Method of using a level

• US 7,150,106 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• 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): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, AMY COHEN
• Application Number:
  US11/292,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20060143933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 333/65, 334/51, 333/79
• 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 method for transferring a line or marking onto walls of a room having a corner by using a level, the level including

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 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,

wherein for transferring the line or marking away from the corner onto the walls, the end caps are inserted into the level body and, for continuing the line or marking in the corner, one of the end caps is removed from the level body so as to expose an end face thereof, and the end face of the level body is placed into the corner.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising depressing the locking knob into the indentation or opening for releasing the end cap from the level body, such that the end cap can be pulled from the level body.