Abstract: A fish tape reel and reversible lead device which includes a pistol-grip configuration which is ergonomically designed for ease, safety and convenience in pushing or pulling fish tape through conduit by utilizing only one hand. The reel comprises a counter device and spring steel cable storage mechanism so that the length of tape played out will be measured and efficiently rewound onto the receiving spool disposed within the reel.

Abstract: A laser beam focus and alignment apparatus is provided for a focus engraving laser or the like and has a housing having an attaching portion for removably attaching to a laser apparatus over a laser beam output lens and a linear adjustable portion linearly adjustable relative to the attaching portion. A flexible plumb line has a predetermined length and is attached to the housing linear adjustable portion and has a plumb bob attached to the end thereof with a generally pointed end portion so that a laser beam focus and alignment apparatus can be attached to a laser beam apparatus and linearly adjusted until the plumb bob touches an item being focused upon to determine the focus and alignment of a laser beam. The housing attaching portion and linear adjustable portion can be threaded together so that rotating the linear adjustable portion moves it in a linear fashion to move the flexible bob line and bob.

Abstract: A releasable hook for use primarily on the free-end of a line-tool line such as chalk lines, tape measures, and the like. The hook has an engaged position whereby it may be secured to the edge of a, workpiece, and a retracted position whereby it disengages the edge of the workpiece. The hook is biased to its retracted position. Applying tension to the line of the line-tool retains the hook on the edge. However, releasing tension on the line restores the hook to its retracted position, thereby releasing the hook from the edge without the need for the user of the line-tool to be near the hook. In a preferred embodiment, the hook includes a flat base plate and a spring hook member constructed of a strong, but resilient material. The plate and hook member are sized and positioned such that with no forces applied, the opposite end of the hook member is retracted from the base plate.

Abstract: The device comprises a pipe (1), in which a shaft (20) of a marking component (2) can be moved. The pipe (1) has a soil anchor (4) at the bottom. The component (2) has a head (21) at the top and can be lifted from a lowered position, in which the head (21) lies next to the top face (14) of the pipe (1) into the lifted position shown against the force of a spring (3). In the lifted position, the component (2) can be stopped by means of a bayonet lock. The device is inserted into the ground vertically at a measuring, e.g., on a soccer field, such that in the lowered position, the top (25) of the head (21) is flush with the ground surface. If the markings on the field need to be renewed, the corresponding components (2) are lifted and stopped. A cord is stretched between two components (2), along which cord a straight line can be marked, or a circle can be drawn with a cord around one of the components (2). The marking of the field can thus be rationalized and expensive re-measuring can be avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring cord displacement transducer. A sealed measuring cord displacement transducer is proposed which has a measuring cord, a cord drum, a flat spiral spring which, with the cord drum, is arranged coaxially in a rotationally fixed manner on the same shaft, having a rotary encoder connected to the shaft and a housing surrounding the displacement transducer with a mechanical interior and an electrical interior which are separate and spaced apart axially in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, so that the cord drum and the flat spiral spring can be accommodated in the mechanical interior and the rotary encoder and the associated electronics can be accommodated in the electrical interior. In this case, the housing of the mechanical interior is formed by two shell-like, respectively one-piece bearing shells.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in surgical hip replacement procedures for ensuring that the replacement hip joint components are properly sized. A flexible measuring cable is attached to the superior eminence of the exposed acetabulum and extended inferiorly to be aligned with a specific point on the femur. A marking indicator carried by the flexible cable is positioned to provide a reference distance between the fixed points on the acetabulum and the femur. Trial femoral implants can be selected to have proper neck length by extending the flexible cable attached at one end to the acetabulum toward the marked position of the femur so that the marked position is aligned with the indicator fixed to the cable. The cable may again be extended between the fixed point on the superior eminence of the acetabulum and the marked point of the femur and greater or lesser length femoral neck components may be selected until the correct length is achieved.

Abstract: A lifesaving apparatus comprising a scale usable as a life line, the scale comprising a high tensile strength wire with graduations in a longitudinal direction thereof, a drum for winding the metal wire thereonto, a casing accommodating the drum while permitting the same to rotate, a magnifying glass on the casing for allowing the graduations to be read, and a person carrying system. The high tensile strength wire of high tensile strength is formed of a stranded cable formed of a plurality of strands each having a tensile strength of at least 400 kgf/mm.sup.2 such that the high tensile strength wire is capable of suspending a person. The strands have a coat of a synthetic resin covering the strand. The person carrying system is connected to an end of the scale.

