Vial with improved visibility for level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11506491-B2
Application number	US-202017060898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2020
Priority date	Feb 16, 2016
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

A level including level vial(s) having enhanced visibility are provided. The level may include a level vial including a material that is attracted to the interface or border of a globule within the level vial which improves visibility of the interface. The level may include a solid level indicator having easy to see end surfaces that are generally vertically oriented when in the level position. The end surfaces of the solid level indicator may allow the user to more easily compare the position of the solid level indicator to indicating lines formed on the level vial. The level may include a level vial including a first liquid and an immiscible second liquid forming a globule with the first material. The globule formed from the second material may improve visibility compared to a typical air bubble.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level comprising:
a level body defining a reference surface configured to engage a work piece;
a vial supported by the level body, the vial comprising an inner surface defining an inner bore; and
a solid indicator located within the inner bore, the solid indicator comprising:
a first surface located at a first end of the solid indicator; and
a second surface located at a second end of the solid indicator opposite the first surface;
wherein the solid indicator moves within the inner bore of the vial in response to changing angular positions of the level body, wherein the solid indicator is shaped such that the first surface and the second surface are oriented in a perpendicular direction to the reference surface when the level body is oriented in a horizontal direction;
wherein the solid indicator includes a rolling element that supports the solid indicator and that engages the inner surface of the inner bore in the vial such that the solid indicator translates relative to the vial via rolling of the rolling element along the inner surface of the vial.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a liquid, a gas, or a vacuum surrounds the solid indicator within the vial.

3. The level of claim 2 , further comprising:
a pair of opposed parallel indicator lines located on the vial;
a first length measured between and perpendicular to the pair of indicator lines; and
a second length measured between and perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface of the solid indicator;
wherein the second length is between 75% and 125% of the first length.

4. The level of claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces are substantially parallel planar surfaces.

5. The level of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first indicator line located on the vial;
a second indicator line located on the level body spaced from the first indicator line;
wherein the first surface aligns with the first indicator line when the reference surface is oriented in the horizontal direction; and
wherein the second surface aligns with the second indicator line when the reference surface is oriented in the horizontal direction.

6. The level of claim 5 , wherein a first horizontal distance between the first surface and the first indicator line is less than 2 mm and a second horizontal distance between the second surface and the second indicator line is less than 2 mm, when the reference surface is oriented in the horizontal direction.

7. The level of claim 1 , wherein the rolling element is spherically shaped to form a spherical rolling element, and the solid indicator includes a cavity that receives the spherical rolling element, the solid indicator comprising openings that allow portions of the spherical rolling element to project out from the solid indicator to engage the inner surface of the vial, wherein the spherical rolling element rotates relative to the solid indicator within the cavity when the rolling element rotates against the inner surface of the vial.

8. A level comprising:
a level body defining a reference surface configured to engage a work piece;
a vial supported by the level body, the vial comprising an inner surface defining an inner bore; and
a solid indicator located within the inner bore, the solid indicator comprising a rolling element, wherein the solid indicator translates relative to the vial via rolling of the rolling element along the inner surface of the vial;
wherein the solid indicator is a cuboid comprising a cavity with a circular window in the solid indicator, wherein a sphere is positioned within the cavity of the cuboid and partially protrudes through the circular window of the cuboid.

9. The level of claim 8 , further comprising a fluid material located within the inner bore of the vial.

10. The level of claim 8 , further comprising a gas that surrounds the solid indicator and separates the solid indicator from a fluid within the inner bore of the vial.

11. The level of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first non-planar surface located at a first end of the solid indicator; and
a second non-planar surface located at a second end of the solid indicator opposite the first non-planar surface;
wherein the first and second non-planar surfaces each have parallel major axes, and wherein each of the major axes are oriented in a perpendicular direction to the reference surface when the level body is oriented in a horizontal direction.

12. The level of claim 8 , further comprising a first fluid, a second fluid, and an amphipathic material within the inner bore of the vial, wherein the second fluid is at least one of less dense, less polar, or more polar than the first fluid and the amphipathic material.

13. The level of claim 12 , further comprising a third fluid located within the inner bore of the vial, the third fluid having a property that attracts the third fluid to an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid.

14. The level of claim 8 , wherein the solid indicator further comprises a first surface located at a first end of the solid indicator, and a second surface located at a second end of the solid indicator opposite the first surface, wherein the first and second surfaces are planar surfaces that are substantially parallel to each other.

15. The level of claim 14 , wherein the solid indicator moves within the vial in response to changing angular positions of the level body, and wherein the first and second surfaces are perpendicular to the reference surface when the level body is oriented in a horizontal direction.

16. A level comprising:
a level body defining a reference surface configured to engage a work piece;
a vial supported by the level body, the vial comprising an inner surface defining an inner bore;
a fluid located within the inner bore of the vial;
a solid indicator located within the inner bore and suspended within the fluid, wherein the solid indicator moves within the fluid in response to changing angular positions of the level body;
the solid indicator comprising:
a cuboid comprising:
a first end surface located at a first end of the cuboid;
a second end surface located at a second end of the solid indicator opposite the first end surface, wherein the first and second end surfaces are perpendicular to the reference surface when the level body is oriented in a horizontal direction; and
four longitudinal faces extending between the first end surface and the second end surface, each longitudinal face comprising a circular window;

a sphere positioned within the cuboid and partially protruding through the circular window on each of the four longitudinal faces of the cuboid.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Neitzell Roger D
• Block Daniel L
• Christianson John
• Lasota Richard J

Classifications

• G01C9/24 Primary

  in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble · CPC title

• G01C9/02

  Details · CPC title

• G01C2009/107

  spheres · CPC title

• G01C9/10

  by using rolling bodies {, e.g. spheres, cylinders, mercury droplets} · CPC title

• G01C9/32 Primary

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