Abstract: A measuring tape is contained in a housing which includes an electric motor for rotating the spool on which the tape is wound to wind the tape up. A safety mechanism is provided to switch the motor off when the tape is fully wound, and a reduction mechanism is provided between the motor and the spool, so that the spool can rotate more slowly than the motor. The instrument is portable and has a handle with which an operating switch may be associated. The motor may be battery driven.

Abstract: An encased spring-wound tape-rule has adjacent the tape outlet slot a brake consisting of a brake block formed on a pivoted and longitudinally slidable lever which is pivotably connected to a pivoted control button to form a toggle or elbow joint providing stable braking and tape-freeing positions, without the usual biasing spring.

Abstract: An on-off brake for the winding drum of an encased tape rule comprises a double-headed non-rotatable push-button movable along the drum axis to and from a braking position in which a conical projection on the drum tightly frictionally engages a corresponding conical groove in one push-button.

Abstract: A cutting blade holding handle for a segmented removable blade.A cutting blade holding handle having a rectilinear hollow body with curved outer faces and having an inner guide consisting of two identical grooves facing each other to slidably mount a removable blade and a lower parallel auxiliary groove which mounts a unitary slider connected to the blade and having a finger piece provided with two oppositely inclined faces for manipulating the blade, said body also having between the blade and its rear face a blade wedging mechanism having external control and latching means.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a security key-ring meant in particular for prison turn-keys.It is composed of two half-shells, one male and one female, fitting together, that contain in the space between them an automatic roll-up mechanism with a strong recall spring in its rolled-up position, which mechanism pulls along a solid small chain sliding over the upper edge of the housing and reliably connected with a ring carrying the set of keys, having as a special feature that the rear face of the housing shows a metal fastening assembly in the shape of a clasp which holds it securely to the housing on a plane for its support.The invention can be expected to interest all key-ring manufacturers and those of small linear measuring instruments.

Abstract: A rigid linear measuring instrument has a central core moulded integrally with plastics bodies in relief. A plastic material of different colour is moulded over the core flush with outer faces of said bodies which form a series of graduation figures and graduation lines.

Abstract: A cutting blade holding handle for a segmented removable blade.A cutting blade holding handle having a rectilinear hollow body with curved outer faces and having an inner guide consisting of two identical grooves facing each other to slidably mount a removable blade and a lower parallel auxiliary groove which mounts a unitary slider connected to the blade and having a finger piece provided with two oppositely inclined faces for manipulating the blade, said body also having between the blade and its rear face a blade wedging mechanism having external control and latching means.