# US 7,746,467 B2 · Frictional pivots for gravitational alignment

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- Number: US 7,746,467 B2
- Document ID: US7746467B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/590,669
- Filed: 2005-02-18
- Published: 2008-09-25
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2005-02-18
- Assignees: Black & Decker Inc.
- Inventors: Nigel Emlyn Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746467B2

## CPC

- G01C 15/008: {combined with inclination sensor}
- G01C 15/105: {Optical plumbing}
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)

## Abstract

A frictional pivot 100 for use in a device measuring gravitational alignment is provided. The frictional pivot 100 comprises a gravity-responsive directional means 200 for indicating a datum direction of alignment with gravity; frictional pivoting means 300, 400 for allowing the gravity-responsive means coarsely to align with gravity; vibration means 303, 403 for vibrating one or more elements of the pivoting means; and portable power means 303a for powering the vibration means 303, 403.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A frictional pivot comprising:
gravity-responsive directional means for indicating a datum direction of alignment with gravity, wherein the gravity-responsive directional means comprises a weighted pendulous arm orthogonally attached to a pivotable shaft;
frictional pivoting means for allowing the gravity-responsive means coarsely to align with gravity, wherein the frictional pivoting means are two opposing plates of a flexible material which are held apart at a predetermined distance by being rigidly attached to a case, and conical ends of the shaft are located in conical depressions in the two opposing plates;
vibration means for vibrating one or more elements of the pivoting means; and
portable power means for powering the vibration means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A frictional pivot according to claim 1, wherein the length
and frequency of occurrence of vibration produced by the vibrating means are controlled by manual switches or electronic timing circuitry.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A frictional pivot according to claim 1, wherein the
vibration means is a low-voltage electric motor with an axially attached eccentric weight.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A frictional pivot according to claim 1, wherein one or
both of the two opposing plates are slugs of material with conical depressions and the slugs are axially movable relative to the pivotable shaft and held against the ends of the shaft by leaf or helical springs.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A laser referencing tool having a frictional
pivot according to claim 1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A laser referencing tool according to claim 5, further
comprising an eccentrically weighted cylindrical housing frictionally attached about a common axis to another cylindrical housing, the second housing containing laser projecting means.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A laser referencing tool according to claim 6, wherein a reference
point indicating gravitational alignment is a mark on the circumference of the weighted housing, with other marks spaced at regular angular intervals on the circumference of the second housing indicating the angular displacement of the laser projecting means away from the gravitational vertical.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A laser referencing tool according to claim 6, wherein
the vibrating means is within one or both of the cylindrical housing.