Structure mountable assembly

• US 7,174,648 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastway Fair Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Eastway Fair Company Limited
• Inventors: Long, Charles Keith, Moore, Kevin A., Macias, Lilia F., Wacker, Charles M., McCracken, Robert E., Knight, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUADALUPE, YARITZA
• Application Number:
  US11/349,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20060185181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 332/83, 33285-286, 33370-371, 333/47, 33D/IG.2, 33290-291, 33D/IG.21
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

A modular tool assembly including a tool base configured to releasably secure a modular tool arrangement in a fixed relationship relative to a mounting surface. The tool base includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion having a mounting seal extending therefrom. The mounting seal cooperates with the mounting surface to define a vacuum pocket therebetween. A vacuum generating mechanism is configured to remove air from the vacuum pocket through an aperture in the lower housing portion. A modular tool attachment releasably engages a portion of the tool base to secure the modular tool attachment to the tool base. The modular tool attachment can include a self leveling laser leveling device having a laser light source mounted within a housing to project an alignment beam through an opening in the housing to denote a reference plane along the mounting surface.

Claims

1. A structure mountable assembly comprising:

a. a base including;

i. a housing,

ii. a mounting seal extending from a portion of the housing, and

iii. a vacuum generating mechanism disposed within the housing and including a pump; and

b. a housing connected to the base and rotatable with respect to the base, the housing including;

i. a self-leveling mechanism including a frame in the shape of a T, with a horizontal portion defining two arms, and

ii. at least one light source disposed on at least one arm, wherein an alignment beam is projected through an aperture in the housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the self leveling mechanism provides self-leveling in at least two directions.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the self-leveling mechanism has a vertical portion with a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end connecting the arms.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a weight located adjacent the distal end.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing is selectively and independently rotatable in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction with respect to the base.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser including at least one diode to emit light.

7. The assembly of claim 6 further including a lens to receive light from the diode and emit a planar beam of light.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the lens is rotatable with respect to the diode to change an orientation of the planar beam of light.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the lens is mounted on the arm.

10. The assembly of claim 6 further comprising at least one laser including at least one diode to emit light disposed on each arm of the self-leveling mechanism.

11. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a motor to drive the pump and a power source electrically connected to the motor.

12. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising one or more level indicators provided on the housing.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the base includes a top portion and a bottom portion with the top portion being movable with respect to the bottom portion.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the self-leveling mechanism includes:

a. a rocking block seat positionally fixed with respect to the housing;

b. a rocking block rotatably mounted on the rocking block seat and linked to the frame such that the frame can pivot with respect to the housing.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the rocking block is linked to the frame such that the frame can pivot with respect to the rocking block.