Abstract:
A portable multiple-axis leveling device for removably attaching to selected objects includes a main body portion having a plurality of distinct alignment detection units disposed therein, with each alignment detection unit being configured to measure and display levelness along respective axes such that at least two distinct axes may be simultaneously measured for respective levelness without adjustment of the main body portion, and a clamping portion operably coupled to the main body portion, with the clamping portion having a recessed portion for receiving selected objects therein. The portable multiple-axis leveling device further includes a securement apparatus operably coupled to the clamping portion for removably securing the clamping portion to the respective selected object that is operably positioned in the recessed portion. The portable multiple-axis leveling device is preferably sufficiently portable to readily fit within a typical clothes pocket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/357,513, filed Feb. 15, 2002, the contents of which is incorporated herein. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to compact leveling devices generally, and more particularly to multiple axis leveling devices for removably attaching to e.g. electrical conduits so as to assist in creating accurate bends in such conduits. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Devices for assisting a user in determining the levelness of an object or a measurement have been widely used in a variety of applications. Most typically, such leveling devices incorporate one or more levelness indicators which utilize the force of gravity on an enclosed volume of liquid. Usually, the subject liquid is encased within a transparent vial, with a portion of the volume within the vial being filled with air or other gases. Such a volume of air results in a bubble within the partially-filled vial, which gas bubble indicates levelness along a longitudinal axis of the vial by the bubbles&#39; relative position therewithin. 
   A useful adaptation for such leveling devices is in removably attaching the leveling device to an object which is to be leveled. In such a manner, the user can manipulate the object to be leveled while monitoring the levelness thereof, without having to simultaneously hold and manipulate the leveling device. A particular application where such a characteristic is desired is in the bending of electrical conduit. In many cases, several sequential bends are required to be made in the electrical conduit so as to configurationally match with the particular installation. Accurate bending angles are therefore a critical aspect of the procedure. As such, it is highly desired to have a tool which is able to display levelness along multiple axes while also being self-connectable to the object of which the levelness is being measured. 
   Several of the sighted references discussed leveling devices that are removably attachable to selective objects. However, there remains a need in the art for a multiple-axis leveling device that is both removably attachable to selected objects and sufficiently portable so as to be easily and efficiently carried by the user, such as within a typical clothes pocket. 
   It is therefore a principle object of the present invention to provide a portable multiple-axis leveling device that is sufficiently portable so as to readily fit within, for example, a clothes pocket worn by a user. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a multiple-axis leveling device having multiple distinct levelness indicators, of which at least one levelness indicator is selectively moveable into desired orientations for versatility and visibility purposes. 
   It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a multiple-axis leveling device having magnetic means for self-attaching the device to selected metallic objects. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   By means of the present invention, a portable multiple-axis leveling device is provided having a plurality of levelness indicators in a single unit that is sufficiently compact to be easily portable and stowable within, for example, a user&#39;s clothes pocket. The leveling device of the present invention is particularly adapted to be removably attachable to selected objects, such that the user may manipulate the selected object into desired orientations without having to simultaneously handle the leveling device. Moreover, the leveling device of the present invention incorporates integrated motion means for selectively altering the orientation of a portion of the leveling device without removing or adjusting the removably secured attachment between the leveling device and the selected object. 
   One embodiment of the portable multiple-axis leveling device of the present invention includes a main body portion having a plurality of distinct alignment detection means disposed therein, with each alignment detection means being configured to measure and display levelness along respective axes so that at least two distinct axes may be simultaneously measured for respective levelness without adjustment of the main body portion, and a clamping portion operably coupled to the main body portion, the clamping portion having a recessed portion for receiving selected objects therein. The leveling device further includes a securement apparatus operably coupled to the clamping portion for removably securing the clamping portion to the respective selected object that is operably positioned in the recessed portion, the main body portion and the clamping portion, in combination, is preferably less than about 6 inches in length, and less than about 3 inches in width when in alignment along a single axis, such that the leveling device is sufficiently portable to readily fit within a clothes pocket worn by a user. 
