Patent Abstract:
A laser, square, protractor kit has a laser marker with a housing. The housing has a first positioning member. The protractor has a base with a second positioning member which cooperates with the first positioning member to position the housing on the protractor base. The protractor base also includes a third positioning member. A framing square is coupled with the third positioning member enabling the protractor to be positioned on the framing square.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present invention is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/920,593 entitled “Circular Saw with Laser and Protractor” filed on Aug. 18, 2004, the specification and drawings of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a measuring kit and, more specifically, to a measuring kit that includes a laser, framing square, protractor and their combinations.  
         [0003]     In the construction industry, as well as other industries, laser markers are becoming commonly used throughout the industry. Laser beams can serve as a line mark for use in diverse processes such as guiding, aligning, and locating. The laser markers can be used to lay out and determine the configuration of a construction project.  
         [0004]     Ordinarily, in forming various types of elements which require various angles, cuts and the like, it is desirable to utilize a tool which will enable the project to be level and square. In order to accomplish leveling and squareness, the workman must perform various measurements in order to obtain the desired results. Often times, it is difficult to accurately perform these measurements. Thus, it would be desirable to have tools which enhance the workman&#39;s ability to provide accurate and precise measurements as well as accurate and precise leveling and squareness.  
         [0005]     The present invention provides the user with a kit which enables accurate measurement. The kit provides a laser marker which can be angularly adjusted along a protractor. Also, the present invention provides a squaring feature wherein the laser beam can be squared onto the workpiece and provide a straight and accurate marking. The present invention provides a squaring device which enables precise layout of a project.  
         [0006]     According to a first aspect of the invention, a laser square protractor kit comprises a laser having a housing with a first positioning member coupled with the housing. The protractor has a base with a second positioning member. The first and second positioning members cooperate with one another to position the housing with the protractor base. The protractor base includes a third positioning member. A framing square is adapted to couple with the base in the third positioning member. The base further includes a reference edge to square the protractor on a workpiece. The reference edge is pivotable from a first extending position projecting from the base, to provide squareness, to a retracted position where it is flush with the base. The base also includes a second reference member to reference the framing square with the protractor base. The second reference edge projects from the base. The base also includes a projecting support member which, with the reference edge, forms a channel to receive the framing square. The base includes registration members to position the laser housing about a plurality of predetermined angled positions on the protractor. Also, the laser housing is adjusted to any angle of the protractor.  
         [0007]     In accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, a laser protractor kit comprises a laser having a housing and a first positioning member coupled with the housing. The protractor has a base with a second positioning member. The first and second positioning members cooperate with one another to position the housing with the protractor base. The base includes a reference edge member to square the protractor on a workpiece. The edge member is pivotable from an extended position, projecting from the base for squaring, to a retracted position flush with the base. The base also includes registration members to position the laser about a plurality of predetermined angled positions on the protractor.  
         [0008]     According to a third aspect of the invention, a laser and framing square kit comprises a laser having a housing with at least one positioning member extending from the housing. A framing square has at least one edge. The at least one edge cooperates with the at least one positioning member to position the laser housing with the framing square. The laser housing ordinarily includes a pair of positioning members projecting from the housing. The pair of members are spaced with respect to one another to contact the at least one edge of the framing square. The framing square has at least two edges spaced and parallel from one another. The pair of positioning members on the housing may be positioned such that each member cooperates with one of the two edges of the framing square.  
         [0009]     From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the laser protractor framing square kit in an assembled position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the laser generator.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the laser generator of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view of a reference member of the protractor.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bottom of the protractor base.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective top view of the protractor base.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the laser and protractor.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the laser on the protractor in the desired position.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a view like  FIG. 8  with the laser generator in a second desired position.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the protractor and framing square.  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the bottom of the protractor.  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the laser generator and the framing square. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0024]     Turning to the figures, particularly  FIG. 1 , the laser beam generator, protractor and framing square kit is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral  20 . The kit  20  includes a laser generator  22 , a protractor mechanism  24 , and a framing square  26 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the laser generating member  22  removably nests on the protractor  24 . Also, the framing square  26  removably nests underneath the protractor  24 .  
         [0025]     The laser generator or marker  22  is like that described in U.S. application Ser. No. 10/920,593 entitled “Circular Saw with Laser and Protractor”, filed on Aug. 18, 2004 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, the specification and drawings of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference. The laser generator includes a housing  28  which is formed from a pair of shell-like sections  32 ,  34 . A window  36  is formed generally centrally between the two shell-like sections  32 ,  34 . The window  36  enables the laser to project from the window  36 . The rear wall of the housing includes two shelves  40 ,  42  each of which extends perpendicular from the wall. Each of the shelves  40 ,  42  is formed with a tapered section which tapers inward from the outboard ends to a slot between respective inboard ends. A marking notch  46  with an alignment mark is located within the slot. The notch  46  is in alignment with the window  36  and a laser beam which is eventually projected through the window  36 . This arrangement facilitates the locating of the laser housing on a surface of a workpiece with respect to a reference point on the surface. An undersurface of the rear wall is flush with an external surface of the housing base with the undersurface and the external surface being located in a common external plane. The wall is formed with a first reference or support leg  52  and a second reference or support leg  54 . The first and second support legs  52 ,  54  are spaced with respect to one another. Each of the spaced first and second legs  52 ,  54  extend perpendicular and outward from the base by a prescribed extension distance from the undersurface of the wall section. Also, the legs  52 ,  54  may be used to align the laser marker  22  on the edge of a workpiece to project a line perpendicular to the edge.  
