Abstract:
A laser meter includes a casing; a laser module inside the casing; and a reflection means coaxial with the laser module and having circular circumference. The laser meter can provide both horizontal and vertical light beam for mark and consumes lower power.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    (a) Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a laser meter, especially to a laser meter providing both horizontal and vertical light beam for mark and consuming lower power.  
           [0003]    (b) Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    The laser meter generally comprises a laser module emitting a single laser beam driven by a high-speed motor for circular scanning. The circular scanning light is emitted on a work surface, a user view views the reflected light of the circular scanning light as a liner light due to persistence of vision.  
           [0005]    However, the laser light has high power density and may damage human&#39;s eye as revealed by the case of laser point pen in Japan, which had hurt child&#39;s eyes. However, the laser light does not provide sufficient luminance for indication once its power is reduced.  
           [0006]    Moreover, the conventional laser meter generally requires considerable electrical power for motor, which should drive the laser beam in high-speed circular motion.  
           [0007]    Moreover, the motor itself has considerable weight and is generally used with a rack to emit light in horizontal direction. The light in vertical direction to ground is hard to obtain. Therefore, the conventional laser meter has the drawbacks of eye damage, high electrical power and impossibility for light in vertical direction.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser meter with continuous and planar laser beam and high compactness.  
           [0009]    In the first aspect of the present invention, the laser meter is located on a carrier for easy adjustment.  
           [0010]    In the second aspect of the present invention, the laser meter has an adjusting screw and a tension spring for horizontal adjustment.  
           [0011]    In the third aspect of the present invention, the laser meter can be rotated with 90 degree.  
           [0012]    In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the laser meter can rotated to provide horizontal and vertical mark.  
           [0013]    In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the laser meter has elongated level.  
           [0014]    In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the laser meter has a reflecting means with a through hole for emitting laser light.  
           [0015]    In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the laser meter has a casing with a conic section for supporting.  
           [0016]    In the eighth aspect of the present invention, the laser meter has an adjusting screw opposite to the conic section.  
           [0017]    In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the laser meter has a reflective type reflecting means.  
           [0018]    In the tenth aspect of the present invention, the reflecting means is made of light conducting material.  
           [0019]    In the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the laser meter has an enclosure for protecting purpose.  
           [0020]    In the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the casing is placed atop a floating supporter.  
           [0021]    In the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the laser meter has a circular bubble level.  
           [0022]    In the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the laser meter is hung on a plumb.  
           [0023]    In the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the laser meter has a reflecting disk.  
           [0024]    In the Sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the reflection means is performed as an inner curve arc-shaped surface in achieving the light beam focusing effect and thus relatively performed in a reduced height thereof.  
           [0025]    The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which: 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 show a prior art laser meter;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 shows the application of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 also shows the application of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5- 1  shows a perspective view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5- 2  shows a sectional view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5- 3  shows another perspective view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 shows a partial sectional view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 shows a partial sectional view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 shows a partial sectional view of the laser meter of the present invention;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 11 shows the laser meter of the present invention with a reflecting disk;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 12 shows a partial portion of the laser meter of the present invention in FIG. 11;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 13 shows the laser meter of the present invention with a reflecting disk; and  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 14 shows the laser meter of the present invention with an enclosure.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 15 shows reflection from the parabolic surface of the present invention.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 16 shows reflection from the ellipsoidal surface of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0045]    [0045]FIG. 1 shows a prior art horizontal laser meter, which comprises a base  1  with a motor  10  arranged on a shoulder of the base  1 . The base  1  has an eye-shaped level  19  with an adjusting button  191  to adjust horizontal position of the motor  10 . The base  1  has a coupling stage  131  with a connector  132  with a pivotal part  133  corresponding to the axis  15  of the motor  10 . The axis  15  is assembled with winding  16  within a casing  18  to form the motor  18 . A laser  17  is provided in the casing  18 , the beam thereof passes through a through hole  151  of the axis  15 . A refracting means  14  is formed at output end of the axis  15  to deflect the beam into a horizontal beam P.  
