Laser line generating device with swivel base

• US 7,269,907 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nash, Derek J., Smith, John C., Spanski, Jeffrey L., Levine, Steven R., Gist, Leslie Daily
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett; G. Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen; Amy R.
• Application Number:
  US10/895,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20050155238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 332/86, 33D/IG.21, 332/85, 332/27, 332/28, 33/1.N, 33/1.D, 332/81, 332/82, 332/83, 333/54, 333/47, 333/76, 248/542, 248/923, 248/558, 248/458, 248/467, 248/130, 248/131, 248/425, 248/429, 248/371, 248/349.1, 248/183.2
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/008 combined with inclination sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/04 with continuous faces that are rotationally symmetrical but deviate from a true sphere , e.g. so called "aspheric" lenses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser

Abstract

A laser alignment device includes a laser generating device, an upper attachment portion, and a lower attachment portion. The laser generating device includes a housing and a laser generator. The upper attachment portion is disposed near a bottom of the housing, and the lower attachment portion is pivotally and/or rotationally connected to the upper attachment portion.

Claims

1. A laser alignment device disposable on a reference surface, comprising:

a laser generating device including a housing and a laser generator, the laser generator arranged to produce a fan shaped beam of light defining a plane; and

a base having bottom surface adapted for placement parallel to the reference surface, the base including an upper attachment portion arranged to receive a bottom portion of the housing and a lower attachment portion pivotally connected to the upper attachment portion, the lower attachment portion comprising;

an indicator ring having one or more tabs extending from a bottom surface thereof;

an indexing ring; and

a base portion that receives the one or more tabs thereby securing the indicator ring to the base portion with the indexing ring held between the indicator ring and the base portion such that the indicator ring is rotatable relative to the base portion,

wherein the housing and the base are coupled to one another to permit the fan shaped beam of light to propagate in a direction parallel to the plane of the bottom surface such that the plane of the fan shaped beam of light is arranged to extend perpendicular relative to the reference surface when the bottom surface is disposed adjacent the reference surface thereby creating a line of light on the reference surface.

2. The laser alignment device of claim 1, wherein the upper attachment portion is removably attached to the housing.

3. The laser alignment device of claim 1, wherein the upper attachment portion is integral to the housing.

4. The laser alignment device of claim 1, wherein the lower attachment portion is slideably connected to the upper attachment via a joining portion.

5. The laser alignment device of claim 4, wherein the upper attachment portion is disposed between a retainer of the joining portion and the lower attachment portion.

6. The laser alignment device of claim 5, wherein the retainer is attached to the lower attachment portion via one of a screw and a bolt.

7. The laser alignment device of claim 5, wherein the retainer includes a convex bottom surface that corresponds and slidingly engages with the upper attachment portion.

8. The laser alignment device of claim 1, wherein the upper attachment portion includes a convex bottom surface that corresponds and slidingly engages with a concave recess disposed in the lower attachment portion.

9. The laser alignment device of claim 1, wherein the lower attachment portion is rotatably connected to the upper attachment portion.

10. The laser alignment device of claim 1, further including an adhesive strip attached to a bottom surface of the lower attachment portion, wherein the adhesive strip is adapted to temporarily attach the laser alignment device to a working surface.

11. The laser alignment device of claim 10, wherein the laser alignment device, once attached to the working surface, may be removed from the working surface by pulling on a portion of the adhesive strip extending beyond the lower attachment portion.

12. The laser alignment device of claim 11, wherein the portion of the adhesive strip extending beyond the lower attachment portion is pulled in a direction generally parallel to the reference surface.

