Level with metal frame supporting protective outer body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11885643-B2
Application number	US-202217934101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2022
Priority date	Jun 24, 2016
Publication date	Jan 30, 2024
Grant date	Jan 30, 2024

Abstract

A tool, such as a level, including one or more polymer/plastic body segment, protective cover and/or seal is provided. The covers discussed herein may limit or prevent dirt or construction materials, such as concrete, from entering into the level body. The cover may also be a non-stick material, such as a polymer outer sleeve, that limits the ability of dirt and construction material to adhere to the level. The level may also include scratch resistant vial windows.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level comprising:
a level frame formed from a metal material, the level frame comprising:
a base structure;
a vertical wall extending away from the base structure;
a vial opening defined at least in part within the vertical wall; and
a longitudinal axis extending between opposing ends of the level frame;

a level vial supported by the level frame within the vial opening;
a plastic outer level body coupled to the level frame and defining part of an exterior surface of the level, the plastic outer level body comprising:
a pair of opposing plastic body segments positioned on opposite sides of the vertical wall and coupled to the level frame; and

an end cap positioned at one of the opposing ends of the level frame, the end cap configured to mount to the level frame and to the plastic outer level body.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein the end cap includes a pair of internal walls extending inward in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The level of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of posts are located along inner surfaces of the pair of opposing plastic body segments.

4. The level of claim 3 , wherein each of the pair of internal walls includes a plurality of openings that receive the plurality of posts such that engagement between the plurality of posts and the plurality of openings holds the end cap in place when the end cap is coupled to the plastic outer level body.

5. The level of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second pair of opposing plastic body segments positioned on opposite sides of the vertical wall and coupled to the level frame at the opposing end of the level frame from the pair of opposing plastic body segments; and
a second end cap positioned at the opposing end of the level frame from the end cap, the second end cap configured to mount to the level frame and the plastic outer level body.

6. The level of claim 1 , the base structure of the level frame further comprising:
a bottom wall;
a pair of opposing sidewalls extending upward from the bottom wall; and
a pair of opposing angled walls coupled to the pair of opposing sidewalls and angled inward toward the vertical wall;
wherein inner surfaces of the bottom wall, the pair of opposing sidewalls and the pair of opposing angled walls define a cavity extending between opposing ends of the level frame.

7. The level of claim 6 , wherein the end cap includes a post extending inward in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the post shaped to be received within the cavity of the base structure.

8. The level of claim 7 , wherein the post of the end cap includes projections to engage with the inner surfaces of the bottom wall, the pair of opposing sidewalls and the pair of opposing angled walls that define the cavity.

9. The level of claim 7 , wherein the end cap forms a friction fit with the level frame.

10. A level comprising:
a level frame comprising:
a base structure;
a vertical wall extending away from the base structure;
a vial opening defined at least in part within the vertical wall; and
a longitudinal axis extending between opposing ends of the level frame;

a level vial supported by the level frame within the vial opening;
an outer level body coupled to the level frame and defining part of an exterior surface of the level, the outer level body comprising:
opposing ends of the outer level body;
a first pair of opposing body segments coupled to the level frame; and
a second pair of opposing body segments coupled to the level frame; and

a pair of end caps, each end cap positioned at one of the opposing ends of the level frame, each end cap configured to couple to the level frame and to the outer level body such that the opposing ends of the outer level body are sealed.

11. The level of claim 10 , wherein each end cap includes a pair of internal walls extending inward in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, each of the pair of internal walls includes a plurality of openings.

12. The level of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of posts are located along inner surfaces of the first pair of opposing body segments and the second pair of opposing body segments and wherein the posts are received within the plurality of openings when the pair of end caps are coupled to the outer level body.

13. The level of claim 11 , wherein each of the pair of internal walls are shaped to match contours of an outer surface of at least one of the first pair of opposing body segments and the second pair of opposing body segments.

14. The level of claim 10 , the base structure comprising a plurality of walls each having an inner surface that together define a cavity, wherein the pair of end caps each include a post extending inward in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the post configured to couple to the cavity.

15. The level of claim 10 , wherein the level framed is formed from a metal material and the outer level body is formed from a plastic material.

16. A level comprising:
a level frame formed from a metal material, the level frame comprising:
a base structure including a plurality of walls each having an inner surface that together defining a cavity, and an outer horizontal surface defining a planar base surface;
a vertical wall coupled to the base structure and extending away from the planar base surface;
a vial opening defined at least in part within the vertical wall; and
a longitudinal axis extending between opposing ends of the level frame;

a level vial supported by the level frame within the vial opening; and
a plastic outer level body coupled to the level frame, the plastic outer level body comprising:
a first pair of body segments coupled to and positioned on opposite sides of the vertical wall of the level frame; and
a second pair of body segments coupled to and positioned on opposite sides of the vertical wall of the level frame; and

an end cap configured to engage the plastic outer level body and the level frame such that the cavity is sealed.

17. The level of claim 16 , the end cap further comprising:
a first structure that engages the plastic outer level body; and
a second structure that engages the level frame.

18. The level of claim 17 , wherein the first structure includes internal walls extending inward along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the internal walls include a plurality of openings.

19. The level of claim 18 , wherein a plurality of posts are located along the inner surfaces of the first pair of body segments and the second pair of body segments, and wherein engagement between the plurality of posts and the plurality of openings holds the end cap in place.

20. The level of claim 17 , wherein the second structure is a post extending inward along the longitudinal axis, and wherein engagement between the post and the cavity holds the end cap in place.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Burge Joseph William
• Caelwaerts Michael John
• Wyatt Michael
• Deakins Bryant

Classifications

• G01C9/26 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• A47G1/16

  Devices for hanging or supporting pictures, mirrors, or the like · CPC title

• G01C9/02 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• G01C9/28 Primary

  Mountings · CPC title