Level with removable end cap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10845193-B2
Application number	US-201715849104-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2017
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

A level with a removable end cap is provided. The level includes a hollow level body. The end cap includes an outer member and locking member received within the outer member. The locking member is inserted into the outer member pushing a moveable portion of the outer member into a frictional engagement that holds the end cap assembly in place relative to the level body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level comprising:
a level body comprising an upper wall, a lower wall and two sidewalls extending therebetween, wherein inner surfaces of each of the upper wall, of the lower wall and of the two sidewalls define a hollow open area;
a level vial supported by the level body; and
an end cap assembly removably coupled to an end of the level body, the end cap assembly comprising:
a clip received within the hollow open area of the level body and coupled to the level body, the clip comprising an aperture;
an outer member comprising a moveable wall received within the clip and a projection extending from the moveable wall; and
a locking member received within the outer member, wherein the locking member pushes the moveable wall such that the projection engages the aperture of the clip coupling the outer member to the level body.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein the clip further comprises a pair of opposing clip sidewalls that extend from a clip endwall, wherein the aperture of the clip is defined in one of the sidewalls.

3. The level of claim 2 , wherein the pair of clip sidewalls each extend along the inner surface of one of the sidewalls of the level body.

4. The level of claim 2 , wherein the clip further comprises a second aperture, wherein one of the apertures is defined in each of the sidewalls of the clip.

5. The level of claim 2 , wherein the clip further comprises a boss extending outward from an outer surface of each of the clip sidewalls, wherein each sidewall of the level body comprises openings that receive the bosses of the clip.

6. The level of claim 2 , wherein the clip further comprises a rib slot defined along an outer surface of each of the clip sidewalls, wherein inner surfaces of each of the level body sidewalls define a rib that is received in one of the rib slots of the clip.

7. The level of claim 2 , wherein the clip sidewalls each extend in a direction that is substantially parallel to the inner surfaces of the level body sidewalls.

8. The level of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is formed from a material that is more rigid than a material of the outer member.

9. The level of claim 1 , wherein the locking member comprises a stop structure that engages a cooperating surface of the outer member such that full removal of the locking member from the outer member is prevented when the locking member is in an unlocked position.

10. The level of claim 1 , wherein the outer member comprises a cap portion, a first side arm extending outward from an upper end of the cap portion and a second sidearm extending outward from a lower end of the cap portion.

11. The level of claim 10 , wherein the first side arm extends along an inner surface of the upper wall of the level body and the second side arm extends along an inner surface of the lower wall of the level body when the outer member is received within the clip.

12. The level of claim 1 , wherein the projection of the outer member is located completely within the hollow area.

13. The level of claim 12 , wherein the projection does not extend through the level body.

14. A level comprising:
a level body comprising an inner surface defining a hollow open area, a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end;
a level vial supported by the level body; and
an end cap assembly detachably coupled to each of the first and second ends of the level body, at least one of the end cap assemblies comprising:
a clip received within the hollow open area of the level body and coupled to the level body, the clip comprising an aperture located adjacent to the inner surface of the level body;
an outer member comprising a moveable portion received within the clip and a projection extending from the moveable portion; and
a locking member received within the outer member, wherein the locking member is moveable within the outer member between a locked and unlocked position, wherein, in the locked position, the locking member pushes the moveable portion such that the projection engages the aperture of the clip coupling the outer member in a fixed position relative to the level body.

15. The level of claim 14 , wherein the clip further comprises a pair of opposing clip sidewalls that extend from a clip endwall, wherein the aperture of the clip is defined in one of the clip sidewalls.

16. The level of claim 15 , wherein the level body comprises a pair of sidewalls, wherein the pair of clip sidewalls extend along inner surfaces of the sidewalls of the level body.

17. The level of claim 14 , wherein the locking member is formed from a material that is more rigid than a material of the outer member.

18. The level of claim 14 , wherein the locking member comprises a stop structure that engages a cooperating surface on the outer member such that full removal of the locking member from the outer member is prevented when the locking member is in the unlocked position.

19. A level comprising:
a level body comprising an inner surface defining a hollow open area, a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end;
a level vial supported by the level body; and
an end cap assembly detachably coupled to each of the first and second ends of the level body, at least one of the end cap assemblies comprising:
an outer member received within the hollow open area, the outer member comprising a moveable portion; and
a locking member received within the outer member, wherein the locking member is moveable within the outer member between a locked and unlocked position, wherein, in the locked position, the locking member pushes the moveable portion in to a frictional engagement that couples the outer member in a fixed position relative to the level body.

20. The level of claim 19 , wherein the end cap assembly comprises a clip received within the hollow open area of the level body, wherein the frictional engagement is between the clip and the moveable portion of the outer member.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Doyle Matthew
• Reiland Fraizier
• Weigel Lauren

Classifications

• G01C9/34

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

• G01C9/02 Primary

  Details · CPC title