GB2182146A - Spirit level - Google Patents

Spirit level Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2182146A
GB2182146A GB08526290A GB8526290A GB2182146A GB 2182146 A GB2182146 A GB 2182146A GB 08526290 A GB08526290 A GB 08526290A GB 8526290 A GB8526290 A GB 8526290A GB 2182146 A GB2182146 A GB 2182146A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
spirit level
casing
lighting means
switch
bubble
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08526290A
Other versions
GB8526290D0 (en
Inventor
Nicholas Baker Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB08526290A priority Critical patent/GB2182146A/en
Publication of GB8526290D0 publication Critical patent/GB8526290D0/en
Publication of GB2182146A publication Critical patent/GB2182146A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C9/00—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels
    • G01C9/18—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids
    • G01C9/24—Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels by using liquids in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble
    • G01C9/26—Details
    • G01C9/32—Means for facilitating the observation of the position of the bubble, e.g. illuminating means

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)

Abstract

A spirit level has a lamp (16) arranged behind the bubble (12) in order to illuminate the latter, to facilitate use of the spirit level when the ambient level is low. A further lamp (18) illuminates the subsidiary bubble (14), both lamps (16, 18) being powered from batteries in the casing (10) of the spirit level. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spirit level Field ofthe invention This invention relates to spirit leveis.
Background to the invention The bubbles of conventional spirit levels aredif- ficultto see when the ambient light level is low, for example when the spirit level is being used in a confined space.
Summary ofthe invention According to the invention a spirit level has a liquid bubble for indicating orientation of the spirit level, lighting means for illuminating the bubble and an el ectrical battery for powering the lighting means.
The lighting means are conveniently arranged be hindthebubbleto "backlight"thelatter.Thelighting means are preferably a filament lamp, but may alternatively be a light-emitting diode or any other con venient light source.
The spirit level preferably has an electrical switch forswitching the lighting means on or off as desired, and in the preferred embodiment to be described the switch is housed in one end of a body or casing ofthe spirit level.
The spirit level may include a single liquid bubble for indicating when the spirit level is horizontally orientated, but preferably the spirit level has two bubbles, one for indicating when the spirit level is horizontal and the other for indicating when the spirit level is vertical, with lighting means being provided for each bubble.
The preferred embodiment of spirit level has a casing which encloses and protects the lighting means, the battery (or batteries), the switch and the interconnecting wiring.
A spirit level according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the spirit level, and Figure2 is a pian view of the spirit level.
Detailed description ofthe drawings The spirit level has a casing 10 housing two liquid phials with respective bubbles 12,14 for indicating when the casing 10 of the spirit level is horizontal and vertical. The bubble 12 is backlit by a filament bulb 16, and the bubble 14 is backlit bya similarfilament bulb 18. The bulbs 16 and 18 are linked by electrical wiring 20 to an on/off switch 22 and to two batteries 24.
The on/off switch 22 is housed in one end ofthe casing 10 and may be repeatedly depressed to switch the bulbs 16 and 18 on and off. The other end ofthe casing 10 accommodates the two batteries 24, to which access can be gained by means of a removable end cap 26 attached to the remainder ofthe casing 10 by a screw. Suitable access points are made in the casing 10 to enablethe bulbs 16 and 18 to be replaced if necessary.
As the electrical circuitryforthe bulbs 16 and 18 is contained whollywithin the casing lOthe spirit level may be used in an entirely conventional fashion. In situations where it is difficultto see either of the bubbles because of low ambient conditions, the switch 22 can be depressed in order to illuminate the bulbs so as to backlight the bubbles.
If desired, the bulbs 16,18, switch 22, wiring 20 and batteries 24 may be a self-contained modular unit which is inserted into the casing 10thorough one end thereof.
1. Aspirit level having a liquid bubbleforindicating orientation ofthe spirit level, lighting means for illuminating the bubble and an electrical batteryfor powering the lighting means.
2. A spirit level according to claim 1, wherein the lighting means are arranged behindthebubbleto "backlight" the latter.
3. Aspiritievel according to claim 1 or2,wherein the lighting means is a filament lamp, or a I ight- emitting diode.
4. A spirit level according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spirit level has an electrical switch forswitchingthe lighting means on oroffas desired.
5. A spirit level according to claim 4, wherein the switch is housed in one end of a body or casing ofthe spirit level.
