Magnet mounting and retention system for tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12152909-B2
Application number	US-202318163738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2023
Priority date	Apr 12, 2018
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

A tool, such as a level, with magnets embedded in a working surface is provided. For example, the magnets assist in coupling the level to magnetic workpieces. The magnets are placed in a chamber with a floor having a periphery and internal walls extending from the floor periphery. Flanges extend from internal wall of the chamber toward a central axis or point and partially further define the chamber volume. Flanges may be created by depressing surface of the level near the chamber, thus deforming the level body surface to create a channel and a flange from the material displaced from the channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A level comprising:
an orientation measuring component;
a planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface; and
a chamber formed in the base surface, the chamber comprising:
a chamber floor;
an internal wall extending from a periphery of the chamber floor to the planar base surface;
a chamber volume defined by the internal wall and the chamber floor;
a magnet disposed in the chamber volume; and
a biasing component in the chamber volume;

wherein the biasing component holds the magnet within the chamber volume by pressing the magnet against a surface of the chamber.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein the biasing component comprises a compressible rubber material.

3. The level of claim 2 , wherein the compressible rubber material comprises rubber with a durometer measurement between 30 A and 85 A.

4. The level of claim 1 , wherein the magnet comprises a first magnet and a second magnet, each of which have a north pole and a south pole, the north pole of the first magnet being disposed away from the chamber floor and the north pole of the second magnet being disposed towards the chamber floor.

5. The level of claim 1 , wherein the orientation measuring component is a level vial supported between the base surface and the top surface.

6. The level of claim 1 , wherein the level comprises a magnetic component between the magnet and the biasing component.

7. The level of claim 6 , wherein the biasing component comprises ribs that engage with the magnetic component.

8. A level comprising:
an orientation measuring component;
a planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface;
a chamber formed in a surface of the level, the chamber comprising:
a chamber floor with a periphery;
an internal wall extending from the chamber floor periphery to the planar base surface;
a chamber volume defined by the internal wall and the chamber floor;
a magnet disposed in the chamber volume; and
a flange that protrudes outwardly from the internal wall toward a middle of the chamber, the flange partially protruding over the chamber volume such that the flange retains the magnet in the chamber.

9. The level of claim 8 , wherein the flange is generally circular and peripherally surrounds the chamber.

10. The level of claim 8 , wherein the level comprises a biasing component in the chamber volume, the magnet biased against the flange by the biasing component.

11. The level of claim 10 , wherein the biasing component comprises a compressible rubber material.

12. The level of claim 8 , wherein the flange comprises two flanges, and wherein the internal wall has a first diameter at a first location between the two flanges, the first diameter being less than a second diameter that is directly below the two flanges.

13. The level of claim 8 , wherein the level comprises a magnetic component between the magnet and the chamber floor.

14. The level of claim 8 , wherein the flange comprises a top surface that faces away from the chamber floor, and wherein the top surface of the flange is coplanar with respect to the planar base surface.

15. The level of claim 8 , wherein the flange comprises a top surface that faces away from the chamber floor, and wherein the top surface of the flange is recessed with respect to the planar base surface.

16. A level comprising:
an orientation measuring component;
a planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface; and
a chamber formed in the base surface, the chamber comprising:
a chamber floor;
an internal wall extending from a periphery of the chamber floor to the base surface;
a chamber volume defined by the internal wall and the chamber floor;
a magnet disposed in the chamber volume; and
a surface extending away from the internal wall and facing toward the chamber floor, the surface interfacing with the magnet such that the magnet is retained between the surface and the chamber floor.

17. The level of claim 16 , wherein the chamber is elongate with two arcuate-shaped end walls connected by two sidewalls, and wherein the chamber comprises two surfaces, each of which extend along and away from one of the two sidewalls.

18. The level of claim 16 , wherein the level comprises a magnetic component between the magnet and the chamber floor.

19. The level of claim 16 , wherein the surface of the chamber is generally circular and peripherally surrounds the chamber.

20. The level of claim 16 , wherein the level comprises a biasing component in the chamber volume, the magnet biased against the surface of the chamber by the biasing component.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Hui Hongping
• Wang Xinglong

Classifications

• G01C5/00

  Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels (G01C3/20, G01C3/30 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01D11/24

  Housings {; Casings for instruments} · CPC title

• G01D11/14

  using magnetic induction damping · CPC title

• G01C9/24

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

• G01C9/02 Primary

  Details · CPC title