U.S. patent application number 10/706227 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for laser level with adjustable laser projection line.
This patent application is currently assigned to Chervon International Trading Co. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Wu, Shuming.
Application Number | 20040205972 10/706227 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29429786 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040205972 |
Kind Code |
A2 |
Wu, Shuming |
October 21, 2004 |
LASER LEVEL WITH ADJUSTABLE LASER PROJECTION LINE
Abstract
A laser level with adjustable laser projection line comprises a
support bracket, a housing, a switch, a laser generator which
project a fanned laser beam to the surface of the work piece to
form a line, and wherein a rotating mechanism is coupled to rotate
the laser generator thereby causing rotation of the line. There is
also a positioning device to position the laser level on an
arbitrary surface.
Inventors: |
Wu, Shuming; (Nanjing City,
Jiangsui Province, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WALLENSTEIN WAGNER & ROCKEY, LTD
311 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
53RD FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
Chervon International Trading Co.
Ltd.
No. 9 West Sheng-Li Road Nanjing Jiangning
Nanjing
CN
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 0123472 A1 |
July 1, 2004 |
|
|
Family ID: |
29429786 |
Appl. No.: |
10/706227 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
33/286 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 15/004 20130101;
G01C 15/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
033/286 |
International
Class: |
G01C 015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 27, 2002 |
CN |
02293048.5 |
Claims
What is Claimed is:
1. A laser level with adjustable laser projection line,
comprising:a housing;a laser generator within the housing;a power
supply;a switch for connecting the power supply to the laser
generator;wherein said laser generator projects a laser beam
forwardly to form a line on a surface to be illuminated, the laser
generator being rotatably coupled to the housing such that in a
first position the line is projected vertically on the surface and
in a second position the line is projected horizontally on the
surface.
2. The laser level with adjustable laser projection line of claim
1, further comprising a protective door connected to the switch and
which is moveable from a first open position to a second closed
position, wherein when the protective door is in the first open
position the switch is connected to the power supply to the laser
generator and when the door is in the second closed position the
switch is disconnected to the power supply.
3. The laser level of claim 1, wherein the housing has an opening,
and wherein the laser generator projects the laser beam outside of
the housing through the opening.
4. The laser level with adjustable laser projection line of claim
1, further comprising a rotating mechanism connected to the laser
generator.
5. The laser level of claim 4, wherein the rotating mechanism
comprises a knob, and wherein the laser level further has two
magnetic members and corresponding two fastening members that can
be engaged by the magnetic members, the relationship of the
magnetic members and the fastening members operating as a stop for
the knob.
6. The laser level with adjustable laser projection line of claim
1, further comprising a mounting baseplate removably connected to
the housing.
7. The laser level with adjustable laser projection line of claim
1, further comprising a base that has a magnet, the base being
connected to the housing.
8. The laser level with adjustable laser projection line of claim
7, wherein the base is coupled to a removable mounting
baseplate.
9. The laser level with adjustable laser projection line of claim
6, wherein the baseplate has two pushpads each of which comprise at
least one retractable pin, the pins protruding from a bottom of the
baseplate when the pushpads are depressed.
10. The laser level with adjustable laser projection line of claim
8, wherein the baseplate has two pushpads each of which comprise at
least one retractable pin, the pins protruding from a bottom of the
baseplate when the pushpads are depressed.
11. A laser generating device comprising:a housing having a base;
and,a laser generator disposed within the housing for projecting a
laser beam through an opening in the housing onto a workpiece, the
laser generator being rotatably coupled in the housing for rotating
the projected laser beam from 0 degrees to 90 degrees with respect
to the bottom of the housing.
12. The laser generating device of claim 11 further comprising a
magnetic member depending from the base of the laser generating
device.
13. The laser generating device of claim 11, further comprising a
rotating mechanism protruding from the housing.
14. The laser generating device of claim 13, wherein the rotating
mechanism comprises a knob.
15. The laser generating device of claim 13, wherein the laser
generator is connected to the rotating mechanism and when the
rotating mechanism is turned clockwise to a first position the
laser beam projected by the laser generator will be one of either
vertical or horizontal to the bottom of the housing, and when the
rotating mechanism is turned counter-clockwise to a second
position, the laser beam projected by the laser generator will be
the other of either vertical or horizontal to the bottom of the
housing.
