Adhesive mount for a leveling device and a leveling device

• US 7,506,450 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Spaulding, James, Murray, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US11/477,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 332/81, 332/82, 332/83, 332/86, 332/91, 333/99, 334/04, 33D/IG.21, 248/683, 248/467, 248/205.3
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/308 the adhesive tape or sheet losing adhesive strength when being stretched, e.g. stretch adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/35 Heat-activated
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/26 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 33/21 with laser
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1089 of discrete laminae to single face of additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/109 Embedding of laminae within face of additional laminae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1093 with covering of discrete laminae with additional lamina

Abstract

A mount for removably mounting a device to a reference surface is provided. The mount includes a thermoplastic hot melt adhesive, and a tab that extends from the adhesive. The adhesive is configured to adhere to the surface and the device when the device is mounted to the surface. The adhesive is also configured to be removed from the surface without damaging the surface by moving the tab in a direction substantially parallel to the surface.

Claims

1. A mount for removably mounting a device to a reference surface, the mount comprising:

a thermoplastic hot melt adhesive having a first surface and a second surface facing a direction opposite to the first surface, the first and second surfaces defining a thickness of the adhesive, wherein at least a portion of the adhesive is uninterrupted through the thickness thereof from the first surface to the second surface; and

a tab that extends from the adhesive,

the adhesive being configured to adhere the first surface to the reference surface and the second surface to the device when the device is mounted to the reference surface, and to be removed from the reference surface without damaging the reference surface by moving the tab in a direction substantially parallel to the reference surface.

2. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is substantially in a shape of disc.

3. A mount according to claim 2, wherein the disc has a diameter of about 20 mm.

4. A mount, according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the disc is about 3 mm.

5. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive has a volume of between about 0.15 cm³ and about 3.0 cm³.

6. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the tab comprises a substantially non-stretchable material.

7. A mount according to claim 6, wherein the tab comprises polyvinylchloride.

8. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the tab includes a hinge in a center portion thereof, and wherein one end of the tab is attached to the first surface of the adhesive and the other end of the tab is attached to the second surface of the adhesive.

9. A device comprising:

a housing for supporting at least one light source arranged to form a line of light on a reference surface;

a leveling device for positioning the light source so that the line of light projects on the reference surface in a desired orientation; and

a mount for removably mounting the housing to a reference surface, the mount comprising a thermoplastic hot melt adhesive having a first surface and a second surface facing a direction opposite to the first surface, the first and second surfaces defining a thickness of the adhesive, and a tab attached to the adhesive, the adhesive being configured to adhere the first surface to the reference surface and the second surface to the housing when the housing is mounted to the reference surface and to be removed from the reference surface without damaging the reference surface by moving the tab in a direction substantially parallel to the reference surface, wherein at least a portion of the adhesive is uninterrupted through the thickness thereof from the first surface to the second surface.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the leveling device comprises at least one vial.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein the leveling device comprises a pendulum.

12. A device according to claim 9, wherein the light source comprises a laser.

13. A device according to claim 12, further comprising a power source for providing power to the laser, the power source being supported by the housing.

14. A device according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive is substantially in a shape of disc.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the disc has a diameter of about 24 mm.

16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the thickness of the disc is about 3 mm.

17. A device according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive has a volume of between about 0.15 cm³ and about 3.0 cm³.

18. A device according to claim 9, wherein the tab comprises a substantially non-stretchable material.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the tab comprises polyvinylchloride.

20. A device according to claim 9, wherein the desired orientation is level.

21. A device according to claim 9, wherein the desired orientation is plumb.

22. A device according to claim 9, further comprising a base to which the housing is mounted, the housing being mounted to the reference surface via the base, the base receiving the mount.

23. A device according to claim 9, wherein the tab includes a hinge in a center portion thereof, and wherein one end of the tab is attached to the first surface of the adhesive and the other end of the tab is attached to the second surface of the adhesive.

24. A mount for removably mounting a device to a reference surface, the mount comprising:

a thermoplastic hot melt adhesive having a first surface and a second surface facing a direction opposite to the first surface, the first and second surfaces defining a thickness of the adhesive, wherein a portion of the adhesive is devoid of a non-adhesive material within the thickness; and

a tab that extends from the adhesive,

the adhesive being configured to adhere the first surface to the reference surface and the second surface to the device when the device is mounted to the reference surface, and to be removed from the reference surface without damaging the reference surface by moving the tab in a direction substantially parallel to the reference surface.