GB2614229A

GB2614229A - Improved spirit level

Info

Publication number: GB2614229A
Application number: GB2115765.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cleary Robert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-11-03
Filing date: 2021-11-03
Publication date: 2023-07-05
Also published as: GB202115765D0

Abstract

A spirit level 2 comprises first and second body portions 3, 4. The first ends of the body portions 3, 4 are rotatably connected to one another around a pivot axis 10. At least one of the body portions 3, 4 house one or more level indicator tubes 14, 16, 18. A biasing means (22, fig 4) is adapted to bias the first and second body portions 3, 4 towards one another about the pivot axis 10. The first body portion 3 may house the one or more level indicator tubes 14, 16, 18 and may have a first engagement surface 5 facing towards the second body portion 4. The first body portion 3 may further include a second engagement surface 7 located adjacent a second end of the first body portion and facing towards the first end of the first body portion 3. The biasing means may be a torsion spring (22, fig 4).

Description

IMPROVED SPIRIT LEVEL

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to spirit levels used in joinery and other trades in order to ensure the correct orientation of members and components. More specifically, the present invention provides an improved spirit level which can be selectively attached to a member or component being measured.

Background of the Invention

A spirit level is an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb). Spirit levels will house one or more level indicator tubes, which are used to determine the orientation of a member or component. The level indicator tubes are typically tubular vials that are incompletely filled with a liquid, usually coloured spirit or alcohol, leaving a calibrated bubble to rest in the middle of the tube if the spirit level is horizontal. At slight inclinations, the bubbles in the indicator tubes will move away from the marked centre position. Spirit levels can be calibrated to allow their marked centre position to measure both horizontal and vertical orientations.

A common usage of spirit levels is in joinery, particularly during the implementation of studworks. Studworks refer to the process of using vertical framing members to form pad of a wall or partition during timber construction. Such structures can transfer loads from the framework of a building to their foundations. Known methods of studwork involve the joiner holding a vertical member upright and a spirit level along the studs' longitudinal axis. Thus allowing the joiner to read the indicator tubes to check member alignment.

A key weakness with the present method of determining member orientation via spirit levels relates to the difficulty of usage. Currently, a tradesman must simultaneously hold a member and a spirit in order to determine alignment. This can make orientation measurement a difficult process as the tradesman must take care to hold both objects as steady as possible. Moreover, this method means the tradesman has no hands free to wield additional servicing tools (e.g hammers, pencils and nails) required to proceed with work. Instead, the tradesman must halt other activities and focus solely on member alignment. This can inconvenience the tradesman and add to the construction duration. The presented invention seeks to address these issues and more.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a spirit level comprising: first and second body portions, wherein first ends of the body portions are rotatably connected to one another about a pivot axis, and at least one of the body portions houses one or more level indicator tubes; and a biasing means adapted to bias the first and second body portions towards one another about the pivot axis.

The first body portion may house the one or more level indicator tubes, and have a first engagement surface facing towards the second body portion. The first body portion may include a second engagement surface located adjacent a second end of the first body portion, the second engagement surface facing towards the first end of the first body portion and being substantially perpendicular to the first engagement surface.

Biasing the body portions towards one another about the pivot axis means that the spirit level can clamp onto any studwork or other member or component whose correct orientation needs to be established. The user is able to read the plurality of spirit levels to check the member is in its correct orientation without having to hold the spirit level separately. If the member has been incorrectly aligned the user may adjust the member without removing the clamp, which will remain in place during member adjustment. This also allows a tradesperson to hold the member and spirit level in one hand, so they can safely hold and operate a power tool or the like in their other free hand without risking dropping the member or spirit level.

The second body portion may include an aperture allowing each level indicator tube in the first body portion to be viewed through the second body portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings where: Figure 1 shows perspective view of a spirit level in an open position; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a spirit level in a closed position; Figure 3 shows a side view of a spirit level clamped about a member to be measured; Figure 4 shows an interior of a first body portion of the spirit level; and Figure 5 shows an exploded top view of the spirit level.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below, in conjunction with the drawings listed above.

