초록 ▼

Accessories are disclosed for use with a laser tool which may or may not be self-leveling. The accessories include one or more diffraction elements, effective to receive the incoming beam and produce a plane of diverging laser beams. In preferred embodiments the diffraction elements are self-levelin

Accessories are disclosed for use with a laser tool which may or may not be self-leveling. The accessories include one or more diffraction elements, effective to receive the incoming beam and produce a plane of diverging laser beams. In preferred embodiments the diffraction elements are self-leveling. When the diverging beams are directed against a surface such as a floor, wall or ceiling, a series of discrete spots define a visible reference line useful in construction layout. The spots themselves may each locate the position of a fastener to be installed, for example, by giving the approximately correct spacing for reference of the user. The generation of discrete spots rather than a solid line, as would be generated by a cylindrical lens, better allocates laser power by providing brighter, more visible reference elements on the wall or ceiling.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A method used in construction layout for producing and using an array of laser beam spots on a floor, ceiling, wall or other flat surface, the array of spots being in a line which is substantially level or plumb, comprising:generating a visible laser beam with a laser instrument,dir

[ I claim:] [1.] A method used in construction layout for producing and using an array of laser beam spots on a floor, ceiling, wall or other flat surface, the array of spots being in a line which is substantially level or plumb, comprising:generating a visible laser beam with a laser instrument,directing the laser beam through an accessory separate from the laser instrument, having diffraction element with means for dividing the beam into a plurality of discrete, diverging beams within a plane, the accessory having self-leveling means for maintaining the diffraction element in level or plumb orientation, anddirecting the array of discrete, diverging beams against a surface, with the array of beam spots substantially level or plumb on said surface, andusing the resulting array of laser beam spots on said surface as a reference in a construction procedure.