Stud sensor with floating head

• US 20050200368A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zircon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zircon Corporation
• Inventors: Krantz, Norman L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,212,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/661
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/088 operating with electric fields G01V3/082 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

A sensor such as a stud sensor having a capacitor plate coupled with a spring to a head to provide a floating head. In other versions, the sensor has an on-switch coupled between a head and a body of a sensor; a head detachable from a body of the sensor; a marking instrument coupled with a lever to a body of a sensor; and a body having one or more low compression and/or low resistance slider pads.

Claims

1. A floating head capacitive sensor comprising:

a head including at least one capacitive plate and adapted to be placed on a surface to detect structures behind the surface;

a body; and

a tension assembly coupling the head to the body.

2. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 1, further comprising a fastener which couples the tension assembly to one of the head and the body.

3. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 2, wherein the fastener provides mechanical and electrical coupling between the head and the body.

4. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 2, wherein the fastener allows angular rotation of the head relative to the body.

5. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 2, wherein the fastener allows lateral movement of the head relative to the body.

6. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 2, wherein the fastener includes a ball and socket.

7. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 2, wherein the fastener includes a pair of magnets.

8. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 1, further including a coupling between the tension assembly and one of the head and the body, wherein the coupling provides angular tension between the tension assembly and the one of the head and the body.

9. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the coupling includes a spring adapted to provide rotational tension.

10. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 9, wherein the coupling further includes a detector adapted to detect an indication of tension.

11. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a fastener which couples the tension assembly to one of the head and the body; and

a coupling between the tension assembly and the other one of the head and the body, wherein the coupling provides tension between the head and the body when the head and body have pressure contact with the surface.

12. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the head and body are detachably coupled by the tension assembly.

13. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the tension assembly includes a tension arm.

14. The floating head capacitive sensor of claim 1, wherein the tension assembly includes a pair of tension arms.

15. An on-detect capacitive sensor comprising:

a head including at least one capacitive plate and adapted to be placed on a surface to detect structures behind a surface;

a body coupled to the head; and

an on-off switch sensitive to a relative position between the head and the body, wherein the on-off switch couples electrical power from the body to the head when the relative position is within a predetermined range of positions.

18. The marking sensor of claim 15, wherein the marking instrument is visible when the marking sensor is in position against a surface and the marking instrument is in an extended position.

19. The marking sensor of claim 15, wherein the marking instrument includes a tip for providing an erasable marking.

16. A modular sensor comprising:

a body including a housing and a battery in the housing; and

a head assembly including functions having at least one of;

a sensor to detect a change in capacitance (stud sensor), a sensor to detect presence of alternating current (AC sensor), a sensor to detect the presence of a conductor (metallic sensor), a sensor to measure distance (distance sensor), a laser light source, and a laser light source emitting a self-leveling pattern;

wherein the head assembly is electrically and mechanically detachably coupled to the body.

17. A marking sensor comprising:

a body;

a capacitor plate coupled to the body;

a guiding assembly mounted to the body;

a marking instrument extendably coupled to the guiding assembly; and

a lever coupled to the marking instrument;

wherein activating the lever extends the marking instrument.

20. A low-resistance sliding sensor comprising:

a housing adapted to be placed on a surface to detect structures behind the surface;

a capacitor plate coupled to the housing; and

one or more pads on an exterior surface of the housing that bears against the surface, wherein the pads are selected from a group consisting of;

a TEFLON®

material;

Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) plastic;

a DELRIN®

material;

nylon; and

polyethylene.

21. The low-resistance sliding sensor of claim 20, wherein the capacitor plate and the housing are detachably coupled.