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US 11,415,415 B1Granted
Self-leveling laser level
OwnerDavid Uribeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An effective inexpensive, compact and easy-to-use self-leveling laser level capable of projecting at least two laser beams at any desired angle dialed on a 360-degree format.
Claims20
A self-leveling laser level device comprising:
- a round housing containing working components, the housing having a front shell and a back shell adapted to fit together defining a cavity to contain the working components, wherein both the front shell and the back shell has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is shaped approximately in the form of a short tube, substantially closed at one end by a disc-shaped face, said disc-shaped face having a central hole therein, wherein both the front shell and the back shell each has a diameter and a depth wherein the diameter is larger than the depth;
- wherein the front shell comprises, immovably fixed to the inner surface of its disc-shaped face, a brace holding a circular ball bearing positioned approximately at the center of the inner surface of the disc-shaped face, wherein the ball bearing comprises an outer race and an inner race with balls set therebetween, allowing the inner race and the other race to rotate freely about each other along the axis of the device, wherein the ballbearing further has within it a central hole adapted to receive a holding screw,
- and wherein the ballbearing has affixed thereto a ballbearing extension, adapted such that in use, the ballbearing extension projects through the central hole of the back shell and beyond the outer surface of the back shell such that in use it may removably contact a vertical surface;
- wherein, a calibration housing is attached to the brace or to a fixed location on the inside of the front shell, the calibration housing comprising a calibration weight whereby, in use, the calibration weight acts as a pendulum causing the front shell to rotate about the axis of the device and coming to rest at a lowest point of an arc of rotation;
- wherein the back shell houses a power source functionally connected to a switch operable from the exterior of the housing, said switch is functionally connected to two or more laser light sources, wherein at least two of said laser light sources are positioned diametrically opposite each other such that in use, each light source is able to project a light beam outwards from the device at 180 degrees to each other such that the beams extend along the same linear dimension giving the impression of a single straight line passing through the device;
- further, wherein the front shell and the back shell are fitted together in such a way as to allow rotational movement relative to each other of at least 360 degrees, thereby facilitating positioning the beams of light at any desired angle relative to the device.
3 more elements
A method for identifying and marking locations on an approximately vertical surface, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a self-leveling laser level device comprising:
- a round housing containing working components, the housing having a front shell and a back shell adapted to fit together defining a cavity to contain the working components, wherein both the front shell and the back shell has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is shaped approximately in the form of a short tube, substantially closed at one end by a disc-shaped face, said disc-shaped face having a central hole therein, wherein both the front shell and the back shell each has a diameter and a depth wherein the diameter is larger than the depth;
- wherein the front shell comprises, immovably fixed to the inner surface of its disc-shaped face, a brace holding a circular ball bearing positioned approximately at the center of the inner surface of the disc-shaped face, wherein the ball bearing comprises an outer race and an inner race with balls set therebetween, allowing the inner race and the other race to rotate freely about each other along the axis of the device, wherein the ballbearing further has within it a central hole adapted to receive a holding screw,
- and wherein the ballbearing has affixed thereto a ballbearing extension, adapted such that in use, the ballbearing extension projects through the central hole of the back shell and beyond the outer surface of the back shell such that in use it may removably contact a vertical surface;
- wherein, a calibration housing is attached to the brace or to a fixed location on the inside of the front shell, the calibration housing comprising a calibration weight whereby, in use, the calibration weight acts as a pendulum causing the front shell to rotate about the axis of the device and coming to rest at a lowest point of an arc of rotation;
- wherein the back shell houses a power source functionally connected to a switch operable from the exterior of the housing, said switch is functionally connected to two or more laser light sources, wherein at least two of said laser light sources are positioned diametrically opposite each other such that in use, each light source is able to project a light beam outwards from the device at 180 degrees to each other such that the beams extend along the same linear dimension giving the impression of a single straight line passing through the device;
- further, wherein the front shell and the back shell are fitted together in such a way as to allow rotational movement relative to each other of at least 360 degrees, thereby facilitating positioning the beams of light at any desired angle relative to the device;
- and further, in any order:
- (b) selecting a desired angle;
- (c) rotating the front shell relative to the back shell until the desired angle indicated;
- (d) removably fixing the device to the vertical surface;
- (e) turning on the device on to activate the light beams;
- and
- (f) and marking desired points on the vertical surface as indicate by the light beam.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.