Level

• US 6,988,320 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STABILA Messgeräte Gustav Ullrich GmbH
• Original Assignee: STABILA Messgeräte Gustav Ullrich GmbH
• Inventors: Kallabis, Gabriel, Schaefer, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, AMY COHEN
• Application Number:
  US10/376,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20030163927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 33365-402, 334/51
• US Class Current: 33/365
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/26 Details

Abstract

A water or spirit level is composed of an elongated body, preferably of metal, at least one bubble mounted in the elongated body, and end caps, preferably of plastics material, at the end faces of the elongated body, wherein at least one outer surface of the elongated body constitutes a preferred measuring surface. At least one of the end caps is releasably connected to the level body such that the end cap can optionally be removed and once again replaced.

Claims

1. A level comprising

an elongated level body,

at least one bubble placed in the level body,

an end cap mounted on each end of the level body, wherein

at least one outer surface of the level body is a measuring surface, and wherein

the level body having at least one wall arranged to extend between the outer surface and another outer surface substantially parallel to the measuring surface,

said end cap having an end member and a shaft extending along said wall, said shaft having a wall with a locking knob, said locking knob having an outer surface that protrudes beyond an outer surface of said wall of said shaft, said locking knob being resiliently connected to said wall of said shaft, said wall of said level body having a through opening for receiving said locking knob when said end cap is mounted on one of said ends of said level body,

said end caps being releasably attached to the level body, such that the end cap is selectively removable and insertable without tools.

2. The level according to claim 1, wherein the locking knob is connected to the shaft through webs.

3. The level according to claim 2, wherein the webs are arranged opposite each other in alignment and wherein the webs are twistable.

4. The level according to claim 3, wherein the webs are arranged adjacent a free end of the shaft.

5. The level according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is comprised of two parallel resilient walls.

6. The level according to claim 5, wherein a projection is integrally formed on each resilient wall, and wherein the projections are arranged so as to face each other.

7. The level according to claim 6, wherein free ends of the resilient walls are actuating surfaces.

8. The level according to claim 1, further comprising locking means for frictionally or positively engaging the end cap relative to the level body.

9. The level according to claim 1, wherein the locking knob has a circular circumference and a cylindrical outer surface.

10. The level according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is comprised of a hollow section.

11. The level according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is comprised of two pairs of parallel tongues and a resilient wall with the locking knob.

12. The level according to claim 1, wherein the shaft and the locking knob of the end cap are of a material of high strength, and an end plate of the end cap is of a softer, shock-absorbing material.