ILLUMINATED SPIRIT LEVEL

• US 3,584,212 A
• Filed: 03/27/1969
• Issued: 06/08/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Willy Hansen
• Original Assignee: Willy Hansen
• Inventors: Hansen, Willy
• Application Number:
  US04/810,979
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• US Class Current: 33/348.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/18 by using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/32 Means for facilitating the observation of the position of the bubble, e.g. illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

An illuminated spirit level is provided having a plurality of spirit level containers mounted therein along with a plurality of light sources for selectively illuminating the spirit level containers. A gravity switch is provided having a movable ball of conductive material which selectively closes normally open contacts to one or more of the light sources in the level depending on the positioning of the level.

Claims

1. An illuminated spirit level comprising a. a rectangular body with two sets of parallel workpiece engaging surfaces which are perpendicular, b. a plurality of spaced openings along said body having spirit level containers mounted therein, c. a light source positioned in each of said openings for illuminating said spirit level containers when actuated, d. gravity switch means having a circular-shaped enclosed chamber mounted in said body and containing a freely movable ball of conducting material, said chamber having a plurality of pairs of conducting members forming normally open switch contacts, said pairs of switch contacts being positioned in said circular chamber at substantially 90* intervals and being generally perpendicular to at least one set of workpiece engaging surfaces, said ball adapted to close any given pair of switch contacts depending on the position of said body, e. a source of potential mounted in said body, f. circuit means interconnecting said source of potential, said light sources and said switch contacts such that said light sources are selectively illuminated when said ball engages a pair of said switch contacts depending on the position of said body.

2. The illuminated spirit level set forth in claim 1 wherein said pairs of switch contacts are so formed to provide a depression therebetween for lodging said ball therein.

3. The illuminated spirit level set forth in claim 1 wherein said enclosed chamber is enclosed by a pair of transparent windows on which the ball lies when the body of the level is positioned on a surface other than a workpiece engaging surface, whereby all the switch contacts are open and the level is not illuminated.