Level tool with laser light alignment capabilities

A level tool with laser light alignment capabilities including a straight rigid first rail having a leveling vial coupled thereto; a laser light source coupled to the first rail and with the laser light source transmitting a laser beam that is longitudinally aligned with the first rail to a remote location for use in alignment operations; and an electrical power supply coupled to the first rail for providing electrical energy to the laser light source for operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a level tool with laser light alignment 
capabilities and more particularly pertains to allowing leveling 
operations to be readily performed with a level tool with laser light 
alignment capabilities. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of leveling tools is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
leveling tools heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of 
performing leveling operations are known to consist basically of familiar, 
expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad 
of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed 
for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,637 to Genho discloses a laser level 
and square. U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,161 to Borkovitz discloses a laser beam 
level instrument. U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,487 to Hersey discloses a portable 
laser device for alignment tasks. U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,977 to Rando 
discloses an automatic plumb and level tool. U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,863 to 
Rando discloses an automatic plumb and level tool with acoustic measuring 
capability. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a level tool with 
laser light alignment capabilities that allows alignment operations to be 
performed using a combination of conventional and laser light leveling 
mechanisms. 
In this respect, the level tool with laser light alignment capabilities 
according to the present invention substantially departs from the 
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so 
provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing 
leveling operations to be readily performed. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for 
new and improved level tool with laser light alignment capabilities which 
can be used for allowing leveling operations to be readily performed. In 
this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
leveling tools now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides an improved level tool with laser light alignment capabilities. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises, in 
combination, a straight rigid long horizontal first rail having a first 
end with a protractor formed thereon spanning 180 degrees, a second free 
end, a horizontal leveling vial coupled thereto near the first end, a 
vertical leveling vial coupled thereto near the second end, and an oblong 
recess formed thereon between the vials and with the recess thereby 
defining a handle for allowing a user a firm grip. The first rail further 
has a pair of opposed faces and a pair of edges extended between the faces 
to define a generally rectangular cross-section. Each edge further has an 
elongated slot with a V-shaped cross-section formed thereon. The first 
rail additionally has an open first chamber formed thereon between the 
handle and the vertical leveling vial and an open second chamber formed 
thereon in communication between the first chamber and one of the slots. 
A straight rigid short second rail is included and has a first end 
rotatably coupled to the first end of the first rail for 180 degree 
movement with respect thereto, a second free end, a leveling vial coupled 
thereto, and a tick mark formed thereon near the first end associated with 
the protractor of the first rail for allowing angular positioning of the 
second rail to be specifically set within the 180 degree span of the 
protractor. The second rail further has a pair of opposed faces and a pair 
of edges extended between the faces to define a generally rectangular 
cross-section. Each edge further has a slot with a V-shaped cross-section 
formed thereon. 
A laser light source is provided and disposed within the second chamber of 
the first rail. The laser light source is positioned in alignment with the 
corresponding slot adjacent to the second chamber. The laser light source 
has an illuminating end facing the free end of the first rail and with the 
illuminating end having a lens coupled thereto for allowing a collimated 
laser beam to be transmitted along and within the slot and exit from the 
free end of the first rail for projection upon a recipient external 
surface at a remote location for use in alignment operations. 
A battery is included and removably disposed within the first chamber for 
providing electrical energy to the laser light source for operation. A 
power switch is also included and coupled between the battery and laser 
light source. The power switch has one orientation for transmitting 
electrical energy to the laser light source and another orientation for 
preventing such transmission. Lastly, a rigid cover plate is disposed over 
the first chamber and coupled to the first rail. The cover plate has a 
recessed portion formed thereon that is extended about the power switch. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved level tool with laser light alignment capabilities which may be 
easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved level tool with laser light alignment capabilities which is of 
durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved level tool with laser light alignment capabilities which is 
susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and 
labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to 
the consuming public, thereby making such a level tool with laser light 
alignment capabilities economically available to the buying public. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved level tool with laser light alignment capabilities for allowing 
leveling operations to be readily performed. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved level tool with laser light alignment capabilities comprising a 
straight rigid first rail having a leveling vial coupled thereto; a laser 
light source coupled to the first rail and with the laser light source 
transmitting a laser beam that is longitudinally aligned with the first 
rail to a remote location for use in alignment operations; and an 
electrical power supply coupled to the first rail for providing electrical 
energy to the laser light source for operation. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various 
Figures. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to FIG. 1 thereof, 
the preferred embodiment of the new and improved level tool with laser 
light alignment capabilities embodying the principles and concepts of the 
present invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will 
be described. 
