US20070197123A1

US20070197123A1 - Flexible level

Info

Publication number: US20070197123A1
Application number: US11/359,806
Authority: US
Inventors: David Olivo; Miguel Angel Olivo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-23
Filing date: 2006-02-23
Publication date: 2007-08-23

Abstract

An interlocking joint level that is flexible to fit any shaped surface. It is comprised of five interlocking pieces that are connected at the joints by a bolt and locking nut; three leveling bubbles in three different positions. Each section is independent from each other allowing it to wrap around any surface to be leveled. The entire level is completely straight to ensure a correct level every time.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention falls under the water or spirit level area Levels are used to make sure that objects, walls, furniture etc. are straight. These are usually used in carpentry or civil engineering. In an event where the surface area was not flat the levels in the market would not work.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Levels are a common tool in work areas. They let you level any surface or object as long as the surface is flat. But what if the surface you are trying to level an object is not flat such as a semi-round wall or a cylinder type object? The flexible level allows you do the previously stated with its interlocking pieces design. Before this invention round walls or cylinder type objects were not leveled accurately leaving many people to guess to the straightness of an object, and in our case we had to the same. It was impossible to have an accurate straight line in one of the described surfaces until we designed the flexible level. The level also lets the person level and object in an inner corner or around a corner with no problem. The design of the level allows the person to level in many surfaces and to be used as a regular level as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a view from the front of the entire level and a zoomed view of one of the interlocking pieces. It also shows where the actual level bubbles are placed on three of the five interlocking pieces. We can also see the bolts and nuts and how they are placed in the flexible joints of the level.

FIG. 2 shows the level from the top and can see how the bolts enter the joints from the top. It also shows a zoomed view of one of the interlocking pieces from the top.

FIG. 3 shows a view from the top a semi-round wall and the level how it bends its joints to fit the contour of the wall.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a round corner and how the level bends its joints to fit the contour of the corner to make a straight line on the wall.

FIG. 5 shows a view from the top and how the level bends its joints and fits right into a inner corner to make a straight line or level an object in a corner with only one movement.

FIG. 6 shows a view from the top and how the level bends its joints to make a straight line around an outside corner. This will also level an object around a corner.

FIG. 7 shows a view from the top and how the level bends its joints around a cylinder shape object. This allows a person to level an object or make a straight line around the object.

FIG. 8 shows a view from the top and how the level bends its joints into a position to allow an obstruction to be in the way of the area that you have to work on, and it allows the person to make a straight line or level an object around an obstruction. The maximum size of the obstruction must be less than five and a half inch by five and a half inch (5½″×5½″).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention 1 was created due to the nonexistence of a level that can bend in the shape the person requires it to. The flexible level 1 takes care of that problem. There are four steps to manufacture the level 1. First, it was made from a solid plastic material made out of PVC plastic. A bench router was used to cut five interlocking pieces which measure two inches in height (2″), six inches and half in length (6½″), and three quarters in width (¾) each. These pieces are seen in FIG. 1 and 2. Once the router cuts all five pieces and the holes 2, 3, 4 for the level bubbles 7 we proceeded to our second step where we drilled holes 8 to the pieces where they interlock, as shown in FIG. 2. Then a bolt 5 was inserted between each piece. The bolt 5 was secured with a locking nut 6 to ensure tightness. This will allow restricted movement of every interlocking piece. Once every piece was placed the size of the level 1 is thirty inches in length (30″). When all the interlocking pieces were in place and secured the third step was to introduce the level bubbles 7 in three different positions; a horizontal position 2, a vertical position 4 and one in a forty five degree angle position 3 as shown in FIG. 1. Right after the final step was to make sure that the level 1 was functional and correct.
This level 1 with its five interlocking pieces allows the person to level any area that the surface is not flat. For example a semi-round surface as shown in FIG. 3 and 4. These surfaces can not be leveled with a conventional level. By allowing the levels 1 joints movement and still maintaining its accuracy and rigidness the area can be leveled with no problem. Every piece has the freedom to move to a certain degree and they are independent from each other. This allows the level 1 to bend its joints to the position that the surface requires it to bend.
The design also lets the invention 1 to level any object or make a straight line in an inner corner. By bending the levels 1 joints and putting it on both walls we can level the area with half the effort, this can be seen in FIG. 5. This also enables the person to make a straight line or level an object around an outside corner as shown in FIG. 6. Before this level 1 was invented a person was forced to make a straight line in one wall first and then move the conventional level to the other wall to repeat the procedure. With the flexible level 1 you will only place the level 1 once. The new design also lets the level 1 to wrap around a cylinder shape object as shown in FIG. 7. This is a common problem that a conventional level does not allow the person to do. Because of its design, the level 1 can bend its joints to wrap around any object such as trash cans, water tanks or any other type of cylinder shape objects. The flexible level 1 also allows a person to level a surface with an obstruction in the way by bending the level 1 in a way to avoid the obstruction you can level an object or make a straight line without having to move the obstruction. This can be seen in FIG. 8.
The flexible level 1 allows the freedom to use it in many ways because of its new design that has never been used for the manufacture of a level. The flexible level 1 allows you to level a series of different surfaces and still maintaining its accuracy to be used a regular level. The improvement intended is to give the person the freedom to level any surface with the greatest ease.

Claims

1. A flexible level comprised of five independent interlocking pieces; each one connected by a bolt that enters the level from the top to secure the pieces together, a locking nut to ensure tightness and to maintain a rigid flexibility to maintain its straight angle; level bubbles placed in three of the five mentioned pieces each one in three different positions.

2. The flexible levels joints will bend its joints so that the level will wrap itself around any round surface or cylinder shape object allowing anyone to level an object or make a straight line.

3. The flexible level's joints will bend to fit directly into an inner corner wall to level an object or make a straight line on both walls; it will allow it to fit a outside corner to make a straight line or level an object on both connecting walls.

4. The flexible level will allow anyone to bend its joints to fit around an obstruction on a wall allowing anyone to level an object or make a straight line around the obstruction.