Length adjustable level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10955240-B2
Application number	US-201916293356-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2019
Priority date	Feb 27, 2018
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

An extendible or adjustable length level is provided. The level includes a locking mechanism allowing the user to fix the level at a selected or desired level. The locking system allows the user to lock the level at the desired length and provides more effective and robust locking than conventional expanding levels. In some embodiments the locking mechanism is designed such that translational movement of the user-actuated control (as opposed to rotational motion) is used to move the locking mechanism into the locked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level comprising:
an inner body member that extends along a longitudinal axis;
a first body portion coupled to the inner body member, the first body portion comprising:
a first planar base surface; and
a first top surface opposing the base surface;

a second body portion slidably coupled to the inner body member, the second body portion comprising:
a second planar base surface coplanar with the first planar base surface, the first and second base surfaces collectively defining a working base surface; and
a second top surface coplanar with the first top surface, the first and second top surfaces collectively defining a working top surface;

a level sensing device; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the second body portion, the locking mechanism comprising a user actuated control, wherein the user actuated control is configured such that translational movement of the user actuated control moves the locking mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position;
wherein relative positions of the first body portion and the second body portion define a fully retracted position and a fully extended position, the fully retracted position defining a shortest working length of the level along the longitudinal axis and the fully extended position defining a longest working length of the level along the longitudinal axis.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein the user actuated control is a slide that translates in a direction of the longitudinal axis, the locking mechanism comprising a brake structure that interfaces with the slide such that movement of the slide moves the brake structure toward the inner body member, the brake structure comprising an engagement surface that interfaces with a surface of the inner body member.

3. The level of claim 2 , the braking structure comprising a ramp structure that is coupled to the slide, wherein:
when the slide is moved in a first direction along the longitudinal axis, the braking structure is pulled away from the surface of the inner body member; and
when the slide is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction, the braking structure is pushed into frictional engagement with the surface of the inner body member.

4. The level of claim 3 , the engagement surface of the braking structure defines a length parallel to the longitudinal axis between 30 mm and 300 mm.

5. The level of claim 3 , wherein a ratio between a length of the engagement surface of the braking structure and the level's shortest working length is between 1:15 and 1:30.

6. The level of claim 3 , the engagement surface of the braking structure defines an area between 500 mm 2 and 3000 mm 2 .

7. The level of claim 1 , the second body member comprising:
a central wall;
an upper wall that defines to the second top surface, the upper wall coupled to an upper end of the central wall; and
a box structure coupled to a lower end of the central wall and defining a channel that receives the inner body member.

8. The level of claim 7 , the central wall defining an opening, wherein the user actuated control of the locking mechanism is coupled to the central wall and located within the opening.

9. The level of claim 8 , wherein the user actuated control is a slide that actuates along the longitudinal axis, the slide being disposed at least partially within the opening.

10. The level of claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a braking structure that interfaces with the slide, the braking structure comprising an engagement surface that interfaces against a surface of the inner body member.

11. The level of claim 1 , further comprising a friction element that resists sliding of the second body member relative to the inner body member.

12. The level of claim 11 , wherein the friction element is adjustable such that an amount of friction applied by the friction element to a surface of the inner body member is adjustable.

13. The level of claim 12 , wherein the friction element is supported by the second body member.

14. The level of claim 1 , the locking mechanism comprising:
a brake that defines a channel, the channel comprising an angled lower surface and a depression within the angled lower surface; and
a slide that slides along the longitudinal axis, the slide comprising a post protruding from the slide and received within the channel, wherein the depression receives the post when the locking mechanism is in a locked position.

15. The level of claim 1 , the level further comprising:
a first standoff member that is removably attached to the first body portion; and
a second standoff member that is removably attached to the second body portion, wherein the first and second standoff members are configured to permit the level to measure the orientation of two workpiece surfaces that have an obstruction located between them.

16. A level comprising:
a fixed body member comprising:
a first planar base surface; and
a first top surface opposing the base surface;

an extended body member that extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein the fixed body member is coupled to a first end of the extended body member;
a slidable body member slidably coupled to a second end of the extended body member, the slidable body member comprising:
a second planar base surface coplanar with the first planar base surface, the first and second base surfaces collectively defining a working base surface;
a second top surface coplanar with the first top surface, the first and second top surfaces collectively defining a working top surface;

an orientation measuring component; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the slidable body member, the locking mechanism comprising a user actuated control, wherein the user actuated control is configured such that movement of the user actuated control moves the locking mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position;
wherein relative positions of the fixed body member and the slidable body member define a fully retracted position and a fully extended position, the fully retracted position comprising a shortest working length of the level along the longitudinal axis and the fully extended position comprising a longest working length of the level along the longitudinal axis;
wherein the user actuated control of the locking mechanism is accessible to a user when the level is in the fully retracted position.

17. The level of claim 16 , wherein the user actuated control is a slide that translates in a direction along the longitudinal axis, the locking mechanism comprising a brake structure that interfaces with the slide, the brake structure comprising an engagement surface that interfaces with a surface of the extended body member.

18. The level of claim 16 , wherein the user actuated control of the locking mechanism is located between the second planar base surface and the second top surface of the slidable body member.

19. The level of claim 16 , the slidable body member comprising:
a central wall that extends along the longitudinal axis;
an upper wall that defines the second top surface coupled to an upper end of the central wall; and
a box structure coupled to a lower end of the central wall and defining a channel that receives the extended body member;
wherein the central wall defines an opening, wherein the user actuated control of the locking mechanism is coupled to the central wall and located within the opening.

20. A level comprising:
an inner body member that extends along a longitudinal axis;
a first body portion cou

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Dorscheid Andrew Kenneth
• Caelwaerts Michael John
• Gould Samuel A

Classifications

• B29L2031/7536

  Artificial teeth · CPC title

• A61C13/34

  Making or working of models, e.g. preliminary castings, trial dentures; Dowel pins [4] · CPC title

• A61C13/0013

  using stereolithographic techniques · CPC title

• B33Y40/20

  Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing · CPC title

• B29C64/40

  Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof · CPC title