Abstract:
A spirit level which includes an easy to operate, built in stamping mechanism that can be used by the individual user to mark a level line on a surface located adjacent the spirit level, such as a wall against which the level is engaged. The spirit level includes a plurality of conveniently located push pads that can be operated by the user to move a pre-inked stamping member from a normally retracted positioned into an extended marking position in engagement with a surface to be marked if desired.

Description:
[0001]     This is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending, U.S. Ser. No. 10/603,452 filed Jun. 24, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to spirit levels. More particularly, the invention concerns a modified spirit level that includes a retractable, pre-inked stamping member that can conveniently be used to mark a level line on a surface located adjacent the spirit level.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Spirit levels (hereinafter called levels for short) of various types are well known in the prior art. Such devices have long been used by carpenters, bricklayers and other craftsmen for obtaining a true level. The typical prior art level comprises a glass bubble tube mounted within a housing typically constructed of wood, plastic or metal. The bubble tube is filled almost to capacity with a spirit or non-freezing liquid. The air bubble that remains within the tube moves toward that end of the tube which is raised above true level. When the air bubble is centered within the bubble tube, the construction of the level is such that the top and bottom walls of the level are positioned at true level. Some prior art levels carry one or more bubble tubes which enable the user to ascertain or to select the inclination of a surface or part relative to the horizontal and relative to the vertical.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,430,827 issued to Ruther discloses a spirit level that includes means for applying marks to selected portions of pieces of furniture and other articles. The Ruther apparatus includes an elongated housing having a rectangular cross sectional outline and provided with registering elongation slots in its front and rear walls. At least one follower of the level has a main portion slidably installed in the housing and one or two pointers outwardly adjacent the slot in the front wall. The two end pieces of the housing are provided with bubble tubes and each follower has a passage for introduction of a stylus or other suitable marking tool which can be inserted at the front wall to extend outwardly through the slot in the rear wall of the housing.  
         [0007]     The patent to Richardson No. 2,972,816 relates generally to a device for aligning members with respect to each other and more particularly to a device for aligning to pieces of pipe at a predetermined angle with respect to each other. The device has bypass wall means for bypassing a fitting between the pieces of pipe.  
         [0008]     Patent No. 746,070 issued to Gillner et al. discloses a center square having in combination therewith a scratch-pin and level and guide pins to permit parallel scribing, either straight or circular.  
         [0009]     The thrust of the present invention is to provide a uniquely modified spirit level that includes a retractable, pre-inked stamping member that can conveniently be used by the individual to mark a reference line such as a level line on a surface located adjacent the spirit level, such as a wall against which the level is engaged. There is no need to use a pencil. The stamp can be used with one hand thereby freeing up the other hand.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     It is an object of the present invention is to provide a spirit level which includes an easy to operate, built in stamping mechanism that can be used by the individual user to mark a level line on a surface located adjacent the spirit level, such as a wall against which the level is engaged.  
         [0011]     Another object of the invention is to provide a level of the aforementioned character which can be manipulated by the user in the same manner as a standard level, but further exhibits the advantage of being able to use the level to mark on an adjacent surface a clearly discernible level line without the need to use a pencil.  
         [0012]     Another object of the invention is to provide a modified spirit level which includes a plurality of conveniently located push pads that can be operated by only one hand of the user to move the pre-inked stamping member from a normally retracted position into an extended marking position in engagement with a surface to be marked.  
         [0013]     Another object of the invention is to provide a level of the character described in the preceding paragraph in which the pre-inked stamping member is saturated with disappearing ink so that the imprinted mark will disappear within a short time.  
         [0014]     Another object of the invention is to provide a level of the class described which can be used to apply a mark to selected surfaces with a high degree of accuracy and one which can be readily manipulated by workmen following only a minimum amount of training.  
         [0015]     Still another object of this invention is to provide a level wherein the housing and the pre-inked stamping member can be assembled of simple massproduced parts at a reasonable cost.  
