Abstract:
An angle measurement and distance demarcation device has a body having a first surface, an axis which extends from the first surface, and a containing room. The device also has a rotating unit coupled for rotation about the axis, and a laser emitter. The device further includes a coupling mechanism provided around the axis and coupling the rotating unit to the body, and a power supply unit provided inside the containing room and coupled to the laser emitter for supplying power to laser emitter. The device can be used together with either a triangular angle gauge or a disk angle gauge.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a universal angle device, and in particular, to a universal angle gauge that emits a laser plane for use in three-dimensional positioning, and which cooperates with either a triangular angle gauge or a disk angle gauge for positioning operations.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    For angle measurement in civil engineering applications, the engineer normally pulls a line from an angle gauge to measure an angle position within a short distance or a middle distance. Unfortunately, the pulled line has its own weight, so the line drops down because of gravity during long distance measurement, thereby introducing inaccuracies into the measurement. In addition, the conventional angle gauges and the associated pulled lines are typically used for shorter distance angle measurements because the measured location should be at a distance that an operator can physically reach the location. This is because it will be difficult to use the conventional angle gauges to measure locations that are at a longer distance or at locations where operator cannot physically reach (such as the top of a building, a gap between two buildings or other steep landform, etc.).  
           [0005]    To address the problems associated with angle measurement of distant locations, optical instruments (such as telescopes for distance measurement) have been used. Unfortunately, the demarcation achieved by these optical instruments is always variable because different operators will exercise their subjective judgments, thereby leading to inconsistent results. In addition, conventional optical instruments often use tripods to aid in the measurement and positioning of landform, but tripods can be difficult and inconvenient to operate.  
         SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
         [0006]    It is an objective of the present invention to provide a universal angle device that provides convenient angle measurement and positioning work.  
           [0007]    It is another objective of the present invention to provide a low-cost yet effective universal angle device that has a simple construction and which can be positioned in a manner to minimize human errors.  
           [0008]    It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a universal angle device that can be used with a triangular angle gauge and a disk angle gauge.  
           [0009]    It is a further objective of the present invention is to provide a universal angle device that has a compact configuration that can be conveniently used in complex landform applications for angle measurement.  
           [0010]    In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, the present invention provides an angle measurement and distance demarcation device that has a body having a first surface, an axis which extends from the first surface, and a containing room. The device also has a rotating unit coupled for rotation about the axis, and a laser emitter. The device further includes a coupling mechanism provided around the axis and coupling the rotating unit to the body, and a power supply unit provided inside the containing room and coupled to the laser emitter for supplying power to laser emitter. The device can be used together with either a triangular angle gauge or a disk angle gauge. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a universal angle gauge according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the universal angle gauge of FIG. 1 in assembled form, and shown in use with a triangular angle gauge.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the universal angle gauge and angle gauge of FIG. 2 taken along the line A—A in FIG. 2.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the universal angle gauge and angle gauge of FIG. 2 taken along the line B—B in FIG. 2.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a fillister, an obstructer and the triangular angle gauge of FIG. 2.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a disk angle gauge that can be used with the universal angle gauge of FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the universal angle gauge of FIG. 1 in assembled form, and shown in use with a disk angle gauge.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the universal angle gauge and angle gauge of FIG. 7.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one preferred embodiment of a universal angle gauge  10  according to the present invention. The universal angle gauge  10  has three main parts: a first part that includes a body or base  11 , a second part that includes a rotating unit  13 , and a third part that includes a power supply unit  15 .  
         [0021]    The first part has a body  11  that carries a shaft  111  extending from a first or upper surface  112  of the body  11 , with the shaft  111  defining a vertical axis  1111 . An absorptive unit  113 , acting as a coupling mechanism, is positioned around the base of the shaft  111  on the first surface  112 , and has a hole  118 A for receiving the shaft  111  into the body  11 . A magnet  116 A has a central hole that receives the shaft  111 , and the magnet  116 A is seated around the absorptive unit  113  in a well  1121  that is recessed from the first surface  112 . In addition, at least two fastening elements  114  (e.g., screws) are provided to fasten the body  11  to a triangular angle gauge  80  (as described below). The body  11  also has at least one containing room  115 . A second or bottom surface  117  is defined on the bottom of the body  11 .  
