Dark-banded vial for use with level
AssigneeEmpire Level Mfg. Corp.
InventorThomas P. Foran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vial, level including such vial, and method of using such level are disclosed. The vial comprises a body having first and second ends, a midpoint, and interior and exterior surfaces, at least one marker ring connected with respect to the body, a bubble positioned in the cavity and defined by an interface, and first and second dark-colored bands circumscribing the cavity. The vial enhances the visibility of the bubble through the reflection of the first and second bands on the interface such that the interface along the perimeter of the bubble appears dark-colored.
Claims13
A vial for use in a level, the vial comprising:
- a body having first and second ends, a midpoint, and interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surface defining a barrel-shaped cavity, the cavity having a maximum diameter near the midpoint;
- first and second marker rings connected with respect to the body on either side of the midpoint and visible from the outside of the vial;
- a liquid and gas bubble in the cavity, the bubble defined by the liquid-gas interface;
- and
- first and second dark bands circumscribing the cavity, the first band positioned between the first end and the first marker ring and the second band positioned between the second end and the second marker ring;
- whereby the interface reflects the first and second dark bands such that the interface appears dark when viewing the bubble to enhance visibility of the bubble.
A level for improved measurement, the level comprising:
- a measuring surface for contacting an element to be measured;
- a recess formed in the level at an angular relationship to the measuring surface;
- and
- a vial received in the recess, the vial comprising:
- a body having first and second ends, a midpoint, and interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surface defining a cavity, the cavity having a maximum diameter near the midpoint;
- first and second marker rings connected with respect to the body, on either side of the midpoint and visible from the outside of the vial;
- a liquid and gas bubble in the cavity, the bubble defined by the liquid-gas interface;
- and
- first and second dark bands circumscribing the cavity, the first band positioned between the first end and the first marker ring and the second band positioned between the second end and the second marker ring;
- whereby measuring the element is facilitated by reflection of the first and second dark bands on the interface such that the interface appears dark when viewing the bubble.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.