LEVEL INCLUDING REMOVABLE END CAPS

• US 20160138918A1
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• 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: Boehme, Christopher F., Reiland, Fraizier, Neitzell, Roger D., Christianson, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,909,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G01C 9/34 of the tubular type, i.e. for indicating the level in one direction only

Abstract

A level includes a frame supporting a plurality of vials and having an aperture disposed on an end of the level. The level also includes an end cap assembly detachably coupled to the end of the frame. The end cap assembly includes an end cap and a retainer. A portion of the end cap is received in the aperture and is maintained in engagement with the frame by the retainer.

Claims

1. A level comprising:

a frame supporting a plurality of level vials and including an aperture disposed on an end of the level;

an end cap assembly detachably coupled to the end of the frame, the end cap assembly including an end cap and a retainer;

wherein a portion of the end cap is received in the aperture and is maintained in engagement with the frame by the retainer.

2. The level of claim 1, wherein the end cap further includes a movable tab that engages the frame.

3. The level of claim 2, wherein the movable tab is biased into engagement with the frame by a movable leg of the retainer.

4. The level of claim 1, wherein the end cap includes an opening that receives the retainer.

5. The level of claim 1, wherein the retainer is constructed from a material that is less flexible than the end cap.

6. The level of claim 1, wherein each level vial defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axis of one of the plurality of level vials is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of another of the plurality of level vials.

7. The level of claim 1, wherein the frame includes an I-beam shaped cross section having a top planar surface connected to a bottom planar surface by an intermediate surface extending orthogonally between the top and bottom planar surfaces.

8. The level of claim 7, wherein the end cap includes a channel for receiving the intermediate surface.

9. The level of claim 8, wherein the end cap further includes a movable tab disposed adjacent to the channel.

10. The level of claim 9, wherein the movable tab includes a finger that engages the frame, and the retainer includes a movable leg biasing the movable tab to maintain engagement between the finger and the frame.

11. The level of claim 7, wherein the aperture is formed through the intermediate surface.

12. The level of claim 10, wherein the end cap includes a movable tab that is received within the aperture, the movable tab being biased into engagement with a portion of the frame by a movable leg of the retainer.

13. The level of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a generally hollow rectangular cross section having an upper planar surface, a lower planar surface, and two sidewalls extending therebetween, wherein a passageway is bounded by interior surfaces of the upper planar surface, the lower planar surface, and the two sidewalls.

14. The level of claim 10, wherein the aperture is formed one of the sidewalls.

15. The level of claim 11, wherein the end cap is received within the passageway, and wherein the end cap includes a movable tab that is received within the aperture.

16. The level of claim 12, wherein the retainer biases the movable tab into the aperture to prevent removal of the end cap from the passageway.

17. A method for attaching an end cap assembly to a level, the end cap assembly including an end cap and a retainer, the method comprising:

attaching the end cap to an end of the level such that a movable tab of the end cap is received in an aperture of the level; and

inserting the retainer clip into an opening in the end cap, causing a movable leg of the retainer to maintain secure engagement of the movable tab with a frame of the level.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein attaching the end cap further includes aligning a channel of the end cap with a section of the frame such that the section of the frame is received within the channel.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the movable tab includes a finger that engages the frame of the level.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein inserting the retainer clip further includes aligning a flange of the movable leg with a flange of the movable tab.