         [0046]    The motor  10  drives the beam P to form circular scanning with high speed to provide linear indication. Therefore, high driving AC power is required to drive the motor. If the motor is driven with low DC voltage, the motor needs large current and the risk to damage human eye is increased.  
         [0047]    The connector  132  is movable with the coupling stage  131  and the laser  17  will emit laser beam in vertical direction. The adjusting button  191  will roughly adjust the base  1  in horizontal direction. The horizontal beam can be obtained by the weight pro se of the motor  10  and the refraction action of the refracting means  14 .  
         [0048]    The inner face of the coupling stage  131  is in movable contact with the outer face of the connector  132  such that the motor  10  can drive the laser in vertical direction and horizontal beam P can be obtained by the refracting means  14 .  
         [0049]    As described above description, the horizontal beam is obtained by the weight pro se of the motor and a bearing means  13 . Therefore, the laser meter described above is hard to use after it is rotated 90 degree. The conventional laser meter is limited to horizontal marking and consumes high power for daytime use. For example, a 10 AH battery is required and the volume is bulky.  
         [0050]    Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide a laser meter with low power and projecting in omni direction way, thus providing a light marking for horizontal or vertical direction.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the present invention. The laser meter comprises a laser module  4  opposite to a conic refractor means  3  and enclosed by a cylindrical casing  2  and a shell  31 . The laser module  4  in the cylindrical casing  2  emits an annulus light beam to the refraction face  33  of the conic refractor means  3 , wherein the refraction face  33  is 45 degree with respect to the horizontal plane and the apex angle of the conic refractor means  3  is 90 degree. A transparent cover  23  is provided between the cylindrical casing  2  and the shell  31  to define an annulus window  24 . The laser light from the laser module  4  is reflected by the conic refractor means  3  to emit horizontal light beam P 1 . The casing  2  has conic bump  21  on shoulder thereof and corresponding to the upper end of the laser module  4  for point support. The casing  2  can be adjusted at bottom thereof by clamping screws  41  and adjusting the emitting angle of beam.  
         [0052]    With reference to FIG. 3, the shell  31  has a slit  310  at center thereof corresponding to the casing  2 . The conic refractor means  3  has a through hole  32  corresponding to the axis of laser light to emit an axial light P 2 . The conic refractor means  3  has a reflecting face  330  to form a horizontal beam P 1  vertical to the beam P 2 .  
         [0053]    With reference to FIG. 4, the casing  2  is cylindrical shape and has window  24  behind the shell  31  for emitting planar light beam P 1 . The slit  310  emits vertical beam P 2 . A tubular level  25  is arranged on circumference of the casing  2 .  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 5 shows the application of the present invention, which is mainly used for indication in vertical mark by the horizontal beam P 1 . The casing  2  is used with a carrier  5  with a receiving slot  51  to receive the casing and a coupling stage  52  on bottom thereof and connected to a base  57 . The coupling stage  52  has a tension spring  53  on one end thereof such that the horizontal state of the casing  2  can be adjusted by a screw  54 . The horizontal state can be checked by viewing a level  25  through a window  56 . Therefore, the horizontal beam P 1  can be used as vertical mark and the beam P 2  can be used as horizontal mark.  
         [0055]    If the carrier is rotated 90 degree, the horizontal beam P 1  can be used as horizontal mark.  
         [0056]    As shown in FIGS.  5 - 1 , the casing  2  can be supported by a carrier  9  with a changeable angle to obtain an omni directional laser mark. The carrier  9  comprises a bottom plate  91  with an arc-shaped supporter  93  and a level  92 . The carrier  9  comprises an adjusting screw  921  at a corner thereof to set horizontal state of the carrier  9 . The arc-shaped supporter  93  has a coupling member  94  on one end thereof, in which the casing  2  is received. More particularly, the vertical line of the casing  2  is aligned with 90 degree mark of the arc-shaped supporter  93 . The arc-shaped supporter  93  has a sliding groove  933  in which an indicator  932  slides. The indicator  932  is corresponding to a mark  931 . The coupling member  94  is slidably arranged in a sliding groove  94  of the arc-shaped supporter  93 . The swinging angle of the sliding groove  94  is constrained by the coupling shaft  90  and locked by a locking knob  95 . The sliding groove  94  is linked with the indicator  932  for changing angle of the casing  2 . As shown in this figure, the casing  2  is received in the coupling member  94 , and fixed to vertical position by the locking knob  95 . As shown in FIGS.  5 - 2 , the light beam P emitted from the window  24 . The coupling member  94  can be rotated by releasing the locking knob  95  to move the casing to 45 degree or horizontal position. The horizontal beam then becomes vertical mark.  
