Level
AssigneeStanley Tools, a Division of The Stanley Works
InventorsWalter J. Hutchins, John H. Wilcox, James M. Jackson, John M. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lighted level including a frame having parallel working surfaces and an inner connecting web having an aperture with a pair of notches for supporting a liquid-containing vial. The level includes a light emitting diode for illuminating the vial. The level is constructed for automatic drop-in assembly of each of the component parts, including a printed circuit board containing the lighting circuitry, without requiring wires, screws, pins, pegs or bolts.
Claims20
A level, comprising,
- a frame provided with parallel working surfaces and an interconnecting web, the web having an aperture providing a pair of oppositely directed notches,
- an elongated vial positioned with its ends precision fitted in the pair of notches at a preselected relationship relative to the working surfaces with the longitudinal axis of the vial generally parallel to the plane of the web,
- a cover including first and second cover plates mounted on opposite sides of the web, at least one of the first and second cover plates having an aperture for viewing the vial, the cover having means defining a circuit board retaining portion and a battery retaining portion,
- a printed circuit board adapted to be automatically inserted in a stationary position in the circuit board receiving portion, the circuit board having a light emitting diode for illuminating the vial, and
- connecting means for forming an electrical connection between the circuit board and one or more batteries when the one or more batteries are mounted in the battery retaining portion, the connecting means being adapted to be automatically inserted during assembly of the level.
In a spirit level comprising a vial mounted in an aperture in an elongated vial support frame sandwiched between a pair of complementary cover plates having apertures for exposing the vial, the improvement wherein the level comprises illumination means for illuminating the vial, the illumination means including a light emitting diode fastened to a circuit board, the circuit board being automatically inserted between the cover plates during assembly of the level and being electrically connected to a battery when the battery is mounted in a battery retaining portion defined by at least one of the cover plates.
A method of automatically assembling a lighted level including a frame provided with parallel working surfaces and an interconnecting web having an aperture supporting a liquid-containing vial, and including first and second side cover plates, wherein the first side cover plate has a circuit board receiving portion, the method comprising:
- (a) depositing a printed circuit board within the circuit board receiving portion, wherein the circuit board has connecting means adapted to be connected to a power source and at least one light source for illuminating the vial,
- (b) mounting the frame in registry with the first side cover plate and the circuit board such that the light source is positioned adjacent the vial for providing illumination of the vial, and
- (c) mounting the second side cover plate in registry with the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.