CARBON FIBER COMPOSITE LEVEL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME

• US 20190323837A1
• Filed: 07/02/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
• Inventors: PELLETIER, Thomas, CHERNYSHOU, Aliaksei, WOOLLEY, Christopher, KOMULAINEN, Johannes, HONKANEN, Juha
• Granted Patent: US 11,073,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 9/26 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/34 of the tubular type, i.e. for indicating the level in one direction only

Abstract

A level comprising a level body and a bubble vial mounted on the level body is provided. A top opening in the level body interrupts at least a portion of a top wall of the level body to accommodate the bubble vial. An internal support structure is disposed within the tubular configuration of the level body and spanning longitudinally along the level body so as to be disposed on both sides of the top opening to provide structural support to the level body in the vicinity of the top opening. The internal support structure includes a base portion, a pair of legs extending upwardly from the base portion, and an opening disposed between the pair of upwardly extending legs. A carrier structure is disposed in the opening of the internal support structure and positioned beneath the bubble vial and between the internal support structure and the bubble vial.

Claims

1. A level comprising:

a level body; and

a bubble vial mounted on the level body;

wherein the level body has a generally tubular configuration including a top wall and a bottom wall generally parallel to one another, and a pair of spaced side walls;

a top opening in the level body that interrupts at least a portion of the top wall to accommodate the bubble vial;

an internal support structure disposed within the tubular configuration of the level body and spanning longitudinally along the level body so as to be disposed on both sides of the top opening to provide structural support to the level body in the vicinity of the top opening,

wherein the internal support structure includes a base portion, a pair of legs extending upwardly from the base portion, and an opening disposed between the pair of upwardly extending legs, and

a carrier structure disposed in the opening of the internal support structure and positioned beneath the bubble vial and between the internal support structure and the bubble vial.

2. The level of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure is formed of metal material.

3. The level of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure comprises a generally U-shaped configuration.

4. The level of claim 1, wherein, when the internal support structure is seated inside the level body, top surfaces of the pair of upwardly extending legs abut inside surfaces of the top wall of the level body immediately beyond the top opening, and bottom surface of the base portion abuts inside surface of the bottom wall of the level body.

5. The level of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure has a thickness that is substantially the size of a space spanning inner surfaces of the side walls of the level body such that front surface and back surface of the internal support structure abut the inner surfaces of side walls of the level body.

6. The level of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate structure disposed in the opening of the internal support structure,

wherein the intermediate structure is positioned beneath the bubble vial and between the carrier structure and the bubble vial.

7. The level of claim 6, wherein the intermediate structure is constructed and arranged to cushion the bubble vial.

8. The level of claim 6, wherein the intermediate structure extends along an entire length of the bottom of the bubble vial.

9. The level of claim 1, wherein the carrier structure includes a plastic material.

10. The level of claim 1, wherein the carrier structure extends along an entire length of the bottom of the bubble vial.

11. The level of claim 1, wherein the carrier structure is constructed and arranged to secure the bubble vial to the internal support structure.

12. The level of claim 1, wherein the internal support structure is secured to inside surfaces of the level body.

13. The level of claim 1, wherein the length of the internal support structure is longer than the length of the top opening in the level body.

14. A method for assembling a level, the level comprising a level body and a bubble vial, the level body having a generally tubular configuration including a top wall and a bottom wall generally parallel to one another, and a pair of spaced side walls, a top opening in the level body that interrupts at least a portion of the top wall to accommodate the bubble vial, an internal support structure including a base portion and a pair of legs extending upwardly from the base portion, the internal support structure having an opening disposed between the pair of upwardly extending legs, and a carrier structure disposed in the opening of the internal support structure and positioned beneath the bubble vial and between the internal support structure and the bubble vial, the method comprising:

inserting the internal support structure through an end of the level body such that the internal support structure is disposed within the tubular configuration of the level body and spanning longitudinally along the level body so as to be disposed on both sides of the top opening to provide structural support to the level body in the vicinity of the top opening; and

inserting the carrier structure and the bubble vial into the opening of the internal support structure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the inserting includes sliding the internal support structure through the end of the level body and then moving the internal support structure to the center of the level body such that the internal support structure is disposed within the tubular configuration of the level body and spanning longitudinally along the level body so as to be disposed on both sides of the top opening to provide structural support to the level body in the vicinity of the top opening.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising securing the internal support structure to inside surfaces of the level body when the internal support structure is disposed within the tubular configuration of the level body and spanning longitudinally along the level body so as to be disposed on both sides of the top opening to provide structural support to the level body in the vicinity of the top opening.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the inserting the internal support structure through the end of the level body comprises aligning the opening of the internal support structure with the top opening in the level body.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the inserting of the carrier structure and the bubble vial into the opening of the internal support structure occurs after the aligning the opening of the internal support structure with the top opening in the level body.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising mounting the bubble vial on the carrier structure after the carrier structure is inserted into the opening of the internal support structure.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the carrier structure is disposed between the internal support structure and the bubble vial.