Continuous edge adjustable level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11085763-B2
Application number	US-201916519718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2019
Priority date	Jul 10, 2018
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

An extendible or adjustable length level is provided. The level includes a frame, a slidable member, and a bushing. The slidable member is coupled to the frame and extends and retracts along the frame. The bushing is coupled to one of the frame or the slidable member and couples the frame and slidable member together.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A level comprising:
a frame comprising:
a first planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface;
a longitudinal axis;
a fixed end at a first end of the longitudinal axis;
an open end opposing the fixed end; and
an orientation measuring component;

a slidable body member coupled to the frame that extends and retracts along the longitudinal axis of the frame, the slidable body member comprising:
a second planar base surface generally coplanar with the first planar base surface;
an enclosed end; and
an adjustable end opposing the enclosed end, the adjustable end extending past the open end of the frame when the slidable body member is fully extended;

a first bushing that couples the slidable body member and the frame, the first bushing fixedly coupled to one of the frame or the slidable body member; and
a second bushing that couples the slidable body member and the frame, the second bushing fixedly coupled to one of the frame or the slidable body member.

2. The level of claim 1 , the first bushing being fixedly coupled to the frame closer to the open end than the fixed end, the first bushing is biased against and pushes the slidable body member via a first force, and the second bushing being fixedly coupled to the slidable body member closer to the enclosed end than the adjustable end, the second bushing is biased against and pushes the frame via a second force.

3. The level of claim 2 , the first planar base surface of the frame and the second planar base surface of the slidable body member collectively comprising a generally continuous base surface to engage against a workpiece.

4. The level of claim 2 , the level further comprising a braking mechanism to increase a resistive force against sliding the slidable body member along the longitudinal axis of the frame.

5. The level of claim 2 , the slidable body member comprising a first protrusion that extends into a first channel of the frame, the first force exerted by the first bushing and the second force exerted by the second bushing maintaining an engagement between a surface of the first protrusion and a surface of the first channel.

6. The level of claim 2 , the slidable body member comprising a first protrusion that extends into a first channel of the frame and a second protrusion that extends into a second channel of the frame, the first force exerted by the first bushing and the second force exerted by the second bushing both being a separating force between the frame and the slidable body member, the first and second protrusions of the slidable body member both being engaged against each of the first and second bushings by the first and second forces.

7. The level of claim 6 , the level further comprising a braking mechanism to increase a resistive force against sliding the slidable body member along the longitudinal axis of the frame.

8. The level of claim 7 , the braking mechanism comprising an adjustable interface and a brake to variably adjust the resistive force against sliding the slidable body member along the longitudinal axis of the frame.

9. The level of claim 6 , the first bushing comprising two spring protrusions that are engaged against the slidable body member, the first bushing further comprising a top cavity and a bottom cavity that respectively engage around an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion of the frame.

10. The level of claim 9 , the second bushing comprising a spring protrusion that is engaged against the frame, the second bushing further comprising an upper cavity and a lower cavity that respectively engage around the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion of the frame.

11. The level of claim 10 , wherein the second bushing comprises a stop surface that engages against a stop component fixedly coupled to the frame when the slidable body member is fully extended from the frame.

12. The level of claim 10 , the first bushing comprising an engagement component at a flexing end of each of the springs, the engagement components each comprising ribs that are generally aligned with the frame's longitudinal axis and engaging against the slidable body member.

13. The level of claim 10 , the second bushing comprising an engagement component at a flexing end of the spring, the engagement component comprising ribs that are generally aligned with the frame's longitudinal axis and engaging against the frame.

14. A level comprising:
a frame comprising:
a first planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface;
a longitudinal axis;
a fixed end at a first end of the longitudinal axis;
an open end opposite the fixed end; and
at least two orientation measuring components;

a slidable body member coupled to the frame that extends and retracts along the longitudinal axis of the frame, the slidable body member comprising:
a second planar base surface generally coplanar with the first planar base surface;
an adjustable end that extends past the open end of the frame when the slidable body member is fully extended;

a first bushing that couples the slidable body member and the frame, the first bushing fixedly coupled to the frame; and
a second bushing that couples the slidable body member and the frame, the second bushing fixedly coupled to the slidable body member.

15. The level of claim 14 , the slidable body member comprising a first protrusion that extends into a first channel of the frame, the first bushing exerting a first separating force between the frame and the slidable body member, and the second bushing exerting a second separating force between the frame and the slidable body member.

16. The level of claim 15 , the first protrusion of the slidable body member being engaged against the first and second bushings by the first and second forces.

17. The level of claim 16 , the first bushing comprising an engagement component at a flexing end of each of the springs, the first bushing's engagement components engaging against the slidable body member and comprising ribs that are generally aligned with the frame's longitudinal axis, and the second bushing comprising an engagement component at a flexing end of the spring, the second bushing's engagement component engaging against the frame and comprising ribs that are generally aligned with the frame's longitudinal axis.

18. A level comprising:
a frame comprising:
a first planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface;
a longitudinal axis;
an open end at a first end of the longitudinal axis; and
an orientation measuring component;

a slidable body member coupled to the frame that extends and retracts along the longitudinal axis of the frame, the slidable body member comprising:
a second planar base surface generally coplanar with the first planar base surface;
an adjustable end that extends past the open end of the frame when the slidable body member is fully extended;

a first bushing that couples the slidable body member and the frame, the first bushing fixedly coupled to one of the frame or the slidable body member; and
a second bushing that couples the slidable body member and the frame, the second bushing fixedly coupled to one of the frame or the slidable body member.

19. The level of claim 18 , the first bushing being fixedly coupled to the frame and exerting a first force on the slidable body member, and the second bushing being fixedly coupled to the slidable body member and exerting a second force on the frame.

20. The level of claim 19 , the first bushing comprising an engagem

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Tang Haoming
• Howard Samuel J
• Graykowski Anthony S
• Block Daniel L

Classifications

• G01C9/34

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

• G01C9/26 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• G01C9/02

  Details · CPC title

• F16B7/14

  locking in intermediate {non-discrete} positions {(the rod or tube being locked by a tilting clip F16B2/246)} · CPC title

• F16B7/1472 Primary

  with a clamping screw perpendicular to the axis of the telescoping members · CPC title