Level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10731982-B2
Application number	US-201815983868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2018
Priority date	Nov 13, 2014
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

A level includes a frame having a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, and a web coupling the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface. The top planar surface and the bottom planar surface are parallel. The level further includes a vial supported by the frame. The vial has a longitudinal axis passing through a center of the vial and a body defining an interior containing a liquid and an indicator bubble. The level further includes a plurality of LEDs. Each of the LEDs has a light emitting point, and each of the plurality of LEDs is positioned adjacent an end of the vial and is oriented such that the light emitting point is positioned within the interior of the body of the vial.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level, comprising:
a frame including a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, and a web coupling the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface, the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface being parallel;
a vial assembly supported by the frame, the vial assembly comprising:
a vial body defining an interior;
a liquid located within the interior;
an indicator bubble located within the interior; and
a UV sensitive component reactive to UV light to increase visibility of a portion of the vial assembly; and

a UV light source supported by the frame and positioned to direct UV light such that the UV light from the UV light source interacts with the UV sensitive component.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein the UV sensitive component emits visible light in response to absorption of UV light from the UV light source.

3. The level of claim 1 , wherein the UV sensitive component is a component of the vial assembly that includes a UV reactive additive embedded in the component.

4. The level of claim 1 , wherein the UV sensitive component is a sleeve located within the interior of the vial body and surrounding the indicator bubble, the sleeve is formed from a material and the sleeve comprises a UV reactive additive embedded in the material of the sleeve.

5. The level of claim 4 , wherein the material of the sleeve is at least one of glass, acrylic or plastic.

6. The level of claim 4 , wherein the vial assembly further includes a pair of end caps with one of the end caps positioned at each end of the vial body, wherein opposing ends of the sleeve extend over a portion of each of the end caps.

7. The level of claim 6 , wherein the UV light source comprises a plurality of UV generating LEDs, each of the UV LEDs has a light emitting point, and each of the plurality of UV LEDs is positioned adjacent an end of the vial body and is oriented such that the light emitting point is positioned within the interior of the vial body.

8. The level of claim 1 , wherein the UV sensitive component is a portion of the vial body in which a UV reactive additive is embedded in a material of the vial body.

9. The level of claim 1 , wherein the UV sensitive component is a coating layer including a UV reactive additive.

10. The level of claim 9 , wherein the coating layer is located along an inner surface of the vial body.

11. The level of claim 1 , wherein the UV sensitive component is a UV reactive additive located within the liquid located within the interior of the vial body.

12. The level of claim 1 , wherein the vial assembly further comprises a pair of vial surrounds, wherein the vial body is supported between the pair of vial surrounds, wherein the UV sensitive component is a portion of the pair of vial surrounds in which a UV reactive additive is embedded in the vial surrounds.

13. The level of claim 1 , wherein the UV light source comprises a UV generating LED, the UV LED is positioned within an interior of the UV sensitive component such that the UV sensitive component surrounds the UV LED.

14. The level of claim 13 , wherein the UV generating LED generates UV light having a wavelength between 375 nanometers and 410 nanometers, and wherein the UV sensitive component emits visible light in response to exposure to the UV light.

15. The level of claim 1 , wherein the indicator bubble is a gas bubble located within the vial body.

16. A level, comprising:
a frame including a top planar surface, a bottom planar surface, and a web coupling the top planar surface to the bottom planar surface, the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface being parallel;
a vial assembly supported by the frame, the vial assembly comprising:
a vial body formed from a material and defining an interior;
a liquid located within the interior;
an indicator located within the interior; and
a UV reactive additive embedded in the material of a portion of the vial assembly; and

a UV light source supported by the frame and positioned to direct UV light toward the UV reactive additive;
wherein the UV reactive additive emits visible light in response to absorption of UV light from the UV light source.

17. The level of claim 16 , wherein the UV reactive additive is at least one of: embedded in a material of the vial body and dispersed within the liquid of the vial assembly.

18. The level of claim 17 , wherein the indicator is a gas bubble located within the interior of the vial body.

19. A level, comprising:
a frame including a planar surface;
a levelness indicator supported by the frame and configured to provide an indication of levelness of a workpiece engaged by the planar surface;
a UV sensitive component, wherein the UV sensitive component is configured to react to UV light to increase visibility of the levelness indicator; and
a UV light source supported by the frame and positioned to direct UV light such that the UV light from the UV light source interacts with the UV sensitive component.

20. The level of claim 19 , wherein the levelness indicator is a gas bubble located within a liquid contained within a vial body.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Neitzell Roger D
• Lasota Richard J
• Foran Thomas P
• Doyle Matthew
• Boehme Christopher F
• Leidel Matthew

Classifications

• G01C9/06

  Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means · CPC title

• G01C9/36

  of the spherical type, i.e. for indicating the level in all directions · CPC title

• G01C9/32 Primary

  Means for facilitating the observation of the position of the bubble, e.g. illuminating means · CPC title