Extension level apparatus

An extension level apparatus suitable for use with a carpenter's level includes in combination a pair of elongated frame members adapted to receive therein the carpenter's level and also includes a spring loaded extension member which permits the extension level to be retained in a wall opening into which a door is to be inserted. The extension level permits the user thereof to determine rapidly the exact vertical position of one vertical edge of the door jamb, allowing for shimming where necessary, and permits a measurement to be taken from a starting point to an end point where the second edge of the door opening is to occur. Hereagain the vertical alignment may be rapidly obtained with the use of shimming when necessary, thereby permitting the door jambs to be inserted rapidly and with accuracy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an instrument for use in the building 
trades and more particularly to an extension level apparatus for 
vertically aligning two points on spaced apart horizontal surfaces. 
2. Discussion of the Relevant Art 
The art abounds with numerous devices used by carpenters in order to 
expedite their work and make it easier for them to build structures 
utilizing wood members. In particular numerous devices have been suggested 
to aid a carpenter in installing door openings and mounting doors in a 
vertical wall. Many devices including a conventional carpenter's level 
assist the carpenter in determining the vertical position of a particular 
beam and/or to determine the horizontal portions of other beams. The 
accuracy of the conventional carpenter's level may be increased, as is 
well known, by extending the length of the level utilized together with 
known site glasses. 
In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 2,551,524 issued to Bullivant on May 1, 1951 
discloses an apparatus in which a carpenter's level may be extended over 
various lengths in order to increase its accuracy without increasing its 
physical size when collapsed for storage purposes. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,277,579 issued to Murphy on Oct. 11, 1966 attempts to solve 
the vertical alignment problem by providing an extension mechanism 
suitable for determining the location of two points on spaced horizontal 
surfaces with some degree of accuracy specifically for the purpose of 
installing partitions, or the like, and which may also be readily adapted 
for use in fixing the vertical edge door jambs so that they would be in 
proper alignment and spaced as required. 
However, the aforementioned devices and other known mechanisms have the 
shortcoming of requiring the carpenter using the device to maintain one 
hand on the apparatus while attempting to shim or adjust the vertical 
member being installed in order to obtain true vertical accuracy. The 
device, as disclosed in the patent to Murphy U.S. Pat. No. 3,277,579, 
provides for the marking of the ceiling and floor utilizing the edge of 
the device, however, it is impossible to have flush alongside thereto a 
vertical beam, since there are outwardly extending protrusions which make 
it unsuitable for applications which require contact with the device and 
the beam being installed. 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vertical 
extension level which is capable of providing lines or reference marks 
accurately positioned and in vertical alignment on spaced apart horizontal 
surfaces, such as a ceiling and floor. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an extension level 
suitable for determining the vertical position of a beam while being in 
intimate contact therewith. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an extension 
level apparatus capable of being self-retained within a door opening of a 
plurality of door heights. 
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a 
reliable, accurate level apparatus suitable for use in determining the 
vertical as well as horizontal jamp members of a door being installed, 
permitting a carpenter to have both hands free for adjusting and/or 
shimming the vertical jamb members. 
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide an 
accurate, reliable apparatus suitable for use with a standard carpenter's 
level which permits a carpenter to rapidly install a door in a vertical 
wall. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An extension level apparatus, according to the principles of the present 
invention, suitable for use with a standard carpenter's level comprises, 
in combination, first and second frame members with the first frame member 
having a centrally disposed channel extending from one end and terminating 
at the other end in the solid portion. The channel is adapted to receive a 
portion of a carpenter's level therein. The distal edge of the solid 
portion is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the first frame 
member. One end is provided with a V-shaped notch. Also, a second frame 
member included therewith has a centrally disposed channel extended from 
one end and terminating at the other end in a solid portion. The solid 
portion is provided with the centrally disposed undercut (trapezoidal) 
channel extending to the distal edge of the second frame member. The 
channel is adapted to receive the remaining portion of the carpenter's 
level. One end of the second frame member is provided with a V-shaped 
notch adapted to cooperate with the V-shaped notch provided in the first 
frame member. A length adjustment device has one portion adapted to 
slideably engage the second frame member undercut channel and moves freely 
therein. The one portion has a distal edge perpendicular to the 
longitudinal axis of the second frame member. A second portion of the 
length adjustment device extends towards the carpenter's level when the 
length adjustment device is disposed within the second frame member. The 
length adjustment device is provided with a locking device which locks the 
length adjustment device in a preselected position. The length adjustment 
device also includes an elongated spring member which has one affixed to 
the length adjustment device and the other end affixed to the second frame 
member for urging the length adjustment device towards the length 
extending position. 