16. The laser generating device of claim 15, wherein the laser
generating unit is mounted on a bracket in the housing, the
rotating mechanism has first and second magnets attached thereto,
and the bracket has first and second positioning members, whereby
when the rotating mechanism is turned to the first position the
first magnet cooperates with the first positioning member to
stabilize the position of the generated laser beam and when the
rotating mechanism is turned to the second position the second
magnet cooperates with the second positioning member to stabilize
the position of the generated laser beam.
17. The laser generating device of claim 11, wherein the housing
has a leveling bubble.
18. A laser generating device comprising:a housing having a base;a
magnet connected to the base of the housing;a laser generator
disposed within the housing for projecting a laser beam onto a
workpiece; and,a rotating mechanism coupled to the laser generator
for rotating the projected laser beam.
19. The laser generating device of claim 18, wherein the rotating
mechanism provides for rotating the laser beam from 0 degrees to 90
degrees with respect to the bottom of the housing.
20. The laser generating device of claim 18, wherein a retractable
door is disposed over the opening and is moveable from a first open
position to a second closed position, wherein when the door is in
the first open position the switch is connected to the power supply
for the laser generator and when the door is in the second closed
position the switch is disconnected to the power supply for the
laser generator.
21. An assembly for generating a laser line, the assembly
comprising:a housing having an opening, and a laser generator and a
power supply in the housing, the laser generator projecting a laser
beam through the opening in the housing, and the laser generator
being electrically connected to the power supply;a removable
mounting baseplate having an attachment which cooperates with the
housing to removably secure the housing to the mounting baseplate,
the laser beam being rotatable with respect to the mounting
baseplate when the housing is secured to the mounting
baseplate.
22. The assembly of claim 21, further comprising a door at the
opening of the housing, the door moving from a first position to a
second position to close the opening, the laser generator
generating the laser beam when the door is in the first position,
and the laser generator not generating the laser beam when the door
is in the second position.
23. The assembly of claim 22, further comprising a switch to
electrically connect and disconnect the supply of power from the
power supply to the laser generator, and wherein the switch is
controlled by the door.
24. The assembly of claim 21, further comprising a knob connected
to the laser generator to rotate the laser generator about the
housing.
25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the knob extends outwardly
from the housing.
26. The assembly of claim 21, further comprising a magnet connected
to the assembly to assist in connecting the housing to the mounting
baseplate.
27. An assembly for generating a laser line, the assembly
comprising:a laser generating device having a housing with an
opening and a base, a laser generator in the housing, and a
rotating mechanism connected to the laser generator, wherein the
base has a magnet, wherein the laser generator projects a laser
beam through the opening in the housing, and wherein the rotating
mechanism is adapted to provide a rotatable laser beam; and,a
removable mounting baseplate having an attachment surface which
cooperates with the magnet to retain the laser generating device
thereto.
28. The assembly for generating a laser line of claim 27, wherein
the rotating mechanism comprises a knob extending outwardly from
the housing.
29. An assembly for generating a laser line, the assembly
comprising:a housing having an opening;a door at the opening of the
housing, the door moving from a first open position to a second
closed position;a laser generator and a power supply in the
housing, the laser generator projecting a laser beam through the
opening in the housing, and the laser generator being electrically
connected to the power supply, wherein the laser generator
generates the laser beam when the door is in the first position,
and wherein the laser beam is not generated by the laser generator
when the door is in the second position.a removable mounting
baseplate having an attachment which cooperates with the housing to
removably secure the housing to the mounting baseplate, the laser
beam being rotatable with respect to the mounting baseplate when
the housing is secured to the mounting baseplate.
30. The assembly of claim 29, further comprising a switch to
electrically connect and disconnect the supply of power from the
power supply to the laser generator, the switch being controlled by
movement of the door.
31. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the removable mounting
baseplate is adapted to be removably secured to a workpiece.
Description
Detailed Description of the Invention
Cross Reference to Related Applications
[0001] This application claims priority from Chinese Application
No. 02293048.5, filed on December 27, 2002.
