Abstract: A chalk line apparatus with a housing having a body with a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and laterally spaced sides. The body defines an internal space within which a spool is operatively mounted. A drive assembly is operable through an actuator to cause line to be accumulated on the spool through a fill opening on the housing. A supply of chalk can be introduced into the internal space to contact the line. A stopper assembly can be selectively placed in closed and open states. The stopper assembly has a blocking portion that: a) blocks passage of chalk through the fill opening with the stopper assembly in the closed state; and b) permits chalk to be directed through the fill opening and into the internal space with the stopper assembly in the open state. The stopper assembly is adjacent to the drive assembly actuator.

Abstract: A chalk line apparatus with a housing having a body with a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and laterally spaced sides. The body defines an internal space within which a spool is operatively mounted. A drive assembly is operable through an actuator to cause flexible line to be accumulated on the spool. The body has a front opening through which flexible line from the spool can be directed to externally of the housing. The body has a width between the laterally spaced sides and a length between the front and rear of the body. The body width tapers between the front and rear of the body over a majority of the length of the body.

Abstract: A distance measuring device having a frame defining an operating handle. At least one wheel is mounted to the frame. A counter mechanism on the frame has a display and a reset mechanism. An actuating mechanism has components cooperating between the at least one wheel and counter mechanism for causing cumulative distance measurements to be identified on the display as the at least one wheel is rolled against an underlying surface. The counter mechanism has a reset actuator that is moved from a retracted position into an actuated position. The reset actuator has a surface with an engaging area. The distance measuring device further has at least one stop component that defines a blocking surface to arrest movement of a component, having an area that is greater than the engaging area, that is pressed against the surface of the reset actuator to thereby move the reset actuator from the retracted position into the actuated position.

Abstract: A chalk line apparatus having a housing defining a chalk chamber and a reel for a flexible line mounted for rotation within the chamber. The chalk line apparatus further includes a collection space that communicates with the chamber through a housing opening. A flexible line on the reel is extendable through the housing opening, the collection space, and the collection container opening to be exposed for use.

Abstract: A chalk line apparatus having a housing defining a chamber for a supply of chalk. A reel is mounted within the chamber for rotation around an axis. The housing has an opening through which a flexible line is directed from the reel to outwardly of the housing, for use. The housing has a front wall, a rear wall, and a peripheral wall portion surrounding the chamber between the front and rear walls. A fill opening is formed through the peripheral wall portion in communication with the chamber at a location on the peripheral wall portion between the reel axis and the housing opening.

Abstract: A chalk line apparatus having a housing defining a chamber within which a supply of chalk can be stored and a reel within the chamber and mounted for rotation relative to the housing around a first axis. The housing has an opening through which a flexible line emanating from the reel can extend to outwardly of the housing for use. The reel has a spool defining a support against and around which a flexible line can be wrapped. The spool is rotatable around the first axis and has an axial extent. The spool is configured so that line wrapped around the support does not have a substantially cylindrical shape centered on the first axis over any substantial portion of the axial extent of the spool.

Abstract: A chalk line reel having a housing and a closure assembly. The housing has a storage space for a supply of chalk and a spool around which a supply of flexible line can be wrapped. The housing further has a wall with a fill opening therethrough in communication with a storage space. The closure assembly selectively a) blocks the fill opening to confine chalk in the storage space and b) exposes the fill opening to allow introduction of chalk from a supply thereof through the fill opening into the storage space. The closure assembly has a body that is engaged with the housing wall so as to substantially fully block the fill opening with the body in an operative position, and is repositionable from the operative position into a second position wherein the fill opening is exposed. The body has a graspable tab that can be engaged by a user to facilitate repositioning of the body from the operative position into the second position.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus having a frame and a wheel rotatable relative to the frame around a first axis. The wheel has a peripheral surface that can be rolled against a surface upon which a distance measurement is to be taken. The distance measuring apparatus further has a counter assembly through which advancement of the distance measuring device can be converted to a distance measurement. The scraper assembly has a scraping edge that is one of (a) adjacent to the wheel, and (b) against the wheel. The scraping edge intercepts foreign matter adhered to the wheel as the wheel is rotated around the first axis to avoid buildup of foreign matter upon the wheel as the distance measuring apparatus is operated.

Abstract: A distance measuring device having a wheel, a frame, and a distance counter on the frame. The wheel has a radius and an exposed surface that can be rolled against a surface on which a distance measurement is to be taken. The wheel is mounted upon the frame for rotation around a first axis. The distance counter is actuated by the wheel. The frame has an elongate operating arm projecting away from the wheel. The frame has a mounting portion to which the wheel is mounted for rotation. The elongate operating arm is pivotable relative to the mounting portion between an operating state and a store state.

Abstract: A distance measuring device having a wheel, a frame, and a distance counter on the frame. The wheel has a radius and an exposed surface that can be rolled against a surface on which a distance measurement is to be taken. The wheel is mounted upon the frame for rotation around a first axis. The distance counter is actuated by the wheel. The frame has an elongate operating arm projecting away from the wheel. The frame has a mounting portion to which the wheel is mounted for rotation. The elongate operating arm is pivotable relative to the mounting portion between an operating state and a store state.

Abstract: The combination of a flexible blade/tape and a clip. The flexible blade/tape has a length and first and second sides defined by oppositely facing, substantially planar surfaces. The clip has a first tab that projects angularly away from the first surface at the first side of the blade/tape and a second tab that projects angularly away from the second surface at the second side of the blade/tape.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a chalk line holder has a housing, an operating mechanism on the housing, with a spool around which a supply of line can be wound and moveable relative to the housing about a first axis, and a brake assembly for the spool. The brake assembly has a ratchet element moveable with the spool about the first axis, a pawl moveable transversely to the first axis between a) an engaged position wherein the pawl engages the ratchet element to prevent movement of the spool in a first direction about the first axis and b) a disengaged position, a biasing element normally urging the pawl towards the engaged position, and an actuator to move the pawl towards the disengaged position against the urging of the biasing element.

Abstract: A tape measure having sidewalls spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the tape to define a small clearance at opposite edges of the tape with the sidewalls. The sidewalls define midway therebetween a center plane. A peripheral portion of the sidewalls adjacent the peripheral wall of the housing defines guide means adjacent the tape-passing opening for causing the centerline of the tape, as it is passed through the opening, to be accurately at the center plane, thereby effectively minimizing edge wear of the tape in the use of the tape measure.

Abstract: A line reel includes a spool for line, a drive shaft effecting rotation of the spool through suitable gears and a manually operable crank hinged to the drive shaft. The drive shaft has a clutch part releasably engageable with a cooperating clutch part on one of the gears. A cam surface on the crank causes the crank, when pivoted to a selected locked or cranking position, to be moved to an over-center position at which a spring holds the crank in selected position. In locked position, the clutch parts are disengaged and the spool stops are engaged. In cranking position, the clutch parts are engaged and the stops are disengaged. The crank may be moved to disengage both the stops and the clutch parts so that the wound line may be manually extended from the spool without effecting rotation of the crank.