Abstract:
An L-shaped level comprising an a longitudinal portion and a base portion; and, a plurality of level indicating means. The present invention relates to an L-shaped level that allows craftsmen to level and/or plumb and square two different surfaces on two different planes simultaneously.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to an L-shaped level used by craftsmen, such as artists, builders, cabinet makers, carpenters, contractors, draftsmen, engineers, machinists, masons, roofers, woodworkers and others for making various types of measurements, to determine whether a given structural member is level, plumb, and, square. The present invention may also be used as a measuring tool. More particularly, the present invention relates to an L-shaped level that allows craftsmen to level and/or plumb and square two different surfaces on two different planes simultaneously.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Most craftsmen&#39;s levels have at least one reference edge and one or more bubble vials for correctly aligning the reference edge along a true horizontal or vertical plane. The prior art also includes levels that allow craftsmen to level and/or plumb two planes simultaneously. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,168,578, issued to VanderWerf, relates to a four way corner level; U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,359, issued to Szumer, relates to a post, pipe and sign level; and, U.S. Pat. No. 6,807,743, issued to Odachowski, relates to a square level; all three of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0005]     However, the prior art does not teach an L-shaped tool that allows a craftsman to level and/or plumb and square two different surfaces on two different planes simultaneously. Usually this is a two-step process and/or a process involving more than one tool. The present invention cures these deficiencies, thereby saving time, labor and cost and increasing efficiency.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An object of the present invention is an L-shaped level comprising a longitudinal portion and a base portion; and, a plurality of level indicating means.  
         [0007]     At least one of said plurality of level indicating means is located on said longitudinal portion. At least one of said plurality of level indicating means is located on said base portion.  
         [0008]     The L-shaped level may further comprise a temperature indicating means. The L-shaped level may further comprise a plurality of apertures, wherein at least one of said plurality of apertures is located on the longitudinal portion.  
         [0009]     Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one of the embodiments according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention being used in building a brick structure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The L-shaped level  500 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a base portion  10  and a longitudinal portion  20 . The overall length of the L-shaped level  500  can be as desired.  
         [0013]     The L-shaped level  500  includes a plurality of level indicating means  1  and a plurality of apertures  2 .  
         [0014]     The longitudinal portion  20  includes a temperature indicating means  3 .  
         [0015]     The level indicating means  1  may be arranged for indicating level (true horizontal) and plumb (true vertical), respectively, of any work surface against which any one of the base portion  10  or longitudinal portion  20  is pressed. The level indicating means  1  are preferably carpenter&#39;s bubbles but other devices may be used alternatively.  
         [0016]     The plurality of apertures  2  may aid the craftsman in storing, using or transporting the L-shaped level  500 . Each of the plurality of apertures  2  may be a hole, slit or opening.  
         [0017]     The temperature indicating means  3  are preferably fluid thermometers, but other thermometers, such as a digital thermometer, may be used alternatively. The temperature indicating means  3  may present temperature in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius. The temperature indicating means which allows the mason to determine the ambient air temperature, as bricklaying should only be done when the ambient air temperature is at least about 35 degrees Fahrenheit or 3 degrees Celsius.  
         [0018]     The L-shaped level  500  may be constructed of metal, plastic, wood, other suitable materials, or combinations thereof.  
         [0019]     The L-shaped level  500  may contain a plurality of English system (e.g., inches, feet, etc) and/or International System of Units (e.g., millimeters, centimeters, etc.) indicia marks.  
         [0020]     The L-shaped level  500 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , is used in building the brick wall structure  200 . The base portion  10  is used to determine whether the top surface  201  of the brick wall structure  200  is level; the longitudinal portion  20  is used to determine whether the side surface  202  of the brick wall structure  200  is plumb; and the L-shaped level  500  is used to determine the whether the top surface  201  is square in relation to the side surface  202  of the brick wall structure  200 . The L-shaped level  500  allows a single craftsman to determine these three measurements simultaneously.  
         [0021]     The length of the base portion  10  can be as desired. Preferably, the length would be equal to or slightly less than the widths of standard-sized bricks, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . This allows a mason to construct the brick wall structure  200  without interfering with a craftsman or other construction personnel working on the other side of the brick wall structure  200 . Slightly less than means the length of the base portion  10  is about one-quarter of an inch less than the width of a standard-sized brick.  
         [0022]     The widths of standard-sized bricks include four, eight, ten and twelve inches. Thus, the length of the base portion  10  may be four inches, which would be suitable for masonry work with bricks with widths of four, eight, ten and twelve inches. An L-shaped level  500  where the length of the base portion  10  is eight inches would be suitable for masonry work with bricks with widths of eight, ten and twelve inches. An L-shaped level  500  where the length of the base portion  10  is ten inches would be suitable for masonry work with bricks with widths of ten and twelve inches. An L-shaped level  500  where the length of the base portion  10  is twelve inches would be suitable for masonry work with bricks with the width of twelve inches. However, it is preferable for a mason to use an L-shaped level  500  that is appropriately sized. For example, an L-shaped level  500  where the length of the base portion  10  is four inches is best suited for masonry work with bricks with the width of four inches instead of twelve inches. Thus, other embodiments of the present invention may be designed where the length of the base portion  10  of the L-shaped level  500  is four, eight, ten or twelve inches, or the width of any other standard-sized bricks. Alternatively, other embodiments of the present invention may be designed where the length of the base portion  10  of the L-shaped level  500  is slightly less than four, eight, ten or twelve inches, or the width of any other standard-sized bricks.