IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0460122
(2003-06-11)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
20 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
A self-leveling tool for projecting a line of light along a wall or other vertical surface at one of a plurality of predetermined angles. The tool self-aligns to emit a plane of light at one of the predetermined angles (e.g., 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees), thereby projecting a line on the wall in a des
A self-leveling tool for projecting a line of light along a wall or other vertical surface at one of a plurality of predetermined angles. The tool self-aligns to emit a plane of light at one of the predetermined angles (e.g., 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees), thereby projecting a line on the wall in a desired direction (e.g., right, up, left or down).
대표청구항
▼
1. A light emitting tool comprising:a housing;a pendulum having a light source; anda plurality of receiving elements defined in one of the housing and the pendulum, and a plurality of extensions defined on the other of the housing and the pendulum;wherein the plurality of extensions define a plurali
1. A light emitting tool comprising:a housing;a pendulum having a light source; anda plurality of receiving elements defined in one of the housing and the pendulum, and a plurality of extensions defined on the other of the housing and the pendulum;wherein the plurality of extensions define a plurality of pivot axes of the pendulum and the pendulum is substantially free in the housing; andwherein the receiving elements cooperatively interact with the plurality of extensions thereby to bound free movement of the pendulum. 2. The light emitting tool of claim 1, wherein each receiving element being configured to define at least one obtuse angle for supporting the extensions thereby to bound the free movement of the pendulum. 3. The light emitting tool of claim 1, wherein each receiving element defines an inner surface lying at an angle relative to an inner surface of the housing thereby to allow free movement of the extensions relative to a corresponding receiving element. 4. The light emitting tool of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises first and second portions, one portion lying on each side of the pendulum and each receiving element being defined in both the first and second portions. 5. A light emitting tool comprising:a housing and a pendulum, the pendulum having a light source and a plurality of pivot axes;wherein the light source emits light along a substantially vertical surface in any one of a plurality of predefined directions along the substantially vertical surface, and wherein each of the plurality of predefined directions is determined by which one of the pivot axes is engaged. 6. The light emitting tool of claim 5, wherein the plurality of predefined directions include up, down, left and right. 7. A light emitting tool comprising:a housing having a plurality of receiving elements defined therein; anda pendulum having a body, a light source and a plurality of extensions extending from the body;wherein each of the extensions is positioned in a corresponding one of the receiving elements; andwherein the extensions define a plurality of pivot axes of the pendulum parallel to one another. 8. The light emitting tool of claim 7, wherein each of the receiving elements defines a guiding surface lying perpendicular to the corresponding extension to guide the pendulum along the receiving element to a pivot axis. 9. The light emitting tool of claim 8, wherein the guiding surface lies in two planes positioned at an obtuse angle for guiding the extension along at least a portion of the obtuse angle. 10. The light emitting tool of claim 9, wherein a vertex of the obtuse angle defines a cylindrical surface for accommodating the extension on the cylindrical surface. 11. The light emitting tool of claim 9, wherein the two planes of each receiving element are joined by a surface defining an arc having a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of the corresponding extension, thereby allowing each of the receiving elements to make contact with the corresponding extension along a single line. 12. The light emitting tool of claim 7, wherein each of the receiving elements includes a tapered surface configured to allow a non-engaged extension in the receiving element unobstructed movement. 13. The light emitting tool of claim 8, wherein the guiding surface is lubricated. 14. The light emitting tool of claim 7, wherein the housing is of a plastic material. 15. The light emitting tool of claim 7, wherein the body of the pendulum is nonferrous metal. 16. The light emitting tool of claim 15, wherein the nonferrous metal is Zinc. 17. The light emitting tool of claim 15, further comprising one or more pairs of damping elements fixed in the housing. 18. The light emitting tool of claim 7, wherein the housing further having a first side frame element parallel to and opposite a second side frame element, wherein each side frame element is perpendicularly telescopically affixed thereby permitting extension of the second side frame element away from the first side frame element. 19. The light emitting tool of claim 18, the housing defining an opening for passage of light from the light source when the housing is in its extended position and which is closed when housing in it a collapsed position. 20. The light emitting tool of claim 18, further comprising a switch connected to supply power to the light source when the housing is extended. 21. The light emitting tool of claim 7, wherein the light source is a laser diode. 22. A light emitting tool for emitting a beam of light in one of any four directions to a surface, the tool comprising:a pendulum having a body, a light source and a plurality of pairs of extensions, wherein each one of the pairs of extensions defines a pivot axis; anda housing having a plurality of corresponding pairs of recesses, wherein each of the corresponding pairs of recesses accepts a unique one of the pairs of extensions;wherein, when the tool is oriented in any one of the four directions to the surface, the pendulum contacts the housing along only one of the pivot axes. 23. A method to project a light beam to a surface in any one of four directions using a light emitting tool, the method comprising the acts of:directing the tool towards the surface;rotating the tool to an orientation near that of a desired direction; andallowing the tool to self-balance on one of a plurality of pivot axes, thereby projecting the light beam from the tool and towards the surface in the desired direction. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the tool has only one light source. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of pivot axes defines four pivot axes each spaced about 90° apart, each axis corresponding to one of the four directions. 26. A light emitting tool comprising:a housing and a self-leveling mechanism, the self-leveling mechanism having a light source and a plurality of pivot axes;wherein the light source emits light along a substantially vertical surface in any one of a plurality of predefined directions along the substantially vertical surface, and wherein each of the plurality of predefined directions is determined by which one of the pivot axes is engaged. 27. A light emitting tool comprising:a housing and a self-leveling mechanism, the self-leveling mechanism having a light source and a plurality of pivot axes;wherein the light source emits light at a surface in any one of a plurality of predefined directions at the surface, and wherein each of the plurality of predefined directions is determined by which one of the pivot axes is engaged. 28. The light emitting tool of claim 1, wherein each receiving element defines a tapered inter surface thereby to allow free movement of the extensions relative to a corresponding receiving element. 29. A light emitting tool comprising:a housing having a plurality of receiving elements defined therein; anda pendulum having a body, a light source and a plurality of extensions extending from the body;wherein each of the extensions is positioned in a corresponding one of the receiving elements;wherein each of the receiving elements defines a guiding surface lying perpendicular to the corresponding extension to guide the pendulum along the receiving element to a pivot axis; andwherein the guiding surface lies in two planes positioned at an obtuse angle for guiding the extension along at least a portion of the obtuse angle. 30. The light emitting tool of claim 29, wherein a vertex of the obtuse angle defines a cylindrical surface for accommodating the extension on the cylindrical surface. 31. The light emitting tool of claim 29, wherein the two planes of each receiving element are joined by a surface defining an arc having a radius of curvature larger than a radius of curvature of the corresponding extension, thereby allowing each of the receiving elements to make contact with the corresponding extension along a single line.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.