WO2000037888A1

WO2000037888A1 - Hand implement

Info

Publication number: WO2000037888A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/001123
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rodney Ross Hordern
Original assignee: Rodney Ross Hordern
Priority date: 1998-12-22
Filing date: 1999-12-21
Publication date: 2000-06-29
Also published as: AUPP786998A0

Abstract

A hand implement (10) for providing a locating, measurement, alignment or levelling function. One embodiment of the implement (10) provides a straight edge and comprises a body (12) having a size and shape such that it is single handedly manually positionable by an operator at a location. A portion of the body (12) is adapted for the operator to perform at least one of the locating, measurement, alignment or levelling functions with the other hand while holding the body at said location. Thus the body (12) provides a straight edge (16). Laser beam generating means (18) are mounted on the body for generating and propagating two laser beams (20) away from the body. The two laser beams (20) are oppositely directed, are co-linear, and are aligned with the straight edge (16). In other embodiments, the implement may be a level, a centre marker or an angle setter. The oppositely directed laser beams are locatable on spaced reference points to accurately align the implement between those points and thus allow the locating, measurement, alignment or levelling function to be provided at the location of the implement relative to remotely spaced reference points.

Description

HAND IMPLEMENT

Technical Field

This invention relates to a hand implement for providing a locating, measurement, alignment or levelling function. Examples of such implements are position markers, levels, straight-edges and rulers such as are commonly used by tradesmen and home handy-persons.

Background

Hand implements which provide a locating, measurement or alignment function (for example, a marker, ruler or level) are of necessity limited in their physical size or dimensions, otherwise their portability and thus utility would be compromised. This size limitation restricts the utility of such implements insofar as the positioning of an implement at a location where the function it provides is to be performed usually requires reference points or lines (with which the implement is to be used) to be within the reach of the implement. If a reference point or line is located well beyond the reach of the hand implement, an operator may resort to guess work and estimate a position for or alignment of it relative to the reference, but this will inevitably introduce errors into the result. Otherwise an operator may employ a succession of measurement and marking steps to transfer a mark for the reference to a location which will be within the reach of the implement, but this may also introduce errors into the result. Clearly, the greater the number of successive measurement and marking steps, the greater is the likelihood of error in the position of the final mark. Such errors or even the likelihood of them occurring cannot be tolerated in many applications, particularly in building work where accurate measuring, marking and positioning forms the very basis for locating and proportioning the constructed works. Excessive measurement and marking is also time consuming. Summary of The Invention

The present invention seeks to provide a hand implement which avoids or at least ameliorates the above described problem whilst retaining a straightforward and easy-to-use character. The non-complexity of the invention also allows for a relatively inexpensive solution to the problem.

The present invention is a hand implement for providing a locating, measurement, alignment or levelling function. The hand implement is made up of a body having "back to back" lasers mounted thereon. The body is manually positionable at a location and a portion of it is adapted for an operator to perform at least one of the locating, measurement, alignment or levelling functions. In this application the wording "back to back lasers" includes: (a) two laser generators mounted on the body and arranged back-to-back such that their laser beams are oppositely directed away from the body and are aligned to be co-linear, or (b) one laser generator mounted on the body with additional equipment necessary to divide the emitted laser beam into two beams oppositely directed away from the body and co-linearly aligned. In all cases, oppositely directed co-linear laser beams are aligned with the adapted portion of the body and are of sufficient intensity for each to form a visible spot on a surface on which it is incident. The visible spots can provide remote references for positioning the body at the location for the at least one function to be performed or alternately, upon placement of the body at a designated location, the visible spots can provide reference points along a line (hereinafter termed "laser line") defined by the co-linearly aligned and oppositely directed laser beams.

Thus the invention provides a hand implement for providing a locating, measurement, alignment or levelling function comprising: a body having a size and shape such that it is single handedly manually positionable by an operator at a location, wherein a portion of the body is adapted for the operator to perform at least one of the locating, measurement, alignment or levelling functions with the other hand while holding the body at said location, laser beam generating means mounted on the body for generating and propagating two laser beams away from the body, wherein the laser beam generating means are arranged such that the two laser beams are oppositely directed and are co-linear, and wherein the co-linear laser beams are aligned with said portion of the body.

Preferably two laser generators are provided which are mounted back-to- back on the body of the implement. Where a single laser generator is provided, the implement will include additional componentry such as optical fibers, and reflective or refractive mirrors or lenses for splitting and redirecting the beam to produce the two oppositely directed laser beams.

The hand implement may provide a straight edge in which case the laser line may be coincident with that edge or adjacent and parallel to it. Such a hand implement may provide only the straight edge, for example as in a ruler. Alternatively the implement may be a level and thus include means for indicating a level or a vertical, such as a spirit or bubble tube. If the implement is a level it can be used to check a level or slope at any point along the laser line. In one embodiment the spirit or bubble tube may be mounted on a rotatable part which has reference marks for determining an angle of slope relative to protractor markings on the body.