         [0057]    The carrier  9  with 90 degree changeable angle can tune the horizontal beam to arbitrary angle and the carrier  9  can be reverse rotated to provide 180 degree marking.  
         [0058]    As shown in FIGS.  5 - 3 , the casing  2  can be supported by a plumb line  98  for providing horizontal beam P. The casing  2  is hung to the plumb line  98  through a plurality of supporting wires  97 . Each of the plurality of supporting wires  97  is bound to a lug  961  of a hoop  96 . The supporting wire  97  can be hung to an inner hole of the lug  961  to adjusting the length thereof.  
         [0059]    With reference to FIG. 6, the casing  2  is assembled to a droop means  7  through a universal coupling stage  6 , wherein the droop means  7  comprises a pendulum  72  and a swing link  71 . The casing  2  is connected to an axial rack  64  though an X shaft  61  in radial direction and connected to a supporting stage  63  through a Y shaft  62  such that a floating universal coupling stage  6  is arranged atop the supporting stage  63 . A magnetic device is formed below the supporting stage  63  and corresponding to the pendulum  72  to prevent over swing. The universal coupling stage  6  enables the casing  2  to be a free body and aligning with gravity. The light is emitted from the window to be a horizontal light P 1  for horizontal mark.  
         [0060]    With reference to FIG. 7, in the horizontal arrangement of the present invention, a groove  312  is defined by a baffle  311  atop the shell  31 . A bubble level  251  is placed in the groove  312  for basic horizontal calibration.  
         [0061]    With reference to FIG. 8, the reflection means  3  is a light guiding body with a conic groove  331  thereon and having reflecting face  33  formed by coating. The included angle between the conic groove  331  and the light axis is 45 degree.  
         [0062]    With reference to FIG. 9, the reflection means  3  has a through hole  32  through which a beam P 2  is formed and peripheral light is diffused to form a horizontal light P 1 . The light guiding body is used to prevent diffraction by air.  
         [0063]    With reference to FIG. 10, the reflection means  3  is a reflecting body with a reflecting face  33  of 45 degree such that the laser light is reflected to form a planar beam P 1 . The reflection means  3  has a through hole  32  through which a beam P 2  passes.  
         [0064]    With reference to FIG. 11, to further reduce the height of the window, a reflecting disk  8  is formed below the reflection means  3  and a bevel is formed therebetween such that the planar beam P 1  is emitted in horizontal direction. The reflecting disk  8  has a through hole  81  through which laser beam passes and is reflected by the reflection means  3  to reinforce the planar beam P 1 .  
         [0065]    With reference to FIG. 12, the included angle between the reflection means  3  and the reflecting disk  8  is 45 degree such that a laser light is reflected by the reflection means  3  and the reflecting disk  8  to form the planar beam P 1 .  
         [0066]    With reference to FIG. 13, a through hole  32  is formed at top center of the reflection means  3  to provide a vertical beam P 2  beside the planar beam P 1 .  
         [0067]    With reference to FIG. 14, an enclosure  23  is formed outside the reflecting disk  8  to prevent the invade of dirt and damp.  
         [0068]    With reference to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the laser module  4  emits an laser light beam to the reflecting surface  33  thereby either forming horizontal light beam P in accordance with variable curved surface thereof, or forming focal point F in order to achieve greater and stronger light beam focusing effect. In addition, the inner curve arc-shaped reflection means  3  is able to perform relatively reduced height by applying the variable curved surface thereof.  
         [0069]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.