I-BEAM LEVEL

• US 20130192075A1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
• Inventors: SANCHEZ, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 33/379
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/28 Mountings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49778 with aligning, guiding, or instruction

Abstract

A level includes a body comprising a first portion having a first reference surface, and a second portion having a second reference surface, the second reference surface being spaced from the first reference surface. The body also includes an intermediate member comprising a wall positioned between the first and second portions, the wall being generally perpendicular to at least one of the reference surfaces. The level also includes an orientation indicator coupled to the intermediate member, the orientation indicator being positioned to indicate an orientation of at least one of the first and the second reference surfaces. The level additionally includes an indicator support configured to support the orientation indicator, and a resilient member positioned between the orientation indicator and the indicator support. A compression the resilient member facilitates a calibration of the orientation indicator, while the indicator support supports the resilient member and engages opposite sides of the wall.

Claims

1. A level comprising:

an extruded body, the body comprising;

a first portion having a first reference surface;

a second portion having a second reference surface, the second reference surface being spaced from the first reference surface; and

an intermediate member comprising a wall positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the wall being generally perpendicular to at least one of the reference surfaces;

an orientation indicator coupled to the intermediate member, the orientation indicator being positioned to indicate an orientation of at least one of the first and the second reference surfaces;

an indicator support configured to support the orientation indicator;

a resilient member positioned between the orientation indicator and the indicator support, wherein a compression the resilient member facilitates a calibration of the orientation indicator;

wherein the indicator support supports the resilient member and engages opposite sides of the wall.

2. The level of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first reference surface and the second reference surface recede from a first reference plane and/or a second reference plane, towards the intermediate member, such that only portions of the first reference surface and/or the second reference surface define the first reference plane and the second reference plane respectively.

3. The level of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion includes an aperture therein such that the orientation indicator is visible through the first reference surface and/or the second reference surface.

4. The level of claim 1, wherein the indicator support extends on opposite faces of the intermediate member.

5. The level of claim 4, wherein the orientation indicator is visible from each of the opposite faces of the intermediate member.

6. The level of claim 4, wherein the indicator support comprises a first support member and a second support member, each positioned on a respective face of the intermediate member, and secured to one another to secure the indicator support to the intermediate member.

7. The level of claim 6, wherein the first support member and the second support member are secured to one another by one or more engagement members.

8. The level of claim 7, wherein the one or more engagement members securing the first support member and the second support member comprise one or more of threaded fasteners, clips, clamp members, and adhesive.

9. The level of claim 1, further comprising a support platform formed on the indicator support, configured to receive the resilient member and the orientation indicator thereon.

10. The level of claim 9, wherein the support platform is planar.

11. The level of claim 1, further comprising one or more engagement members configured to apply a force against the orientation indicator into the indicator support to generate the compression of the portion of the resilient member.

12. The level of claim 11, wherein the one or more engagement members configured to apply the force against the orientation indicator into the indicator support comprises a threaded fastener extending through mounting portions of the orientation indicator, the resilient member and the indicator support, so as to apply a selective amount of force therebetween.

13. The level of claim 11, wherein the one or more engagement members configured to apply the force against the orientation indicator into the indicator support comprise an adjustable clamp member.

14. The level of claim 1, wherein the orientation indicator comprises a bubble vial containing a liquid and a bubble therein, the bubble vial being shaped such that an angular orientation thereof affects a position of the bubble relative to the bubble vial, and wherein the compression of the portion of the resilient member determines the angular orientation of the bubble vial relative to each of the first and the second reference planes.

15. The level of claim 14, wherein the bubble vial comprises a transparent material surrounding a chamber enclosing the liquid and bubble.

16. The level of claim 15, wherein the transparent material comprises one or more of glass or acrylic.

17. The level of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional orientation indicators, each associated with indicating a particular angle of the first and the second reference planes.

18. The level of claim 17, wherein the particular angle associated with the one or more additional indicators comprises one or more of 90°

, 45° and

0°

relative to a horizontal position of the first and second reference planes.

19. The level of claim 1, wherein the resilient member comprises one or more of rubber, deformable plastic, or another material configured to be selectively compressed at the portion thereof between the orientation indicator and the indicator support.

20. The level of claim 1, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the intermediate member are formed from one or more of aluminum, steel, elastomer, wood, plastic, or metal.

21. The level of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member are configured to retain one or more magnets therein, wherein outer surfaces of the one or more magnets are aligned with the first reference plane and/or the second reference plane.

22. A level comprising:

a body comprising;

a first portion having a first reference surface;

a wall extending from the first portion generally perpendicular to the first reference surface;

an orientation indicator coupled to the wall, the orientation indicator being positioned to indicate an orientation of the first reference surface;

an indicator support configured to support the orientation indicator on the wall;

a resilient member positioned between the orientation indicator and the indicator support, wherein a compression the resilient member facilitates a calibration of the orientation indicator;

wherein the indicator support supports the resilient member and engages opposite sides of the wall.

23. A method for manufacturing a level comprising:

extruding a body so as to provide the body with a first portion with a first reference surface, a second portion with a second reference surface, and a wall member between the first and second surfaces and disposed generally perpendicularly to at least one of the reference surfaces;

forming an opening in the first portion and in the wall member;

mounting an indicator support to the body;

mounting a resilient member on the indicator support;

mounting an orientation indicator on the resilient member and positioned to be visible through at least one of the openings; and

calibrating the orientation indicator relative to at least one of the reference surfaces, wherein the calibrating includes compression of the resilient member.