Abstract: An automatically retracting chalk line dispenser including, in part, a casing forming a reservoir for storing a quantity of chalk dust. A spool assembly includes a spool having string disposed within the casing such the string contacts the chalk dust. An automatic, centrifugal speed regulator assembly is included which contains at least one speed regulator arm, the arm having a primary end and a secondary end. A regulator arm support mechanism is provided for supporting the speed regulator arm relative to the chalk line dispenser wherein the regulator arm support mechanism rotates with the spool. The regulator arm support mechanism pivotally supports the primary end, and further supports a spring for retracting a dispensed length of the string. An arbor is attached to the casing so that relative rotation therebetween is prevented.

Abstract: A scale usable as a life line includes a metal wire 5 of high tensile strength with graduation 6 in a longitudinal direction thereof, a drum 2 for winding the metal wire 5 thereonto, a casing 1 accommodating the drum 2 while permitting the same to rotate, and a magnifying glass 7 for allowing the graduation 6 to be read, wherein the metal wire 5 of high tensile strength is formed of a strand comprised of a plurality of steel wires of a fine grained composition each having a diameter of 10 to 100 .mu.m and a coat of a synthetic resin covering the strand.

Abstract: A distance measuring device measures distance by optically measuring the length of a flexible member, such as a line, as it is left off a reel. The line is provided with a plurality of dye marks spaced at predetermined increments. The dye marks are detected by an optical sensor. The optical sensor is operatively connected to a circuit which maintains a count indicative of the length of the line. The count is displayed on an LED display.

Abstract: A cable used to mark lines on athletic fields having sections of tubing that locate the particular yard line to run chalk lines from one side of the field to the other.

Abstract: A chalk line assembly includes a plurality of chalk containing chambers. A reel is mounted in each chamber. Each reel contains a hollow drum with a line mounted around each drum and exiting from its chamber. A shaft is slidably mounted through the aligned reel drums. The shaft includes locking structure engageable with complementary locking structure on the hubs so that the shaft may be brought into locking engagement with a selecting hub to permit the line from that reel to be extended and then rewound.

Abstract: A chalk line retraction device is formed of a hollow casing defining a chalk line aperture therethrough. A chalk line reel carrying a chalk line is mounted for rotation within the casing and is keyed to a spur gear. The spur gear is engaged with a ring gear of much larger pitch diameter. The ring gear is coupled to a movable end of a spirally wound band spring. The other end of the band spring is anchored to the casing. The gearing arrangement provides a mechanical advantage such that a relatively long movement of the chalk line produces a corresponding short movement of the movable end of the band spring, thereby allowing a chalk line of considerable length to be taken up on the chalk line reel.

Abstract: An apparatus is set forth including a vertically adjustable gun and support member, with a plurality of targets aligned forwardly thereof, wherein a flexible line including yard markers at equal predetermined spaced intervals is mounted on the line for positioning of the targets forwardly of the gun support member. The gun support member includes a tripod arrangement formed with a central, vertical support rod mounting the gun, wherein the gun is further pivotally mounted to the support rod. A lowermost end of the rod includes a retraction and dispensing reel associated with the flexible line. Each of the targets is provided with concentric rings mounted for rotation upon being struck by a projectile from the target gun.

Abstract: The invention relates to the improved structure for an ink cup, particularly such structure having upper and lower cover bodies, a thread winding wheel, a manual turning wheel and an inverted T-shaped pressing disk. The interior of the inverted T pressing disk encloses a compression spring and is set inside the manual turning wheel by means of a hollow circular rod. The manual turning wheel cooperates with a circular hole in the upper cover body, and is urged into contact with the upper cover body by the compression spring in the pressing disk. A spiral spring in the thread winding wheel automatically rewinds the thread except when the manual turning wheel is squeezed against the cover body to stop the thread winding wheel.

Abstract: A layout tool includes a container having elongate generally rectangular-shaped front and rear walls, rectangular end walls, and a horizontal bottom wall. An opening extends through the central portion of the front adjacent its lower edge and extends into and upwardly through the bottom wall. The front wall has a linear scale on the exterior surface thereof. A chalk line has one end thereof extending through the opening in the front and bottom wall and is wound upon a reel of a chalk line mechanism. A weight is positioned in the container and stabilizes the latter against movement when the chalk line is stretched, pulled taut, and snapped against a surface to form an accurately located layout line on the surface.

Abstract: A carpenter' chalk marking device for producing marks at regular intervals along a straight line upon a working surface, characterized by chalk marking units mounted along a chalk line and configured to hold the line from contact with the marking surface to prevent extraneous marks. The device also includes a chalk containing canister with a storage spool for the chalk line.

Abstract: An automatically retracting chalk line assembly having both locking and braking means to lock the extended line in place and to slow the speed of retraction of the line during automatic rewind. The spool containing the line has an extended side in a hub cap shape which protrudes through a circular aperture in the housing. A slide member is moved out of a channel in this hub cap to form a friction lock with the housing. Braking is accomplished by slowing the spin of the hub cap by hand pressure.