Abstract:
A post level device that is used to align post or pipe materials horizontally, vertically or diagonally. The device utilizes two adjustable brackets that are attached to the ends of a structural support bar. “U”-bolts, wing nuts and a Neoprene insert are used to adjustably hold the two spirit levels which can vary in length. A hook and loop fastener secures the device to the post or pipe materials, thereby freeing up the user&#39;s hands to conduct other activities. A second embodiment of the device is also provided which can be used for aligning smaller post pipe materials and requires only a single bracket. Other embodiments employ an attachment block with appropriate slots for a bracket and a peripheral portion of the spirit level, in place of slotted bracket and “U”-joints.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/205,537, filed May 22, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a level bracket that is attached vertically, horizontally or diagonally to a post or pipe to align that post or pipe. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Setting fence posts is always difficult work, particularly when the posts must be set in a straight upright position. This type of work has previously been done with an ordinary spirit level that is placed along the side of the post being set. This method of setting posts ties up a worker&#39;s hands that could be used to be doing something else related to setting the fence post. 
     The related art describes a number of level devices that can also be used to set fence posts as well as other structural members. U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,249 issued Jun. 28, 1974, to Stone, outlines the use of a self-gripping spirit level that is designed to be used by ironworkers to set and align piping. This particular spirit level utilizes magnets to attach itself to the piping being set, thereby freeing up the user&#39;s hands to perform other functions related to setting the piping other than holding the spirit level. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,782 issued Sep. 3, 1974, to Johnson et al. outlines the use of a multipurpose spirit level designed to be used by a wide variety of craftsmen. This spirit level sits on a v-shaped base that can be placed on piping as well as other structural members. Like the device outlined in the Stone patent, this spirit level also utilizes magnetic material to secure the spirit level to magnetically attractable work members, thereby also potentially freeing up a user&#39;s hands to do other things. A makeshift protractor is also provided on this device to set piping at different angles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,093 issued Aug. 10, 1982, to Eadens outlines the use of a plumb tool that utilizes a body member having a pair of right-angular arms for use in engaging the object that is to be plumbed. A ledge projects from one arm and supports an orbital bubble level and a bead chain is attached at one end to the body member and is adapted to encircle the object that is to be plumbed. This device is also designed to free up the hands of the user for positioning and securing the object while it is being plumbed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,040 issued Dec. 11, 1990 to Mish et al. outlines a device that is specifically designed to align and set posts. A first elastic band is used to form a right angle with a spirit level placed on each end of the elastic band. The first elastic band is then placed around the post and a second elastic band is used to encircle the remainder of the post. The second elastic band is attached to one of the spirit levels secured by a securable hook placed on the end of the second elastic band into a receiving eyelet on the other spirit level. The device can also be secured around the post using nails and nail holes provided on the bands. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,205 issued Feb. 18, 1992, to Egbert outlines an apparatus for removably attaching a leveling device to an object. The apparatus is used to attach a carpenter&#39;s level to a substantially vertical stud at a construction site while the stud is being fastened into place. The apparatus can free up the hand&#39;s of a lone construction worker who needs to keep a stud plumb while fastening the stud into place. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,094 issued Jun. 6, 1995, to McCord et al. outlines the use of an adjustable level that utilizes a L-shaped bracket, a one-bubble housing attached to the L-shaped bracket and a spring-loaded flexible cord that wraps around and secures the object being aligned. Magnets are also provided on each side of the bracket to add security to metal objects, such as pipes, that might be aligned with the device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,856 issued May 12, 1987, to Hall et al. outlines the use of a kit used to facilitate the construction of a fence with vertical posts and horizontal rails. Both can be set using the leveling device that is included in the kit, which is designed to be attached to the vertical posts and horizontal rails with hook and loop fasteners being set so as to free the hands of a user and to facilitate the rapid positioning and alignment of these posts and rails. 
     The device outlined in the Hall et al. patent is the only device found in the related art that utilizes a hook and loop fastener for securing a leveling device to a post or rail that must be aligned. The hook and loop fasteners however, can be better arranged and designed than those used in the device outlined in the Hall patent. That is what is really needed, a better designed leveling device using hook and loop fasteners that can be used to free up the hands of a user while aligning a post or rail. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a post level device that is used to align post or pipe materials horizontally, vertically or diagonally. The device utilizes two adjustable brackets attached to the ends of a structural support bar. “U”-bolts, wing nuts and a Neoprene® insert are used to adjustably hold the two spirit levels, that can vary in length. A hook and loop fastener secures the device to the post or pipe materials, thereby freeing up the user&#39;s hands to conduct other activities. A second embodiment of the device is also provided which can be used for aligning smaller post and pipe materials. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a device that can align post or pipe materials while a user utilizes his hands to conduct other activities. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a hands-free leveling device that can align post or pipe materials that is easily adjustable. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a hands-free leveling device that can align materials vertically, horizontally or diagonally. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a hands-free leveling device that can utilize differing sizes of spirit levels for aligning both large and small post or pipe materials. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of an adjustable post level bracket according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of an adjustable post level according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the second embodiment of an adjustable post level bracket according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3A is a broken away elevation view of the bracket and slot of FIG. 3 with a mounted “C” spring clip for releasably supporting a level. 
