Vial with improved visibility for level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12031845-B2
Application number	US-202218053640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2022
Priority date	Feb 16, 2016
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

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 workpiece;
a vial supported by the level body and including an inner surface defining a cavity;
a first liquid material located within the cavity of the vial; and
a second liquid material located within the cavity of the vial, the second liquid material immiscible in the first liquid material such that an indicating bubble is formed by the second liquid material within the first liquid material;
wherein the first liquid material is less polar than the second liquid material or the first liquid material is more polar than the second liquid material.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein the second liquid material is at least one of less dense than the first liquid material, and an amphipathic material.

3. The level of claim 1 , further comprising a third material located within the cavity of the vial, the third material having a property that attracts the third material to an interface between the first liquid material and the second liquid material.

4. The level of claim 3 , wherein the third material has a density that is less than a density of the first liquid material.

5. The level of claim 4 , wherein the density of the third material is greater than a density of the second liquid material.

6. The level of claim 1 , wherein the second liquid material is an amphipathic material.

7. The level of claim 6 , wherein the second liquid material arranges itself into a micelle arrangement within the first liquid material.

8. A level comprising:
a level body defining a reference surface configured to engage a workpiece;
a vial supported by the level body and including an inner surface defining a cavity;
a first material located within the cavity of the vial;
a second material located within the cavity of the vial, the second material forms an indicator within the first material such that an interface is defined between the first and second materials; and
a third material located within the cavity of the vial, the third material having a property that repels the third material from the first material;
wherein the third material is an amphipathic material, and wherein the first material is a nonpolar material and the second material a polar material or the first material is a polar material and the second material a nonpolar material.

9. The level of claim 8 , wherein, when the third material becomes separated from a surface of the second material, the third material is configured to return to interface between the first material and the second material.

10. The level of claim 8 , wherein the third material entirely surrounds the second material.

11. The level of claim 8 , wherein third material has an optical property that is different from an optical property of the first material or an optical property of the second material.

12. The level of claim 11 , wherein the third material has a light transmittance at a wavelength of that is greater than a light transmittance at the wavelength of the first material.

13. A level comprising:
a level body defining a planar base surface configured to engage a workpiece;
a vial supported by the level body and including an inner surface defining a cavity;
a first material located within the cavity of the vial, wherein the first material is a liquid material;
a second material located within the cavity of the vial, the second material forms an indicator within the first material such that an interface is defined between the first and second materials; and
a third material located within the cavity of the vial, the third material is an amphipathic material having a property that attracts the third material to the interface between the first material and the second material, wherein the first material is a nonpolar fluid and the second material a polar fluid or the first material is a polar fluid and the second material a nonpolar fluid.

14. The level of claim 13 , wherein the third material is a fluid that is immiscible with the first and second materials.

15. The level of claim 13 , wherein the third material entirely surrounds the second material.

16. The level of claim 13 , wherein the third material is repelled by the first material.

17. The level of claim 13 , wherein the third material is a particulate material.

18. The level of claim 13 , further comprising a second vial supported by the level body and including an inner surface defining a cavity; the second vial comprising:
a first material located within the cavity of the second vial, wherein the first material is a liquid material;
a second material located within the cavity of the second vial, the second material forms an indicator within the first material such that an interface is defined between the first and second materials; and
a third amphipathic material located within the cavity of the second vial, the third material having a property that attracts the third material to the interface between the first material and the second material, wherein the first material is a nonpolar liquid and the second material is a polar liquid or the first material is a polar liquid and the second material is a nonpolar liquid.

19. The level of claim 13 , wherein the first material is oil, the second material is water, and the third material is dish soap.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G01C9/18

  by using liquids · CPC title

• G01C9/02

  Details · CPC title

• G01C9/24 Primary

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

• G01C2009/107

  spheres · CPC title

• G01C2009/102

  cylinders · CPC title