Laser tool for generating perpendicular lines of light on floor

• US 6,202,312 B1
• Filed: 03/08/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LeveLite Technology, Inc. (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Rando, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US09/264,371
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 332/27, 332/28, 332/81, 332/82, 332/85, 332/86, 33D/IG.21, 356/138, 359/813, 359/822
• US Class Current: 33/227
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

An apparatus and method for generating two or more visible lines of light on a floor for the purpose of facilitating the layout process used in construction. The apparatus comprises a light beam generator producing two or more beams of light at 90° to each other and in a plane parallel to the plane of the floor. Subsequently cylinder lenses on the apparatus spread the beams and position them on the floor or target providing visible reference lines.

Claims

1. A device for layout of objects or installations on a floor or other generally horizontal surface, along two angularly related lines on the floor or surface, comprising:

a platform or housing having a reference surface with means for holding the platform or housing in a position with the reference surface substantially parallel to the floor or other surface,

a light beam generator producing at least two beams of visible light at a desired angle relative to one another, the beams being collimated at least in one axis and the beams being generally parallel to the reference surface,

cylinder lens means in the path of at least one of the two beams, for spreading the beam into a fan of light essentially perpendicular to the reference surface,

adjustment means connected to the cylinder lens means, for enabling manual adjustment of the cylinder lens means up or down relative to the reference surface, so as to enable steering of the fan of light to direct it higher or lower, so as to form lines on the floor or other generally horizontal surface or on one or more adjacent walls or vertical surfaces, and

means on the platform or housing for marking or sighting on the floor the intersection of the two beams and of the two fans of light.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said desired angle between the two beams of light is 90°

.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cylinder lens means comprises a cylindrical lens, having an axis lying in a plane which is parallel to said reference surface.

4. The device of claim 1, including said cylinder lens means in the path of each of the beams of light.

5. The device of claim 4, including said adjustment means on each cylinder lens means.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for holding the platform or housing comprises said reference surface being a bottom surface of the platform or housing, for placement directly on the floor or other generally horizontal surface.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least three beams are projected from the light beam generator, each at 90°

relative to an adjacent one of the beams.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the device includes a cylinder lens means in the path of each beam.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the two beams of visible light are each fully collimated.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment means comprises an integrally molded plastic slide mount extending generally vertically up from the platform or housing adjacent to the light beam, and a slider mounted stably on the slide mount for generally vertical sliding adjustment, with a cylinder lens fixed to the slider.