Patent Application
20220307835
In general, the present invention relates to wall mounted bubble level and laser level multi-tool, and specifically to a multi-tool with a projection arm with a laser pointer is mounted on a sliding track system of the body section and can be pointed at various angles using a angle degree dial.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,835B2: A self-leveling laser alignment tool and method thereof which provides a laser beam in a substantially truly level or plumb orientation are disclosed. Magnetic attraction is used to compensate for leveling errors of an approximately or partially leveled pendulum platform that is suspended from a flexible support member having a predetermined material stiffness. The material stiffness of the suspension member is compensated by using magnets which pulls the pendulum platform into an orientation that is substantially truly level and plumb.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,497,018B2: The present invention provides apparatus and a method for projecting an indication of alignment. The invention features forming a first output beam, and a second output beam that is substantially perpendicular to the first output beam. The first output beam indicates level, the second output beam indicates plumb, and the first and second output beams together indicate square.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,763,596B1: This invention is directed to a novel, portable, self-powered laser alignment device which can simultaneously generate plumb, square and level laser reference points. The laser alignment device is comprised of a main body that is pendulously suspended from a unit housing. The main body is adapted to house a plurality of orthogonally oriented laser diodes that, when energized, produce a plurality of orthogonal output beams to allow the operator to easily mark plumb, square and level reference points. The laser alignment device is self-leveling, which eliminates the time consuming calibration previously required for instrument setup. The movement of the main body is dampened by use of a magnetic dampening system that is comprised of a non-magnetic metallic plate, which is passed through a permanent magnetic field. The housing of the laser alignment device contains the main body, the laser diodes, the dampening system and a power supply to energize the diodes.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,293B2: An adapter providing increased versatility to a laser alignment tool is disclosed. Accessories of the adapter are disclosed for use with a laser alignment tool which may or may not be self-leveling. The accessories include one or more laser reference diffraction elements, effective to receive an incoming laser reference and produce a laser reference deviated a predetermined angular amount, and various attachment features.
Traditional leveling tools consist of one or more level vials mounted in a level body. The level body has one or more leveling faces that are calibrated with reference to the level vials such that one of the leveling faces can be placed against a surface and level readings made from the level vials. Laser level devices consist of a body supporting a laser generating device and a lens for focusing the laser. The lens can focus the laser into a beam of light or a plane of light and project the light from the body onto a surface. The light pattern projected on the surface can be used as a reference point for locating and orienting articles. At least one level vial is mounted on the body for orienting the body relative to true plumb or true level to control the projection of the light onto the surface.
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The term “laser” originated as an acronym for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation”. The first laser was built in 1960 by Theodore H. Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories, based on theoretical work by Charles Hard Townes and Arthur Leonard Schawlow.
A laser differs from other sources of light in that it emits light which is coherent. Spatial coherence allows a laser to be focused to a tight spot, enabling applications such as laser cutting and lithography. Spatial coherence also allows a laser beam to stay narrow over great distances (collimation), enabling applications such as laser pointers and lidar. Lasers can also have high temporal coherence, which allows them to emit light with a very narrow spectrum, i.e., they can emit a single color of light. Alternatively, temporal coherence can be used to produce pulses of light with a broad spectrum but durations as short as a femtosecond (“ultrashort pulses”).
Lasers are used in optical disk drives, laser printers, barcode scanners, DNA sequencing instruments, fiber-optic, semiconducting chip manufacturing (photolithography), and free-space optical communication, laser surgery and skin treatments, cutting and welding materials, construction, military and law enforcement devices for marking targets and measuring range and speed, and in laser lighting displays for entertainment. They have been used for car headlamps on luxury cars, by using a blue laser and a phosphor to produce highly directional white light.
Laser levels have been used in construction for many years. They typically seek to produce a plane of light for a reference for construction projects. Laser levels have been used for large scale construction projects like commercial excavating, laying foundations, and installing drop ceilings. Laser levels save considerable time during initial layout of a construction job compared to other tools such as beam levels, chalk lines, or torpedo levels. Some examples of jobs where laser levels would be useful include laying tile, mounting cabinets, installing counter tops, and building outdoor decks. Because these laser levels can typically cost thousands of dollars, only those who regularly land larger construction projects can justify purchasing a laser level. Laser levels have not achieved widespread adoption by the general public despite the time savings because of their initial cost of ownership.
In spite of there being a broad category of devices available in the market, there is still room for improvement of what is available. To improve the accuracy of such laser alignment tools further, there are several methods to self-level automatically either the laser or a reflective surface within the laser alignment tool. Although these prior art laser alignment tools have been useful for their intended purposes, a desire for improvements still remains.
More specifically, using a traditional laser level requires the user to set the laser up at the ending point of a project and point the laser at the starting point. The user then adjusts the laser line using traditional tools like a square and chalk line. This requires working backward, becoming time-consuming and complicated. With the improvements provided in the current invention's disclosure of a laser level, the user can set up the right angle at the starting point of the project, point the projection arm to a finishing point, and adjust the angle dial to a desired angle. This facilitates working from front to back, much quicker and easier.
The following summary is an explanation of some of the general inventive steps for the tool, method and construction in the description. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and does not intend to limit the scope beyond what is described and claimed as a summary.
The present invention is bubble level and laser level multi-tool. The projection arm with a laser pointer is mounted on a sliding track system of the body section and can be pointed at various angles using a angle degree dial. The projection arm can be folded inside the track system of the body section for storage and transportation.
Generally, the invention features a track system to allow the projection arm to slide along and be secured at a desired point. It ensures the user can quickly adjust the laser projection arm to any desired angle with the angle degree dial. It can be mounted on walls and other surfaces for ease of use and convenience, folds into itself for storage and transportation and simultaneously functions as a bubble level or a laser level.
In the first embodiment according to
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In a second embodiment according to
The embodiment according to
Further illustrated on the exploded view of the diagram is are normal levels 5, preferably but no always mountable on the top surface of the body section. A degree dial gauge 6 are provided mountable on the body section and projection arm respectively, wherein the degree dial provides suitable measuring method for determining the angle between the body section and the projection arm, and by extension, the angle at which the laser beam source 8 is projected. Also illustrated in the same diagram are wall mounts 12, which allow for the multi-tool to be mounted suitably on a wall for purposes of operation, and a wall leveling knob 11, preferably provided to help adjust the multi-tool to a level position for suitable operation.
The
The invention is generally applicable in the measuring devices construction and the use thereof.