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the 
description to follow. In the description reference is made to the 
accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof and in which is shown by 
way of illustration, a specific embodiment in which the invention may be 
practiced. This embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to 
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be 
understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural 
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The 
following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a 
limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by 
the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the figures, and in particular, to FIG. 1 there is shown 
an extension level apparatus 10, according to the principles of the 
present invention, disposed within a rough opening 12 into which one may 
place a vertical jamb element 14 disposed at each vertical edge of the 
rough opening 12. Alternatively, a pre-hung door 18 with its pre-cut jambs 
14 may be installed within the rough opening 12. One end of the pre-hung 
door frame jamb element 16 is normaly provided with hinges, not shown, 
designed to cooperate with mating hinges, not shown, provided on a door 18 
adapted to swing freely and close within the pre-hung door frame 16. Door 
jamb elements 14 and 16, for proper operation of the door 18, must be 
installed in perfect vertical alignment. Therefore, although vertical 
beams 20 and 22 are generally spaced apart and may be in approximate 
alignment and are horizontally spaced in order to receive a door frame 
therebetween, it remains necessary to insure that door jambs 14 or 16 (for 
the pre-hung door) are in perfect vertical alignment and accurately spaced 
in order to properly be received into the rough door opening 12. Thus, 
knowing the dimension A required for the rough door frame opening 12, 
vertical jamb elements 14 and 16 must be shimmed into proper alignment 
with the aid of tapered shims 24, 26 28, 30 and 32. What is meant by 
perfect vertical alignment will be explained hereafter. 
The explanation and description of the use of the extension apparatus 10 is 
described in relationship with a "pre-hung" door 18 and its associated 
door frame jambs 16 (one of each end of rough opening 13) which includes a 
pair of jamb elements 14 or 16. It is to be clearly understood that the 
extension level apparatus 10 may be utilized with or without the use of a 
pre-hung door and frame (pre-cut jambs 16). The extension level apparatus 
10 may be independently positioned, since the extension level apparatus 
may be placed in intimate contact with the shims 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 in 
order to insure perfect alignment of the jamb elements. The tapered shims 
are tacked into place, first on one side and then the extension level 
apparatus is moved to the other side of the rough door opening 12. The 
jambs 14 and 16 are placed into position and affixed therein with the aid 
of nails in a well known conventional manner. 
A standard carpenter's level 34 which is used by a carpenter to determine 
both horizontal and vertical positions with accuracy typically contains 
three sight glasses 36, 38 and 40 which are filled with a liquid and 
contain an air bubble therein. The sight glasses include centrally 
disposed parallel markings generally disposed on the glass surface, as is 
well known in the art. When the bubble is disposed within the centrally 
disposed markings of the glass the carpenter is able to determine that the 
beam upon which the level is resting is either vertical or horizontal 
depending upon which of the bubbles are centered. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 which is an exploded view of the extension level 
apparatus 10, it will be seen that the carpenter's level 34 is adapted to 
be frictionally received into a centrally disposed channel 42 which 
extends from one end of a first frame member 44 to a solid portion 46 at 
the other end of member 44. The distal edge 48 is provided with a V-shaped 
notch 50. The solid end 46 of frame member 44 is provided with an internal 
vertical surface 52 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 54 of 
the first frame member 44. 
Also disposed within the channel 42 is a extension block 56, whose purpose 
will be explained hereinafter, which is perferably seven (7) inches long. 
The extension block 56 is pivoted with a through hole that accepts a pin 
58 forming a rotation axis preferably one inch from its edge. Thus, in one 
position, lying horizontal the extension block 56 will be pivoted toward 
end 46 and thus, the rear edge of block 56 being perpendicular to axis 46, 
will provide a resting place for the end of the carpenter's level 34. With 
extension block 56 pivoted away from edge 46 and towards edge 48 the 
carpenter's level 34 is moved an additional seven (7) inches away from the 
distal edge 60 provided on the solid end 46. 
Additionally included in the bottom portion 62 of channel 42 is a through 
aperture 64 to permit viewing of the sight glass 36 or 38 when the level 
34 is disposed within channel 42 either in its normal or extended 
positions. A second through aperture 66 is provided at the edge 48 of 
channel 42 so that the sight glass may be viewed therethrough if it should 
become necessary depending upon the position of the extension block 56. 
Thus, the apertures enable the user of the extension level apparatus 10 to 
view the sight glass from either side (top or bottom) of the apparatus. In 
addition, a finger notch 68 may also be included in the solid end portion 
46 of the frame member 44 to enable the user thereof to more readily 
change the position of extension block 56. 
A second frame member 70 is provided with a centrally disposed channel 72 
extending from one end 74, which is provided with a V-shaped notch 76 
adapted to cooperate with V-shaped notch 50 and terminates at its other 
end 78 in a solid portion 80 having a preferably trapezoidally-shaped 
channel (undercut channel) 82 which is adapted to slideably receive a 
mating trapezoidally-shaped, at one end 84, a length adjustment member 86 
and is provided at its other end with a rectangularly-shaped portion 88 
that is adapted to slideably be received ina rectangularly-shaped groove 
90 provided in the solid portion 80 of the second frame member 70. The 
channel 72 of second frame member 70 is also provided with a through 
aperture 90 utilized for the viewing of the sight glasses of the 
carpenter's level in the same manner as through apertures 64 and 66 when a 
portion of the carpenter's level 44 is frictionally inserted into channel 
72. 
