Laser line generating device

• US 20020178596A1
• Filed: 05/07/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Poole, Robert N., Poole, Daniel L., Hopper, Ryan K., Malard, Fabrice J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,735,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/26 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors

Abstract

A self-contained line generating device uses a laser diode and a lens to project a fan-shaped beam of visible light. The lens is useful for receiving light and transmitting light in an asymmetrical planar beam. The light is useful for aligning objects in a vertical or a horizontal line. The generator also includes a substantially flat face and leveling devices for leveling and orienting the generator onto a flat surface. Retractable pins enable a user to easily mount the line generator onto a wall and align objects.

Claims

1. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing;

a light source mounted within the housing;

a power supply connected to the light source;

a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in the shape of a fan; and

at least one reference level on an outside of the housing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source generates a laser beam.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the laser beam has an asymmetric intensity pattern.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a support face that substantially extends along a first planar surface and the fan substantially lies within a second planar surface that intersects the first plane surface at an angle.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the angle is about 90°

.

6. The device of claim 4, further comprising at least one pivot point on the support face.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one pivot point comprises a retractable pin.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a lever for pushing and holding the retractable pin into a surface.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one pivot point further comprises an opening in the support face.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the light projects a line in a direction generally parallel to the first planar surface, the line extending in a direction of propagation of the light.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a battery mounted within the housing and switchably connected to the light source.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference level comprises a bubble level.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one reference level comprises two bubble levels oriented at right angles to each other.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising an aperture in the housing.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein a corner of the lens has a radius of about 0.030 inches to about 0.060 inches.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the corner of the lens has a radius of about 0.047 inches.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the light in the shape of a fan is projectable as a visible line extending at least about 5 lengths of the housing from the housing.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a collimating optics that receives light from the light source and focuses the light into an ovate shape for the projection lens.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the projection lens is made from glass or plastic.

20. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing having a face and a closable aperture;

a light source mounted within the housing;

a battery switchably connected to the light source;

a lens that receives light and projects the light;

at least two pivot points on the face of the housing; and

at least two bubble levels at right angles to each other on an outside of the housing.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the light source generates a laser beam.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the lens projects the light in the shape of a fan.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the angle is about 90°

.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein the light source comprises a laser.

26. The device of claim 23 wherein the direction of propagation is generally parallel to an alignment surface on the housing.

27. The device of claim 23 further comprising a collimating optics that receives light from the light source and focuses the light into an ovate shape for the projection lens.

28. The device of claim 23, further comprising at least one pivot point on the housing, and at least one reference level on an outside of the housing.

29. The device of claim 23, further comprising an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the lens cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second positions the light source is not connected to the power supply and the lens cover substantially blocks the exit.

30. The device of claim 23, wherein the power supply is a battery.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein the at least one reference level comprises at least one bubble level mounted at right angles to any other bubble levels.

32. The device of claim 23, further comprising a lever for pushing and holding a pin.

33. The device of claim 23, wherein a corner of the projection lens has a radius of about 0.030 inches to about 0.060 inches.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the corner of the projection lens has a radius of about 0.047 inches.

35. The device of claim 23, wherein the fan-shaped beam has an asymmetric intensity pattern.

36. The device of claim 23, wherein the projection lens is made from glass or plastic.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the direction of propagation is oriented at about 90°

with respect to the plane.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the light is substantially monochromatic.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising forming a line on a surface of interest.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising pivoting the fan-shaped light onto the surface of interest.

42. The method of claim 37 further comprising orienting and leveling the fan-shaped light.

23. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing;

a light source mounted within the housing;

a power supply connected to the light source; and

a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in a direction of propagation in the shape of an elongated fan that substantially lies within a plane that is oriented at an angle with respect to the direction of propagation.

37. A method for projecting a fan-shaped laser light onto a surface, the method comprising:

focusing a light into a fan shape that substantially lies within a plane; and

projecting the fan-shaped light in a direction of propagation that is oriented at an angle with respect to the plane.

43. A lens for receiving and projecting light, the lens comprising:

an optical material; and

at least one corner radiused from about 0.030 to about 0.060 inches;

wherein the lens is adapted to receive light and transmit light in a fan-shaped beam.

44. The lens of claim 43, wherein the at least one corner is radiused about 0.047 inches.

45. The lens of claim 43, wherein the fan-shaped beam has an asymmetrical intensity.

46. The lens according to claim 43 wherein the optical material is glass or plastic.

47. The lens according to claim 43, wherein the lens is aspherical.

48. A lens according to claim 47, wherein the shape of the lens is selected from the group consisting of a prism, a flat rectangle, a flat square and a flat polygon.

50. The line generating device of claim 49, wherein the light is substantially monochromatic.

51. The line generating device of claim 49, wherein the optical system comprises at least one lens that receives light from the source and focuses and projects the light.

52. The laser line generating device of claim 49, the housing further comprising a substantially flat face and at least one pivot point comprising a retractable pin on the substantially flat face.

53. The laser line generating device of claim 49, further comprising at least one bubble level.

49. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing;

a light source mounted within the housing; and

an optical system that receives light and projects the light as a fan-shaped beam that lies substantially within a plane and forms a visible line at an intersection of the beam and a surface of interest.

54. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing having at least one retractable pin mounted on a substantially flat face of the housing;

a light source mounted within the housing; and

a power supply connected to the light source.

55. The device of claim 54, further comprising at least one lens that receives light from the light source.

56. The device of claim 54, further comprising at least one lens that receives light from the light source.

57. The line generating device of claim 54, wherein the light source comprises a laser light source.

58. The line generating device of claim 56, wherein the at least one lens that receives light from the light source projects the light as a fan-shaped beam.

59. The line generating device of claim 54, further comprising at least one reference level on the housing.

60. A method of aligning an object with a light beam, the method comprising:

generating light along a direction of propagation so that a line is formed along a first planar surface, wherein the line is interruptible in that should an impediment be positioned on the line, the line will be present on either side of the impediment; and

placing an object so that a portion of the object is aligned by the light.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the method generates light in the shape of a fan that lies substantially in a second planar surface that intersects the first planar surface at an angle.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the angle is about 90°

.

63. The method of claim 60, further comprising focusing the light into a fan-shaped beam offset from the surface by a distance.