Patent ID: RE45010

Claim:
A piping alignment tool suitable for locating a path along which an extension of an existing pipe must pass, the tool comprising: a tubular shape with a longitudinal axis and oppositely-disposed open first and second ends, each of the first and second ends having multiple coaxial sets of different-sized pipe threads that enable the tool to be threaded onto a pipe with one of the different-sized pipe threads and orient the tool so that the longitudinal axis of the tubular shape is coaxial with the pipe; means for generating a first light beam from the first end of the tubular shape and means for generating a second light beam from the second end of the tubular shape; first and second spacers disposed within the tubular shape and removable through at least one of the first and second ends of the tubular shape, the first and second spacers having central openings in which the first and second light beam generating means are disposed such that the first and second light beam generating means are removable from the tubular shape with their respective first and second spacers and centered by their respective first and second spacers within the tubular shape, and such that their respective first and second light beams are emitted along a path coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the tubular shape so as to illuminate the path and any obstructions in the path, the first and second spacers being longitudinally spaced apart within the tubular shape so as to define a compartment therebetween; at least one battery disposed within the compartment between the first and second spacers and retained within the tubular shape and maintained in electrical contact with the first and second light beam generating means by the first and second spacers; means for retaining the first and second spacers within the tubular shape and thereby retain the battery and their respective first and second light beam generating means within the tubular shape; and means for selectively energizing and de-energizing the first and second light beam generating means so that the first light beam can be emitted from the first end of the tubular shape when the second end of the tubular shape is threaded onto the pipe and alternatively the second light beam can be emitted from the second end of the tubular shape when the first end of the tubular shape is threaded onto the pipe.