Patent ID: 11898877
Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 18:
19. A level device comprising:
a housing having a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, a first end and a second end;
a vial comprising a generally cylindrical tube with a bulge formed at a middle portion thereof, the vial containing a liquid therein and an air bubble formed in the liquid such that the air bubble sits in the bulge when the vial is oriented such that one of the bottom face, front face, rear face, first end or second end is level or plumb;
a retention well formed in the top face and extending through portions of the front and the rear faces toward the bottom face, the vial being retained at opposing axial ends thereof in the retention well defining an axis that extends substantially perpendicular to respective planes of the first end and the second end; and
a multidirectional vial protection assembly configured to extend over the top face proximate to the opposing axial ends of the vial to protect the vial in at least three directions,
wherein the multidirectional vial protection assembly comprises a first protective rib disposed proximate to a first of the opposing axial ends of the vial, and a second protective rib disposed proximate to a second of the opposing axial ends of the vial,
wherein the first and second protective ribs are adjoined by the top face on either side of each of the first and second protective ribs between the retention well and the first and second ends of the housing, and
wherein the first and second protective ribs are raised relative to the top face.