Composite Level Tool

• US 20080282562A1
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Swanson Tool Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Swanson Tool Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Allemand, James S.
• Application Number:
  US12/122,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20080282562A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/379
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/28 Mountings
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/34 of the tubular type, i.e. for indicating the level in one direction only

Abstract

A level tool comprising a body including a frame and a pair of plastic cover plates arranged on opposite sides of the frame. Each cover plate comprises at least one vial window that is integrally molded with the cover plate and is made of a plastic material of a different color than the cover plate. The level tool also comprising at least one vial supported by the body in the at least one vial window.

Claims

1. A level tool comprising:

a body including a frame and a pair of plastic cover plates arranged on opposite sides of the frame, each cover plate comprising at least one vial window that is integrally molded with the cover plate and is made of a plastic material of a different color than the cover plate; and

at least one vial supported by the body in the at least one vial window.

2. The level tool of claim 1 wherein the at least one vial window is integrally molded with the cover plate by a dual plastic injection molding process.

3. The level tool of claim 1 wherein the at least one vial window is integrally molded with the cover plate by a dual plastic injection molding process using a mold having a first cavity corresponding to a shape of the cover plate without the at least one vial window and a second cavity corresponding to a shape of the at least one vial window.

4. The level tool of claim 3 wherein the cover plate is formed by injection of a shot of molten plastic material of a first color into the first cavity and a shot of molten plastic material of a second color into the second cavity, wherein the molten plastic material of the first color and the molten plastic material of the second color come into contact and solidify to form the cover plate.

5. The level tool of claim 1 wherein the plastic material of the at least one vial window is of a color that enhances a visibility of the at least one vial.

6. The level tool of claim 1 wherein the plastic material of the at least one vial window has a lighter color than a plastic material of the cover plate.

7. The level tool of claim 1 wherein the frame and the cover plate are integrally molded as a one-piece member.

8. The level tool of claim 1 wherein the plastic material of the at least one vial window has a different density than a plastic material of the cover plate.

9. The level tool of claim 1 wherein a first cover plate of the pair of cover plates comprises a peg and a second cover plate of the pair of cover plates comprises a receiving boss;

and

wherein the peg is configured to connect with the receiving boss through a hole in the frame to secure and align the pair of cover plates with the frame.

10. The level tool of claim 1 wherein the pair of cover plates define a pair of hang holes spaced opposite each other that cooperate to form a hang opening that extends completely through the body.

11. A level tool comprising:

a body including a cover plate; and

a vial supported by the body,

wherein the cover plate comprises a first portion formed from a first plastic and a second portion formed from a second plastic different from the first plastic,

wherein the first portion is integrally molded with the second portion.

12. The level tool of claim 11 wherein the first portion is integrally molded with the second portion by a dual plastic injection molding process.

13. The level tool of claim 11 wherein the first portion is integrally molded with the second portion by a dual plastic injection molding process using a mold having a first cavity corresponding to a shape of the first portion and a second cavity corresponding to a shape of the second portion, and

wherein the cover plate is formed by injection of a shot of molten plastic material of the first color into the first cavity and a shot of molten plastic material of the second color into the second cavity, wherein the molten plastic material of the first color and the molten plastic material of the second color come into contact and solidify to form the cover plate.

14. The level tool of claim 11 wherein the first portion of the cover plate comprises a vial window to display the vial supported by the body, wherein the first plastic and the second plastic have different colors.

15. The level tool of claim 14 wherein the first plastic is of a color that enhances a visibility of the vial.

16. The level tool of claim 14 wherein the first plastic has a lighter color than the second plastic.

17. The level tool of claim 11 wherein the first portion of the cover plate comprises a vial window to display the vial supported by the body, wherein the first plastic and the second plastic have different densities.

18. The level tool of claim 11 further comprising a frame, wherein the frame and the cover plate are integrally molded as a one-piece member.

19. The level tool of claim 11 wherein the cover plate comprises a first cover plate, the level tool further comprising a frame a second cover plate,

wherein the first and second cover plates are arranged on opposite sides of the frame,

wherein the first cover plate comprises a peg,

wherein the second cover plate comprises a receiving boss, and

wherein the peg is configured to mate with the receiving boss through a hole in the frame to secure and align the first and second cover plates with the frame.

20. The level tool of claim 12 wherein the dual plastic injection molding process is selected from the group consisting of an insert molding process, a two-shot molding process and co-injection molding process.