Attachable level with rotatable bubble vial

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9885571-B2
Application number	US-201514805595-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2015
Priority date	Jul 22, 2014
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

A level is selectively coupled to a work piece and includes a housing, an adjustable clamping mechanism configured to selectively couple the housing to the work piece, a first bubble vial coupled to the housing and operable to indicate a first levelness of the work piece, and a second bubble vial rotatably coupled to the housing about a first axis. The second bubble vial is operable to indicate a second levelness of the work piece.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A level configured to be selectively coupled to a work piece, the level comprising:
a housing;
an adjustable clamping mechanism configured to selectively couple the housing to the work piece, the adjustable clamping mechanism comprising:
a first leg coupled to the housing;
a second leg coupled to the housing;
a spring received within the housing, the spring biasing the second leg toward the first leg such that the work piece is secured between the first leg and the second leg; and
an actuator, wherein the second leg is moveable relative to the first leg by the actuator, and the actuator is moveable relative to the housing to move the second leg against a force provided by the biasing member;

a first bubble vial coupled to the housing and operable to indicate a first levelness of the work piece; and
a second bubble vial rotatably coupled to the housing about a first axis, the second bubble vial operable to indicate a second levelness of the work piece.

2. The level of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is rotatable relative to the second portion about a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the first portion includes the adjustable clamping mechanism and the first bubble vial, and the second portion includes the second bubble vial, wherein the second leg is moveable relative to the first leg in a direction perpendicular to the second axis.

3. The level of claim 2 , wherein the first portion is magnetically coupled to the second portion for selective detachment therebetween.

4. The level of claim 2 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are spring biased towards each other.

5. The level of claim 2 , wherein the first portion includes a rib that engages a first slot within the second portion such that the first portion is generally perpendicular to the second portion, and the rib engages a second slot within the second portion such that the first portion is generally parallel to the second portion.

6. The level of claim 1 further comprising an annular housing that couples the second bubble vial to the housing, the annular housing including a resilient member and the housing further including a plurality of grooves, the annular housing and the second bubble vial rotatable with respect to the housing such that the resilient member selectively engages one of the plurality of grooves to lock the angular position of the second bubble vial relative to the work piece.

7. The level of claim 6 , wherein the annular housing includes two resilient members generally separated 180 degrees apart and the plurality of grooves extend 360 degrees around the housing such that when the annular housing rotates relative to the housing, the second bubble vial is located at discrete locations.

8. The level of claim 6 , wherein the annular housing includes one resilient member and the plurality of grooves extend 180 degrees around the housing such that when the resilient member is rotated away from the plurality of grooves, the second bubble vial is located in non-discrete locations.

9. A level comprising:
a housing including a first side surface, a second side surface and a longitudinal axis, each of the first side surface and the second side surface defining a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis;
an adjustable clamping mechanism coupled to the housing and configured to selectively couple the housing to a work piece; and
a bubble vial coupled to the housing and rotatable about a first axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the first side surface and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the bubble vial operable to indicate a levelness of the work piece, wherein the bubble vial extends outward from first side surface in a direction of the first axis such that the bubble vial is visible from a line of sight coplanar with the plane defined by the first side surface;
wherein the adjustable clamping mechanism is spaced from the bubble vial along the longitudinal axis.

10. The level of claim 9 , wherein the bubble vial is fixed within an annular housing, and the annular housing partially extends beyond the plane of the first side surface such that the annular housing and the bubble vial are visible from the line of sight coplanar with the plane of the first side surface, wherein the annular housing is surrounded by the first side surface.

11. The level of claim 9 , wherein the bubble vial is moveable relative to the housing along the first axis.

12. The level of claim 11 , wherein the bubble vial is positionable in a first position visible from the line of sight coplanar with one of the planes and a second position not visible from the line of sight coplanar with one of the planes.

13. The level of claim 9 , wherein the adjustable clamping mechanism includes a first leg and a second leg coupled to the housing, and the second leg is biased towards the first leg by a biasing member to secure the work piece therebetween.

14. The level of claim 13 , wherein the second leg is moveable relative to the first leg by an actuator, and the actuator is moveable relative to the housing to move the second leg against a force provided by the biasing member.

15. A level selectively coupled to a ruler, the level indicating a levelness of the ruler, the level comprising:
a housing comprising:
a top planar surface extending from a first end to a second end;
a bottom planar surface parallel to the top planar surface;
a first face surface;
a second face surface opposite the first face surface, wherein the top planar surface and the bottom planar surface are perpendicular to first and second face surfaces;
a longitudinal axis defining a length; and
a height perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the length is greater than the height;

a bubble vial supported by the housing; and
a recess extending the entire length of the top planar surface in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the recess is configured to receive a portion of the ruler and the recess is adjacent the second face surface such that the second face surface and a side of the ruler are substantially coplanar with each other when the recess engages the ruler.

16. The level of claim 15 , wherein the bubble vial is positioned between the first planar surface and the second planar surface.

17. The level of claim 16 , wherein the recess is located below the top planar surface such that a lower edge of the ruler within the recess is below the top planar surface.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Hoppe Christopher S
• Hyma Steven W
• Squiers Grant T
• Neitzell Roger D
• Schwoegler Ryan D

Classifications

• G01C9/34 Primary

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

• G01C9/26

  Details · CPC title

• G01C9/24 Primary

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