Removable level end caps

• US 20050223577A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dane Scarborough
• Original Assignee: Dane Scarborough
• Inventors: Scarborough, Dane
• Application Number:
  US11/104,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/379
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/28 Mountings

Abstract

A level end cap for protecting a level body from damage. The level body having a first end. Defined within the first end is a plurality of holes therethrough. The end cap having an internal portion and an external portion. The external portion for protecting the end cap. The internal portion having extending therefrom an internal flange. Extending from the internal flange is a plurality of detents configured for extending through the plurality of holes in the body, thereby locking the end cap on the level body.

Claims

1. A removable level end cap for protecting a level body from damage, said level body having an open first end, defined adjacent said first end is at least one hole extending through said level body, said end cap comprising:

an internal portion configured for insertion into said level body open first end, said internal portion having extending therefrom at least one detent configured for extending into said hole, said detent thereby locking said end cap on said level body; and

an external portion attaching to said internal portion, said external portion for protecting said end cap first end from damage.

2. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said end cap can be removed from said level body by pushing said detent through said hole back into said level body and then pulling said end cap out of said first end.

3. The end cap of claim 1, wherein a living hinge is used to attach said detent to said internal flange.

4. The end cap of claim 1, wherein said detent extends through said hole and outside of said level body.

5. A removable level end cap comprising:

an exterior cap matching substantially an end periphery of a level to prevent damage to said end periphery of said level; and

an internal portion of said removable level end cap for insertion into an open end of said level comprising at least one detent for attaching said removable level end cap to at least one detent aperture defined by said level.

6. The removable end cap of claim 5, wherein said at least one detent provides a non-slip surface when fixedly attached to said level.

7. The removable end cap of claim 5, wherein said at least one detent is flush with an external surface of said level when fixedly attached.

8. The removable end cap of claim 5, wherein said removable end cap may be removed by depressing said at least one detent while extracting said removable end cap.

9. The removable end cap of claim 5, wherein said at least one detent automatically secures said removable end cap to said level when said interior portion is inserted into said open end of said level.

10. The removable end cap of claim 5, wherein said internal portion substantially abuts an inner surface of said open end of said level end preventing said removable end cap from moving during use.

11. A dual configuration construction level for indicating to a user when a surface is level, said construction level convertible from a short-mode to a long-mode, said level comprising:

a generally parallelepipedal level body having an open first end opposing an open second end, and four sides, at least one of said sides comprising at least one first hole defined therethrough adjacent to said first end, at least one of said sides comprising at least one second hole defined therethrough adjacent to said second end;

a first end cap, said first end cap comprising an internal portion and an external portion, said first end cap external portion for protecting said first end from impact, said first end cap internal portion for insertion into said open first end, said first end cap internal portion comprising a first detent configured for extending into said first hole thereby locking said first end cap onto said level body at said first end; and

a second end cap, said second end cap comprising an internal portion and an external portion, said external portion for protecting said second end from impact, said internal portion for insertion into said open second end, said internal portion comprising a second detent configured for extending into said second hole thereby locking said end cap onto said level body at said second end;

wherein said end caps can be detached from said level body by manually pushing said detents through of said holes and into said level body, and pulling said end caps out of said open ends, thereby converting said level into its short-mode;

wherein said first and second end caps can be attached to said level body by manually pushing said end caps into said ends, said detents automatically extending into said holes thereby locking said end caps in said ends, thereby converting said level into its long-mode.