Laser line generating device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A line generating device, comprising:
- a housing comprising a support face that substantially extends along a first planar surface;
a light source mounted within the housing;
a power supply connected to the light source;
a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in the shape of a fan, wherein the housing and the fan substantially lies within a second planar surface that intersects the first planar surface at an angle;
at least one reference level on an outside of the housing;
a retractable pin extending from the line generating device;
an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and
a lever that contacts the pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for pushing the retractable pin into a surface.
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Abstract
A self-contained line generating device uses a laser diode and a lens to project a fan-shaped beam of visible light. The lens is useful for receiving light and transmitting light in an asymmetrical planar beam. The light is useful for aligning objects in a vertical or a horizontal line. The generator also includes a substantially flat face and leveling devices for leveling and orienting the generator onto a flat surface. Retractable pins enable a user to easily mount the line generator onto a wall and align objects.
193 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A line generating device, comprising:
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a housing comprising a support face that substantially extends along a first planar surface;
a light source mounted within the housing;
a power supply connected to the light source;
a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in the shape of a fan, wherein the housing and the fan substantially lies within a second planar surface that intersects the first planar surface at an angle;
at least one reference level on an outside of the housing;
a retractable pin extending from the line generating device;
an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and
a lever that contacts the pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for pushing the retractable pin into a surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. The device of claim 8, wherein said lever comprises a sliding member for moving the retractable pin into a surface.
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9. A line generating device, comprising:
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a housing having a face and a closable aperture;
a light source mounted within the housing;
a battery switchably connected to the light source;
a lens that receives light and projects the light;
a retractable pin and a second pin that each extend from the line generating device;
at least two bubble levels at right angles to each other on an outside of the housing;
an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the battery, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the battery and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the battery and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and
a lever that contacts the retractable pin and is attached to the line generating device whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for moving the retractable pin into a surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A line generating device, comprising:
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a housing;
a light source mounted within the housing;
a power supply connected to the light source;
a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in a direction of propagation in the shape of an elongated fan that substantially lies within a plane that is oriented at an angle with respect to the direction of propagation;
an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and
a lever that contacts a pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for moving the pin. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A line generating device, comprising:
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a housing comprising a substantially flat face;
a retractable pin extending from the line generating device;
a light source mounted within the housing;
an optical system that receives light and projects the light as a fan-shaped beam that lies substantially within a plane and forms a visible line at an intersection of the beam and a surface of interest;
an aperture in the housing the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to a power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and
a lever that contacts the retractable pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for moving the retractable pin into a surface. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A line generating device, comprising:
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a housing;
a retractable pin mounted for movement relative to the housing;
a light source mounted within the housing; and
a power supply connected to the light source;
an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the battery, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the battery and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the battery and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and
a lever that contacts the retractable pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for moving the retractable pin into a surface. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of aligning an object with a light beam, the method comprising:
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positioning a light generator with a retractable pin adjacent to a surface;
mounting the light generator to the surface via manually actuating the retractable pin without the use of external devices so that the retractable pin penetrates the surface;
generating light from the light generator along a direction of propagation so that a line is formed along the surface, wherein the line is interruptible in that should an impediment be positioned on the line, the line will be present on either side of the impediment, wherein the generating comprises moving a cover from a first position to a second position that causes light from the light generator to be generated and to pass through an exit that is blocked by the cover at the first position; and
placing an object so that a portion of the object is aligned by the light. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A line generating device, comprising:
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a housing comprising a support face that substantially extends along a first planar surface;
a light source mounted within the housing;
a power supply connected to the light source;
a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in the shape of a fan, wherein the housing and the fan substantially lies within a second planar surface that intersects the first planar surface at an angle;
at least one reference level on an outside of the housing;
a retractable pin extending from the line generating device, the pin comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is accessible exteriorly of the line generating device and the second end cannot be directly contacted exteriorly of the line generating device;
an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and
a lever that contacts the pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated exteriorly of the line generating device and such manual actuation causes the retractable pin to move. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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Specification