Empire Level Mfg. Corp.

Ruud Lighting, Inc.

Empire Level Mfg. Co.

Charles D Kim

John R Christianson

Steven Wayne Bockmann

Ryan Sprouse Dart

A level including an elongate hollow frame with two sidewalls and a topwall extending therebetween. A topnotch is formed by removal of a topwall section and adjacent sections of sidewalls including notch-defining bottom and side edges. A central vial is within the topnotch. The frame includes an inner horizontal wall extending between the sidewalls at the notch-defining bottom edges. A central-vial reference surface is formed in the inner horizontal wall parallel to the top and bottom measuring surfaces and defining a notch-bottom. The central vial is supported against the central-vial reference surface in accurate orientation without calibration. The central vial is secured with respect to the inner horizontal wall by mechanical fasteners. The frame further preferably includes an integral inner vertical wall extending between the top and bottom walls thereby reinforcing the frame along the frame length.

Box level

A level including an elongate hollow frame with two sidewalls and a topwall extending therebetween. A central vial is within a topnotch formed by removal of a topwall section and adjacent sections of sidewalls including notch-defining bottom and side edges. An integral inner vertical wall extends between the top and bottom walls thereby reinforcing the frame along the frame length. The inventive level further preferably includes an external brace reinforcing a central frame portion weakened by forming the topnotch. The external brace includes first and second plate members each against one of the sidewalls about the notch-defining bottom and side edges and each substantially spanning a respective one of the sidewalls. A fastening member extending through the sidewalls and pulling the plate members toward each other to sandwich the sidewalls therebetween, thereby reinforcing a central frame portion weakened by forming the topnotch.

A level including an elongate hollow frame with two sidewalls and a topwall extending therebetween. A central vial is within a topnotch formed by removal of a topwall section and adjacent sections of sidewalls including notch-defining bottom and side edges. The frame includes an inner horizontal wall extending between the sidewalls at the notch-defining bottom edges. The central vial is supported in accurate orientation without calibration against a cental-vial reference surface formed in the inner horizontal wall parallel to the top and bottom measuring surfaces and defining a notch-bottom. An integral inner vertical wall extends between the top and bottom walls thereby reinforcing the frame along the frame length. A plumb-vial structure has a viewing-end region and an opposite-end region. The viewing-end region includes an elongate ramp sloping along a level-longitudinal axis toward the plumb vial with an inclination permitting vial viewing from shallow angles. The inventive level further preferably includes an external brace reinforcing a central frame portion weakened by forming the topnotch.

Torpedo level

Side brace for central-vial region of a box level

An impact-absorbing end cap for an instrument such as a level is provided that is secured to an end of the level and has an outer portion and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is positioned between the outer portion and the body of the level and is securely fastened to the outer portion. In addition, the intermediate portion provides greater resilient compressibility than the outer portion so that the end cap is better adapted to absorb impacts to the outer portion and thereby prevent damage to the level. Preferably, the outer portion has a profile matching the body profile at the end of the level and the intermediate portion forms a serrated intermediate profile to facilitate compression of the end cap. Also preferred is where the end cap includes an inner portion with less resilient compressibility than the intermediate portion.

Impact-absorbing end caps for levels

Level with a convex frame expanse

A level and a method of forming such a level are disclosed. The level comprises a body having a measuring surface and a recess, a vial positioned in the recess at an angular relationship to the measuring surface, and a ring member enclosing the vial within the recess, the ring member engaging the vial and the body and fastened to the body, the ring member having a beveled edge forming a funnel-shaped surface defining slope lines, the slope lines intersecting the vial, whereby the vial is protected by the level and ring member while visibility of the vial is enhanced. The method comprises providing a level with a recess and a measuring surface, positioning the vial in the recess at an angular relationship to the measuring surface, and enclosing the vial within the recess with a ring member, the ring member having beveled edges forming a funnel-shaped surface.

Structure and method for holding and protecting vials in levels

Profile of a level

An impact-absorbing level is disclosed. The level comprises a body including a level face for measuring a surface, a vial mounted in the body at a predetermined angular relationship to the level face, and a first end cap fixed with respect to the first end, the first end cap comprising an outer layer and an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer fixed to the outer layer and having lower density than the outer layer, the intermediate layer positioned between the outer layer and the body, such that the first end cap absorbs impacts to the outer layer to prevent damage to the body. Also disclosed is a method of providing impact-absorption to a level in which a dual-density end cap is adhered to each end of the level.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Charles D Kim