Alternatively the implement may provide for the marking of a point via an aperture in the body, in which case the laser line may pass through or over that marking point aperture.

A hand implement according to the invention is of greater versatility than similar prior art hand implements. As will be evident, the light spots formed by oppositely directed co-linear laser beams can be located on spaced reference points to accurately align the implement between those points for the function provided by the implement in question to be performed. This function may be the marking of a point or a straight line at the location of the implement. A particular advantage offered by the invention is that the implement does not always need to be physically positioned on a surface for an operator to use it. That is, situations can arise where it would be advantageous for an operator to accurately determine a mark in mid air, for example during construction of a building when walls are partially completed or when floors are not in place. Such a mid air mark could, for example, be transferred to a lower surface by use of a plumb line.

A hand implement according to the invention may additionally include further laser beam generating means arranged to propagate additional oppositely directed and co-linearly aligned laser beams from the body, wherein the beams from the further generating means extend at an angle to the beams from the first generator(s), the further laser generating means being operatively associated with the body such that the additional laser beams are angularly adjustable relative to the beams of a first generator(s) and may additionally be adjustable along the laser line defined thereby. Essentially this embodiment provides crossed laser beams in which the cross-over point is adjustable. This arrangement can be used to find a centre relative to four reference points

(which may be the four corners of a room, ceiling, wall or the like) to be found and marked.

Although this invention provides a hand implement, it is to be understood that the implement may, in use, be fixed to a surface or object and accordingly may include suitable fixing means. This arrangement can facilitate the locating of an object (for example a piece of wood or metal on which the implement is removeably fixed) wherein during the construction of a building the object is moved and positioned by reference to points that are distant from the intended location of the object.

Provision of laser light generators, due to the intensity of such light, allows for both indoor and outdoor use of the implement. The outdoor use capability makes it possible for the implement to be used for example in surveying applications. It is also possible that over long distances an operator may use binoculars or other optical assistance to see the light spots formed where the laser beams strike chosen reference points.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non- limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. Brief Description Of The Drawings

Figs. 1 , 2 and 3 show first, second and third embodiments of the invention, respectively, Fig. 4 is a side elevation view and Fig. 5 a top plan view of a fourth embodiment,

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show various uses for the invention, Fig. 10 shows a further embodiment in use,

Fig. 11 shows use of an embodiment for positioning a moveable object, and

Fig. 12 shows an even further embodiment.

Detailed Description Of Embodiments

In the figures, the same reference numeral is used to indicate the same or an equivalent component or feature in the various embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows a hand implement 10 having a body 12 with an attached handle 14 for manually positioning the implement 10. A straight edge 16 is provided by a portion of body 12. Two laser generators 18 for generating and propagating oppositely directed and co-linearly aligned laser beams 20 are mounted on body 12. Each laser beam generator 18 is similar to those used in pointers. As such generators are known and available on the market, they will not be described in detail herein, apart from noting that they each propagate a substantially non-divergent beam 20 of sufficient intensity to form a visible spot on a surface on which the beam is incident some distance away. The laser generators 18 are mounted on body 12 such that a line defined by the directions of propagation of beams 20 is aligned with the straight edge 16. The hand implement 22 of Fig. 2 is a level and, as in the Fig. 1 embodiment, it includes a body 12, a portion of which provides a straight edge 16, and laser generators 18 mounted thereon for oppositely propagating co- linearly aligned beams 20 in alignment with straight edge 16. Level 22 includes a number of spirit tubes 24 which, as is well known, are mounted in apertures 26 in body 12 for indicating when body 12 and thus straight edge 16 has a horizontal, vertical or, for example, 45° angled orientation.

Figure 3 shows a point marker 28 which has a circular body 12 having a centrally located aperture 30 for marking a point, for example by inserting a marker through the aperture 30. As in the previous embodiments, laser generators 18 are mounted "back-to-back" on body 12 for propagating co- linearly aligned opposite beams 20. The generators 18 are mounted such that an imaginary line 32 defined by the aligned beams 20, i.e. the laser line, passes across the centre of aperture 30.

Figures 4 and 5 show an embodiment of a straight edge implement 33 that is similar to that of Fig. 1 except that the laser generators 18 are mounted on body 12 via raised mounts 34. The body 12 includes a flat surface 13 for contacting another surface 36. This positions the laser line defined by the oppositely directed co-linearly aligned beams 20 a small distance above and parallel to the straight edge 16 (Note: the term "aligned" in this specification is intended to encompass a parallel alignment as in this embodiment). This embodiment is particularly suitable for use on rough surfaces 36 as the laser beams 20 are located such that they are above irregularities in the surface 36 which might otherwise interfere with the propagation of the beams 20 causing them to be deflected.

