Alignment device utilizing components responsive to gravity

Abstract

A level indicator utilizing an alignment device, together with a power tool utilizing such a level indicator to determine when such a tool is held in a horizontal or vertical plane. An alignment device (10) has a first component part (12) with an arcuate track (14) with a track following member in the form of a ball bearing (28) to follow the track under the influence of gravity to seek an equilibrium position. The body has a signal input (18) and a signal output port (20) and the second component part has an alignment member axially mounted within the body in restraining engagement with the track following member (28) so as to be rotationally displaceable within the body in response to displacement of the track following member (28) whereby alignment between the alignment member and the input and output ports in response to displacement of the alignment member by the ball bearing, effects operation of an indicator means to provide an indication that such alignment between the alignment member and the alignment ports has been achieved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.