         [0016]     Another object of the invention is to provide a level of the character described in which the stamping member is removably interconnected with the spirit level using permanent magnets.  
         [0017]     By way of summary, the modified spirit level of the present invention comprises a housing having interconnected front, back, top and bottom walls defining an internal chamber, at least one bubble tube containing a liquid carried by the housing and an elongated stamping member also carried by the housing for movement between a first retracted position wherein at least a portion of the stamping member is disposed within the internal chamber and a second position wherein at least a portion of the stamping member extends outwardly from the front wall of the housing. The modified spirit level also includes a novel operating mechanism that is carried by the housing for moving the elongated stamping member from the first retracted position to the second position. In one form of the invention, the operating means comprises a plurality of spaced apart push pads that are carried by the housing and are operably associated with the stamping member. The push pads are individually movable between a first, at rest position and a second, operating position wherein the stamping member is moved toward the second position. Biasing means, in a form of a plurality of coil springs, are operably associated with the operating means for yieldably resisting movement of the elongated stamping member toward the second, stamping position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a rear view of one form of the modified spirit level of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view, partly in cross section, taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view of the area designated in  FIG. 2  as “ 3 - 3 ”.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a foreshortened view of the level line marked on the surface adjacent the front of the spirit level.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the spirit level shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing the operation of the device to move the pre-inked stamp pad into engagement with a surface to be marked with a level line.  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  is a generally perspective, fragmentary view of a portion of the pre-inked stamp pad of one form of the invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 13  is a generally perspective, exploded view of an alternate form of level assembly of the invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the level assembly shown in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 15  is a fragmentary, generally perspective view of the stamping assembly of the level assembly shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  16 - 16  of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  17 - 17  of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  18 - 18  of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 17 , but showing the pre-inked stamp pad of the stamping assembly moved into engagement with the surface to be marked.  
         [0037]      FIG. 20  is a generally perspective, exploded view of one of the sets of the permanent magnets of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0038]     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , one form of the level stamp of the present invention is there illustrated. The level stamp here comprises a housing  14  having interconnected front, back, top and bottom walls  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  respectively defining an internal chamber  24  ( FIGS. 2 and 6 ). Carried by housing  14  are first, second and third longitudinally spaced apart bubble tubes  26 ,  28  and  30  respectively, each containing a non-freezing liquid “L”. As indicated in  FIG. 1 , bubble tube  26  extends angularly with respect to the top and bottom walls  20  and  22 , bubble tube  28  extends substantially parallel to the top and bottom walls and bubble tube  30  extends substantially vertically relative to the top and bottom walls.  
         [0039]     An elongated stamping member  32  having an inking segment  32   a  is carried by housing  14  proximate top wall  20 . In a manner presently to be described, stamping member  32  is movable between a first retracted position, such as that shown in  FIG. 7 , wherein at least a portion of said stamping member is disposed within said internal chamber and a second position, such as that shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein at least a portion of segment  32   a  of the stamping member extends outwardly from the front wall of the housing.  
         [0040]     Operating means of a character next to be described are carried by housing  14  for moving elongated stamping member  32  from the first retracted position to the second position. In the present form of the invention these novel operating means comprise a first push bar  34  that is carried within internal chamber  24  for movement between a first position shown in  FIG. 6  and a second position shown in  FIG. 11 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 11 , first push bar  34  is in engagement with the left-hand portion  32   a , as viewed in  FIG. 6 , of the stamping member  32 . Operably associated with first push bar  34  are first and second push pads  36  and  38  that are carried by housing  14 . Push pads  36  and  38 , which are connected to first push bar  34  by threaded connectors  39  and  41 , are movable between the first, at rest position shown in  FIG. 6  and the second, operating position shown in  FIG. 11  to cause push bar  34  to move toward the second position shown in  FIG. 11 . Biasing means, shown here as a conventional coil spring  40 , which is operably associated with the first push bar  34 , functions to yieldably resist movement of the push bar between the first position and the second position.  
