Abstract: A hand tool may include a head section defining a first grip portion, a handle section and a second grip portion. The head section includes a top jaw and a bottom jaw defining the first grip portion. The handle section includes a top handle and a bottom handle. The top jaw and the bottom handle forming a first unitary piece, and the bottom jaw and the top handle forming a second unitary piece. The first and second unitary pieces are joined at a pivot point. The second grip portion includes a top grip portion provided at the top handle and a bottom grip portion provided at the bottom handle. The top and bottom grip portions substantially face each other. The first grip portion is made of a metallic material and the second grip portion is made of a non-metallic material.

Abstract: A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly, a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly, and an end hook disposed at the first end of the blade. The end hook may have a front face that faces away from the aperture and a rear face that faces toward the aperture. A high friction surface including grains may be disposed over at least a portion of a surface of the rear face.

Abstract: A leveling device may include a first level portion having a first leveling vial disposed thereon, and a second level portion having a second leveling vial disposed thereon. The second level portion may be configured to be nested within the first level portion to define a fully nested configuration. The first and second level portions may be separable from each other to define a fully de-nested configuration.

Abstract: An example distance measuring apparatus is provided. The example apparatus may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly, a measuring tape, a touch control, an audio output device, an audio input device, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive a touch control signal and initiate a measurement acquisition session, receive verbal measurement audio data from the audio input device, perform a speech recognition analysis on the verbal measurement audio data to determine measurement data, and store the measurement data in a memory device.

Abstract: An example distance measuring apparatus is provided. The example apparatus may include a measuring tape with distance measurement indicia, a camera, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be configured to cause the camera to capture an image of the measuring tape, and determine a measurement by analyzing the captured image. The measurement may be determined based on the distance measurement indicia of the measuring tape within the image at a measurement position. The processing circuitry may be further configured to store the measurement in a memory device.

Abstract: A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly, a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly, and an end hook disposed at the first end of the blade. The end hook may have a front face that faces away from the aperture and a rear face that faces toward the aperture. A high friction surface including grains may be disposed over at least a portion of a surface of the rear face.

Abstract: A hand tool may include a head section defining a first grip portion, a handle section and a second grip portion. The head section includes a top jaw and a bottom jaw defining the first grip portion. The handle section includes a top handle and a bottom handle. The top jaw and the bottom handle forming a first unitary piece, and the bottom jaw and the top handle forming a second unitary piece. The first and second unitary pieces are joined at a pivot point. The second grip portion includes a top grip portion provided at the top handle and a bottom grip portion provided at the bottom handle. The top and bottom grip portions substantially face each other. The first grip portion is made of a metallic material and the second grip portion is made of a non-metallic material.

Abstract: A hand tool may include a head section defining a first grip portion, a handle section and a second grip portion. The head section includes a top jaw and a bottom jaw defining the first grip portion. The handle section includes a top handle and a bottom handle. The top jaw and the bottom handle forming a first unitary piece, and the bottom jaw and the top handle forming a second unitary piece. The first and second unitary pieces are joined at a pivot point. The second grip portion includes a top grip portion provided at the top handle and a bottom grip portion provided at the bottom handle. The top and bottom grip portions substantially face each other. The first grip portion is made of a metallic material and the second grip portion is made of a non-metallic material.

Abstract: A leveling device may include a first level portion having a first leveling vial disposed thereon, and a second level portion having a second leveling vial disposed thereon. The second level portion may be configured to be nested within the first level portion to define a fully nested configuration. The first and second level portions may be separable from each other to define a fully de-nested configuration.

Abstract: A demolition tool particularly adapted to aid in board removal. The tool includes a handle and a head. The head has outer forwardly extending arms and a central fastener puller. The central fastener puller is aligned with the handle so that undesired lateral torques are minimized on the handle during fastener removal. The central fastener puller may be formed on a central boss disposed between the two outer arms. The central boss advantageously includes a convexly curved lower surface that provides a central pry surface for the tool. The head may be selectively positionable relative to the handle, such as via a push-button locking pivot connection.

Abstract: A hand tool may include a head section defining a first grip portion, a handle section and a second grip portion. The head section includes a top jaw and a bottom jaw defining the first grip portion. The handle section includes a top handle and a bottom handle. The top jaw and the bottom handle forming a first unitary piece, and the bottom jaw and the top handle forming a second unitary piece. The first and second unitary pieces are joined at a pivot point. The second grip portion includes a top grip portion provided at the top handle and a bottom grip portion provided at the bottom handle. The top and bottom grip portions substantially face each other. The first grip portion is made of a metallic material and the second grip portion is made of a non-metallic material.

Abstract: A demolition tool particularly adapted to aid in board removal. The tool includes a handle and a head. The head has outer forwardly extending arms and a central fastener puller. The central fastener puller is aligned with the handle so that undesired lateral torques are minimized on the handle during fastener removal. The central fastener puller may be formed on a central boss disposed between the two outer arms. The central boss advantageously includes a convexly curved lower surface that provides a central pry surface for the tool. The head may be selectively positionable relative to the handle, such as via a push-button locking pivot connection.

Abstract: A tape measure is described that has a finger recess in a housing, with at least a portion of the underside of a tape blade exposed in the finger recess. Pressing a finger against the underside of the tape allows the user to create a drag brake that acts against the retraction spring to slow and/or stop the retraction of the tape blade. The lateral edges of the tape blade, for that portion of the tape blade disposed in the finger recess, are protected by the housing. This arrangement results in a compact yet versatile and safe overall tape measure with good tactile feedback during finger-braking.

Abstract: A tape measure is described that has a finger recess in a housing, with at least a portion of the underside of a tape blade exposed in the finger recess. Pressing a finger against the underside of the tape allows the user to create a drag brake that acts against the retraction spring to slow and/or stop the retraction of the tape blade. The lateral edges of the tape blade, for that portion of the tape blade disposed in the finger recess, are protected by the housing. This arrangement results in a compact yet versatile and safe overall tape measure with good tactile feedback during finger-braking.

Abstract: A tape measure has a finger recess in a housing, with at least a portion of the underside of a tape blade exposed in the finger recess. Pressing a finger against the underside of the tape allows the user to create a drag brake that acts against the retraction spring to slow and/or stop the retraction of the tape blade. The finger recess is located upstream (i.e. closer to the coiled portion of the retracted tape blade) than the point at which the tape measure's lock engages the tape blade. This arrangement results in a compact yet versatile overall tape measure with good tactile feedback during finger-braking.

Abstract: A tool cart assembly including a tool cart having a horizontal surface defining a mounting aperture, a first rail including a bottom wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls, a front edge of each sidewall defining a catch, and at least one projection depending downwardly from the bottom wall, the projection being configured to be received in the mounting aperture such that the first rail is secured to the horizontal surface. A tool kit includes a sidewall and a first elongated rib, the elongated rib is configured to be slidably received by the first rail. The tool kit is removably secured to the tool cart by positioning the elongated first rib in the first rail and sliding the tool kit rearwardly such that the catches defined by the first rail engage a first portion of the tool kit.