Referring firstly to FIG 1, there is shown a spirit level 2 in what will henceforth be referred to as an 'open' position. The spirit level comprises a first body portion, or clamping member, 3 and second body portion, or clamping member, 4. The first clamping member 3 is provided with a receiving portion 6 at a second end thereof. Opposing the receiving portion 6, on the second clamping member 4 is a complementary engaging portion 8 that is configured to fit in the receiving portion 6 of the first clamping member 3. First ends of the first and second clamping members 3,4 are rotatably connected to each other about a pivot axis 10 via a pivot pin 11.

A biasing member, preferably a torsion spring, 22 (not shown in figure 1) is provided to bias the clamping members together so that the receiving portion 6 and engagement portion 8 are able to clamp around an item placed therebetween. Where a torsion spring is used, respective ends of the spring are located in corresponding recesses in the first ends of the first and second clamping members 3,4, so as to press the two clamping members towards one another about the pivot pin 11. Thus, the configuration displayed in FIG 1 is a scenario where force is being applied by the user to hold the two clamping members 3,4 apart.

Looking specifically at the first clamping member 3, it is formed from a generally rectangular body, elongating from the first end of the spirit level towards its receiving portion 6. The first clamping member 3 houses at least one level indicator tube, and in this preferred embodiment the first clamping member 3 is shown to house three level indicator tubes 14,16,18 housed within dedicated apertures 12,13 within the first clamping member 3. A fourth level indicator tube (not shown) may be housed within another dedicated aperture (not shown) at the bottom of the receiving portion 6. This may allow the third and fourth level indicator tubes to be viewed from either side of the spirit level, even when it is closed.

Within the rectangular body are two circular apertures 12 that extend through the first clamping member 3. Closest to the first end of the spirit level and housed within a circular aperture 12 is a first indicator tube 14. Indicator tube 14 is orientated along a longitudinal axis of the first clamping member 3. The second indicator tube 16 is orientated substantially perpendicular to the first indicator tube 14, that is in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first clamping member 3 The receiving portion 6 has a semi-circular, or curved, external surface and is located at the second end of the first clamping member 3. The receiving portion 6 has an internal engagement surface 7 which extends towards the second clamping member 4 and which is substantially perpendicular to an internal engagement surface 5 located on the interior side of the first clamping member 3.

Located on the top of the receiving portion 6 is a rectangular aperture or niche 13. The niche 13 houses a third indicator tube 18. The third indicator tube is perpendicular to both the first and second indicator tubes 14,16. The internal engagement surfaces 5,7 are configured to accept the second end of the second clamping member 4 when the instrument is closed. Located at the bottom of the receiving portion 6 may be another rectangular niche housing a fourth indicator tube (neither shown). Thus, both sides of the receiving portion 6 may have an indicator tube which is visible from outside the spirit level.

Referring to FIG 2, we see the spirit level 2 in its closed configuration. Here we see the first and second clamping members 3,4 lying upon one other so as to be aligned horizontally. The second clamping member 4 may be thinner than the first clamping member 3. The receiving portion 6 and engaging portion 8 interlock in the closed configuration to form a flush surface. This closed configuration can be opened once again following the application of a force by the user to pull the two clamping members in opposite directions.

Turning now to FIG 5, the pivot arrangement will now be described in greater detail. The pivot arrangement includes the first ends of the first and second clamping members 3,4, where those first ends comprise circular shaped bodies integrally formed with the rest of their respective clamping members. As previously described, the first and second clamping members 3,4 are pivotally joined together via a pin 11. This pin 11 extends axially through corresponding bores in the first ends of the clamping members 3,4.

The torsion spring 22 is housed about the pivot pin 11 within a chamber defined by the first ends of the clamping members 3,4. The spring is formed from metal wire in the shape of a helix that is wrapped around the pin 11. The torsion spring is designed to be actuated rotationally and provide an angular return force if its two ends are pulled away from their closed, inactive positions. Although the torsion spring 22 is shown to be close wound around the pin 24, optionally a pitch may be introduced to reduce friction between coils.

