Level

• US 20060248738A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Tools and Hardware
• Inventors: Martone, Joseph, Tran, Tho
• Granted Patent: US 7,204,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/451
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/26 Details

Abstract

A level having a body with 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 surface facing in opposite directions and being generally parallel to one another and the first exterior operative surface having an opening. The body further comprising a stop structure disposed between the operative walls. The level also including a level vial carried by the body 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 embodiment of a level includes a reinforcing wall disposed closer to the first operative wall than the second operative wall, with the reinforcing wall cooperating with the first operative wall to generally define a cavity.

Claims

1. A level, comprising:

a body having first and second operative walls interconnected by a web, said first wall having a first exterior operative surface and said second wall having a second exterior operative surface, said first surface and said second surface facing in opposite directions and being generally parallel to one another, said body further comprising a stop structure disposed between said operative walls, said stop structure and said first operative wall generally defining a cavity therebetween;

a level vial carried by said body;

said first exterior operative surface having an opening; and

a magnet disposed in said opening and having one end abutting said stop structure, said magnet having an opposite end adjacent said first exterior operative surface for magnetically attracting a workpiece engaged with said first exterior operative surface.

2. A level according to claim 1, wherein said web comprises a pair of spaced parallel side walls cooperating with said operative walls to form a generally rectangular shaped cross section.

3. A level according to claim 1, wherein said web comprises a generally planar wall, said planar wall lying in a plane that generally bisects said first and second operative walls.

4. A level according to claim 1, wherein said stop structure comprises an elongated wall member.

5. A level according to claim 4, wherein said elongated wall member is closer to said first operative wall than said second operative wall.

6. A level according to claim 5, wherein said elongated wall member is a reinforcing wall disposed parallel to said first and second operative walls.

7. A level according to claim 2, wherein said stop structure comprises an elongated wall member having the opposing longer edges thereof connected to the spaced parallel side walls.

8. A level according to claim 3, wherein said stop structure comprises an elongated wall member cooperating with said first operative wall to form a cavity, and wherein said generally planar wall forming said web is joined with said elongated wall member.

9. A level according to claim 8, wherein said generally planar wall defines a plane that bisects said elongated wall member.

10. A level, comprising:

a body having first and second operative walls interconnected by a web, said first wall having a first exterior operative surface and said second wall having a second exterior operative surface, said first surface and said second surface facing in opposite directions and being generally parallel to one another;

a level vial carried by said body; and

a reinforcing wall disposed closer to said first operative wall than said second operative wall, said reinforcing wall cooperating with said first operative wall to generally define a cavity therebetween.

11. A level according to claim 10, wherein said first operative wall has an opening, and further comprising a magnet received in said cavity through said opening.

12. A level according to claim 11, wherein said magnet has one end thereof abutting said reinforcing wall.

13. A level according to claim 10, wherein said web comprises a pair of spaced parallel side walls cooperating with said operative walls to form a generally rectangular shaped cross section.

14. A level according to claim 10, wherein said web comprises a generally planar wall, said planar wall lying in a plane that generally bisects said first and second operative walls.

15. A level according to claim 13, wherein said reinforcing wall has opposing longer edges thereof connected to the spaced parallel side walls.

16. A level, comprising:

first and second operative walls interconnected by a web, said first wall having a first exterior operative surface and said second wall having a second exterior operative surface, said first surface and said second surface facing in opposite directions and being generally parallel to one another;

a vial carried by said web;

a reinforcing wall disposed closer to said first operative wall than said second operative wall, said reinforcing wall cooperating with said first operative wall to generally define a cavity therebetween; and

said web comprising a generally planar wall.

17. A level according to claim 16, wherein said generally planar wall lies in a plane that generally bisects said first and second operative walls.

18. A level according to claim 17, wherein a pair of spaced side wall members connect the reinforcing wall with said first operative wall to define said cavity.

19. A level according to claim 16, wherein said generally planar wall is connected at a first end thereof to the second operative wall and is connected at a second end thereof to the reinforcing wall, said generally planar wall hence interconnecting the first and second walls.

20. A level according to claim 16, wherein said first operative wall has an opening, and further comprising a magnet received in said cavity through said opening.

21. A level according to claim 17, wherein said magnet has one end thereof abutting said reinforcing wall, which acts as a stop for said magnet.

22. A level, comprising:

first and second operative walls, said first wall having a first exterior operative surface and said second wall having a second exterior operative surface, said first surface and said second surface facing in opposite directions and being generally parallel to one another;

a reinforcing wall disposed closer to said first operative wall than said second operative wall, said reinforcing wall cooperating with said first operative wall to generally define a cavity therebetween;

a generally planar wall positioned between said second operative wall and said first operative wall, said generally planar wall lying in a plane that generally bisects said first and second operative walls; and

a vial carried by said level.

23. A level according to claim 22, wherein a pair of spaced side wall members connect the reinforcing wall with said first operative wall to define said cavity.

24. A level according to claim 22, wherein said first operative wall has an opening, and further comprising a magnet received in said cavity through said opening.

25. A level according to claim 24, wherein said magnet has one end thereof abutting said reinforcing wall, which acts as a stop for said magnet.

26. A level, comprising:

first and second operative walls, said first wall having a first exterior operative surface and said second wall having a second exterior operative surface, said first surface and said second surface facing in opposite directions and being generally parallel to one another;

a generally planar wall disposed between said first and second operative walls and that lies in a plane that generally bisects the first and second operative walls;

a vial carried by said generally planar wall; and

a plurality of wall members disposed between the first and second operative walls and cooperating with said first operative wall to form a generally closed cross-sectional configuration.

27. A level according to claim 26, wherein said plurality of wall members comprises a pair of side wall members.

28. A level according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of wall members further comprises an elongated wall connected with the side wall members and said first operative wall to form said closed cross-sectional configuration.

29. A level according to claim 28, wherein said generally planar wall intersects said elongated wall.

30. A level according to claim 29, wherein said elongated wall is disposed closer to said first operative wall than said second operative wall.

31. A level according to claim 26, further comprising at least one opening in said first operative wall, and a magnet received within said at least one opening and extending within the closed cross-sectional configuration.

32. A level according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of wall members comprises an elongated wall, and wherein said elongated wall serves as a stop for said at least one magnet.

33. A level according to claim 26, wherein said operative walls, said generally planar wall and said plurality of wall members are formed from a metallic alloy.

34. A level according to claim 33, wherein said generally closed cross-sectional configuration generally forms a triangular shape.

35. A level according to claim 34, wherein said generally planar wall intersects an upper portion of said triangular shape.

36. A level according to claim 29, wherein said planar wall intersects said second operative wall.

37. A level according to claim 26, wherein said generally planar wall intersects said second operative wall.