Abstract: A measuring tape system for determining the girth or length of an object, the measuring tape system including a flexible tape containing specific measuring indicia. One end of the flexible tape is secured to and wound about a drum rotatably mounted within a housing. The drum is spring biased such that it will allow the associated tape to be paid out against the bias of the spring and upon the appropriate command is retrieved and rewound on the drum. The flexible tape is pulled from the housing through an appropriate opening in the wall of the housing and the free end of the tape is selectively placed in a receiver formed in the housing.

Abstract: A measuring tape system for determining the girth or length of an object, the measuring tape system including a flexible tape containing specific measuring indicia. One end of the flexible tape is secured to and wound about a drum rotatably mounted within a housing. The drum is spring biased such that it will allow the associated tape to be paid out against the bias of the spring and upon the appropriate command is retrieved and rewound on the drum. The flexible tape is pulled from the housing through an appropriate opening in the wall of the housing and the free end of the tape is selectively placed in a receiver formed in the housing.

Abstract: A mechanism for dispensing a measuring tape into the wraps of a length of cloth that is being wound onto a mandrel has a carriage that is mounted for reciprocal movement along a guide extending transversely to the length of the cloth. The carriage has means for rotatably mounting two rolls of tape so that when one is exhausted the other quickly may be utilized and the first replaced while the second is being dispensed. The mechanism has a drive wheel which is driven by engagement with the cloth being wound, or a part of the cloth winding machine, for positively reciprocating the carriage so that the only tension of the measuring tape is that required to unwind the roll.