   In preferred embodiments of the leveling device, the alignment detection means are distinct bubble level indicators. The clamping portion may be integrally formed with the main body portion, or may be operably coupled thereto via a motion means such a hinge or swivel connection. 
   In some embodiments of the present invention, the main body portion of the portable multiple-axis leveling device includes a motion means such as a hinge or swivel device at least disposed between two adjacent alignment detection means. The leveling device of the present invention may further include one or more magnets disposed on at least one side of the main body portion. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multiple-axis leveling device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a multiple-axis leveling device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a multiple-axis leveling device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a multiple-axis leveling device of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The objects and advantages enumerated above together with other objects, features, and advances represented by the present invention will now be presented in terms of detailed embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures which are intended to be representative of various possible configurations of the invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are recognized as being within the grasp of those having ordinary skill in the art. 
   Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to  FIG. 1 , a leveling device  10  is shown having a main body portion  12  and a mounting portion  14  integral therewith. Leveling device  10  may be of any desired configuration, though a compact design is preferred for portability characteristics. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , leveling device  10  is substantially rectangular for ease of manufacture. 
   Clamping portion  14  preferably comprises an open jaw configuration, such that objects to which attachment of leveling device  10  is desired may be received in recessed portion  16 . Thus, clamping portion  14  generally includes a first mounting extension  18  disposed in opposing relationship with a second mounting extension  20 . Such mounting extensions  18 ,  20  are preferably spaced from one another to form recessed portion  16 . In preferred embodiments, first mounting extension  18  includes an aperture  22  disposed therein being sized and configured to receive a securing device  24  therein. In preferred embodiments, securing device  24  comprises a threaded thumbscrew having an elongated threaded portion  26  and a handle portion  28  disposed at end  27  of threaded portion  26 . In such an embodiment, threaded portion  26  of securing device  24  is threadably received in aperture  22 . 
   Securing device  24  is preferably actuated to controllably protrude into gap  19  between mounting extensions  18 ,  20  to thereby impact upon and secure respective objects inserted in gap  19 . Securement of the respective objects in gap  19  is achieved through surface pressure on the object between end  30  of mounting device  24  and inner surface  21  of second mounting extension  20 . 
   Main body portion  12  of device  10  preferably includes a plurality of bubble levels  42  disposed in respective channels  44 . Bubble levels  42  may be more easily be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG.  2 . In preferred embodiments of the present invention, leveling device  10  includes multiple bubble levels  42  disposed in orthogonal relationship to one another such that leveling device  10  may be aligned along perpendicular axes to determine the respective levelness thereof without re-orientating leveling device  10 . For example, leveling device  10  may be removably attached to an object such as electrical conduit to determine its levelness in e.g. a horizontal plane via horizontal bubble level  46 . The electrical conduit may then be brought into a vertical orientation, for example through bending, and the vertical alignment of the conduit may be correspondingly determined by vertical axes bubble level  48  without adjusting the position of leveling device  10  on the electrical conduit. In such a manner, leveling device  10  is particularly useful for applications in which multiple distinct axis must be measured for levelness or trueness. The device of the present invention allows a user to quickly determine the accuracy of respective planes in which the object is oriented. 
   A particular example of such an application involves bending of electrical conduit. Often times, multiple bends are desired in such electrical conduit to properly “route” the conduit to certain locations. In bending such electrical conduit, it is important to ensure correct bending angles so that the conduit will properly fit upon installation. To ensure that such bending angles are correct, a leveling indicator, particularly a multiple axis leveling indicator, is useful in allowing the operator to view a levelness or trueness indicator while performing the bending operations without having to re-orient such a levelness or trueness indicator. It is also particularly important that any such leveling device be compact and portable, easily operable, inexpensive, and easily viewable. The leveling device of the present invention accomplishes these goals. 
