초록 ▼

A chalk line device includes a housing and a chalk line stored in the housing. The chalk line terminates in a hook at one end and the hook is disposed outside of the housing. The housing may include a side wall with a depression formed therein that is shaped to receive the hook for storage. The depr

A chalk line device includes a housing and a chalk line stored in the housing. The chalk line terminates in a hook at one end and the hook is disposed outside of the housing. The housing may include a side wall with a depression formed therein that is shaped to receive the hook for storage. The depression has an edge that allows the hook to securely engage. The housing may also include a translucent window for allowing the user to check the level of chalk in the chalk line device. The translucent window forms at least a portion of a wall of the housing. The translucent window can be made, for example, of a plastic and can be integrally formed with the housing.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed: 1. A chalk line device, comprising: a housing having a chalk line port and a chalk port, wherein the housing defines an exterior surface and an interior space including a chalk reservoir in communication with the chalk port; a movable door secured to the housing over the chalk po

What is claimed: 1. A chalk line device, comprising: a housing having a chalk line port and a chalk port, wherein the housing defines an exterior surface and an interior space including a chalk reservoir in communication with the chalk port; a movable door secured to the housing over the chalk port to selectively open and close the chalk port; a chalk line support mounted in the interior space in the housing; a chalk line having one end secured to the chalk line support within the housing and another end with a hook disposed outside of the housing, wherein the chalk line extends through the chalk line port; and a retracting mechanism mounted to the housing and connected to the chalk line that selectively retracts the chalk line into the housing and allows the chalk line to be extended from the housing through the chalk line port; wherein the exterior surface of the housing includes a side wall with a depression formed therein that is shaped to receive the hook for storage, the depression having a mouth that is flush with the side wall, wherein the hook has a body with a line attachment device on one end and a finger extending outwardly from the other end, the finger engaging the depression during storage so that the body can lie against the exterior surface. 2. The chalk line device of claim 1, wherein the door to the chalk port is mounted to one side of the housing and the depression is located on a different side of the housing. 3. The chalk line device of claim 1, wherein the housing has walls and the door is mounted on one wall of the housing and the depression is located on another wall that extends at an angle to the side wall with the door. 4. The chalk line device of claim 1, wherein the housing has walls and the door is mounted on one wall of the housing and the depression is located on a another wall that is located on an opposite side of the housing. 5. The chalk line device of claim 1, wherein the retracting mechanism includes a handle with a knob and the housing further includes another depression arranged to receive at least a portion of the knob when the handle is stored. 6. The chalk line device of claim 1, wherein the side wall has a plurality of grip depressions. 7. The chalk line device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a translucent window. 8. The chalk line device of claim 7, wherein the housing has walls and the translucent window is located on a wall of the housing and the depression is located on another wall of the housing. 9. The chalk line device of claim 7, wherein the depression is formed on the translucent window. 10. The chalk line device of claim 1, wherein the depression has an edge. 11. The chalk line device of claim 10, wherein the edge forms an acute ledge. 12. The chalk line device of claim 1, wherein the depression is spaced from the chalk line port about a length of the hook. 13. A chalk line device, comprising: a housing having a chalk line port and a chalk port and defining a sealed interior space including a chalk reservoir in communication with the into which chalk port, wherein can be placed, the housing includes a translucent including a window forming at least a portion of a wall of the chalk reservoir; an amount of powdered chalk retained within the chalk reservoir , wherein the an amount of powdered chalk retained that may be provided within the chalk said reservoir can be viewed through the translucent window; a chalk line support mounted in the interior space in the housing; a chalk line secured to carried by the chalk line support and extending through the chalk line port; and a retracting mechanism mounted to the housing and connected to the chalk line that , the retracting mechanism operable to selectively retracts retract the chalk line into the housing and allows allow the chalk line to be extended from the housing through the chalk line port. 14. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the translucent window forms substantially at least one side of the housing. 15. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein an inside surface of the translucent window is polished to prevent chalk from sticking to the inside surface of the translucent window. 16. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the translucent window includes a scale to indicate a level of the chalk in the chalk reservoir. 17. The chalk line device of claim 16, wherein the scale includes three lines with words low, medium and high inscribed beside each respective line. 18. The chalk line device of claim 16, wherein the scale includes four lines with the markings ¼, ½, ¾ and full inscribed beside each respective line. 19. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the housing is formed of plastic and the window is formed of plastic. 20. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the housing is formed of metal and the window is formed of plastic. 21. The chalk line device of claim 20, wherein the housing and the window are integrally formed. 22. The chalk line device of claim 21, wherein the housing is over-molded with opaque material. 23. The chalk line device of claim 22, wherein the over-molded opaque material is one of a plastic and rubber. 24. The chalk line device of claim 23, wherein the plastic is a soft plastic. 25. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the translucent window is textured with varying textures to highlight a viewing zone for viewing a level of the chalk in the chalk reservoir. 26. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the window is transparent. 27. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the translucent window comprises a transparent zone and a light diffusing zone. 28. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the window is arranged to cover substantially a whole length of a face of the housing. 29. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the housing has a depression that retains an end of the chalk line. 30. The chalk line device of claim 29, wherein the chalk line has a hook and the depression is shaped to engage the hook. 31. The chalk line device of claim 29, wherein the housing has walls and the depression is located on one wall of the housing and the window is located on another wall of the housing. 32. The chalk line device of claim 29, wherein the depression is formed on the window. 33. A chalk line device, comprising: a housing having a chalk line port and a chalk port, wherein the housing defines an exterior surface and an interior space including a chalk reservoir in communication with the chalk port; a movable door secured to the housing over the chalk port to selectively open and close the chalk port; a chalk line support mounted in the interior space in the housing; a chalk line having one end secured to the chalk line support within the housing and another end with a hook disposed outside of the housing, wherein the chalk line extends through the chalk line port; and a retracting mechanism mounted to the housing and connected to the chalk line that selectively retracts the chalk line into the housing and allows the chalk line to be extended from the housing through the chalk line port; wherein the exterior surface of the housing includes a side wall with a depression formed therein that is shaped to receive the hook for storage, and the housing includes a translucent window forming at least a portion of a wall of the chalk reservoir, the depression having a mouth that is flush with the side wall. 34. The chalk line device of claim 33, wherein the housing has walls and the depression and the window a window are formed on a same wall of the housing. 35. The chalk line device of claim 34, wherein the depression is formed in the window. 36. The chalk line device of claim 33, wherein the housing has walls and the depression and the window a window are formed on different walls. 37. The chalk line device of claim 33, wherein the depression is spaced from the chalk line port about a length of the hook. 38. The chalk line device of claim 33, wherein the depression has an edge and the hook has a finger that engages the edge. 39. The chalk line device of claim 38, wherein the edge forms an acute ledge. 40. The chalk line device of claim 33, wherein the window a window forms substantially one side of the housing. 41. The chalk line device of claim 33, wherein the window a window is arranged to cover substantially an entire length of one side of the housing. 42. The chalk line device of claim 33, wherein an inside surface of the translucent window a window is polished to prevent chalk from sticking to the inside surface of the translucent window. 43. The chalk line device of claim 33, wherein the translucent window a window includes a scale to indicate a level of chalk quantity in the chalk reservoir. 44. The chalk line device of claim 43, wherein the scale includes three lines with words low, medium and high inscribed beside each respective line. 45. The chalk line device of claim 43, wherein the scale includes four lines with the markings ¼, ½, ¾ and full inscribed beside each respective line. 46. The device of claim 33, wherein the translucent window a window is textured with varying textures to highlight a viewing zone for viewing a level of chalk in the chalk reservoir. 47. The chalk line device of claim 13, wherein the window is translucent. 48. The chalk line device of claim 13, further comprising a movable door to provide access through a port into the space, wherein chalk can be placed into the sealed interior space by opening the movable door. 49. A chalk line device, comprising: a housing having a chalk line port and defining a sealed interior space including a chalk reservoir into which chalk can be placed, the housing including a window through which an amount of powdered chalk that may be placed within said reservoir can be viewed; a chalk line support mounted in the housing; a chalk line carried by the chalk line support and extendable through the chalk line port; and a retractor mechanism carried by the housing and operatively coupled with the chalk line to enable the retractor mechanism to retract the chalk line into the housing and to allow the chalk line to be extended from the housing through the chalk line port. 50. The device of claim 49, wherein the window forms at least a portion of a side wall of the housing. 51. The device of claim 49, wherein the retracting mechanism comprises a handle. 52. The device of claim 49, wherein the chalk line support comprises a spool. 53. The device of claim 49, wherein the window is formed from a transparent material.