Studfinder and laser line layout tool

• US 7,316,073 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murray, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton; Christopher W
• Application Number:
  US11/729,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20070175054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 332/86, 333/75
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

A layout tool includes an object detector constructed and arranged to detect the location of a vertically extending edge portion of an object hidden from view behind a generally vertically extending wall surface, a light source that is capable of projecting a line of light along the wall surface, and an angular orientation mechanism operably coupled to the light projection mechanism. The angular orientation mechanism is operable to establish that the line of light is vertical. The light source and the object detector are operatively interengaged such that when a vertically extending edge is detected by the object detector, a vertically extending line of light projected on the surface by the light source indicates the location of a vertically extending edge portion of the hidden object.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a first body adapted to contact a vertical surface;

a second body pivotable about a rotational axis;

a first bubble vial mounted on said second body and a second bubble vial mounted on said second body, said first and second bubble vials being perpendicularly disposed relative to one another;

a light source carried by said second body, said light source configured to generate a plane of light so that a line of light is projected onto the vertical surface which contacts the first body; and

a light adjustment structure to change an angle of the light source relative to the vertical surface, wherein adjustment of the adjustment structure changes a length of the line projected onto the surface.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said light adjustment structure comprises at least one extendable and retractable leg.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one leg is arranged to contact the vertical surface.

5. A device according to claim 1, further comprising an object detector carried by said first body.

4. A device, comprising:

a first body adapted to contact a vertical surface;

a second body pivotable about a rotational axis;

a first bubble vial mounted on said second body and a second bubble vial mounted on said second body, said first and second bubble vials being perpendicularly disposed relative to one another;

a light source carried by said second body, said light source configured to generate a plane of light so that a line of light is projected onto the vertical surface which contacts the first body; and

a light adjustment structure to change an angle of the light source relative to the vertical surface,

wherein adjustment of the adjustment structure changes a height of an included angle of light projected on the surface.

6. A laser level device, comprising:

a first housing having a surface engaging portion adapted to engage a wall surface;

a swivel housing that is mounted on the first housing and can swivel on the first housing;

a first laser and a first lens disposed within the swivel housing and capable of projecting a first line of light onto the wall surface engaged by the surface engaging portion of the first housing;

a second laser and a second lens disposed within the swivel housing and capable of projecting a second line of light onto the wall surface engaged by the surface engaging portion of the first housing,

wherein the first line of light and second line of light, when projected on the wall surface, form orthogonal intersecting lines; and

a pendulum disposed within the swivel housing, the first laser and the second laser disposed on the pendulum such that the first line of light is projected horizontally and the second line of light is projected vertically.

7. The laser level device according to claim 6, further comprising an anchor device that secures the laser level device to the wall surface.