 6 O68L99PCZt zxxMhn Id 0 11! 51 Gpq ZZkXMI\nismDd0NW1NT1H0J9C139 'id OL 11111 11111l 4 6 i I c i S F Ref: 93325 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: This document contains the amendmenits rnde under ^ection 49 and is correct for printing.

Name and Address of Applicant: Address for Service: Keith Allen Esling Lincoln Street Forster New South Wales 2428

AUSTRALIA

Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Measuring Device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us B 0 1 C-4 0/4/.8C 5845/5 L I I V MEASURING DEVICE This invention relates to measuring devices and more particularly to such devices as are adapted to measure accurately distances between movable objects located on a substantially horizontal plane.

In particular, the device of this invention is useful for, but not limited in its use to, the measurement of the distance between a bowl used in the game of lawn bowls and a jack near to which the bowl has come to rest. A difficulty arises in that both the bowl and more particularly the jack, being smaller than the bowl, are movable objects, and measurements can be less than accurate if either the bowl or the jack is moved during a measurement operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved measuring device.

This invention in one broad form provides a measuring device comprising a casing, a retractable measuring tape located within said casing with its leading end projecting from said casing and a pivot device associated with that portion of said casing opposite said tape leading end, said pivot device having a fixed end pivotally attached to the casing on the end wall thereof opposite said tape leading end, an intermediate portion extending beyond said casing and a free end adapted to align with a marker located on the top of said casing, the free end of said pivot device being in the form of an arm disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis of said casing.

This invention in a further broad form provides a measuring device comprising a casing in the general shape of a rectangular prism, having a base adapted to rest on a substantially level surface and a top face opposite said base, a spring loaded retractable measuring tape located within said casing with the leading end of a said tape projecting from a first end wall of said casing, the end wall of said casing opposite said first end wall having associated therewith a pivot arm having a first end portion located in close proximity to said opposite end wall and adapted to pivot relative thereto, a second end portion adapted to a line with an indicating mark located in said top wall transverse to the longitudinal axis of said top wall and a portion connecting said first and second end RLFI<4 RLF/124n -2portions of said pivot arm, the centre of gravity of said pivot arm being such that when said measuring device is arranged with said base resting on a said surface, said pivot arm will locate with its said connecting portion at a position of maximum remoteness from said casing.

By way of example only, one embodiment of a measuring device in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the measuring device of this emobdiment of the invention, standing on its base; Fig. 2 is a reverse perspective view of the measuring device of Fig.

l' 3 is a side view of the measuring device of ig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sidetop plan view of the measuring device of Fig. 1; and oa Fig. 4is a top plan view of the measuring device of Fig. 1; and o Fig. 5 is an end view of the measuring device of Fig. 1, depicting q0 that end of the measuring device with which the pivoting arm of this device is associated.

a o In the drawings, measuring device indicated generally at 1 is provided with substantially rectangular side walls 2 and 3 and end walls 4 beso S and 5. Projecting from end wall 4 is support 10 on which end 9 of the 20o measuring tape located within the measuring device and otherwise not shown, is located. Measuring device 1 further has top face 6 which is provided .,4a with a slot or mark 7 for use in conjunction with pivot arm 13. This slot or mark 7 is contained within grooved out portion 8 of top face 6 and is disposed substantially normally to the longitudinal axis of top face 6.

Pivot arm 13, which may be made of metal, plastic or other suitable material, is shaped in such a manner that a portion thereof extends through a pair of apertures in walls 2 and 3 of device 1, at 11 in this embodiment, extending through wall 2 of device 1. Pivot arm 13 is then bent at 12 and extends from this bend by way of straight portion 13 until again bent at 13A whence it proceeds by way of portion 14 which is substantially horizontal when device is in the orientation shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Pivot arm 13 is then again bent at 14A, having a further straight section which extends Into final portion 15 which is again horizontal and, at rest, would KAD/794fAD/794h 1 -3be disposed against backrest 24 of grooved out portion 8 of top wall 6.

However, when it is desired to measure precisely the distance between two objects, device 1 may be brought into close proximity with the first of those devices. Portion 14 of device 1 is brought to rest against the first such object with portion 15 aligned with slot or mark 7. With the device 1 firmly held to the horizontal surface on which the objects lie, portion 9 of the measuring tape is then extended to touch the second object.

It will be appreciated that by use of the device of this embodiment of the invention, accurate measurement might be effected without a tendency to accidently move the first object against which portion 14 of pivot arm o 13 rests, there being very little force involved in the location of pivot oo arm 13 against the first such object.

When measurement has been completed, the tape may be retracted into the position shown in Fig. 1 by exercise of pressure on relocation mechanism o Thus the device of this invention may be seen to overcome the deficiencies of prior art measuring devices described above.

00*20 0 00 00*0r 0000 I I KAD/794KAD/794h

Claims

1. A measuring device comprising a casing, a retractable measuring tape located within said casing with its leading end projecting from said casing and a pivot device associated with that portion of said casing opposite said tape leading end, said pivot device having a fixed end pivotally attached to the casing on the end wall thereof opposite said tape leading end, an intermediate portion extending beyond said casing and a free end adapted to align with a marker located on the top of said casing, the free end of said pivot device being in the form of an arm disposed transverse to a .longitudinal axis of said casing.

2. A measuring device as defined in claim 1 wherein said casing is of a general rectangular prismic shape with a base adapted to rest on a substantially level surface.

3. A measuring device as defined in claim 2 wherein said measuring tape leading end projects from a first end wall of said casing and said pivot device is pivoted adjacent to an opposite end wall of said casing.

4. A measuring device as defined in any one of claims 1-3 wherein S said casing is provided with a recess in its upper wall, the marker located :o within the recess, and said free end of said pivot device is adapted to move into and out of alignment with said marker.

A measuring device as defined in any one of claims 1-4 wherein S said marker is a slot located in said recess transverse to the longitudinal axis of said casing.

6. A measuring device as defined in any preceding claim wherein said pivot device is a length of shaped wire. a

7. A measuring device as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the centre of gravity of said pivot device is such that said pivot device is at rest with its said first portion located in a position of S maximum remoteness from said casing.

8. A measuring device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A measuring device comprising a casing in the general shape of a rectangular prism, having a base adapted to rest on a substantially level surface and a top face opposite said base, a spring loaded retractable measuring tape located within said casing with the leading end of said tape projecting from a first end wall of said casing, the end wall of said fLi "ng opposite said first end wall having associated therewith a pivot arm A 5 having a first end portion located in close proximity to said opposite end wall and adjusted to pivot relative thereto, a second end portion adapted to align with an indicating mark located in said top wall transverse to the longitudinal axis of said top wall and a portion connecting said first and second end portions of said pivot arm, a backrest on said casing disposed to restrict the movement of said pivot arm, the centre of gravity of said pivot arm being such that when said measuring device is arranged with said base resting on a said surface, said pivot arm will locate with its said connecting portion at a position of maximum remoteness from said casing. A measuring device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing figures. DATED this EIGHTEENTH day of JANUARY 1991 Keith Allen Esling t t Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON 4 8 i 4 RLFII243h