Levelling and transit system

• US 5,519,942 A
• Filed: 03/02/1995
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Industrycloseouts.Com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: James Webb
• Inventors: Webb, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US08/397,588
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 33/290, 33/281, 33/282, 33/283, 33/285, 33/291, 33/340, 33/341, 33/370, 33/371, 33/407, 33/451, 33/DIG. 21, 33/375, 33/384, 33/387, 33/388, 356/138, 356/399
• US Class Current: 33/290
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/008 combined with inclination sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/28 Mountings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

A device for performing levelling and transit functions is disclosed herein having an elongated member with parallel spaced-apart top and bottom flat surfaces separated by a thickened web. The web includes several cutouts exposing bubble indicators arranged in a variety of orientations and includes a rotary module at one end movably mounting a laser beam generator. The module has a passageway conducting a laser beam to a selected one of several slots or passageways provided in the end of the member in response to manual rotation of the module by the user whereby the beam exits the device in a linear path. The web includes a housing adjacent to the module enclosing electrical circuits, battery power supply and button controls for operation of the laser. A pivoting panel is coextensive with the top flat surface in a stored position while pivotal to a position normal to the top flat surface when used as a corner square. A thumb adjustment screw protrudes from the web through a flat surface to angle the device if desired.

Claims

1. A level comprising:

an elongated member having a flat top surface and a bottom surface separated by a thickened web;

a selected end of said member having a slotted opening exposed at said end and at said top surface so as to define an opening having 90 degrees of exposure to ambient environment;

a circular module rotatably disposed on said member selected end; and

a laser beam generator secured to said module and being in alignment with said slotted opening for transmission of a laser beam from said member via said slotted opening.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including:

an open-ended passageway in said selected end of said member spaced from said slotted opening and angularly disposed with respect to said top surface and extending from said module to said top surface.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 including:

detent means releasably retaining said module to said member and permitting rotation of said module with respect to said member.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 including:

a control and power circuit mounted in said web and operably coupled to said laser beam generator.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 including:

a finger-grasping knob on said module for manually rotating said module for manually rotating said module in said member.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 including:

a panel pivotally carried on said member adjacent said bottom surface and having a storage position flush with and coextensive with said flat bottom surface; and

an operative position disposed normal to said flat bottom surface.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 including:

a plurality of bubble level indicators mounted on said web between said top and said bottom surfaces; and

said bubble level, indicators being elongated and having central longitudinal axis at different angles with respect to each other.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including:

a rotary projection carried on said member and having a support end extending beyond said flat bottom surface for adjustably extending said support end to a selected distance from said flat bottom surface.

9. A level and transit device comprising:

an elongated member having flat top and bottom surfaces separated by a thickened web maintaining said surfaces in fixed spaced-apart parallel relationship;

said web having a plurality of cutouts;

bubble indicators secured in each of said respective cutouts visually exposed from opposite sides of said web and through said flat top surface;

a selected end of said member web having a laser module rotatably mounted thereon;

said selected end of said member having open-ended passageways opening at said selected end and said top surface;

said laser module being movable for conducting the laser beam to a selected one of said member passageways in response to rotation of said laser module;

said web includes a housing adjacent to said laser module enclosing a circuit network;

a laser beam generator carried on said laser module for producing a linear laser beam;

circuit means connecting said circuit network with said laser beam generator;

a panel pivotally carried on said member having a storage position and an operative position;

said panel coextensive with said top flat surface when in said storage position;

said panel extending normal to said top flat surface when in said operative position to constitute a square in cooperation with said top flat surface;

said open-ended passageways include a pair of overlapping slots provided in said selected end of said member opening at said selected end and opening at said top surface whereby said laser beam radiates within a 90 degree passageway formed by said overlapping slots; and

said open-ended passageways further include a bore provided in said selected end of said member communicating said laser module with said top surface and said bore being angularly disposed with respect to said top flat surface.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 including:

adjustment means carried on said member having movable thumb screw projecting from said bottom flat surface for adjusting angular height of said member with respect to supporting structure.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 including:

detent means cooperating between said laser module and said member retaining said laser module in a selected location for conducting the laser beam to said overlapping slots and to said angular bore.