     FIG. 3B is a broken away elevation view of the bracket and slot of FIG. 3 with a mounted inverted “C” spring clip for releasably supporting a level. 
     FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of another embodiment of an adjustable post level similar to that of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an adjustable post level bracket similar to that of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an attachment block configured as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an attachment block configured as shown in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is a post level bracket apparatus  10  useful to vertically, horizontally and diagonally align a post or a pipe material  20 , as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     The post level bracket apparatus  10  comprises a predetermined number of brackets  30  that are bent at a right angle and features means for holding a predetermined number of spirit level(s)  50  in a fixed position, a structural support rod  40  permanently attached to the vertex  35  of each of the brackets  30  at each end of the structural support rod  40 , and an adjustable attaching means  100  for temporarily attaching the apparatus  10  to a post or a pipe material  20 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment, there are two brackets  30  and two spirit levels  50  that are 2 feet in length. The apparatus  10  can accommodate longer spirit levels  50  as well for being useful with larger post or pipe material  20  (see FIG.  1 ). Slots  60  are provided on each arm of the brackets  30  to accommodate a “U”-bolt  70  that is extended through the slot  60  on each side of the bracket  30 . A semicircular machined Neoprene® insert (not shown) is placed between the “U”-bolt  70  and the adjacent wall of spirit level  50  which is disposed against the inner wall of bracket  30  resulting in added stability. These components, combined with a pair of wing nuts  90  makes up the holding means for the apparatus  10 . A backing plate may be employed between the bracket  30  and the wing nuts  90  to reduce wear along slot  60 . Spirit levels  50  can also be moved closer to or nearer the structural support rod  40  by moving the “U”-bolt  70  and Neoprene® insert (not shown) along the slots  60  as desired by the user. 
     The apparatus  10  also has an adjustable attaching means, which is a strap  100  that encircles the post or pipe material  20  being aligned. A hook and loop fastener, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,040 by Mish et al., described above and hereby incorporated by reference, may be substituted for and is considered equivalent to strap  100 . The strap  100  is permanently secured to the center of the structural support rod  40  by a nut and bolt between the vertex  35  of each bracket  30 . The brackets  30  are made of thermoplastic material or metallic material and are designed to be durable and long lasting, as is the structural support rod  40 , which is preferably made of solid aluminum. 
     A second embodiment of the apparatus  110  is illustrated in FIG. 3, which can be used to vertically, horizontally and diagonally align a smaller piece of post and a pipe material  20  (see FIG.  1 ). The second embodiment  110  comprises a single bracket  120  that is bent at a right angle that has a holding means for holding a predetermined number of spirit levels  130  in a fixed position, a thermoplastic semicircular handle  140  attached to the exterior vertex  150  of the bracket  120 , and an adjustable attaching strap  160  for temporarily attaching the apparatus  110  to a smaller post or pipe material  20 . Two one-foot long spirit levels  130  are secured by a set of “U”-bolts  170  and wing nuts  180 . Attaching strap  160  may be attached at each end to an outer face of bracket  120  by wing nuts  180 . These smaller spirit levels  130  can be attached along any part of the slots  210  on the smaller bracket  120 . No Neoprene® insert is needed for additional stability, as is the case with the above described first embodiment of the apparatus  10 . 
     The attaching means for the second embodiment  110  of the apparatus  10  is strap  160 . The strap  160  is smaller than the strap  100  of the first embodiment of the apparatus  10 , since the second embodiment  110  is useful for smaller post or pipe material  20 (see FIG.  1 ). A strip of magnetic material  200  is provided on a narrow side of each spirit level  130  to help support strap  160 . 
     Like the first embodiment of the apparatus  10 , the bracket  120  is made of thermoplastic material or metallic material for strength and durability. 
     As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, alternatives to “U”-bolts  170  may be provided for supporting spirit levels  130  on bracket  120 . As seen in FIG. 3A, “C” spring clip  230 , made of spring steel or similar material, and having opposed, outward facing “C” portions  240  connected by a base portion  250  is attached to bracket  120  through groove  210  by attachment bolt  220  located in centrally located attachment bolt bore  260  and secured by wing nut  180 . A spirit level  130  may be releasably held by a peripheral wall between “C” portions  240  of spring clip  230 . 
     As seen in FIG. 3B, inverted “C” spring clip  270 , features opposed, inward facing “C” portions  290  and are releasable by inverted “C” spring clip release fingers  280  and connected by a base portion  300 . Base portion  300  is attached to bracket  120  through groove  210  by attachment bolt  220  located in centrally located attachment bolt bore  260  and secured by wing nut  180 . A spirit level  130  may be releasably held by its peripheral wall between inverted “C” portions  290  of spring clip  230 . The design of the clip of FIG. 3B is amenable to construction from any appropriate resilient material, such as hard rubber or plastic. 