         [0026]     A nest  60  is formed in a central location of the base to receive a magnet  62 . The magnet  62  has a disk shape. The nest  60  includes the passage  64  of a desired diameter, which extends through the base from a generally central portion of the external surface and inward of the laser housing. A ledge (not shown) is formed about an inboard portion of the passage at a diameter larger than the prescribed diameter of the passage. The magnet  62  is formed with a diameter which is approximately the same as the diameter of the ledge. Thus, when the magnet  62  is placed on the ledge, the ledge forms a mechanism to locate the magnet  62  within the laser housing to preclude movement of the magnet  62  out of the nest in the direction outward of the laser housing. One side of the magnet is exposed externally out of the housing. The externally exposed outward portion of the passage  64  and the external exposed portion of the magnet  62  form a circular recess  66  which extends inward from the base  68  the desired distance. This receives the protractor boss as will be explained herein.  
         [0027]     The protractor  24  includes a base  102  which includes a semi-circular portion  104  and a rear rectangular portion  106 . The semi-circular portion  104  may include a scale with numeral 0-180 identifying the various degree angles. The rectangular portion  106  is continuous with the semi-circular portion  104 . The semi-circular portion  104  may also include raised radiants  105  which illustrate various common degrees such as 0, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 135, 150 and 180. Also, a circular boss  108  and groove  110  may be positioned between the semi-circular portion  104  and the rectangular portion  106 . The boss  108  includes at its center, a central disk  112  which receives the magnet  62  of the laser marker  20 . The circular member  112  is centered on the protractor baseline and includes a raised metallic portion which fits into the recess of the housing. Alternatively, a friction fit mechanism, which provides the rotation feature, could be used. The boss  108  includes a plurality of apertures  113  to receive the legs  64 ,  66  of the housing as illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 . The apertures  113  are positioned such that the laser marker is positioned at the desired identified radiant. Thus, by moving the laser housing pins  52 ,  54  from hole to hole  113 , a different angular position can be determined. Also, due to the circular recess  66  and boss  108 , the laser marker  22  may be rotated to any desired degree angle.  
         [0028]     The rectangular backing member  106  includes a pair of reference members  114 ,  116 . The reference members are pivotally secured to the backing member  106 . The reference members  114 ,  116  enable the protractor  24  to be referenced onto a workpiece. Likewise, when the protractor  24  is to be positioned in a non-reference point, the reference members  114 ,  116  are pivoted so that they are flush with the protractor and therefore do not extend from the bottom of the protractor as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Thus, the reference members can be pivoted from a first to a second position to align and enable the protractor to be positioned against the edge of a workpiece. Also, the protractor includes stops  118 ,  120  which stop the travel of the reference members  114 ,  116 . The stops position the reference members  114 ,  116  perpendicular to the rectangular portion of the base  106 .  
         [0029]     The protractor base  102  includes a bottom surface  130 . The bottom surface  130  includes a leg  132  on the front semi-circular portion  104 . Also, the bottom  130  includes a reference edge  134 . The reference edge  134  can be a metallic member which extends from the bottom  130 . The reference edge  134  is positioned along the zero baseline of the protractor. The reference edge  134  and the leg  132  form a channel  136  which receives the framing square  26 . Thus, the framing square  26  can be slid longitudinally in the channel  136 . Also, when the reference members  114 ,  116  are in their flush position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 11 , the framing square  26  can be positioned on either side of the reference edge  134 . The framing square  26  can be positioned under the rectangular portion  106  for measurement on either side of the protractor. Further, the reference edge  134  can abut the edge of a workpiece or wall to align the protractor.  
         [0030]     The framing square  26  is generally formed from a metallic material and includes two leg portions perpendicular to one another forming an L-shape. The framing square  26  has a thickness conventional in the art which can easily slide into, or enable the protractor  24  to slide on via, the channel  136  between the reference edge  134  and leg  132  of the protractor  24 . Also, the edge is such that the framing square can slide underneath the rectangular base portion  106 .  
         [0031]     Turning to  FIG. 12 , the framing square  26  can be used with the laser marker  22 . As seen, the legs  52 ,  54  are positioned against the edge of the framing square  26 . The laser marker  22  can be moved into any desired position along the framing square  26 . Thus, the laser marker  22  projects a line which is perpendicular to the edge of the framing square  26 . The laser marker&#39;s magnet  62  holds the laser marker in position on the square. Also, the laser marker  22  could be positioned transverse to the square so that the housing legs could be riding along parallel edges of the framing square.  
         [0032]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6