Background of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an alignment-product which
reflects a line on a surface as a positioning reference, and
particularly to a laser level which marks a line on a reference
surface with the fanned beam projected by a laser generator.
[0003] There are many kinds of laser alignment devices, which
project laser beams by laser generators to mark lines. One such
device is designed by U.S. Tool Co. (U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. US2002/0178596A1), which can project a line of
fixed orientation. Another such device is marketed by U.S.
CTB/Berger, which can project a horizontal line and a plumb line
decussate to each other on walls perpendicular to the direction of
propagation of the laser. The former can merely project a line
parallel to the baseplane of its pedestal; the latter can form two
lines vertical with each other, but there is a disadvantage that
two laser generators are needed, and as the switch is turned on,
required or not, the two laser generators project beams
simultaneously, thereby causing much more power consumption.
Summary of Invention
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser
level with only one laser generator which can be rotated 90 degrees
to alter the location relationship of the laser beam with the base
plane of the laser level.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
means to mount the laser level on a metallic surface.
[0006] A further object is to provide a separate base plate which
can protrude a plurality of retractable pins to suspend and hold
the laser level on a surface of plastic, cork, wood, drywall or
other soft object.
[0007] An even further object of this invention is to provide one
or more level bubbles to indicate whether the laser beam is
horizontally or vertically level.
[0008] To achieve the objects hereinbefore, the laser alignment
device of the present invention includes a support bracket, a
clamshell housing defined by a left clamshell housing member and a
right clamshell housing member, a laser generator, a battery to
power the laser generator, a cover for a battery pack, a switch, a
protective door and a rotating mechanism. The protective door is
used to activate the trigger of the linked switch. The laser
generator will be switched off when the door is closed, and the
lens of the laser generator will be protected against dust. When
the door is opened, the switch connects the laser generator to the
power supply and the laser generator will project a fan-shaped
laser beam to form a line on a surface.
[0009] The rotating mechanism includes a knob which can rotate from
0 to 90 degrees, and which is coupled to the laser generator to
rotate the laser generator when the knob is turned, thereby causing
rotation of the line on the plane.
[0010] There may be a magnetic attachment means on the base of the
support bracket. When it is necessary to secure the laser level on
a surface of a metallic object (e.g., a pipe or metal stud) one
needs only to place the laser level with adjustable laser
projection line onto the metallic object, and the laser level will
be held there via the magnetic attachment means. In this manner,
the laser level can be positioned on a non-horizontal plane in a
relatively secure position, and avoid instability.
[0011] The laser level with adjustable laser projection line also
includes a separate removable mounting baseplate having two or more
retractable pins which can be extended from the removable mounting
baseplate and inserted into the wall, wood, plastic or other soft
object as desired. When not in use, the pins can retract into a
cavity in the removable mounting baseplate.
[0012] The laser level with adjustable laser projection line can be
powered by an internal battery. The user need only screw the cover
off without the aid of a tool to remove the discharged battery
cells and fill in new battery cells to power the laser
generator.
[0013] The laser level can further comprise two conventional level
bubbles which are perpendicular to each other on the top of the
laser level. The two level bubbles are both parallel to the bottom
of the laser level, for orientation or leveling a precise
horizontal line or plumb line.
[0014] The laser level with adjustable laser projection line
disclosed by the present invention can expediently mark a reference
line accordingly on a workpiece as needed. The reference line can
be parallel, vertical or be adjusted to other angular degrees to
the bottom of the laser level.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of a laser level with adjustable laser projection line
according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is an inner perspective view of the laser level of
FIG. 1 with left clamshell housing member removed;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the mechanism for rotating the
laser when the mechanism is rotated to its right limit with the
laser beam perpendicular to the bottom plate of the laser
level;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the rotating mechanism when it
is rotated to its left limit with the laser beam parallel to the
bottom plate of the laser level;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the removable base plate;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the removable base plate
wherein the positioning pins are retracted inside the removable
base plate;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the removable base plate
wherein the positioning pins protrude outward;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the laser level with
adjustable laser projection line when it is positioned and held on
a vertical plane.
