Continuous edge adjustable level

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12306016-B2
Application number	US-202318301758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2023
Priority date	Jul 10, 2018
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

An extendible or adjustable length level is provided. The level includes a frame, a slidable member, and a bushing. The slidable member is coupled to the frame and extends and retracts along the frame. The bushing is coupled to one of the frame or the slidable member and couples the frame and slidable member together.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A level comprising:
a frame comprising:
a first planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface;
a longitudinal axis;
a fixed end of the frame along the longitudinal axis;
an open end opposing the fixed end; and

a slidable body member coupled to the frame that extends and retracts along the longitudinal axis of the frame, the slidable body member comprising:
a second planar base surface generally coplanar with the first planar base surface;
a first end; and
a second end opposing the first end, the second end extending past the open end of the frame when the slidable body member is fully extended;

an orientation measuring component coupled to one of the frame or the slidable body member; and
a bushing that exerts a biasing force between the slidable body member and the frame, the bushing fixedly coupled to one of the frame or the slidable body member.

2. The level of claim 1 , the bushing being fixedly coupled to the frame closer to the open end than the fixed end, the bushing exerting a biasing force between the slidable body member and the frame via a first force.

3. The level of claim 2 , wherein the first force pushes the frame and the slidable body member away from each other.

4. The level of claim 2 , comprising a second bushing fixedly coupled to the slidable body member closer to the first end of the slidable body member than the second end of the slidable body member, the second bushing exerting a biasing force between the slidable body member and the frame via a second force.

5. The level of claim 4 , wherein the second force pushes the frame and the slidable body member away from each other.

6. The level of claim 4 , wherein the second bushing comprises a stop surface that engages against a stop component fixedly coupled to the frame when the slidable body member is fully extended from the frame.

7. The level of claim 1 , the first planar base surface of the frame and the second planar base surface of the slidable body member collectively comprising a generally continuous base surface to engage against a workpiece.

8. The level of claim 1 , the level further comprising a braking mechanism comprising an adjustable interface and a brake to variably adjust a resistive force against the slidable body member along the longitudinal axis of the frame.

9. The level of claim 1 , the slidable body member comprising an upper channel and the frame comprising a upper protrusion received within the upper channel, each of the upper channel and the upper protrusion extending longitudinally parallel to the longitudinal axis.

10. The level of claim 9 , the slidable body member comprising a lower channel and the frame comprising a lower protrusion received within the lower channel, the lower protrusion extending away from the upper protrusion, each of the lower channel and the lower protrusion extending longitudinally parallel to the longitudinal axis.

11. The level of claim 1 , wherein the slidable body member is sized such that an entire length of the slidable body member fits between the fixed end and the open end of the frame.

12. A level comprising:
a frame comprising:
a first planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface;
a longitudinal axis;
a first end of the frame along the longitudinal axis;
a second end opposing the first end; and
an orientation measuring component;

a slidable body member coupled to the frame that extends and retracts along the longitudinal axis of the frame between a fully-extended configuration and a fully-retracted configuration, the slidable body member and the frame defining a maximum distance when in the fully-extended configuration and the slidable body member and the frame defining a minimum distance when in the fully-retracted configuration, the slidable body member comprising:
a second planar base surface generally coplanar with the first planar base surface;
a first end of the slidable body member; and
a second end of the slidable body member opposing the first end, the second end extending past the second end of the frame when the slidable body member is in the fully-extended configuration; and

a braking mechanism comprising an adjustable brake to variably adjust a resistive force against sliding the slidable body member along the longitudinal axis of the frame.

13. The level of claim 12 , comprising a first bushing fixedly coupled to the frame closer to the second end of the frame than the first end of the frame, the first bushing exerting a biasing force between the slidable body member and the frame via a first force.

14. The level of claim 13 , comprising a second bushing fixedly coupled to the slidable body member closer to the first end of the slidable body member than the second end of the slidable body member, the second bushing exerting a biasing force between the slidable body member and the frame via a second force.

15. The level of claim 14 , wherein the first force pushes the frame and the slidable body member away from each other, and wherein the second force pushes the frame and the slidable body member away from each other.

16. The level of claim 12 , the first planar base surface of the frame and the second planar base surface of the slidable body member collectively comprising a generally continuous base surface to engage against a workpiece.

17. The level of claim 12 , the slidable body member comprising an upper channel and the frame comprising a upper protrusion received within the upper channel, each of the upper channel and the upper protrusion extending longitudinally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the slidable body member comprising a lower channel and the frame comprising a lower protrusion received within the lower channel, the lower protrusion extending away from the upper protrusion, each of the lower channel and the lower protrusion extending longitudinally parallel to the longitudinal axis.

18. A level comprising:
a frame comprising:
a first planar base surface;
a top surface opposing the base surface;
a longitudinal axis;
a fixed end of the frame along the longitudinal axis;
an open end opposing the fixed end; and
an orientation measuring component;

an end cap assembly detachably coupled to the fixed end of the frame, the end cap assembly comprising an engagement pivot configured to engage an opening in the frame, the engagement pivot comprising a pivot base and a pivot end, the pivot end rotates with respect to the pivot base when the engagement pivot is detached from the frame; and
a slidable body member coupled to the frame that extends and retracts along the longitudinal axis of the frame, the slidable body member comprising:
a second planar base surface generally coplanar with the first planar base surface;
an enclosed end; and
an adjustable end opposing the enclosed end, the adjustable end extending past the open end of the frame when the slidable body member is fully extended.

19. The level of claim 18 , the first planar base surface of the frame and the second planar base surface of the slidable body member collectively comprising a generally continuous base surface to engage against a workpiece.

20. The level of claim 18 , wherein the pivot end rotates with respect to the pivot base about a second axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame, wherein the slidable body member is sized such that an entire length of the slidable body member fits between the fixed end and the open end of the frame, the first planar base sur

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Tang Haoming
• Howard Samuel J
• Graykowski Anthony S
• Block Daniel L

Classifications

• G01C9/34

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

• F16B7/14

  locking in intermediate {non-discrete} positions {(the rod or tube being locked by a tilting clip F16B2/246)} · CPC title

• G01C9/26 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• G01C9/02

  Details · CPC title

• G01C9/28 Primary

  Mountings · CPC title