GB2302944A

GB2302944A - Spirit level

Info

Publication number: GB2302944A
Application number: GB9513589A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John James Bell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-07-04
Filing date: 1995-07-04
Publication date: 1997-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-04
Also published as: GB2302944B; GB9513589D0

Abstract

A spirit level comprises an elongate starter section 1, an elongate extension section 2, and a connector 3 for detachably fixing the starter section to the extension section. The starter section 1 is provided with at least one vial 4, 5 and is formed with a straight edge. The extension section 2 is formed with a straight edge 9, the two straight edges being contiguous when the two sections are fixed together.

Description

SPIRIT LEVEL This invention relates to an improved form of spirit level.

Currently spirit levels are manufactured in fixed, predetermined lengths, typically in the range of from 20 cm to 200 cm. Different building and do-it-yourself jobs are suited to spirit levels of different lengths, so ideally several different spirit levels are required. Thus, spirit levels are used to ensure that walls, kitchen units, floors and timberwork are constructed and fitted both level and plumb. In order to do this, a spirit level must incorporate a straight edge, and it is the need for different lengths of straight edge that results in the need for spirit levels of different lengths. The straight edge of a spirit level is used to ensure that, for example, plastered walls are flat and even.

The present invention provides a spirit level comprising an elongate starter section, an elongate extension section, and a connector for detachably fixing the starter section to the extension section, the starter section being provided with at least one vial and being formed with a straight edge, and the extension section being formed with a straight edge, the two straight edges being contiguous when the two sections are fixed together.

Preferably, the starter section is provided with two vials which are at right-angles to one another.

Advantageously, the starter section and the extension section are each made from a box section, conveniently an aluminium box section. In this case, the connector may be provided with a pair of flanges, each of which is a sliding fit within the hollow end of one of the two sections. Preferably, each flange is provided with a pair of spring-loaded buttons, one on each side thereof, and the hollow end portions of the two sections are provided with apertures, the arrangement being such that the buttons of the flanges can be sprung into said apertures to detachably fix the flanges to the sections, whereby the connector detachably fixes the two sections together.

In a preferred embodiment, the two flanges are relatively rotatable, so that the extension section can be fixed to the starter section with their straight edges defining an angle. Conveniently, means are provided for locking the two flanges together to predetermine said angle.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a spirit level/straight edge constructed in accordance with the invention; FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the straight edge of Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the straight edge; FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a first form of connector for joining the spirit level and straight edge of Fig. 1; FIG. 5 is a plan view of the connector of Fig. 4; and FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a second form of connector.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a spirit level starter section 1 which is detachably connected to a straight edge section 2 by a connector 3. The spirit level section 1 is made from an aluminium box section having dimensions of 600 mm x 75 mm x 25 mm. The section 1 includes a plumb vial 4, a level vial 5 and a straight edge 6. The section 1 is formed, adjacent each end thereof, with a through aperture 7.

The straight edge section 2 is also made from an aluminium box section having dimensions of 600 mm x 75 mm x 25 mm, and is formed with a chamfered edge portion 8 which terminates in a straight edge 9. The section 2 is formed, adjacent each end thereof, with a through aperture 10.

The connector 3 is constituted by two back-to-back generally D-shaped flanges 11, each of which is provided with a pair of spring-loaded buttons 12 on opposite sides thereof.

In use, the straight edge section 2 is detachably fixed to the starter section 1 by inserting the flanges 11 into the hollow ends of those two sections and 'clicking' the spring-loaded buttons 12 into the apertures 7 and 10 formed in these two hollow ends. The connector 3 has a width such that it is a sliding fit within the hollow ends of the sections 1 and 2. In this way, the short spirit level starter section 1 can easily be extended. In order to separate the two sections 1 and 2, it is necessary only to push the buttons 12 in, against the force of their springs, until they no longer engage the apertures 7 and 10. The connector 3 can then be slid out of the hollow ends of the two sections 1 and 2.

Straight edge sections 2 of different lengths could also be provided, for example 1200 mm, 1800 mm and 2400 mm.

These different sections 2 would be used to provide spirit levels of different lengths, thereby ensuring that one simple starter section 1 and a few simple straight edge sections are all that is required to make a range of spirit levels of different lengths.

It would, of course, be possible to connect the starter section 1 to two or more straight edge sections 2, with the starter section at one end or positioned between two straight edge sections. In this case, one or more additional connectors 3 would be needed.

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of connector 13 having a pair of generally D-shaped flanges 14, each of which is fixed to a disc 15 (only one of which can be seen in the drawing). The two discs 15 are connected together by a lockable thumbscrew 16 in such a manner that the discs are relatively rotatable when the thumbscrew is loose, but are locked together when the thumbscrew is tight. One of the discs 15 carries a dial 15a calibrated in degrees, and the other disc carries a pointer 15b. Each of the flanges 14 is provided with a pair of spring-loaded buttons 17 on opposite sides thereof.

The connector 13 can be used to detachably fix the straight edge section 2 to the starter section 1 at any desired angle. This can be done by inserting the flanges 14 into the hollow ends of these two sections, 'clicking' the spring-loaded buttons 17 into the apertures 7 and 10 formed in these two hollow ends, adjusting the angle between the two sections by relative rotation of the discs 15, and by locking the discs together with the sections at the desired angle. The pointer 15b and the dial 15a indicate the angle set. The instrument can then be used for accurately setting the angle of a pitched roof, a staircase, or any situation where angles have to be repeated or extended over longer distances.

It will be apparent that the instrument described above could be modified in a number of ways. For example, the starter section 1 could have the same profile as the or each straight edge section 9, that is to say the starter section could be formed with a chamfered edge portion which terminates in a straight edge.

The instrument described above provides a flexible and cost-effective solution to the problem of requiring different lengths of spirit levels. It requires no tools to assemble and disassemble.

Claims

Claims:

1. A spirit level comprising an elongate starter section, an elongate extension section, and a connector for detachably fixing the starter section to the extension section, the starter section being provided with at least one vial and being formed with a straight edge, and the extension section being formed with a straight edge, the two straight edges being contiguous when the two sections are fixed together.

2. A spirit level as claimed in claim 1, wherein the starter section is provided with two vials which are at right-angles to one another.

3. A spirit level as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the starter section and the extension section are each made from a box section.

4. A spirit level as claimed in claim 3, wherein the starter section and the extension section are each made of an aluminium box section.

5. A spirit level as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the connector is provided with a pair of flanges, each of which is a sliding fit within the hollow end of one of the two sections.

6. A spirit level as claimed in claim 5, wherein each flange is provided with a pair of spring-loaded buttons, one on each side thereof, and the hollow end portions of the two sections are provided with apertures, the arrangement being such that the buttons of the flanges can be sprung into said apertures to detachably fix the flanges to the sections, whereby the connector detachably fixes the two sections together.

7. A spirit level as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the two flanges are relatively rotatable, so that the extension section can be fixed to the starter section with their straight edges defining an angle.

8. A spirit level as claimed in claim 7, wherein means are provided for locking the two flanges together to predetermine said angle.

9. A spirit level substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the drawings.