LEVEL

• US 20160138916A1
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Foran, Thomas P., Doyle, Matthew, Leidel, Matthew, Neitzell, Roger D., LaSota, Richard J., Boehme, Christopher F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,001,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/32 Means for facilitating the observation of the position of the bubble, e.g. illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/36 of the spherical type, i.e. for indicating the level in all directions

Abstract

A level includes a frame having a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, and a web coupling the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface. The top planar surface and the bottom planar surface are parallel. The level further includes a vial supported by the frame. The vial has a longitudinal axis passing through a center of the vial and a body defining an interior containing a liquid and an indicator bubble. The level further includes a plurality of LEDs. Each of the LEDs has a light emitting point, and each of the plurality of LEDs is positioned adjacent an end of the vial and is oriented such that the light emitting point is positioned within the interior of the body of the vial.

Claims

1. A level, comprising:

a frame including a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, and a web coupling the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface, the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface being parallel;

a vial supported by the frame, the vial having a longitudinal axis passing through a center of the vial and a body defining an interior containing a liquid and an indicator bubble; and

a plurality of LEDs, each of the LEDs has a light emitting point, and each of the plurality of LEDs is positioned adjacent an end of the vial and is oriented such that the light emitting point is positioned within the interior of the body of the vial.

2. The level of claim 1, wherein the vial further includes a plurality of end caps with one of the end caps positioned at each end of the vial body, wherein each of the end caps supports one of the plurality of LEDs relative to the vial.

3. The level of claim 2, wherein each of the end caps extends at least partially into the interior of the body, wherein each of the end caps defines a well that extends at least partially into the interior of the body and at least partially receives the corresponding one of the plurality of LEDs.

4. The level of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of LEDs is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the vial.

5. The level of claim 1, wherein the level further includes a light sensitive component that emits light in response to exposure to light emitted by the plurality of LEDs to illuminate at least one of the body, the liquid, and the indicator bubble of the vial.

6. The level of claim 5, wherein the light sensitive component includes a sleeve positioned within the interior of the body of the vial, the sleeve reflects at least a portion of the light emitted by the LEDs to increase dispersion of the light within the vial.

7. The level of claim 5, wherein the light emitted by the plurality of LEDs includes UV light, wherein the UV light has a wavelength between about 375 nanometers and about 410 nanometers, and wherein the light sensitive component emits visible light in response to exposure to the UV light.

8. The level of claim 1, wherein the fluid includes a light sensitive component that emits visible light in response to exposure to light emitted by the plurality of LEDs to illuminate at least one of the body, the liquid, and the indicator bubble of the vial.

9. A level, comprising:

a frame including a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, and a web coupling the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface, the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface being parallel;

a plurality of vials each supported by the frame including a first vial having a first longitudinal axis that is oriented at a first vial orientation, and a second vial having a second longitudinal axis that is oriented at a second vial orientation not parallel with the first vial orientation;

a first light source associated with the first vial;

a second light source associated with the second vial; and

an orientation sensor configured to turn on the first light source when the level is oriented in a first level orientation corresponding to the first vial orientation to illuminate the first vial, the orientation sensor configured to turn on the second light source when the level is oriented in a second level orientation corresponding to the second vial orientation to illuminate the second vial.

10. The level of claim 9, wherein the longitudinal axis of the first vial is parallel to the top planar surface in the first vial orientation, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the second vial is perpendicular to the top planar surface in the second vial orientation.

11. The level of claim 9, wherein the orientation sensor includes an accelerometer.

12. The level of claim 9, further comprising a controller, wherein the first light source, the second light source, and the orientation sensor are coupled to the controller.

13. The level of claim 9, wherein the vial further includes a plurality of end caps with one of the end caps positioned at each end of one of the first and second vials, wherein each of the end caps supports one of the first and second light sources relative to the vial.

14. The level of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second light sources has a light emitting point, and wherein each of the first and second light sources is positioned adjacent an end of one of the first and second vials and oriented such that the light emitting point is positioned within the interior of the body of the vial.

15. The level of claim 9, wherein the level further includes a light sensitive component that reacts with light emitted by one of the first and second light sources to illuminate the corresponding one of the first and second vials.

16. A level, comprising:

a frame including a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, and a web coupling the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface, the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface being parallel;

a vial supported by the frame;

a first constituent contained within the vial;

a second constituent contained within the vial and movable within the first constituent in response to orientation of the level; and

a third constituent contained within the vial and cooperating with the first and second constituents to increase visibility of the second constituent within the first constituent.

17. The level of claim 16, wherein the first constituent is a first fluid and the second constituent is a second fluid that is immiscible with the first constituent, the second fluid forming a globule.

18. The level of claim 17, wherein the third constituent is a third fluid that is immiscible relative to both the first fluid and the second fluid.

19. The level of claim 17, wherein the third constituent includes a solid particulate.

20. The level of claim 16, wherein the second constituent has an exterior surface defined at an interface between the first constituent and the second constituent, wherein the third constituent is selected to collect at the interface to at least partially cover the exterior surface and accentuate the exterior surface of the second constituent.

21. The level of claim 20, wherein the third constituent is configured so that if the third constituent becomes separated from the exterior surface of the second constituent the third constituent returns to the second constituent in a predetermined amount of time.

22. The level of claim 16, wherein the first constituent is oil, the second constituent is water, and the third constituent is soap.

23. The level of claim 16, wherein the first constituent is a fluid, the second constituent is a solid sphere, and the third constituent is a solid outer surround that partially encloses the sphere.

24. The level of claim 23, wherein the solid outer surround defines a window that the solid sphere partially extends out of to allow the solid sphere and the solid outer surround to roll within the vial as the level is tilted.