Leveling device

• US 20090158603A1
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Spaulding, James, Murray, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,685,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/228
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/308 the adhesive tape or sheet losing adhesive strength when being stretched, e.g. stretch adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/35 Heat-activated
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/26 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1089 of discrete laminae to single face of additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/109 Embedding of laminae within face of additional laminae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1093 with covering of discrete laminae with additional lamina

Abstract

A device includes a housing, a vial carried by the housing, a light source carried by the housing, and a base movably connected to the housing. The base and the housing have cooperating structures so as to allow movement of the housing and the base relative to each other along an arc. The base is mountable on a reference surface, and the light source is arranged to form a line of light on the reference surface.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing;

a vial carried by the housing;

a light source carried by the housing; and

a base movably connected to the housing, the base and the housing having cooperating structures so as to allow movement of the housing and the base relative to each other along an arc, the base being mountable on a reference surface, and the light source being arranged to form a line of light on the reference surface.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one mount for removably mounting the base to a reference surface, the mount comprising an adhesive and a tab that extends from the adhesive, the adhesive being configured to adhere to the surface and the base when the base is mounted to the surface and removed from the surface without damaging the surface by moving the tab in a direction substantially parallel to the surface.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a laser for forming a beam of light.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the light source further comprises a lens that converts the beam of light into a plane of light for forming a line on the reference surface.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an arcuate slot and the base comprises a protrusion that is received by the slot, the arcuate slot being defined such that a center of rotation is offset from the center of the device.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the arcuate slot and protrusion are configured to allow a rotation of the housing relative to the base of about 20°

.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises a predefined area to receive the mount, the predefined area comprises a wall that extends in a direction away from the housing, the wall being shorter than the thickness of the mount.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the predefined area is configured to receive at least two mounts.

9. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spacers that are configured to move between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position away from the housing, wherein when the spacers are in the extended position, the spacers are configured to engage the reference surface and provide a space between the reference surface and the mount.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the spacers are configured to be moved to the retracted position by pressing the spacers against the reference surface.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the arc forms part of a circle.

12. A device comprising:

a housing;

a light source carried by the housing and arranged to form a line of light on a reference surface;

a leveling device for positioning the light source so that the line of light projects on the reference surface in a desired orientation;

an adhesive for removably mounting the housing to a reference surface; and

a plurality of spacers configured to be movable between an extended position away from the housing and a retracted position at least partially within the housing, the plurality of spacers being configured to create a space between the reference surface and the adhesive when in the extended position relative to the housing and to allow the adhesive to contact the reference surface when in the retracted position relative to the housing.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of spacers are configured to be moved to the retracted position by pressing the plurality of spacers against the reference surface.

14. A device according to claim 12, wherein the light source comprises a laser for forming a beam of light.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein the leveling device comprises a level.

16. A device according to claim 12, wherein the leveling device comprises a pendulum.

17. A method for mounting a device to a reference surface, the device comprising a housing for supporting at least one level, and a base movably connected to the housing, the method comprising:

attaching at least one mount to the base;

extending at least one spacer from the housing and past the base and the at least one mount;

placing the at least one spacer against the reference surface; and

applying a force to the housing so as to move the at least one spacer into the housing.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising adjusting the orientation of the housing relative to the base by moving the housing along an arcuate path.

19. A method for mounting a device to a wall, the device comprising a base for mounting on the wall, and a housing movably connected to the base, the housing supporting at least one bubble vial and at least one light source for generating a beam of light on the wall on which the base is to be mounted, the method comprising:

attaching the base to the wall; and

moving the housing relative to the base along an arcuate path to adjust the beam of light in accordance with the bubble vial.

20. A method for mounting a device to a reference surface, the device comprising a light source for generating a beam of light, and an adhesive for mounting the device to the reference surface, the method comprising:

maintaining at least one spacer in an extended condition from the device as the device is moved relative to the reference surface; and

forcing the device toward the reference surface so as to cause the spacer to retract and the adhesive to engage the reference surface, thereby adhering the device to the reference surface.