1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a level. In particular, embodiments of the present invention relate to an improved level incorporating, among other things, a structure for the positioning of magnets. Embodiments of the present invention also include levels having cross-sectional configurations that improve the torsional strength of the level, permitting the walls of the body of the beam to be made thinner with resultant reduction in material consumption making the level lightweight.
2. Background of the Related Art
Levels, also called bubble levels or spirit levels, are instruments used for setting horizontal or vertical surfaces. The level typically includes a sealed vial containing an entrapped air bubble floating in a liquid. The flatness of a horizontal or vertical surface may be determined by placing the operating planar surface of the level on or against the surface and viewing the position of the bubble against the predetermined graduated marks on the vial. Magnets have been used so that the level becomes magnetically attached to certain surfaces which are to be assessed. A level is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,501 to Wright et al., which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.
One aspect of the invention relates to a level, including a body having first and second operative walls interconnected by a web, the first wall having a first exterior operative surface and the second wall having a second exterior operative surface, the first surface and the second surfaces facing in opposite directions and being generally parallel to one another; the body further comprising a stop structure disposed between the operative walls; a level vial carried by the body; the first exterior operative surface having an opening; and a magnet disposed in the opening and having one end abutting the stop structure, the magnet having an opposite end adjacent the first exterior operative surface for magnetically attracting a workpiece engaged with the first exterior operative surface.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a level, including: a body having first and second operative walls interconnected by a web, the first wall having a first exterior operative surface and the second wall having a second exterior operative surface, the first surface and the second surfaces facing in opposite directions and being generally parallel to one another; the body further comprising a stop structure disposed between the operative walls; a level vial carried by the body; and a reinforcing wall disposed closer to the first operative wall than the second operative wall, the reinforcing wall cooperating with the first operative wall to generally define a cavity.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a level having a I-beam extruded metallic body with a novel stop structure comprising an elongated flange disposed between the two opposing flanges of the I-beam and in close proximity to the lower flange of the I-beam with their longer edges joined together in a manner so as to form a cavity between wherein a permanent magnet is positioned through an aperture provided in the lower operative surface, with one end of the magnet engaging the elongated flange as a “stop” and the other end being flush with or adjacent the lower operative surface of the level.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a level having a box-beam metallic body and incorporating a novel stop structure comprising an elongated flange closer to the lower operative wall of the level with their longer edges joined together in a manner to form a cavity between them wherein a magnet is positioned through the an aperture provided in the exterior operative surface of the lower operative wall, with one end of the magnet abutting against the elongated flange as a ‘stop’ and other end being flush with or adjacent to the lower operative surface of the level.
A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a level having I-beam or box-beam body which has considerably enhanced torsional strength than the conventional body thereby enabling the walls of the I-beam or box-beam to be made thinner with resultant reduction in the consumption of the material and making the level light weight.
A still further aspect of the present invention is to provide a level which in I-beam configuration has serrated slots at each end which firmly engage the bosses of complementary shape provided in the end caps so as to firmly engage the end caps to the body of the level.
Other aspects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of this invention.
The invention is illustrated with drawings which represent one of the embodiment in which the present invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that the principles and features of the present invention may be embodied in variant embodiments incorporating changes and adaptations by those skilled in the art. Accordingly the invention is not deemed limited to the exact construction shown. All modifications and equivalents are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:
a) is a perspective view of the I-beam body without vials and end caps and showing exploded view of the positioning of two cylindrical permanent magnets in the aligned apertures provided in the lower operative surface of the I-beam body;
b) is an enlarged perspective view of the segment of the I-beam body towards the right of the plane along the line ‘1-1’ through the axis of the cylindrical magnet in position;
c) is an enlarged perspective view of the half-cut segment of the I-beam body between the planes of line ‘4-4’ and ‘5-5’ showing cylindrical magnet in installed position within the cavity between the lower operative surface and the elongated flange;
a) is a plan view of the I-beam body with magnets in position within the apertures provided in the lower operative surface and without vials and end caps;
b) is a side elevation view of the left end of the I-beam body of
c) is a side elevation view of the right end of the I-beam body of
d) is an enlarged view of the transverse section ‘2-2’ of I-beam body of
a) is a plan view of the box-beam body configuration;
b) is a side elevation view of the left end of the box-beam body of
c) is a side elevation view of the right end of the box-beam body of
d) is an enlarged view of the transverse section along the line ‘3-3’;
a) is a plan view of one of the vial assemblies fitted with contoured lens;
b) is left side elevation view of the contoured lens;
c) is the front elevation view of the contoured lens;
d) is the rear elevation view of the contoured lens;
e) is the right side elevation view of the contoured lens;
Reference is now made at
The I-beam body 12 has plurality of apertures 17 in the web 13 for receiving plurality of vial assemblies 18 each of which includes a pair of mounting members 18b having a lens cover 18a. The pair of mounting members 18b supporting a hermetically sealed bubble vial 19 positioned therebetween. In a manner discussed in more detail below with respect
Referring to
The illustrated embodiments described herein include at least one magnet for magnetically attaching the level to a surface. Although only one magnet may be necessary, it is preferred to have multiple magnets. Level 10 is illustrated as having multiple magnets. That is, preferably a pair of cylindrical permanent magnets 44 and 45 are positioned through the dimensionally aligned apertures 42 and 43, respectively, provided in the exterior operative surface 14 of the I-beam body 12. Although the magnets 44 and 45 are illustrated as being cylindrical, it should be understood that any appropriate magnet configuration may be employed. When magnets 44 and 45 are in position through the apertures 42, 43, respectively, in the exterior operative surface 14, one end of each of the cylindrical magnet 44, 45 abuts the elongated wall member 34 as a “stop” whereas the other end is substantially flush with or slightly recessed from the lower operative surface 14 of the body 12 preferably adjacent to the operative surface 14.