The present invention is comprised of a plurality of components. In their 
broadest context, such components include a pair of rails with leveling 
vials, a laser light source, and a battery. Such components are 
individually configured and correlated with respect to each to provide the 
intended function of performing alignment operations. 
Specifically, the present invention includes a first rail 12. The first 
rail is straight and long in structure. It is formed of a rigid material 
such as metal or plastic. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first rail has a 
first end 14 with a protractor 16 formed thereon. The protractor spans a 
sector of about 180 degrees. The first rail also has a second free end, a 
horizontal leveling vial 20 coupled thereto near the first end, and a 
vertical leveling vial 22 coupled thereto near the second end. The 
leveling vials are of the commercial bubble type. The first rail also has 
an oblong recess formed thereon between the leveling vials and with the 
recess thereby defining a handle 24 for allowing the user a firm grip. 
As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the first rail includes a pair of opposed 
faces 26 and a pair of edges 28 perpendicularly extended between the faces 
to define a generally rectangular cross-section. Each edge of the first 
rail further has an elongated slot 30 with a v-shaped cross-section formed 
longitudinally therealong. In addition, the first rail has an open first 
chamber 32 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The first chamber is formed on the 
first rail between the handle 34 and vertical leveling vial 22. Lastly, 
the first rail includes an open second chamber 34. The second chamber is 
formed on the rail and is placed in communication between the first 
chamber 32 and one of the slots 30 as best illustrated in FIG. 4. 
The present invention also includes a second rail 40 as shown in FIG. 2. 
The second rail is straight and formed of a rigid material such as metal 
or plastic. The second rail has a length less than the length of the first 
rail. The second rail has a first end 42 rotatably coupled to the first 
end 14 of the first rail 12 with bolt 43 for 180 degree movement as shown 
in FIG. 1. The second rail also has a second free end 44, a leveling vial 
46 coupled thereto, and tick mark 48 formed thereon near the first end. 
The tick mark is associated with the protractor 16 of the first rail for 
allowing angular positioning of the second rail to be specifically set 
within the 180 degree span of the protractor. As best illustrated in FIG. 
6, the second rail includes a pair of opposed faces 50 and a pair of edges 
52 perpendicularly extended between the faces to define a generally 
rectangular cross-section. Each edge of the second rail has a slot 54 
formed thereon. Each slot has a v-shaped cross-section. The slots thus 
allow the short rail and the long rails to be placed upon cylindrical 
components such as piping for alignment operations. 
An electrically-energizable laser light source 60 as shown in FIG. 4 is 
disposed within the second chamber of the first rail. The laser light 
source is positioned in alignment with the corresponding slot 30. The 
laser light source is secured within the second chamber with a threaded 
fastener 62. The laser light source is generally tubular in structure and 
has an illuminating end 64 facing the free end 18 of the first rail. The 
illuminating end of the laser light source has a lens 66 coupled thereto. 
The lens allows a collimated laser beam 68 to be transmitted along and 
within the slot when the laser light source is electrically energized. The 
beam then exits from the free end 18 of the first rail for projection upon 
a recipient external surface such as a wall at a remote location for use 
in alignment operations. 
The laser light source is powered by a battery 70. The battery is removably 
disposed within the first chamber as shown in FIG. 5. The battery is 
conventional in design and commercially available. 
The present invention also includes a depressible power switch 80 as shown 
in FIG. 5. The power switch is coupled between the battery 70 and the 
laser light source 60 using electrical leads 82. The power switch has one 
orientation for allowing electrical energy from the battery to be 
transmitted from the laser light source. The power switch also has another 
orientation for preventing such transmission of electrical energy to the 
laser light source. 
Lastly, a cover plate 90 is provided. The cover plate is generally 
rectangular and formed of a rigid material such as metal or plastic. The 
cover plate is disposed over the first chamber to seal the battery 70 and 
power switch 80 within the first rail. The cover plate is then coupled to 
the first rail using threaded bolts 92. The cover plate also has a 
recessed portion 94 formed thereon. The recessed portion is extended about 
the power switch and places the power switch in an alcove. Thus, the 
present invention can be placed flush on its side without the power 
switching causing interference. 
The present invention is a combination of a battery-powered laser and a 
level/protractor. The present invention is used in buildings or homes 
during construction or remodeling. The present invention is positioned on 
a wall, floor, ceiling, or column using the built-in bubble vials. The 
laser light source of the present invention is used in conjunction with 
the rails for performing measurements with respect to angles or 
inclinations. The laser light source projects a bright red dot on 
virtually any surface up to 150 feet away from where a support, wall, or 
similar building structure would connect. In the preferred embodiment, the 
laser light source produces 5 milliwatts of output power at a wavelength 
of about 670 nanometers. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the 
manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and 
obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to 
those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.