The length adjustment member 86 is urged by means of spring member 92, 
which is retained on one end by a pin 94 provided proximate the end 78 in 
the second frame member 70 and on its other end by a receiving screw or 
eye 96 (see FIG. 3) which tends to urge length adjustment member 86 to its 
outwardly extended position as shown in FIG. 1. A knob 98 which is 
inserted in a threaded aperture, not shown, in the length adjustment 
member 86 permits a carpenter to move the length adjustment member 86 with 
his hand to the length needed to hold the extension level apparatus 10 
within the opening of door frame 12. 
Additionally included in second frame member 70 and disposed within the 
channel 72 thereof is an extension block 102 which is pivoted about a pin 
104 in a manner similar to that explained for block 56. A finger notch 106 
is also provided at the edge 108 of solid portion 80 of the second frame 
member 70 to make block 102 readily moveable from one position to the 
other. 
As is well known, the typical carpenter's level is generally four feet in 
length and extension blocks 56 and 102 are preferably made to be seven (7) 
inches in length so that when both are changed to the length extending 
position they will increase the length of the extension level apparatus 10 
by fourteen (14) inches. Preferably, the length adjustment member 86 is 
permitted to extend between zero and three and three quarters (0 and 33/4) 
inches from end 78 of frame member 70 providing enough force by spring 92 
to enable the extension level apparatus 10 to be wedged into the rough 
door opening 12 in order to be utilized without requiring the continuous 
use of a carpenter's hands when adjusting the apparatus. Preferably, the 
first frame member 44 and second frame member 70 are approximately four 
and one-half (41/2) feet long and permit approximately one foot of the 
carpenter's level to separate the first and second frame members when the 
extension blocks 56 and 102 are in their extended positions. 
If it should be desired to lock the first and second frame members together 
when either partially or fully extended and not rely on friction to hold 
the members together, a removable retainer plate 108 be inserted into 
elongated slots 110 provided in hinges 112 which are affixed over the 
channel 42 and 72, of the first and second frame members 44 and 70, 
respectively. Aperture 114 provided in retainer plate 108 permits viewing 
of the sight glass on the carpenter level and may be used to slide the 
retainer plate out through slots 110. The retainer plates may be stored 
beneath extension blocks 56 and 102 when not in use. It is deemed 
desirable to duplicate this structure on both the first and second frame 
members to add additional rigidity to the combined assembly. It is to be 
noted that a flat surface is available on the extension level apparatus on 
both sides which may be placed in intimate contact with the tapered shims 
so that the jambs, when installed in intimate contact therewith will be 
placed in a true vertical position. 
In operation, a carpenter knowing the height of the door to be inserted in 
the wall opening would set the extension level apparatus 10 to its 
approximate proper length with the extension block 56 (block 102) in its 
proper position. For example, if a six (6) foot eight (8) inch opening 
were to be utilized, the blocks would be in their closed position or 
minimal extension condition as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the extension 
apparatus 10 preferably would be measuring approximately six (6) foot 
eight (8) inches and the length adjustment member 86 would be extended the 
additional distance to lock the apparatus between the floor and ceiling or 
horizontal spaced apart cross-beams. Then the carpenter shims the position 
of the vertically disposed member beams 20 until the extension level is in 
intimate contact therewith indicating the proper vertical position. The 
distance is marked on the ceiling or on the horizontally disposed member 
and the distance for the door opening is measured horizontally. The 
extension level apparatus is then moved to the marked off dimension A and 
is placed in position a second time. The beam 22, located on the other end 
is then shimmed for perfect squareness against the extension level 
apparatus. Thereafter, with the shims tacked in place, the level apparatus 
is removed and the door jamb installed flush with the shimmed out 
surfaces. As stated earlier, it may either be the pre-hung door jambs, or 
each individual separate door jambs. It then becomes a simple matter to 
install the horizontally disposed door jamb 116 between the vertically 
disposed members and thus, the door opening has been prepared in a manner 
of minutes. Once the door jambs are in place the decorative moulding 118 
may be placed thereover in a conventional manner. 
Hereinbefore has been disclosed a reliable extension level apparatus which 
is accurate and is usable for standard door heights, from anywhere between 
six (6) feet eight (8) inches and eight (8) feet zero (0) inches by merely 
selecting the proper position of the moveable elements of the extension 
level apparatus. It will be understood that the various changes in the 
details, materials, arrangement of parts and operating conditions which 
have been herein described and illustrated in order the explain the nature 
of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the 
principles and scope of the instant invention.