     Operation of the first and second embodiments  110 , 10  are simple. A user aligns a post or pipe material  20  within the interior of the bracket(s)  30 , 120  and perpendicularly adjacent to the spirit level(s)  50 , 130 . The strap  100 , 190  is then wrapped around the post or pipe materials  20  being aligned, utilizing the spirit level  50 , 130  to properly align the post or pipe materials  20 , which can be aligned vertically, horizontally or diagonally. The spirit levels employed with the present invention are straight, conventional spirit levels which are commercially available. 
     A prototype of the first embodiment of the post level bracket apparatus  10  includes 2¼″×2″×14″ pieces of aluminum bracket  30  bent into a 90 degree angle in the middle. The slots  60  are ¼″ and are cut in both ends for the adjustment and mounting of the spirit levels  50 . A ½″×6″ structural support rod  40  is welded to the vertex of each bracket  30  with 4 inches of rod  40  extending outward. A 10″ long, ¾″ aluminum pipe (not shown) is used to slide over the 4″ extended rod to connect both brackets  30  and form a handle. A 1½″×28″ strap  100  is also provided, and which is bolted to the handle to wrap around the post  20  and levels  50  to secure the apparatus  10 . 
     A prototype of the second embodiment  110  can also be made from a 5″×5″×2″×⅜″ aluminum single bracket  120  with a ¼″ slot  210  cut on both ends for adjustment and level mount. A 2″ thermoplastic handle  140  is also attached to the second embodiment and a 1″×24″ strap  160  is utilized to secure the bracket  120  to any post or pipe material. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, there are two brackets  30  and two spirit levels  50  that are 2 feet in length. The apparatus  10  can accommodate longer spirit levels  50  as well as for being useful with larger post or pipe material  20  (see FIG.  1 ). Attachment blocks  310  take the place of “U”-bolts  70  and Neoprene® inserts and slots  60 . Attachment blocks  310  contain block bracket grooves  322  sized to fit over each arm of the brackets  30 . Each attachment block  310  has an outer wall  312 , an inner wall  328 , an upper end wall  314 , a lower end wall  316 , a first side wall  318 , and a second side wall  320 . Bracket grooves  324  extend through each attachment block  310  from first side wall  318  to second side wall  320  and is parallel to outer wall  312  and inner wall  328 . Each attachment block  310  also includes a “T”-shaped spirit level groove  324  so shaped as to fit over a peripheral wall of spirit level  50 . A block bracket stop screw  326  is inserted through block upper end  314  so as to bear against the top edge of bracket  30  to allow adjustment of block  310  along bracket  30  by loosening, sliding blocks  310  to the desired location, and then tightening stop screw  326 . These elements make up the holding means for the apparatus  10 . This embodiment of apparatus  10  has a strap  100  to encircle the post or pipe material  20  as previously described. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 3 is illustrated which can be used to vertically, horizontally and diagonally align a smaller piece of post and a pipe material  20  (see FIG.  1 ). The embodiment  110  comprises a single bracket  120  that is bent at a right angle that has a holding means for holding a predetermined number of spirit levels  130  in a fixed position, a thermoplastic semicircular handle  140  attached to the exterior vertex  150  of the bracket  120 , and an elastic attaching strap  160  for temporarily attaching the apparatus  110  to a smaller post or pipe material  20 . Two one-foot long spirit levels  130  are secured by a pair of attachment blocks  310 . Attaching strap  160  may be attached at one end to an outer face of bracket  120  by a rivet or similar means and at the other end to a bracket mounted hook  350  mounted on the remote end of bracket  120  by means of elastic loop  360 . These smaller spirit levels  130  can be attached along any part of the smaller bracket  120  by means of attachment blocks  310 , similar to those of the embodiment of FIG. 4, above. In this embodiment a slot  362  replaces the “T”-shaped spirit level groove  324  and the apparatus is held together by tension in biased elastic strap  160 . A strip of magnetic material  200  is provided on a narrow side of each spirit level  130  to help support strap  160 . 
     Like the first embodiment of the apparatus  10 , the bracket  120  is made of thermoplastic material or metallic material for strength and durability. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 there are shown perspective views of attachment blocks  310  in the conformation of FIG.  4  and of FIG. 5, respectively. In FIG. 4 conformation, the “T”-shaped block spirit level groove in block inner wall  328  is more clearly shown. Also shown is block spirit level groove spring  330  which bows outward from the bottom of groove  324  to maintain pressure against the spirit level peripheral edge(not shown). In FIG. 5 conformation, the spirit level slot  362  is more clearly shown. 
     Operation of the embodiments of FIG.  4  and of FIG. 5 is similar to the operation of the embodiments of FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, respectively as described above. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.