Level with Removable and/or Interchangeable Sleeve

• US 20180094925A1
• Filed: 10/04/2017
• Published: 04/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (Techtronic Industries Company Limited)
• Inventors: Mackey, Eric S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,591,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/26 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/34 of the tubular type, i.e. for indicating the level in one direction only

Abstract

A tool, such as a level, including one or more covers or sleeves is provided. The level body and sleeve each have a cooperating engagement structure that allows the sleeve to be removably coupled to the level body. A level kit including a level body and a plurality of removable sleeves is also provided.

Claims

1. A level comprising:

a level body formed from a metal material, the level body comprising;

an upper surface;

a lower surface opposite the upper surface;

a wall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the wall defining an outwardly facing, left side surface and an outwardly facing, right side surface;

a first channel defined in the wall and recessed relative to the left side surface;

a second channel defined in the wall and recessed relative to the right side surface; and

a level vial supported by the level body; and

a protective outer cover comprising;

an outer surface;

an inner surface;

a body between the outer surface and the inner surface;

a first rib extending inwardly away from the inner surface; and

a second rib extending inwardly away from the inner surface;

wherein the first rib is received by the first channel and the second rib is received into the second channel, wherein engagement between the first rib and first channel and the second rib and between the second channel couples the protective outer cover to the level body.

2. The level of claim 1, wherein the level body is formed from a metal material and the protective outer cover is formed from a polymer material.

3. The level of claim 2, wherein the level body is formed from a single integral piece of metal material, wherein the body of the protective outer cover is formed from a single, integral piece of polymer material, wherein the protective outer cover has a maximum length measured in a longitudinal direction that is at least 90% of a maximum length of the level body measured in the longitudinal direction.

4. The level of claim 1, wherein the body of the protective outer cover includes a pair of vertical sidewalls extending away from an end wall, wherein the first rib and the second rib extend inward from portions of the inner surface defined by the vertical sidewalls, wherein heights of the vertical sidewalls are less than a height of the wall of the level body such that portions of the left and right side surfaces of the level body and the upper surface of the level body are not covered by the protective outer cover.

5. The level of claim 4, wherein the end wall of the protective outer cover is located adjacent to and below the lower surface of the level body such that the end wall of the protective outer cover covers the lower surface of the level body.

6. The level of claim 1, wherein the first channel and the second channel each define an opening located at a first end of the level body, wherein the first channel and the second channel both extend longitudinally relative to the left and right side surfaces from the first end of the level body toward a second end of the level body, wherein the ribs of the protective outer cover slidably engage the first and second channels of the level body.

7. The level of claim 6, wherein a height dimension of the first channel is less than a height dimension of the first rib of the protective outer cover such that engagement between the first channel and the first rib limits movement of the protective outer cover away from the level body in a direction perpendicular to the left side surface, wherein a height dimension of the second channel is less than a height dimension of the second rib of the protective outer cover such that engagement between the second channel and the second rib limits movement of the protective outer cover away from the level body in a direction perpendicular to the right side surface.

8. The level of claim 1, wherein the wall of the level body includes an inner surface that defines an open central cavity that extends an entire length of the level body between opposing first and second ends of the level body, wherein the first channel and the second channel do not extend all of the way through the wall of the level body, and the ribs of the protective outer cover do not extend through the level body, into the open central cavity of the level body.

9. The level body of claim 1, wherein the protective outer cover includes a window formed from a transparent material supported by the body of the protective outer cover, wherein the window is positioned adjacent the level vial such that the level vial is viewable through the window.

10. A level kit comprising:

a level body formed from a metal material and defining a longitudinal axis;

a level vial supported by the level body;

a first protective outer sleeve removably coupled to the level body; and

a second protective outer sleeve configured to be removably coupled to the level body in place of the first protective outer sleeve.

11. The level kit of claim 10, wherein the first protective outer sleeve defines a first profile shape when viewed in cross-section at a first position in the longitudinal direction, wherein the second protective outer sleeve defines a second profile shape when viewed in cross-section at the first position in the longitudinal direction, wherein the first profile shape is different than the second profile shape.

12. The level kit of claim 10, wherein the first protective sleeve includes a rib extending from an inner surface of the first protective sleeve that is slidably engaged with a channel defined along an outer surface of the level body, wherein the second protective outer sleeve includes a rib extending from an inner surface of the second protective sleeve and shaped to slidably engage the channel.

13. The level kit of claim 12, wherein the channel extends from a first end of the level body in a longitudinal direction along the level body, wherein a height dimension of the channel is less than a height dimension of the rib of the first protective outer sleeve, wherein the height dimension of the channel is less than a height dimension of the rib of the second protective outer sleeve.

14. The level kit of claim 12, wherein the level body is formed from a single integral piece of metal material, wherein the first protective outer sleeve comprises a single, integral piece of polymer material that has a maximum length measured in a longitudinal direction that is at least 90% of a maximum length of the level body measured in the longitudinal direction.

15. A method of using a level comprising:

providing a level comprising a level body, a level vial supported by the level body and a first protective sleeve removably coupled to the level body and surrounding at least a portion of an outer surface of the level body when viewed in cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the level body;

removing the first protective sleeve from the level body; and

coupling a second protective sleeve to the level body in place of the first protective sleeve such that the second protective sleeve surrounds at least a portion of an outer surface of the level body when viewed in cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the level body.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the removing comprises sliding the first protective sleeve relative to the level body in a first longitudinal direction such that a rib of first protective sleeve disengages from a channel defined in the level body.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the coupling comprises aligning a rib of the second protective sleeve with the channel and sliding the second protective sleeve relative to the level body in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction such that the rib of the second protective sleeve is received into the channel.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second protective sleeve comprises a transparent window, the method further comprising aligning the transparent window of the second protective sleeve with the level vial such that the level vial is viewable through the transparent window.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein during the coupling of the second protective sleeve to the level body, a portion of a side surface of the level body and a planar base surface of the level body are covered by the second protective sleeve.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

coupling a first end cap to a first end of the level body after the coupling of the second protective sleeve to the level body; and

coupling a second end cap to a second end of the level body after the coupling of the second protective sleeve to the level body.