The elongated wall member 34 (also referred to herein as a “reinforcing wall”, which is disposed between the two operative wall members 21 and 22, forms a closed cross-sectional configuration with the lower wall member 21 and side wall members 51 and 52 and thus reinforces the structure of the body 12 and improves the torsional strength of the I-beam body 12. The walls of the I-beam body 12 may therefore be made thinner enabling reduction in material consumption and making the level light in weight. As can be seen in
Referring to
Referring to
The central walls 68 and 69 have a central opening 85 on the periphery of their exterior operative surface 65 for receiving a horizontal level indicating vial assembly. The pair of central walls 68 and 69 further have a plurality of openings 81 and 83 extending therethrough, which are in spaced adjacent relation to the central opening 85. Each of the openings 81 and 83 is dimensionally aligned and configured to receive one of the vertical level indicating assemblies therein. The elongated slots 82 and 84 are configured to receive hand-hold assembly to facilitate handling of the box-beam body configuration.
Referring to
Referring to
Thus it will be seen from the foregoing that a level of the present invention has a stop structure for positioning of a pair of magnets. The stop structure may be embodied in I-beam body configurations as well as in box-beam body beam configuration. The stop structure comprises an elongated wall member disposed between and generally parallel to the operative walls of the beam body of the level. The elongated wall member is closer to the lower operative wall and their longer edges are joined together in a manner so as to form a cavity between them. The magnets are positioned in the cavity through dimensionally aligned apertures provided in the lower operative surface of the body so that one end of the each of the magnet abuts the elongated wall member as a “stop” and other end is substantially flush or slightly recessed from the lower operative surface of the level.
The positioning arrangement of magnet per the foregoing description enables positioning of the magnets within the boundaries of the lower operative surface and the elongated flange. Such positioning of magnet does not in any way interfere or compromise with the flatness of the operative surface of the level. The arrangement of the magnet per the present invention enables a user to determine the flatness of a surface with relatively higher precision while employing a magnetic level. Such positioning arrangement for a magnet also obviates the need for a long, heavier and expensive magnet. In the illustrated embodiments, of the subject application, two small magnets are positioned through the dimensionally aligned slots in the lower operative surface. Thus, a level in accordance with the invention may be lighter and less expensive than previously known levels. The elongated wall 34 also reinforces the operative walls of the beam frame of the level due to which the level body of the present invention has considerably improved torsional strength to resist twisting loads along the longitudinal axis. Thus, the walls of the body can be made relatively thinner without compromising the requisite torsional strength of the body of the level. This in turn enables reduction in material consumption and makes the level economical in cost as well as lighter in weight. In addition, the proximity of walls 34 and 75 to the respective operative surfaces 14 and 64 allow a relatively short magnet to be used. In the I-beam frame configuration, each end of the I-beam body of the level of the present invention has serrated slots that engage the bosses of the end caps having shape complementary to the shape of the serrated slots thereby enabling firm engaging of the end caps to the body of the level. A contoured lens 18a is provided over each of the bubble vials 19 in order to improve the range of angles from which the graduations on the vial 19 can be easily read to determine the flatness of a surface.
The foregoing specific embodiments have been provided to illustrate the structural and functional principles of the present invention, and are not intended to be limiting. To the contrary, the present invention is intended to encompass all modifications, alterations, and substitutions within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation application of allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/121,183, filed May 4, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,029, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
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