Operation of the instrument will now be described in greater detail. To begin, reference is made to FIG 2. At this stage, the instrument is said to be in its closed, inactive position. The torsion spring 22 is forcing the first clamping member 3 and second clamping member 4 together. In this position, it will be seen that the first and second clamping members 3,4 are parallel to one another with a space between them. This space is achieved as the engagement portion 8 of the second clamping member 4 is held slightly proud of the internal engagement surface 5 on the first clamping member 3 by the receiving portion 6.

The spirit level 2 is opened by a user pulling the first and second clamping members away from one another against the force of the spring 22. FIG 1 displays the spirit level 2 in an 'open' configuration FIG 3 shows the spirit level in use. At this stage the spirit level 2 has been placed around a member 30 which is to be oriented. The spirit level 2 is positioned about the member 30 such that the member abuts the first and second engagement surfaces 5,7 of the first clamping member 3. The second clamping member 4 has an internal third engagement surface 9 which abuts the opposite side of the member, thus clamping the spirit level 2 to the member 30. At this point, the user can release their grip on the spirit level as it is now held fast on the member 30. In this condition, the wooden member 30 clamped securely and it is difficult for it to become dislodged accidentally.

Following the arrangement shown in FIG 3, the user would proceed to adjust the orientation of the wooden member 30 as suitable. They would refer to the plurality of indicator tubes to ensure that the member 30 is placed in the correct orientation before fixing the member in place. Advantageously, the user is not required to hold the spirit level in place while checking the alignment of the wooden member 30, and can thus use one hand to hold the combination of member and spirit level, and the other hand to hold an appropriate tool.

To release the clamping means from the member 30 once the latter is fixed in place, the user can simply prise the clamping members 3,4 apart and off the member 30.

The spirit level 2 of the present invention advantageously allows the user to check member orientation without having to hold both the spirit level and member in the same hand. Not only does clamping action free the user's hands to hold other tools in relation to studwork construction, but the firm grasp of the spirit level promotes a more accurate alignment reading. This therefore lowers the risk of poorly aligned members.

It must be noted that the member 30 may be made of any suitable material. Such as for example, a strong plastics material, metal a combination of the two. The spirit level itself may also be made of any adequate material.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, another embodiment could provide a tension spring as an alternative biasing means. The tension spring may be housed within the pivot 10 and attach at each end to the first and second clamping members 3,4. Thus, providing an angular return force when the first and second clamping members 3,4 are pulled apart.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1 A spirit level comprising: first and second body portions, wherein first ends of the body portions are rotatably connected to one another about a pivot axis, and at least one of the body portions houses one or more level indicator tubes; and a biasing means adapted to bias the first and second body portions towards one another about the pivot axis.
2 The spirit level of claim 1, wherein the first body portion houses the one or more level indicator tubes, and has a first engagement surface facing towards the second body portion.
3 The spirit level of claim 2, wherein the first body portion includes a second c\I 15 engagement surface located adjacent a second end of the first body C\I portion, the second engagement surface facing towards the first end of the first body portion and being substantially perpendicular to the first engagement surface. ('Si
0 20 4 The spirit level of claim 3, wherein the second end of the first body portion includes an extension which projects substantially perpendicular to the first body portion and which defines the second engagement surface.
The spirit level of claim 4, wherein the extension has a niche, and the second end of the second body portion has a projection which engages in the niche when the first and second body portions are in a closed position under the force of the biasing means.
6. The spirit level of claim 5, wherein the second ends of the first and second body portions are substantially flush when the projection is engaged in the niche.
7. The spirit level of any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the second body portion includes an aperture allowing each level indicator tube in the first body portion to be viewed through the second body portion.
8 The spirit level of any preceding claim, wherein the biasing means is a torsion spring and the ends of the biasing spring are located in respective recesses in the first ends of the first and second body portions.