         [0041]     In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the level further includes first guide means carried within said internal chamber of said housing for guiding movement of first push bar  34  between the first and said second positions. The first guide means here comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced guideways  44  that are mounted within internal chamber  24  and a pair of guide rods  46  that are connected to first push bar  34 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , guide rods  46  are typically movable within the guideways  44  so as to control travel of the push bar within chamber  24 .  
         [0042]     In the present form of the invention the novel operating means also comprise a second push bar  48  that is carried within internal chamber  24  for movement between a first position shown in  FIG. 6  and a second position shown in  FIG. 11 . As best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 11 , second push bar  48  is in engagement with the right-hand portion  32   b  of the stamping member  32 . Operating associated with second push bar  48  are first and second push pads  50  and  52  that are carried by housing  14 . Push pads  50  and  52 , which are connected to second push bar  48  by threaded connectors  53  and  55 , are movable between the first, at rest position shown in  FIG. 6  and the second, operating position shown in  FIG. 11  to cause push bar  48  to move toward the second position shown in  FIG. 11 . Biasing means, shown here as a conventional coil spring  54 , which is operably associated with the second push bar  48 , and functions to yieldably resist movement of the second push bar between the first position and the second position.  
         [0043]     In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the level further includes second guide means carried within said internal chamber of said housing for guiding movement of the second push bar  48  between the first and said second positions. The second guide means here comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced guideways  56  that are mounted within internal chamber  24  and a pair of guide rods  58  that are connected to second push bar  48 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , guide rods  58  are telescopically movable within the guideways  56  so as to control travel of the second push bar within chamber  24 .  
         [0044]     In using the apparatus of the invention, the front side  16  of the level is placed in engagement with the wall “W” which is to be marked in a manner shown in  FIGS. 2 and 11 . Using the appropriate bubble tube, the level is next oriented into the desired position. For example, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 11 , the center bubble tube  28  has been used to bring the upper surface  20  of the level into true level. In this position, the stamp pad  32  is in the retracted position shown in  FIG. 6 . To then apply a mark, such as the mark “M” shown in  FIG. 4  to the wall “W”, a pressure is exerted on either of the push pads  36  or  38  in the direction of the arrows in  FIG. 11 . This pressure, which is exerted against the urging of coil spring  40 , will cause push bar  34 , along with and the stamp pad  32   a , to move from the retracted position into the extended position shown in  FIG. 11 . As the stamp pad moves into the extended position its travel will be guided by the first guide means of the invention. Upon the inked marking segment of  32   a  ( FIG. 12 ) of the stamp member engaging the wall “W”, the mark “M” will be imprinted on the wall in the manner shown in  FIG. 4 . The marking portion of  32   a  of the stamp member, which can be constructed from felt, rubber, plastic or the like, can be pre-saturated with either conventional ink or with disappearing ink such as that readily commercially available from a number of different printing supply companies. When the disappearing ink is used, the mark will of course disappear from the wall after the passage of time.  
         [0045]     It is to be understood that the mark can be imprinted on the wall in the manner described in the preceding paragraphs by also pushing on either or both of the push pads  50  and  52  against the urging of spring  54 . When this is done, push bar  48 , along with the inked segment  32   a , will move from the retracted position shown in  FIG. 6  into the extended position. As the stamp pad moves into the extended position its travel will be guided by the second guide means of the invention which is of the character previously described. Upon the inked marking segment of  32   a  ( FIG. 12 ) of the stamp member engaging the wall “W”, the mark “M” will be imprinted on the wall in the manner shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0046]     Turning now to  FIGS. 13 through 20 , an alternate form of the level stamp of the present invention is there illustrated. This level stamp is similar in some respects to the level stamp shown in  FIGS. 1 through 12  and like numbers are used in  FIGS. 13 through 20  to identify like components. This latest form of the invention comprises a level housing  64  having interconnected front, back, top and bottom walls  66 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72  respectively. Carried by level housing  64  are first and second longitudinally spaced apart bubble tubes  74  and  76  respectively, each containing a non-freezing liquid “L”. As indicated in  FIG. 13 , bubble tube  74  extends substantially vertically relative to the top and bottom walls and bubble tube  76  extends substantially parallel to the top and bottom walls.  