6. A spirit level according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spirit level has a single liquid bubble for indicating when the spirit level is horizontally orientated.
7. A spirit level according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spirit level has two bubbles, one for indicating when the spirit level is horizontal and the other for indicating when the spirit level is vertical, with lighting means being provided for each bubble.
8. A spirit level according to any of the preceding claims as appendantto claim 4, wherein a casing encloses and protects the lighting means, the battery, the switch and the interconnecting wiring.
9. A spirit level constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Spirit level Field ofthe invention This invention relates to spirit leveis. Background to the invention The bubbles of conventional spirit levels aredif- ficultto see when the ambient light level is low, for example when the spirit level is being used in a confined space. Summary ofthe invention According to the invention a spirit level has a liquid bubble for indicating orientation of the spirit level, lighting means for illuminating the bubble and an el ectrical battery for powering the lighting means. The lighting means are conveniently arranged be hindthebubbleto "backlight"thelatter.Thelighting means are preferably a filament lamp, but may alternatively be a light-emitting diode or any other con venient light source. The spirit level preferably has an electrical switch forswitching the lighting means on or off as desired, and in the preferred embodiment to be described the switch is housed in one end of a body or casing ofthe spirit level. The spirit level may include a single liquid bubble for indicating when the spirit level is horizontally orientated, but preferably the spirit level has two bubbles, one for indicating when the spirit level is horizontal and the other for indicating when the spirit level is vertical, with lighting means being provided for each bubble. The preferred embodiment of spirit level has a casing which encloses and protects the lighting means, the battery (or batteries), the switch and the interconnecting wiring. A spirit level according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the spirit level, and Figure2 is a pian view of the spirit level. Detailed description ofthe drawings The spirit level has a casing 10 housing two liquid phials with respective bubbles 12,14 for indicating when the casing 10 of the spirit level is horizontal and vertical. The bubble 12 is backlit by a filament bulb 16, and the bubble 14 is backlit bya similarfilament bulb 18. The bulbs 16 and 18 are linked by electrical wiring 20 to an on/off switch 22 and to two batteries 24. The on/off switch 22 is housed in one end ofthe casing 10 and may be repeatedly depressed to switch the bulbs 16 and 18 on and off. The other end ofthe casing 10 accommodates the two batteries 24, to which access can be gained by means of a removable end cap 26 attached to the remainder ofthe casing 10 by a screw. Suitable access points are made in the casing 10 to enablethe bulbs 16 and 18 to be replaced if necessary. As the electrical circuitryforthe bulbs 16 and 18 is contained whollywithin the casing lOthe spirit level may be used in an entirely conventional fashion. In situations where it is difficultto see either of the bubbles because of low ambient conditions, the switch 22 can be depressed in order to illuminate the bulbs so as to backlight the bubbles. If desired, the bulbs 16,18, switch 22, wiring 20 and batteries 24 may be a self-contained modular unit which is inserted into the casing 10thorough one end thereof. CLAIMS
1. Aspirit level having a liquid bubbleforindicating orientation ofthe spirit level, lighting means for illuminating the bubble and an electrical batteryfor powering the lighting means.
2. A spirit level according to claim 1, wherein the lighting means are arranged behindthebubbleto "backlight" the latter.
3. Aspiritievel according to claim 1 or2,wherein the lighting means is a filament lamp, or a I ight- emitting diode.
4. A spirit level according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spirit level has an electrical switch forswitchingthe lighting means on oroffas desired.
5. A spirit level according to claim 4, wherein the switch is housed in one end of a body or casing ofthe spirit level.
6. A spirit level according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spirit level has a single liquid bubble for indicating when the spirit level is horizontally orientated.
7. A spirit level according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spirit level has two bubbles, one for indicating when the spirit level is horizontal and the other for indicating when the spirit level is vertical, with lighting means being provided for each bubble.
8. A spirit level according to any of the preceding claims as appendantto claim 4, wherein a casing encloses and protects the lighting means, the battery, the switch and the interconnecting wiring.
9. A spirit level constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB08526290A 1985-10-24 1985-10-24 Spirit level Withdrawn GB2182146A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08526290A GB2182146A (en) 1985-10-24 1985-10-24 Spirit level

