Patent ID: 6839973
Filing Date: 2005-01-11
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. A portable multiple-axis leveling device, comprising: a main body being formed of a single piece of material and having a first substantially planar major surface and a second opposing substantially planar major surface, a first substantially planar minor surface extending between respective upper longitudinal edges of said first and second major surfaces, a second substantially planar minor surface extending between respective lower longitudinal edges of said first and second major surfaces, said second minor surface being in opposed relationship with said first minor surface, and a first substantially planar end surface extending between said first and second major surfaces and between said first and second minor surfaces at a distal end of said main body such that each of said first and second major surfaces, said first and second minor surfaces, and said first end surface are disposed in substantially orthogonal relationship with one another, said main body further including a longitudinal axis extending axially therethrough from a proximal end thereof to said distal end, and a plurality of distinct bubble level indicators disposed completely within said main body between said first and second major surfaces and between said first and second minor surfaces, each bubble level indicator being configured to measure and display levelness along respective axes such that at least two distinct axes may be simultaneously measured for respective levelness without adjustment of said main body, said main body having a clamping portion laterally formed therewith, said clamping portion having a primary substantially planar major surface coincident and coplanar with said first major surface, a secondary substantially planar major surface coincident and coplanar with said second major surface, a primary substantially planar minor surface coincident and coplanar with said first minor surface, a secondary substantially planar minor surface coincident and coplanar with said second minor surface, and a second end surface extending between said primary and secondary major surfaces and partially between said primary and secondary minor surfaces at said proximal end of said main body, said second end surface being substantially opposed to said first end surface and having a recess formed therein which extends between said primary and secondary major surfaces of said clamping portion so as to form first and second clamping arms transversely spaced apart by said recess, the recess being configured to operably receive selected objects therein; and a securement means operably coupled to said clamping portion for removably securing said clamping portion to the respective selected object operably positioned in said recess, said main body being substantially rectangular in configuration and less than about 3.5 inches in length along said longitudinal axis and less than about 1.0 inch in width along a transverse axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, such that said leveling device is sufficiently portable to readily fit within a clothes pocket worn by a user.