Patent ID: 7073270

Claim:
An impact-absorbing level compnsmg: a body inclading a level face for measuring a surface, the body extending from a first end to a second end and having an outside contour at each end defining a body profile; at least one vial mounted in the body at a predetermined angular relationship to the level face; and at least one end cap fixed with respect to at least one end, the end cap comprising an impact-resisting outer layer and an impact-compressing intermediate layer, the outer layer having an outside contour congruent to the body profile, the intermediate layer defining a rippled profile and having portions with an outside contour congruent to the body profile spaced apart by portions with an outside contour smaller and geometrically similar to the body profile, the intermediate layer fixed to the outer layer and having lower density than the outer layet, the intermediate layer positioned between the outer layer and the body; whereby the first end cap absorbs impacts to the outer layer to prevent damage to the body.