         [0022]    The second part has a rotating unit  13 , which has a housing with four side walls that define an interior space for retaining a laser head  131 . The laser head  131  contains a laser diode for emitting laser planes. A metal plate  161 B is attached (e.g., using screws  162 ) to the bottom of the housing of the rotating unit  13 , and is adapted to be magnetically coupled to the magnet  161 A via the magnetic force emitted from the magnet  116 A. Thus, the absorptive unit  13  and its magnet  161 A function to rotatably couple the rotating unit  13  to the body  11 . When coupled to the body  11 , the rotating unit  13  rotates about the axis  1111  defined by the shaft  111 , and the laser head  131  emits a laser plane with an angle range of up to 180 degrees. The laser plane is parallel to the axis line  1111  and rotates around the axis  1111 . The laser head  131  is received inside a sleeve-like holder  132 , and the holder  132  is slid through the bore of a cylindrical wall  1331  that is provided in one side wall  1311  of the housing of the rotating unit  13 . The holder  132  functions to adjust the emitting angles of the laser plane. The holder  132  has two threaded holes  137  for receiving two corresponding screws  138 , which function to secure the laser head  131  inside the holder  132 . A fixing structure  136  is provided on the bottom wall of the rotating unit  13  and is adapted to couple the shaft  111  of the body  11 . Three pins  135  are riveted to couple the fixing structure  136  of the rotating unit  13  to the shaft  111 , and then a C-shaped ring  134  is fitted around the shaft  111 . In particular, the shaft  111  extends through the magnet  161 A, the plate  161 B and the fixing structure  136  before it is clamped by the C-shaped ring  134  to rotatably secure the shaft  111  to the rotating unit  13  together. A top cover  133  is provided to cover the top of the housing for the rotating unit  13 .  
         [0023]    The third part has a power supply unit  15 , which is retained in the containing room  115  of the body  11 . The power supply unit  15  includes one or more (e.g., two) batteries  151 , one power switch  152  and one battery cover  153 , with the two batteries  151  electrically connected to the laser head  131  to supply power to the laser head  131 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 illustrates how the universal angle gauge  10  is used with a triangular angle gauge  80 . As shown in FIG. 2, the universal angle gauge  10  is carried on an obverse side  81  of the triangular angle gauge  80 . The universal angle gauge  10  further includes a fillister  116  that is carried on the second surface  117  of the body  11 . Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fillister  116  has two longitudinal walls  1161  and  1162  that define a longitudinal groove  1163  therebetween. Two supporting blocks  118 , and at least one obstructer  119  that has a blocking surface  120 , are provided inside the groove  1163 .  
         [0025]    An obverse rim  82  of the obverse side  81  of triangular angle gauge  80  is inserted into the longitudinal groove  1163  of the fillister  116 , and a first side  84  of the obverse rim  82  is positioned against the two supporting blocks  118  (see FIG. 3). As the obverse rim  82  moves within the longitudinal groove  1163 , its motion is impeded by the obstructer  119  when the second side  85  of the obverse rim  82  abuts the blocking surface  120  of the obstructer  119 . With the obverse rim  82  retained inside the longitudinal groove  1163 , the two fastening elements  114  can be inserted through openings  1164  in the wall  1161  to couple the body  11  and the triangular angle gauge  80  together. The blocking surface  120  of the obstructer  119  and supporting blocks  118  are aligned with the axis  1111 , so a vertical line  83  of the triangular angle gauge  80  can also be aligned with the axis  1111 . The rotating unit  13  rotates about the axis  1111  so that the laser head  131  also rotates about the axis  1111  as the laser head  131  emits a laser plane for civil engineering positioning.  
