Leveling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964407-B2
Application number	US-201615205565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2016
Priority date	Jul 8, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A leveling device having at least one opening that houses a leveling vial and having a channel formed from a working surface, where at least one magnet and at least one spacer are retained in the channel.

First claim

We claim:

1. A leveling device, comprising:
a body having an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis, the body forming at least one opening extending through the body transversely relative to the longitudinal axis,
a leveling vial disposed in the at least one opening, and
at least one magnet disposed in a working surface of the body,
wherein the working surface includes a channel defined therein, the channel extending parallel with the longitudinal axis from a front face of the body and towards a rear face of the body, the channel containing the at least one magnet such that an exposed surface of the at least one magnet is parallel with the working surface, the at least one magnet having a length along the channel that is less than an overall length of the channel, and
at least one spacer disposed in the channel, the at least one spacer occupying an additional length of the channel along the longitudinal axis.

2. The leveling device of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of magnets and spacers are disposed in the channel.

3. The leveling device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is formed on a magnet carrier that forms a pocket, into which the magnet is disposed, and wherein the magnet is insertable into the channel along with the magnet carrier while the magnet is disposed in the pocket.

4. The leveling device of claim 3 , further comprising an adhesive disposed between the at least one magnet and the magnet carrier.

5. The leveling device of claim 3 , wherein comprising a curved metal spring disposed between the at least one magnet and the magnet carrier.

6. The leveling device of claim 3 , wherein the channel is open at one end of the body, and wherein the magnet carrier matingly engages a cross section of the channel such that the magnet carrier is insertable into the channel from the open end.

7. The leveling device of claim 1 , wherein the exposed surface of the at least one magnet is recessed relative to the working surface.

8. The leveling device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is generally shaped as a rectangular cuboid having two of its upper edges that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body chamfered.

9. The leveling device of claim 8 , wherein the channel forms a T shaped cross section forming indents that engage the upper edges of the at least one magnet to retain the at least one magnet into the channel.

10. The leveling device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of magnets and spacers disposed in the channel in alternating fashion.

11. The leveling device of claim 1 , wherein the body is made from extruded metal.

12. The leveling device of claim 1 , wherein the channel extends along an entire length of the body.

13. The leveling device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is attached to the body.

14. A leveling device, comprising:
a body having an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal axis, the body forming at least one opening extending through the body transversely relative to the longitudinal axis,
a leveling vial disposed in the at least one opening,
a plurality of magnets associated with a working surface of the body,
wherein the working surface extends along the longitudinal axis and provides an engagement surface that is contoured to engage electrical conduit, the working surface including a channel defined therein, the channel extending parallel with the longitudinal axis from a front face of the body and towards a rear face of the body, the channel containing the plurality of magnets dispersed along a length of the channel such that an exposed surface of each of the plurality of magnets is parallel with at least a portion of the engagement surface, each of the plurality of magnets having a length along the channel that is less than an overall length of the channel, and
a plurality of spacers disposed in the channel, the plurality of spacers having an overall length that, together with an overall length of the plurality of magnets, occupy an entire length of the channel along the longitudinal axis.

15. The leveling device of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of magnets and the plurality of spacers are disposed in alternating fashion in the channel.

16. The leveling device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of spacers is formed on a magnet carrier that forms a plurality of pockets disposed between adjacent spacers, wherein the plurality of magnets is disposed into the pockets and is insertable, along with the plurality of spacers and the magnet carrier, into the channel.

17. The leveling device of claim 16 , further comprising a cushion, an adhesive or a spring disposed between at least one of the plurality of magnets and the magnet carrier at a corresponding pocket.

18. The leveling device of claim 16 , wherein the channel is open at one end of the body, and wherein the magnet carrier has an elongate shape that matingly engages a cross section of the channel such that the magnet carrier is insertable into the channel from the open end.

19. The leveling device of claim 14 , wherein the each of the plurality of magnets is generally shaped as a rectangular cuboid having two of its upper edges that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body chamfered.

20. The leveling device of claim 19 , wherein the channel forms a T shaped cross section forming indents that engage the upper edges of the plurality of magnets to retain the plurality of magnets in the channel.

Assignees

• Klein Tools Inc

Inventors

• Captarencu Catalin V
• Mueller David W

Classifications

• G01C9/34 Primary

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

• G01C9/28

  Mountings · CPC title