Level

• US 6,792,686 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krehel, Gregg C., Baker, Bernie W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REIS, TRAVIS M
• Application Number:
  US10/753,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20040143981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 333/47, 333/48, 333/65, 333/70, 333/71, 333/77, 333/79, 333/81, 333/82, 334/51
• US Class Current: 33/382
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/26 Details

Abstract

A level comprises an extruded thin wall frame structure having an opening of I-shaped configuration extending from end to end thereof. The thin wall frame structure includes a pair of elongated operative walls each having a pair of transversely spaced inwardly turned flanges defining the width thereof and an exterior operative surface extending between the flanges thereof. The operative surfaces are planar and parallel. A pair of angular walls extend from each pair of spaced flanges in converging relation with one another and a pair of central walls are spaced apart in the direction of the width of the operative walls a distance less than the width of the operative walls and integrally interconnected between the pairs of angular walls extending from the flanges. The operative walls and the central walls having a plurality of wall openings therein.

An end member closes the opening at each end of the thin wall frame structure. Each end member has structure constructed and arranged to cooperate with the configuration of the thin wall frame structure to fixedly secure each end member in closing relation with respect to the associated end of the thin wall frame structure. A level indicating vial system has structure constructed and arranged to cooperate with the configuration of the thin wall frame structure to fixedly secure the level indicating vial system therein.

Claims

1. A level comprising:

a wall frame structure integrally formed from an open ended section of a hollow metal structure, said wall frame structure including a pair of elongated exterior operative surfaces, each of said operative surfaces connected with a pair of transversely spaced exterior flange surfaces generally defining a width of said operative surfaces;

a pair of exterior angular surfaces extending from each pair of spaced flange surfaces in converging relation with one another;

a pair of exterior central surfaces each integrally connected with an associated one of the angular surfaces, said central surfaces being spaced apart in the direction of the width of said operative surfaces a distance less than the width of said operative surfaces, wherein said central surfaces are generally parallel with respect to each other;

said pair of elongated exterior operative surfaces, said pair of exterior angular surfaces and said pair of exterior central surfaces cooperate to define an outer periphery of said wall frame structure, the outer periphery having a generally I-shaped configuration;

wherein an internal configuration of the integrally formed wall frame structure defines a substantially open space;

an end member closing the opening at each end of said wall frame structure, each end member having structure cooperating with the configuration of said wall frame structure so as to be fixedly secured in closing relation with respect to the associated end of said wall frame structure; and

a level indicating vial system having structure constructed and arranged to cooperate with the configuration of said wall frame structure to fixedly secure the level indicating vial system therein;

said wall frame structure having a hand hold assembly within longitudinally elongated aligned openings in said central surfaces, said hand hold assembly having structure constructed and arranged to cooperate with the configuration of said wall frame structure to fixedly secure the hand hold assembly within said elongated aligned openings so as to present a hand hold opening through said central surfaces,

wherein said hand hold assembly includes an inner core of relatively hard material and an outer layer of elastomeric material.

2. A level as defined in claim 1, wherein said level indicating vial system includes a horizontal level indicating vial assembly within an opening in one of said operative surfaces, and a pair of vertical level vial assemblies within aligned openings adjacent said end members.

3. A level as defined in claim 1, wherein said operative surfaces are planar and parallel.

4. A level as defined in claim 1, wherein a length of said central surfaces between the pairs of angular surfaces is greater than a length of said angular surfaces between said flange surfaces and central surfaces.

5. A level as defined in claim 1, wherein each end member includes an inner core of relatively hard material and an outer layer of elastomeric material,

wherein each end member includes an end portion extending outwardly of an adjacent end edge of the wall frame structure, each end portion having a pair of generally rectangular-shaped stand off members extending transversely therefrom adjacent each operative surface, the pair of stand off members having a substantially similar height from the end portion, and each end portion and stand off members thereof being formed by the outer layer of elastomeric material, and

wherein each end portion has parallel exterior oppositely facing operative end surfaces forming continuations of the operative surfaces, the end surfaces extending from an exterior transverse rear surface thereof to an inwardly extending end edge, and the end edges extend perpendicularly from the end surfaces toward each other and are formed by the inner core of relatively hard material.

6. A level comprising:

an integrally formed hollow body formed from a metallic material, said body having openings at the opposite ends thereof and including i) a pair of generally parallel exterior operative surfaces, ii) a pair of generally parallel central wall surfaces, said central wall surfaces being perpendicular to said operative surfaces, iii) angled surfaces extending from each end of said central wall surfaces and forming an obtuse angle with respect to said central wall surfaces, and iv) a flange surface extending between said angled surfaces and said central wall surfaces;

wherein said integrally formed hollow body defines an interior space which is substantially open;

an end member closing the opening at each end of said hollow body;

a level indicating vial system carried by said hollow body;

said parallel central wall surfaces each having longitudinally elongated aligned openings; and

a hand hold assembly mounted at the elongated aligned openings and presenting hand hold opening surfaces extending through the aligned elongated openings in said central wall surfaces, wherein said hand hold assembly includes an inner core of a relatively hard material and an outer layer of elastomeric material.

7. A level as defined in claim 6, wherein said hand hold assembly is made from two mating halves.

8. A level as defined in claim 6, wherein each end member includes an inner core of relatively hard material extending into the respective opening at each end of the hollow body, and an elastomeric material overmolded onto a portion of the inner core disposed outside of the respective opening, said elastomeric material having protrusions extending outwardly therefrom so as to protrude beyond the flange surfaces on one side of said hollow body to provide elastomeric workpiece engaging surfaces.