Abstract: A tape rule comprises a blade, a reel, a spring, a lock, and a housing. The blade comprises a substrate and a coating. The coating is configured to provide color, environmental protection, and/or abrasion resistance. In some embodiments, (1) the coating is formed from non-polymer materials; (2) the blade comprises reinforcements metallurgically bonded to the blade at or near a free end; (3) measurement indicia comprise laser marked portions of the substrate that create color contrasts with other portions of the substrate; (4) the measurement indicia comprise portions of the substrate visible through gaps in the coating; (5) the measurement indicia comprise voids in the substrate filled with a coating material having a contrasting color; and/or (6) the substrate has a surface texture configured to change an appearance of the coating relative to an appearance of the coating on an as-rolled surface finish of the metal substrate.

Abstract: A tape rule comprises a blade, a reel, a spring, a lock, and a housing. The blade comprises a substrate and a coating. The coating is configured to provide color, environmental protection, and/or abrasion resistance. In some embodiments, (1) the coating is formed from non-polymer materials; (2) the blade comprises reinforcements metallurgically bonded to the blade at or near a free end; (3) measurement indicia comprise locally annealed portions of the substrate or the coating that create color contrasts; (4) the measurement indicia comprise portions of the substrate visible through gaps in the coating; (5) the measurement indicia comprise voids in the substrate filled with a coating material having a contrasting color; and/or (6) the substrate has a surface texture configured to change an appearance of the coating relative to an appearance of the coating on an as rolled surface finish of the metal substrate.

Abstract: A measuring tool comprises an end hook having a mounting portion, blade, hole extending through the blade, and a fastener extending through the hole and securing the blade to the mounting portion. The blade generally has an average first thickness along its length. The hole formed in the blade has a depth which is greater than the first thickness through a protrusion of blade material extending from the blade. Similarly, a method of forming a tape measure blade may forming a blade generally having an average first thickness along its length, forming a hole in the blade along a hole axis, near a first end of the blade, the hole having a depth that is greater than the first thickness through a protrusion of blade material extending from the blade, and extending a fastener through the hole to secure the blade to a mounting portion of the end hook.

Abstract: A tape rule comprises a blade, a reel, a spring, a lock, and a housing. The blade comprises a substrate and a coating. The coating is configured to provide color, environmental protection, and/or abrasion resistance. In some embodiments, (1) the coating is formed from non-polymer materials; (2) the blade comprises reinforcements metallurgically bonded to the blade at or near a free end; (3) measurement indicia comprise laser marked portions of the substrate that create color contrasts with other portions of the substrate; (4) the measurement indicia comprise portions of the substrate visible through gaps in the coating; (5) the measurement indicia comprise voids in the substrate filled with a coating material having a contrasting color; and/or (6) the substrate has a surface texture configured to change an appearance of the coating relative to an appearance of the coating on an as-rolled surface finish of the metal substrate.

Abstract: A measuring tool comprises an end hook having a mounting portion, blade, hole extending through the blade, and a fastener extending through the hole and securing the blade to the mounting portion. The blade generally has an average first thickness along its length. The hole formed in the blade has a depth which is greater than the first thickness through a protrusion of blade material extending from the blade. Similarly, a method of forming a tape measure blade may forming a blade generally having an average first thickness along its length, forming a hole in the blade along a hole axis, near a first end of the blade, the hole having a depth that is greater than the first thickness through a protrusion of blade material extending from the blade, and extending a fastener through the hole to secure the blade to a mounting portion of the end hook.

Abstract: A tape rule comprises a blade, a reel, a spring, a lock, and a housing. The blade comprises a substrate and a coating. The coating is configured to provide color, environmental protection, and/or abrasion resistance. In some embodiments, (1) the coating is formed from non-polymer materials; (2) the blade comprises reinforcements metallurgically bonded to the blade at or near a free end; (3) measurement indicia comprise locally annealed portions of the substrate or the coating that create color contrasts; (4) the measurement indicia comprise portions of the substrate visible through gaps in the coating; (5) the measurement indicia comprise voids in the substrate filled with a coating material having a contrasting color; and/or (6) the substrate has a surface texture configured to change an appearance of the coating relative to an appearance of the coating on an as rolled surface finish of the metal substrate.