Structure mountable assembly

• US 20060185181A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastway Fair Company Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Eastway Fair Company Limited (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: McCracken, Robert E., Long, Charles Keith, Moore, Kevin A., Macias, Lilia F., Wacker, Charles M., Knight, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

A modular tool assembly including a tool base configured to releasably secure a modular tool arrangement in a fixed relationship relative to a mounting surface. The tool base includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion having a mounting seal extending therefrom. The mounting seal cooperates with the mounting surface to define a vacuum pocket therebetween. A vacuum generating mechanism is configured to remove air from the vacuum pocket through an aperture in the lower housing portion. A modular tool attachment releasably engages a portion of the tool base to secure the modular tool attachment to the tool base. The modular tool attachment can include a self leveling laser leveling device having a laser light source mounted within a housing to project an alignment beam through an opening in the housing to denote a reference plane along the mounting surface.

Claims

1. A modular tool assembly comprising:

a. a tool base including;

i. a housing,

ii. a mounting seal extending from a portion of the housing cooperating with the mounting surface to define a vacuum pocket therebetween,

iii. a vacuum generating mechanism disposed within the housing, the vacuum generating mechanism including a pump configured to remove air from the vacuum pocket to secure the housing to the mounting surface; and

b. a modular tool attachment releasably secured to a portion of the housing of the tool base in a fixed relationship relative to the mounting surface.

2. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 wherein the modular tool attachment further comprises one or more connecting arms extending from a tool attachment housing that releasably engage one or more receiving portions formed in a guide member in the upper housing portion of the tool base to releasably secure the modular tool attachment to the tool base.

4. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising a motor to drive the pump and a power source electrically connected to the motor.

6. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 further comprising a switch disposed on the upper housing portion of the tool base operatively connected to the vacuum generating mechanism allowing a user to activate the vacuum generating mechanism.

7. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 wherein the vacuum generating mechanism comprises a lever operatively cooperating with a portion of the mounting seal wherein the lever in a first position creates a cavity between the attachment surface and the portion of the mounting seal.

8. The modular tool assembly of claim 1 wherein a cavity is formed in a bottom surface of the lower housing portion of the tool base which cooperates with the mounting seal and mounting surface to create the vacuum pocket.

3. The modular tool assembly wherein the modular tool attachment is rotatable with respect to the tool base.

5. The modular tool assembly of claim 3 further comprising a sensor that monitors the vacuum pocket and activates the pump if the sensor detects a loss of pressure in the vacuum pocket.

9. The modular tool assembly of claim 3 wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable power source mounted within the housing.

10. The modular tool assembly of claim 9 wherein the modular tool attachment comprises a laser leveling device.

11. The modular tool assembly of claim 10 wherein the laser leveling device further comprises a housing, a laser light source disposed within the housing operatively connected to a power source, the laser light source including at least one diode, wherein an alignment beam is projected through an aperture in the housing to denote a reference plane along the mounting surface.

12. The modular tool assembly of claim 11 wherein the laser leveling device further comprises one or more bubble levels provided on the laser level housing.

13. The modular tool assembly of claim 11 wherein the laser light source is provided on a self-leveling mechanism so that the alignment beam is self-leveling.

14. The modular tool assembly of claim 13 wherein the self-leveling mechanism is in the shape of a T, with a horizontal portion defining arms upon which the laser diodes are mounted.

15. The modular tool assembly of claim 14 further including a lens spaced from the diode and receiving light from the diode and emitting a planar beam of light, wherein the lens is rotatable with respect to the diode to change an orientation of the planar beam of light.

16. The modular tool assembly of claim 13 wherein the self leveling mechanism provides self-leveling in two directions.

17. A modular tool assembly comprising:

a. a tool base having a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion including a guide member having one or more receiving portions;

b. a mounting seal extending from the lower housing portion cooperating with the mounting surface to define a vacuum pocket therebetween;

c. a power source disposed within the upper housing portion;

d. a vacuum generating mechanism electrically connected to the power source and disposed within the upper housing portion, the vacuum generating mechanism including a motor, a pump operatively driven by the motor configured to remove air from the vacuum pocket through an aperture in the lower housing portion to secure the housing to the mounting surface and a sensor mounted proximate the aperture in the lower housing portion which monitors the vacuum pocket and activates the pump if the sensor detects a loss of pressure in the vacuum pocket;

e. a switch operatively connected to the vacuum generating mechanism disposed on the upper housing portion of the tool base allowing a user to activate the vacuum generating mechanism; and

f. a modular tool attachment including a laser generator housing that includes laser diodes contained within the housing that are self-leveling, wherein the laser generator housing is rotatable with respect to the base in at least one direction.

18. The modular tool assembly of claim 17 wherein the laser generator housing is rotatable with respect to the base in at least two directions.