13. A laser alignment device for use adjacent a reference surface and comprising:

a housing having a laser generator, the laser generator adapted to produce a fan-shaped beam of light in a direction of propagation, the fan shaped beam of light defining a plane;

a base having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion adapted to releasably engage a portion of the housing, the bottom portion comprising;

an indicator ring having one or more tabs extending from a bottom surface thereof;

an indexing ring; and

a base portion that receives the one or more tabs thereby securing the indicator ring to the base portion with the indexing ring held between the indicator ring and the base portion such that the indicator ring is rotatable relative to the base portion, the base portion having a bottom surface comprising a plane arranged for placement parallel to a plane of the reference surface;

the top portion and the bottom portion connected to one another by a swivel connection arranged to permit the top portion to rotate relative to the bottom portion about a first axis extending perpendicular relative to the plane of the bottom surface; and

the laser generator oriented within the housing such that the direction of propagation is parallel to the plane of the bottom surface with the plane of the fan shaped beam of light oriented perpendicular relative to the plane of the bottom surface;

wherein a line of light may be formed on the reference surface when the device is used with the bottom surface disposed on the reference surface.

14. The laser alignment device of claim 13, further including an adhesive strip attached to a bottom surface of the bottom portion, wherein the adhesive strip is adapted to temporarily attach the laser alignment device to the reference surface.

15. The laser alignment device of claim 14, wherein the adhesive strip is releasable by pulling on a portion of the adhesive strip extending beyond the lower attachment portion.

16. The laser alignment device of claim 15, wherein the portion of the adhesive strip extending beyond the lower attachment portion is pulled in a direction generally parallel to the reference surface.

17. The laser alignment device of claim 13, wherein the base includes a plurality of markings angularly disposed around a periphery of the lower attachment portion.

18. The laser alignment device of claim 17, wherein the plurality of markings are equally spaced apart from each other.

19. The laser alignment device of claim 13, wherein the swivel connection is further arranged to permit the top portion to rotate relative to the bottom portion along second axis extending perpendicular relative to the first axis and parallel to the plane of the bottom surface.

20. A laser alignment device for use adjacent a reference surface and comprising:

a housing having a laser generator, the laser generator adapted to produce a fan-shaped beam of light and to direct the beam of light in a direction of propagation, the fan beam of light defining a plane;

a base having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion of the base and a lower portion of the housing adapted for releasable engagement with one another, the bottom portion comprising,

an indicator ring having one or more tabs extending from a bottom surface thereof;

an indexing ring; and

a base portion that receives the one or more tabs thereby securing the indicator ring to the base portion with the indexing ring held between the indicator ring and the base portion such that the indicator ring is rotatable relative to the base portion, the base portion having a bottom surface comprising a plane arranged to abut a plane of the reference surface;

the top portion and the bottom portion meeting along an interface and having cooperating convex and concave surfaces joined by only a single bolt to form a swivel connection, the swivel connection arranged to permit the top portion to rotate relative to the bottom portion about a first axis extending perpendicular relative to the plane of the bottom surface, the swivel connection further arranged to permit the top portion to pivot relative to the bottom portion along a curved interface defined between the top portion and the bottom portion; and

the laser generator oriented within the housing such that, when the device is operated adjacent the reference surface, the direction of propagation is parallel to the plane of the bottom surface with an inner edge of the beam of light extending along the reference surface to form a line of light and with the plane of the beam of light oriented perpendicular relative to the plane of the bottom surface.

21. The laser alignment device of claim 20, including a plurality of index markings on said indexing ring adapted to indicate an angle of the top portion relative to the bottom portion.

22. The laser alignment device of claim 20, further including an indicator arm attached to the bottom portion and radially aligned with the plane of the beam of light thereby indicating the rotational position of the beam of light.

23. The laser alignment device of claim 22, wherein the indicator arm is rotatably attached to the bottom portion.

24. The laser alignment device of claim 20, further including releasable adhesive strip attached to a bottom surface of the lower attachment portion.

25. The laser alignment device of claim 24, wherein the portion of the adhesive strip extending beyond the bottom portion is pulled in a direction generally parallel to the reference surface.

26. The laser alignment device of claim 20, wherein the swivel connection includes a concave recess carried by the top portion, the concave recess receiving a convex bottom surface of a retainer secured by the bolt.

27. The laser alignment device of claim 20, including a pair of retractable pins that extend through the plane of the bottom surface of the housing.

28. The laser alignment device of claim 20, wherein the housing is releasably secured to the base by a tab in slot connection.