         [0047]     A stamping assembly,  80 , including a hollow housing  81  and an elongated stamping member  32  having an inking segment  32   a  of the character previously described is removably connected to top wall  70  by spaced apart sets of permanent magnets  82  (See  FIG. 20 ). In a manner presently to be described, stamping member  32  is movable between a first retracted position, such as that shown in  FIG. 17 , wherein at least a portion of said stamping member is disposed within the internal chamber  84  of hollow housing  81  and a second position, such as that shown in  FIG. 19 , wherein at least a portion of segment  32   a  of the stamping member extends outwardly from the front wall of the housing and into engagement with the surface “S” to be marked.  
         [0048]     Operating means of the same general character as earlier described herein are carried by housing  81  for moving elongated stamping member  32  from the first retracted position to the second position. In this latest form of the invention these novel operating means comprise a first push bar  34  that is carried within internal chamber  84  for movement between a first position shown in  FIG. 17  and a second position shown in  FIG. 19 .  
         [0049]     Operably associated with first push bar  34  are first and second push pads  36  and  38  that are carried by housing  81 . Push pads  36  and  38 , which are connected to first push bar  34  by suitable threaded connectors, are movable between the first, at rest position shown in  FIG. 17  and the second, operating position shown in  FIG. 19  to cause push bar  34  to move toward the second position shown in  FIG. 19 . Biasing means, shown here as a conventional coil spring, which is operably associated with the first push bar  34 , functions to yieldably resist movement of the push bar between the first position and the second position.  
         [0050]     In this latest form of the invention, the level assembly also includes first guide means carried within said internal chamber  84  of housing  81  for guiding movement of first push bar  34  between the first and said second positions. As before, the guide means here comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced guideways that are mounted within internal chamber  84  and a pair of guide rods that are connected to push bar  34 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 19 , guide rods  46  are typically movable within the guideways so as to control travel of the push bar within chamber  84 .  
         [0051]     As before, in this latest form of the invention the novel operating means also comprise a second push bar  48  that is carried within internal chamber  84  for movement along second guide means, in the manner previously described, between a first position shown in  FIG. 17  and a second position shown in  FIG. 19 .  
         [0052]     Received within spaced apart cavities  87  formed in the lower surface of housing  82  are permanent magnets  90  of a first polarity. Adapted to mate with magnets  90  are spaced apart magnets  92  of a second, opposite polarity which are received within spaced apart cavities  93  formed in the top wall  70  of level housing  64 . With this construction, when stamp housing  82  is moved into proximity with the upper wall  70  of the level housing, the magnets will attract so as to removably interconnect the stamp housing with the level.  
         [0053]     In using the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, the stamp housing is first interconnected with the level in the manner shown in  FIGS. 14, 15 ,  16 , and  17 . The assembly thus formed is then placed in engagement with the surface “S” to be marked (See  FIG. 19 ). Using the appropriate bubble tube, the level is then oriented into the desired position. For example, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 17 , the bubble tube  76  has been used to bring the upper surface of the level into true level. In this position, the stamp pad  32  is in the retracted position shown in  FIG. 17 . To then apply a mark to the wall “W”, a pressure is exerted on either of the push pads  36  or  38  in the direction of the arrows in  FIG. 19 . This pressure, which is exerted against the urging of coil spring  40 , will cause push bar  34 , along with and the stamp pad  33 , to move from the retracted position into the extended position shown in  FIG. 19 . As the stamp pad moves into the extended position its travel will be guided by the first guide means of the invention. Upon the inked marking segment of  32   a  of the stamp member engaging the wall “W”, the mark “M” will be imprinted on the wall in the manner shown in  FIG. 19 .  
         [0054]     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.