Level vial

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077981-B2
Application number	US-201615199280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2016
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A level vial includes an elongated vial liquid housing extending along an axis of elongation and containing a liquid and a bubble therein, an outer support body supporting the elongated vial liquid housing, the outer support body being integral with the elongated vial liquid housing, and having an inner surface at least partially surrounding the elongated vial liquid housing, and an open space between the inner surface and the elongated vial liquid housing. The elongated vial liquid housing is shaped such that a horizontal orientation of the axis of elongation causes the liquid to flow such that the bubble floats to a center of the elongated vial liquid housing. The elongated vial liquid housing and the open space are in an outwardly exposed and unobstructed configuration relative to a front face of the level vial.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level vial comprising:
an elongated vial liquid housing extending along an axis of elongation and containing a liquid and a bubble therein;
an outer support body supporting the elongated vial liquid housing, the outer support body being integral with the elongated vial liquid housing, and having an inner surface at least partially surrounding the elongated vial liquid housing;
an open space between the inner surface and the elongated vial liquid housing; and
an internal support wall extending between the outer support body and the elongated vial liquid housing;
wherein the elongated vial liquid housing is shaped such that a horizontal orientation of the axis of elongation causes the liquid to flow such that the bubble floats to a center of the elongated vial liquid housing; and
wherein the elongated vial liquid housing and the open space are in an outwardly exposed and unobstructed configuration relative to a front face of the level vial.

2. The level vial of claim 1 , wherein the elongated vial liquid housing and the open space are further in an outwardly exposed and unobstructed configuration relative to a rear face of the level vial opposite the front face.

3. The level vial of claim 1 , wherein the level vial is symmetric about a plane of symmetry parallel to the front face of the level vial and extending through the axis of elongation.

4. The level vial of claim 1 , wherein the outer support body has a generally cylindrical or generally frustoconical profile.

5. The level vial of claim 4 , wherein the outer support body forms a continuous loop around the elongated vial liquid housing, the continuous loop intersecting the axis of elongation at ends of the elongated vial liquid housing.

6. The level vial of claim 1 , wherein the elongated vial liquid housing has a generally cylindrical profile.

7. The level vial of claim 1 , wherein the internal support wall extends parallel to but recessed from the front face of the level vial, wherein the open space is formed between the internal support wall, the inner surface of the outer support body, and the elongated vial liquid housing.

8. The level vial of claim 1 , wherein the internal support wall is continuous between the elongated level vial housing and the outer support body, recessed from the front face of the level vial.

9. The level vial of claim 1 , wherein the internal support wall extends both above and below the elongated level vial housing as viewed from the front face of the level vial.

10. The level vial of claim 1 , wherein the internal support wall is integral to the outer support body and the elongated vial liquid housing.

11. The level of claim 1 , wherein the elongated level vial housing comprises indicia to indicate the center of the elongated level vial housing.

12. The level of claim 11 , wherein the indicia surround the center of the elongated level vial housing, such that the bubble would be surrounded by the indicia when the level vial is rotated such that the axis of elongation is in a horizontal orientation.

13. The level vial of claim 11 , wherein the indicia are molded into the elongated level vial housing.

14. The level vial of claim 13 , wherein the indicia protrude from the elongated level vial housing.

15. The level vial of claim 11 , wherein the elongated vial liquid housing is shaped to magnify the bubble visible therein.

16. A level comprising:
a reference surface; and
a level vial fixed relative to the reference surface, the level vial comprising:
an elongated vial liquid housing extending along an axis of elongation and containing a liquid and a bubble therein;
an outer support body supporting the elongated vial liquid housing, the outer support body being integral with the elongated vial liquid housing, and having an inner surface at least partially surrounding the elongated vial liquid housing;
an open space between the inner surface and the elongated vial liquid housing; and
an internal support wall extending between the outer support body and the elongated vial liquid housing of the level vial;
wherein the elongated vial liquid housing is shaped such that a horizontal orientation of the axis of elongation causes the liquid to flow such that the bubble floats to a center of the elongated vial liquid housing; and
wherein the elongated vial liquid housing and the open space are in an outwardly exposed and unobstructed configuration relative to a front face of the level vial.

17. The level of claim 16 , wherein the level vial is oriented such that a horizontal orientation of the axis of elongation results from the reference surface being oriented one of horizontally, vertically, and at a 45° angle relative to ground.

18. The level of claim 16 , wherein the reference surface is formed on a housing of the level, and wherein the level vial is assembled into the housing.

19. The level of claim 16 , wherein the internal support wall is continuous between the elongated level vial housing and the outer support body.

20. The level of claim 16 , wherein the internal support wall extends both above and below the elongated level vial housing as viewed from the front face of the level vial.

Assignees

• Stanley Black & Decker Inc
• Stanley Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Sanchez Albert

Classifications

• G01C9/34 Primary

  of the tubular type, i.e. for indicating the level in one direction only · CPC title