Patent Application
20070193048
The accuracy and consistency of the conventional vial and air-bubble type levels are recognized in the industry. Known operational inconveniences are the necessity for direct eye contact, and the manual holding of the level during operation. Both the direct eye contact and the manual holding requires the physical closeness of the operator to the level. The direct eye contact also requires adequate lighting.
This invention eliminates these restrictive features by generating an audible signal when the level is in exact horizontal or vertical position, thus freeing the operator from maintaining direct eye contact with the level. The emitted sound signal also allows the use of the level in dim lighting conditions. The attachment arm eliminates the need for manually holding the level against the structural frame.
The accuracy, reliability and simplicity of the conventional air-bubble type levels are recognized in the industry. In their use the levels are laid on flat horizontal surfaces, or are hand-held against upright frames and walls. Their angular position is being indicated by the location of the air-bubbles in the vials, therefore, direct eye contact with the devices is necessary. Leveling devices having liquid-filled vials as level indicators and laser beam emitters to project straight lines or reference marking points have been in use for several years. However, in such devices there is no direct functional interaction between the vials and the laser beam emitters.
The primary object of this invention is easing the work in setting up structures, structural frames of other objects, eliminating the need for direct eye contact with the leveling device, and freeing the hands from holding the device. These aims are achieved with the integration of; (a) conventional liquid filled transparent tubular vials containing a freely floating air-bubble, (b) laser beam emitters, (c) photo-electric devices, such as a photo-electric cells, (d) sound emitters, such as buzzers. With an audible signal the operator can concentrate on setting up structural frames or walls without direct eye contact with the leveling device. It also enables the operator to work under dim lighting conditions. By securing the device to the frame or wall with the adjustable attachment arm, both hands remain free. With the immediate and accurate response of the leveling device, checking the verticality or horizontality of already set up structures can also be done quickly and easily.
The laser beam is directed externally and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vial at or near its mid-section. When the air-bubble is at the impact point of the laser beam, its curvature deflects the impacting laser beam toward the end of the tubular vial. The deflected laser beam is sensed by a photo-electric device, such as a photo-electric cell, mounted at or near the end of the vial. The photo-electric device can also be mounted at other locations where the deflected laser beam impacts. When impacted by the deflected laser beam the photo-electric device closes the circuit between a power source, such as battery and a sound emitter, activating it to emit an audible signal.
The deflection of the laser beam being an optical function of the curvature of the freely-floating air-bubble, it occurs consistently and exactly at the same position of the air-bubble, thereby assuring exact signaling of the horizontal or vertical positions of the leveling device. When the air-bubble is not at the laser beam's impact point, the laser beam is directed by the vial away from the photo-electric device in a straight line projection perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vial.
The functional principles of the invented leveling device can be applied to horizontal, vertical, as well as to any other angular settings. As references, conventional air-bubble type vials are also included in the device, although those are not functional parts of the laser activation. Through its novel functional principle the leveling device can provide high degree of accuracy and durability. Not having moving parts, wear and mechanical malfunction are excluded.
The device shown on
The adjustable attachment arm (13) shown on
It is to be understood, that although the functional principles and the preferred embodiment of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the device, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made without departing from the novel principles of the invention, and such changes still fall within the scope of the invention.
