Level and method of manufacturing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11493339-B2
Application number	US-202117193888-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2021
Priority date	Apr 16, 2014
Publication date	Nov 8, 2022
Grant date	Nov 8, 2022

Abstract

A level comprising a level body and a bubble vial mounted on the level body. The bubble vial includes a bubble vial body comprising a clear material and an internal cavity containing a liquid. A top opening in the level body that interrupts at least a portion of a top wall to accommodate the bubble vial. An internal support structure disposed within the tubular configuration of the level body and spanning longitudinally along the level body so as to be disposed on both sides of the top opening to provide structural support to the level body in the vicinity of the top opening. A carrier positioned beneath the bubble vial and between the internal support structure and the bubble vial. The bubble vial body has a length that is less than a length of the top opening in the top wall of the level body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level comprising:
a level body; and
a bubble vial mounted on the level body;
wherein the level body has a generally tubular configuration including a top wall and a bottom wall generally parallel to one another, and a pair of spaced side walls;
wherein the bubble vial includes a bubble vial body, the bubble vial body comprising a clear material and an internal cavity containing a liquid, the liquid being at an amount that creates a bubble within the internal cavity;
a top opening in the level body that interrupts at least a portion of the top wall to accommodate the bubble vial;
an internal support structure disposed within the tubular configuration of the level body and spanning longitudinally along the level body so as to be disposed on both sides of the top opening to provide structural support to the level body in the vicinity of the top opening, and
a carrier positioned beneath the bubble vial and between the internal support structure and the bubble vial,
wherein the bubble vial body has a length that is less than a length of the top opening in the top wall of the level body.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein the internal support structure is constructed and arranged to surround the bubble vial on three sides.

3. The level of claim 1 , wherein the internal support structure comprises a base portion, a pair of legs extending upwardly from the base portion, and an opening disposed between the pair of upwardly extending legs.

4. The level of claim 3 , wherein the base portion and the pair of legs extending upwardly from the base portion of the internal support structure are constructed and arranged to surround the bubble vial.

5. The level of claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate structure disposed in the opening of the internal support structure,
wherein the intermediate structure is positioned beneath the bubble vial and between the carrier and the bubble vial.

6. The level of claim 5 , wherein the intermediate structure includes a pad.

7. The level of claim 5 , wherein the intermediate structure includes a rubber material between the bubble vial and the carrier.

8. The level of claim 1 , wherein the bubble vial includes a rounded top surface.

9. The level of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is disposed in an opening of the internal support structure and includes a high impact ABS material.

10. The level of claim 1 , wherein the internal support structure is adhered, using adhesives, to inside surfaces of the level body.

11. The level of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the internal support structure is aligned with the top opening in the level body.

12. The level of claim 1 , wherein the clear material comprises plastic.

13. The level of claim 1 , wherein the carrier does not extend above the bubble vial.

14. The level of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is not on the top of the bubble vial.

15. The level of claim 3 , wherein the internal support structure is formed in a single-piece construction including the base portion and the pair of legs extending upwardly from the base portion.

16. The level of claim 15 , wherein a length of the opening disposed between the pair of upwardly extending legs is approximately same as the length of the top opening in the top wall of the level body.

17. The level of claim 15 , wherein the carrier is inserted into the opening disposed between the pair of upwardly extending legs of the internal support structure from the top opening in the top wall of the level body.

18. The level of claim 15 , wherein each of the pair of upwardly extending legs of the internal support structure has a top surface, and
wherein the top surfaces of the pair of upwardly extending legs of the internal support structure are disposed on opposite sides of the top opening of the level body and are configured to contact with an internal surface of the top wall of the level body.

19. The level of claim 15 , wherein the base portion of the internal support structure has a bottom surface that is generally parallel to a bottom wall of the level body and is spanning longitudinally along the level body, and
wherein the bottom surface of the internal support structure contacts an internal surface of the bottom wall of the level body on both sides of the top opening in the level body.

20. The level of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is made of an opaque material but is positioned relative to the bubble vial so as not to interfere with viewing of the bubble vial through the top opening.

21. The level of claim 20 , wherein the level body has a first side opening in a first side wall of the level body and a second side opening in a second side wall of the level body,
wherein the bubble vial is visible through the top opening in the top wall of the level body, through the first side opening in the first side wall of the level body, and the second side opening in the second side wall of the level body, and
wherein the carrier is positioned relative to the bubble vial so as not to interfere with viewing of the bubble vial through the top opening, the first side opening and the second side opening.

22. The level of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is disposed in an opening of the internal support structure and includes a metal material.

23. A level comprising:
a level body; and
a bubble vial mounted on the level body;
wherein the level body has a generally tubular configuration including a top wall and a bottom wall generally parallel to one another, and a pair of spaced side walls;
a top opening in the level body that interrupts at least a portion of the top wall to accommodate the bubble vial;

an internal support structure disposed within the tubular configuration of the level body and spanning longitudinally along the level body so as to be disposed on both sides of the top opening to provide structural support to the level body in the vicinity of the top opening, and
a carrier made of an opaque material but positioned between the internal support structure and the bubble vial and beneath the bubble vial so as not to interfere with viewing of the bubble vial through the top opening.

Assignees

• Stanley Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Pelletier Thomas
• Chernyshou Aliaksei
• Woolley Christopher
• Komulainen Johannes
• Honkanen Juha

Classifications

• G01C25/00

  Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass (testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38) · CPC title

• G01C9/26 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• G01C9/34

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