I couldn't find this advertised anywhere but it could be useful in the tool-box - masking-tape with metric or imperial measurement markings printed on it, repetitively.
I'm too lazy to list the situations where it would come in handy, [plus a ball-pen], but the suppliers of it should like it.
It would get used up more rapidly than plain tape.-- rayfo, Jun 27 2001 US patent 3648835 http://www.google.com/patents/US3648835 [xaviergisz, Mar 06 2012] US patent 4708755 http://www.google.c...&dq=US4708755&hl=en [xaviergisz, Mar 06 2012] WO9964813 http://worldwide.es...EPODOC&locale=en_EP [xaviergisz, Mar 06 2012] Quite good. I can see an application in the tailor's trade for those with inseam-measurement issues.-- The Military, Jul 04 2001 Rather than number it, just put markings for .25, .50, .75 and 1 foot on it. Not too hard to count the right number of lines, and you probably wouldn't be using it for more than a couple of feet anyway...-- StarChaser, Jul 05 2001 The ol' stand up just keeps coming back, doesn't it Rods?-- AfroAssault, Aug 14 2001 dammit!!! I just had this idea, searched and it's already done. If anyone's interested, my version was going to be like Magic Tape only with measurements marked in deliberately-fading ink. The ink should be photobleachable or fade on oxidation....-- bs0u0155, Mar 06 2012 This is a brilliant idea, and don't let [xaviergisz] put you off. If it's been patented once then, by god, it can surely be patented again.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Mar 06 2012 random, halfbakery