Detailed Description
[0023] Referring to FIG.1 and 2, the laser level with adjustable
laser projection line 100 of the present invention comprises a
support bracket 1, a left clamshell housing member 2, a right
clamshell housing member 3, a laser protection door 4, a laser
generator 10 mounted on the front bracket 1B of the support bracket
1, a battery pack 11 or power supply to power the laser generator
10, a switch 41 to control the laser generator 10 and a cover 6 for
the battery pack. The protective door 4 can trigger the switch 41
when it is opened or closed, as shown in FIG. 1. As the door 4 is
in the closed position, it slides the switch 41 to the off position
and switches off the laser generator 10. The closed door 4 also
protects the laser generator 10 and lens 10A against dust. When the
door 4 is pushed downwardly to access lens 10A of the laser
generator 10, as shown in FIG. 2, the door 4 slides the switch 41
to the on position at the same time, switching on the laser
generator 10 to project a fan-shaped laser beam 13 and form a line
131 on the surface to be illuminated.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 3 and 4, the laser generator 10 in the
laser alignment device 100 of the present invention includes a
rotating mechanism 5, which can have a knob 51 secured on the laser
generator 10 which will rotate along with the rotation of knob 51.
When knob 51 is turned clockwise to its limit, the planar beam
projected by the laser generator 10 will be parallel to the bottom
of laser level 100 (FIG. 4); and, when knob 51 is turned
counterclockwise to its limit (the angular degree of rotation
preferably being 90 degrees), the planer beam projected by the
laser generator 10 will be perpendicular to the bottom of the laser
alignment device 100 (FIG. 3). To avoid knob 51 from rotating
arbitrarily and affecting the stability of the laser beam position
accordingly, it is preferred to arrange two magnetic members 52, 53
on knob 51, and arrange two fastening members 54, 55 on the
corresponding position of the front bracket 1B. When the knob 51
being rotated to its clockwise limit, the fastening member 54 is
caught by the magnetic member 53; and when knob 51 rotates to its
counterclockwise limit, the fastening member 55 is caught by the
magnetic member 52, ensuring the position of knob 51 and thereby
maintaining the stability of the laser beam position.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, the laser alignment device 100 of
the present invention may advantageously comprise one or more
leveling devices such as bubbles 8, 9 to orientate or level the
laser level 100 on a horizontal or vertical plane. The leveling
bubbles 8, 9 are parallel to the bottom of the laser level 100.
Bubble 8 is used to level the horizontal relationship of the
elongated side position of the laser level with adjustable laser
projection line 100, and bubble 9 is used to level the horizontal
relationship of fore-and-aft position of the laser level 100. Thus,
laser level 100 can provide accurate horizontal lines and plumb
lines with the usage of the level bubbles 8, 9.
[0026] The laser level with adjustable laser protection line 10 as
described above can also be used on a horizontal position for a
metallic surface. To solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 2, a
magnet 12 is mounted on the base 1A of the support bracket 1 of the
laser level 100, thereby allowing laser alignment device 100 to be
placed and held on an arbitrary portion of the metallic
surface.
[0027] To position laser level 100 on a wood, plastic, drywall or
other surface, as shown in FIG. 1, a removable baseplate 7 may be
used with the laser level 100 for mounting. As shown in FIG. 5, the
baseplate 7 comprises two pushpads 73 each including at least one
retractable positioning pin 72. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.
5-7, there are three retractable pins 72 on each pushpad 73. When
pushpads 73 are relaxed, the retractable pins 72 are retracted
within the removable mounting baseplate 7, as shown in FIG. 6, thus
preventing the operator from being stabbed carelessly. When
pushpads 73 are pressed down, the positioning pins 72 will extend
outwardly from the bottom 74 of the mounting baseplate 7 as shown
in FIG. 7. The mounting baseplate 7 can be mounted to the surface
of a wall (drywall, plastic, plaster or other surface) by inserting
the retractable pins 72 into the surface. The laser level 100 can
then be attached to the mounting baseplate 7 by placing the magnet
12 on the bottom of the laser level 100 to a metallic attachment
surface 71 on the mounting baseplate 7 thereby fastening the laser
level 100 to the baseplate 7.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the laser alignment device
100 when it is situated on the vertical plane with the laser beam
projecting downwardly.
* * * * *