         [0026]    As best shown in FIG. 3, when the body  11  is fixed to the triangular angle gauge  80 , because the two supporting blocks  118  are aligned with the axis  1111 , the fact that the first side  84  of the obverse rim  82  abuts and is aligned with the supporting blocks  118  also means that the first side  84  of the obverse rim  82  will be aligned with the axis  1111 . Similarly, as best shown in FIG. 4, when the body  11  is fixed to the triangular angle gauge  80 , because the blocking surface  120  of the obstructer  119  is aligned with the axis  1111 , the fact that the second side  85  of the obverse rim  82  abuts and is aligned with the blocking surface  120  also means that the second side  85  of the obverse rim  82  will be aligned with the axis  1111 . This is also shown in FIG. 5, which is a top plan view illustrating the alignment of the second side  85  of the obverse rim  82  with the blocking surface  120  of the obstructer  119 , and how the axis  1111  is aligned with the second side  85  and the blocking surface  120 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 illustrates a disk angle gauge  20  that can be used with the universal angle gauge  10  of FIGS.  1 - 5 . The disk angle gauge  20  has a generally semi-circular configuration with two fixing pins  27  provided along a straight edge  28  (see FIG. 7). The fixing pins  27  are adapted to fix the universal angle gauge  10  on the disk angle gauge  20  when assembling the universal angle gauge  10  with the disk angle gauge  20 . Three leveling holes  25  are spaced apart along the curved edge of the disk angle gauge  20 , and each is adapted to receive a respective leveling screw  21  (see FIG. 7). The three leveling screws  21  can be adjusted by the user for leveling the disk angle gauge  20  when the disk angle gauge  20  is placed on a non-horizontal or uneven plane. In addition, a bubble leveler  23  can be positioned on the disk angle gauge  20  for leveling positioning, and an axial central hole  29  is provided to correspond to the axis  1111 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 illustrates how the universal angle gauge  10  of FIG. 1 is used with the disk angle gauge  20 . The second surface  117  of the body  11  is seated tightly against the top plane  291  of the disk angle gauge  20 , and a vertical plane defined by the inner side  122  of the wall  1161  of the fillister  116  is now positioned against the straight edge  28  of the disk angle gauge  20 . Referring to FIG. 8, two fixing slots  121  are provided in the second surface  117  of the body  11 , and are adapted to receive the two fixing pins  27  on the disk angle gauge  20 , thereby fixing the location of the universal angle gauge  10  with respect to the top plane  291  of the disk angle gauge  20 . When the universal angle gauge  10  is coupled to the disk angle gauge  20 , the rotating unit  13  can rotate, and the laser head  131  emits a laser plane (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7) that is parallel to the axis  1111  and which extends along one of the scaled marks  201  along the disk angle gauge  20  so that the angle measurement (i.e., the degree of the laser plane) can be easily read off the scaled marks  201 . Thus, if the universal angle gauge  10  is used with the disk angle gauge  20  in a room, a three-dimensional position can be measured. Further, the scaled marks on the disk angle gauge  20  extend for 180 degrees, which means that the combination of gauges  10  and  20  shown in FIG. 7 can measure or position twice as far as the combination of gauges  10  and  80  shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0029]    Thus, the universal angle gauge  10  of the present invention, and the gauge combinations 10+80 and 10+20, are simple in design, are extremely portable in that they are light-weight and can be packaged and moved around conveniently, are easy to use, and are effective in angle measurement and positioning. When used with a triangular angle gauge and a disk angle gauge, the universal angle gauge  10  of the present invention can rotate about an axis so that its laser head  131  can emit a laser plane to extend to standard lines distributed in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional space depending on the scale marks of the triangular angle gauge or the disk angle gauge.  
         [0030]    While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.