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08526290A GB2182146A (en) 1985-10-24 1985-10-24 Spirit level

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8526290D0 GB8526290D0 (en) 1985-11-27
GB2182146A true GB2182146A (en) 1987-05-07

Family

ID=10587212

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08526290A Withdrawn GB2182146A (en) 1985-10-24 1985-10-24 Spirit level

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2182146A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4912854A (en) * 1988-10-19 1990-04-03 Weadon Joseph P Cross vial liquid bubble illuminated level
EP0381373A1 (en) * 1989-01-31 1990-08-08 Brendan Thomas Sheehan Orientation testing device
GB2361317A (en) * 2000-04-12 2001-10-17 Thomas Edward Willis Illuminated spirit level
GB2371863A (en) * 2000-11-27 2002-08-07 James Horwill Illuminated spirit level
EP1340960A2 (en) * 2002-03-01 2003-09-03 Stabila-Messgeräte Gustav Ullrich GmbH Spirit level
GB2406379A (en) * 2003-09-29 2005-03-30 Nigel John Morgan Spirit level with illumination means

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB388866A (en) * 1931-11-16 1933-03-09 Charles Harry Watts Improvements in combined plumb-rules and levels
GB685707A (en) * 1950-03-02 1953-01-07 Joseph Ernest Myers Improvements in and relating to spirit levels
GB693824A (en) * 1949-09-28 1953-07-08 Norman Lynn Improvements in and relating to spirit-levels
GB702492A (en) * 1951-09-12 1954-01-20 Walter Francis Hoskins Improvements in or relating to spirit levels
GB836728A (en) * 1956-04-14 1960-06-09 Borge Arne Gregersen Improvements in and relating to levels
US3584212A (en) * 1969-03-27 1971-06-08 Willy Hansen Illuminated spirit level
GB2025049A (en) * 1978-07-07 1980-01-16 Hopkins Mfg Corp Levels
US4407075A (en) * 1981-12-03 1983-10-04 Louis Rains Illuminated spirit vial and level

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB388866A (en) * 1931-11-16 1933-03-09 Charles Harry Watts Improvements in combined plumb-rules and levels
GB693824A (en) * 1949-09-28 1953-07-08 Norman Lynn Improvements in and relating to spirit-levels
GB685707A (en) * 1950-03-02 1953-01-07 Joseph Ernest Myers Improvements in and relating to spirit levels
GB702492A (en) * 1951-09-12 1954-01-20 Walter Francis Hoskins Improvements in or relating to spirit levels
GB836728A (en) * 1956-04-14 1960-06-09 Borge Arne Gregersen Improvements in and relating to levels
US3584212A (en) * 1969-03-27 1971-06-08 Willy Hansen Illuminated spirit level
GB2025049A (en) * 1978-07-07 1980-01-16 Hopkins Mfg Corp Levels
US4407075A (en) * 1981-12-03 1983-10-04 Louis Rains Illuminated spirit vial and level

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4912854A (en) * 1988-10-19 1990-04-03 Weadon Joseph P Cross vial liquid bubble illuminated level
EP0381373A1 (en) * 1989-01-31 1990-08-08 Brendan Thomas Sheehan Orientation testing device
GB2228323A (en) * 1989-01-31 1990-08-22 Brendan Thomas Sheehan Orientation testing device
GB2361317A (en) * 2000-04-12 2001-10-17 Thomas Edward Willis Illuminated spirit level
GB2371863A (en) * 2000-11-27 2002-08-07 James Horwill Illuminated spirit level
EP1340960A2 (en) * 2002-03-01 2003-09-03 Stabila-Messgeräte Gustav Ullrich GmbH Spirit level
EP1340960A3 (en) * 2002-03-01 2005-06-15 Stabila-Messgeräte Gustav Ullrich GmbH Spirit level
AU2003200567B2 (en) * 2002-03-01 2007-09-13 Stabila-Messgerate Gustav Ullrich Gmbh Level
GB2406379A (en) * 2003-09-29 2005-03-30 Nigel John Morgan Spirit level with illumination means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8526290D0 (en) 1985-11-27

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Legal Events

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)