Clamp-on level holder

A device consisting of a rectangular shell affixed to a spring-type clamp for securement thereof onto a convenient location on a scaffolding or mortar board, the rectangular shell used for holding level in a convenient but safe location for use by construction workers, such as bricklayers, masons, and the like, when performing construction tasks, or for use in storing a level when not in use. The level is inserted through the open end of the rectangular shell, the level thus being maintained in a safe and out of the way location, with the spring-type clamp affixed to a desired surface, including a scaffolding, mortar board, home work bench, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a clamp-on level holder for keeping a level in a 
safe and convenient location when in use or for storing a level in a safe, 
out of the way location when not in use. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
It has always been a problem for construction workers, particularly 
bricklayers, masons, and other skilled building tradesmen not to misplace 
or damage levels when working on construction jobs or to store levels in a 
convenient location. Presently, a level is normally laid aside on a 
scaffolding or the like from which a level tends to be easily knocked off 
or jarred loose and to fall therefrom, thereby causing breakage or damage. 
Various assistance devices have been devised for assisting tradesmen in 
the use of levels, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,091 issued to Sebastiani 
relating to a universal spirit level, U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,471 issued to 
Blake describing a guide device for attachment to the wall of a building 
under construction, U.S. Pat. No. 2,931,104 issued to Taylor et al. 
illustrating a masons' corner pole and accessories therefor and U.S. Pat. 
No. 2,893,125 issued to Kampel pertaining to a line holding device for 
bricklaying, but no device is available for holding an ordinary level in a 
safe or convenient location. There is, then, an obvious need in the 
market-place for a simple and inexpensive device for holding a level in a 
safe and convenient location when being used and for storing a level in a 
safe and out of the way location when not in use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a clamp-on level holder for holding a level 
in a safe and convenient location during use or for holding a level in a 
safe and out of the way location when not in use. 
It is a feature of the present invention to provide a clamp-on level 
holder. 
A further feature of the present invention provides a clamp-on level holder 
which is portable and easy to use and reliable and efficient in operation. 
Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a clamp-on 
level holder which is of a rugged and durable construction and which, 
therefore, may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand rough and 
continual usage. 
An additional feature of the present invention provides a clamp-on level 
holder which is simple in construction and which, therefore, may be 
produced by a manufacturer at an economical cost so as to encourage 
widespread usage thereof. 
Other features of this invention will be apparent during the course of the 
following description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated a preferred 
form of the clamp-on level holder constructed in accordance with the 
principles of the present invention and which is designated generally in 
its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and which is comprised of a 
rectangular shell 11, a spring clamp 12, and associated hardware and 
interconnecting components as will be later described. 
The rectangular shell 11 is constructed of durable material, such as sheet 
metal, plastic, or the like and consists of opposed side walls 13 and 14, 
opposed end walls 15 and 16, and a bottom wall 17 integrally conjoined 
with the bottom edges of the side walls 13 and 14 and the end walls 15 and 
16 so as to form the interior compartment 18 therebetween. 
The spring clamp 12 is constructed of rigid and durable material, such as 
steel or rigid plastic, and, as shown in the drawings, consists of a top 
member 19 and a bottom member 20, the top member 19 being securely affixed 
at its front edge 21, such as by welding, being integrally molded in the 
case of plastic, or the like, to the end wall 16 located centrally thereon 
adjacent the bottom wall 17, with the top member 19 being further provided 
with opposed tapered flanges 22 and 22' perpendicularly conjoining the 
long edges of the top member 19 and extending downwardly from the bottom 
wall 17 and with the flanges 22 and 22' having a semi-circular lip 23 and 
23' respectively located a short distance from the end wall 16 and 
provided with round through holes (not shown) located centrally within the 
lips 23 and 23' so as to be in axial alignment with each other. The bottom 
member 20 is constructed of the same material as the top member 19 and is 
generally of the same configuration as the top member 19 but is longer in 
overall length with the extension 24 being angularly disposed as shown by 
the reference numeral 25 below the bottom wall 17 so as to extend near the 
end wall 15, the bottom member having opposed tapered flanges 26 and 26' 
perpendicularly conjoining the long edges of the bottom member 20 so as to 
extend upwardly toward the bottom wall 17 and extending in length along 
the bottom member 20 rearwardly of the end wall 16, the flanges 26 and 26' 
further being provided with a semi-circular lip (not shown) and with round 
through holes (also not shown) so as to axially line up internally between 
the flanges 22 and 22'. A coil spring 27 is affixed between the lips 23 
and 23' on the flanges 22 and 22' and between the lips (not shown) on the 
flanges 26 and 26' and is affixed therein by means of a pin 28 extending 
between the round through holes noted above, the spring 27 biasing the top 
member 19 outwardly from the bottom member 20, with the ends of the spring 
27, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, being positioned against the inside 
surfaces of the top member 19 and the bottom member 20 and internally of 
the flanges 22 and 26. 
In operation, the user would grasp the top member 19 and the bottom member 
20 within the palm of one's hand, compress the bottom member 20 against 
the top member 19 so as to enlarge the space or opening between the 
extension 24 and the bottom wall 17, position the bottom wall 17 onto a 
scaffolding 30, a mortar board, workbench, or the like, and release the 
bottom member 20 so that the extension 24 is forced upwardly against the 
bottom surface of the scaffolding 30 by means of the coil spring 27 so as 
to provide a snug fit thereon. A level 35 is then positioned within the 
interior compartment 18 so as to seat against the bottom wall 17 and is 
held securely therein in a safe and convenient location when the user is 
working or in a safe and out of the way location when the level 35 is not 
being used. The level 35 can be removed from the interior compartment 18 
and the clamp on level holder 10 can be removed from the scaffolding 30 
for relocation to another area by reversing the above described 
procedures. 
There is thus described a novel clamp on level holder which meets all of 
its stated objectives and which overcomes the disadvantages of placing a 
level in a location where it can be misplaced or damaged. 
It is to be understood that the form of this invention as shown and 
described is to be taken as a preferred example thereof, and that this 
invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts described 
in the description or illustrated in the drawings as changes thereto in 
the details thereof pertaining to size, shape and arrangement of parts 
thereof are envisioned within the scope of the invention without departing 
from the novel concepts of the invention.