   Leveling device  10  is preferably of compact construction for portability purposes. Preferably, leveling device  10  may be easily hand-held and sufficiently compact to fit into an ordinary clothes pocket. To that end, leveling device  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is preferably less than about 6 inches in length and less than about 3 inches in width. More preferably, leveling device  10  is about 3.5 inches in length and about 1 inch in width. In addition, leveling device  10  is preferably substantially linear so as to minimize interference with surrounding objects during use. Preferably, leveling device  10  is manufactured from a single piece of material, thereby providing durability and ease of construction. Leveling device  10  is preferably fabricated from aluminum, though a wide variety of other durable materials may be utilized in place of aluminum. 
   The plurality of bubble levels  42  may be disposed in leveling device  10  in any desired orientation. Preferably, however, leveling device  10  includes at least a horizontal level  46  and a vertical level  48 . Bubble levels  42  are preferably disposed in a fixed configuration, though some embodiments of leveling device  10  may include at least one bubble level  42  being mounted in rotatable configuration within main body portion  12 , such that any desired angle may be measured for levelness. In such embodiments, a visual scaling is provided on an outer surface of main body portion  12  to thereby align the respective bubble level  42  with a predetermined angle. 
   A number of variants of leveling device  10  are contemplated by the present invention. For example, leveling device  10  may include a third bubble level  42  disposed in a third orthogonal axis with respect to bubble levels  46 ,  48 . In such a manner, the three orthogonal axes may be utilized to compare squareness of, for example, multiple bends in electrical conduit. 
   An alternative embodiment for determining levelness along more than two distinct axis is shown in FIG.  3 . In some embodiments of the present invention, main body portion  12  of leveling device  10  may be divided into multiple distinct portions attached to one another via a hinge, swivel, or other motion-providing attachment means  52 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , attachment means  52  may comprise a swivel by which rotatable portion  60  may be rotated into multiple predetermined orientations, including an orientation orthogonal to that shown in FIG.  3 . Attachment means  52  may alternatively comprise a hinge for facilitating pivotal movement of portion  60  with respect to stationary portion  62 . In such a manner, portion  60  may be pivoted while device  10  is removably attached to a specific object, so that the user may more easily view bubble level  42  disposed therewithin. Respective bubble levels  42  may be disposed in leveling portion  12  in any order or configuration desired for particular applications. 
   An additional feature which may be incorporated into leveling device  10  is one or more magnetic elements  70  disposed on one or more sides of leveling portion  12 . Magnetic elements  70  preferably allow removable securement of leveling device  10  to a metallic structure without having to engage securement device  24  to a particular object. In such a manner, leveling device  10  may be utilized in a variety of applications, whether or not moveable securement to the object to be leveled is feasible. 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , moveable portion  60  is preferably a distinct piece from the remainder of main body portion  12 , and is attached thereto via means  52 . Moveable portion  60  is also preferably fabricated from the same material as the remainder of leveling device  10 , though different materials may be utilized in portion  60  for desired applications. 
   The placement of attachment means  52  may be altered in distinct embodiments of the invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , for example, attachment means  52  may be disposed between main body portion  12  and clamping portion  14 , such that main body portion  12  may rotate or pivot in its entirety about an axis defined by attachment means  52 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , attachment means  52  is a swivel connection, but various other types of connections are contemplated by the present invention. In still further embodiments, a plurality of attachment means  52  may be provided to allow for multiplicity of motion in distinct portions  60 ,  62  of leveling device  10 . For example, a hinge means may be provided between portions  60  and  62 , and a swivel means may be provided between portion  62  and clamping portion  14 . A variety of motion-providing attachment means  52  are contemplated by the present invention to further enhance the utility of leveling device  10 . 
   Bubble levels  42  are of conventional design, and may be mounted in leveling device  10  in a fixed or moveable configuration. Other commercially available leveling indicators may be incorporated into leveling device  10  in addition to, or in place of, bubble levels  42 . 
   The invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes, and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the invention as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and that various modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.