Fig. 6 illustrates use of a straight edge implement 10. In this figure the plane of the drawing sheet represents a wall 38 extending between opposite side walls 40. A reference mark 42 is located on one wall 40 and another reference mark 44 is located on the opposite wall 40. Implement 10 is manually positioned at a location, for example approximately centrally on wall 38, and manipulated until light spots 46 from beams 20 are located on the reference marks 42 and 44. This allows a mark 48 to be made on wall 38 which is aligned with the marks 42 and 44. Fig. 7 shows a similar set up but for establishing a mark 48 which is beyond two references 42 and 44, the position for mark 48 being indicated by the light spot 46 formed by the right hand (as viewed in Fig. 7) beam 20.

It will be evident that a level 22 as in Fig. 3 could be used in place of implement 10 in a similar set up to that of Figs. 6 and 7 to establish marks on a wall 38 or 40 which are level with a single reference 42 or 44.

Fig. 8 shows use of a straight-edge implement 10 for locating the centre of a room, ceiling, wall or the like, that is, a structure having four corners which thus provides four reference points 50. The implement 10 is first aligned with two diagonally opposite corners 50 (i.e. along imaginary line 52) and a diagonal mark 54 is made. The implement 10 is then aligned diagonally with the remaining two reference points 50 and the centre is indicated by its cross-over point on diagonal mark 54. This method could be used, for example, to locate a point for the positioning of a ceiling light.

Fig. 9 shows a similar set up to that illustrated by Fig. 6 but in which the implement 10 is moved across the wall 38 as indicated by arrow 56 whilst an operator uses a marker pen 58 (or other marking means) along straight edge 16 to mark a straight line across wall 38 between reference marks 42 and 44.

Fig. 10 shows an implement 60 which includes a body 12 having laser generators 18 thereon for generating beams 20, as in the above described embodiments. Implement 60 additionally includes a further body or support 62 having laser generators 64 mounted thereon for generating co-linearly aligned beams 66, the relationship between support 62, generators 64 and beams 66 being the same as that between body 12, generators 18 and beams 20. Support 62 is pivotally joined to body 12 by, for example, a bolt 65 such that it can relatively pivot as indicated by arrows 68 and be relatively linearly adjusted as indicated by arrows 70, for which purpose body 12 may include a slot through which bolt 65 passes, and be releasably fixable in different positions relative to body 12 for example by a wing nut on bolt 65. As illustrated, the implement 60 is particularly suitable for locating the centre of a rectangular surface which may be a ceiling, floor, wall or the like.

Figure 11 shows an implement 50 according to the invention attached to a heavy beam 52 which is being moved to be accurately positioned at a location, for example during construction of a building. The beam 52 is supported by ropes or chains 54 from a crane. The implement 50 is attached to beam 52 by any suitable means, for example by clamping, use of screws, or magnetically (depending on the material of the beam). Its back-to-back laser generators 18 propagate co-linear beams 20 which can be aligned with remote references 56 to ensure the beam is accurately positioned.

Fig. 12 shows an embodiment in the form of an instrument 71 comprising a body 12 having a straight edge 16 which is parallel with a bottom edge 17, and a base 72 attached to bottom edge 17. Two laser generators 18 are mounted on body 12 to propagate oppositely directed co-linear beams 20 aligned with the straight edge 16. Body 12 has a substantially circular rotatable member 74 mounted centrally therein and rotatable member 74 carries a bubble or spirit tube 76. Rotatable member 74 includes reference pointers 78 and body 12 includes protractor scales 80 marked in degrees against which reference pointers 78 are alignable. The instrument 71 is basically an "angle setter" and is useable to determine gradients over distances which extend well beyond its length. Thus it may be used to determine the angle between two distant points relative to a horizontal (the horizontal being determined using the bubble tube 76) or to set angles from any one reference point. For example, it could be used by a plumber to determine the gradient of a trench for a drainage pipeline. In use, the base 72 rests on a surface and the laser line 20-20 will be parallel with that surface by virtue of edges 17 and 16 being parallel.

Many other applications for an implement according to this invention will be appreciated by appropriately skilled persons on the basis of the above description. Such persons will also appreciate that an implement according to the invention can be constructed according to known technology using readily available and thus relatively inexpensive equipment and materials.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hand implement for providing a locating, measurement, alignment or levelling function comprising: a body having a size and shape such that it is single handedly manually positionable by an operator at a location, wherein a portion of the body is adapted for the operator to perform at least one of the locating, measurement, alignment or levelling functions with the other hand while holding the body at said location, laser beam generating means mounted on the body for generating and propagating two laser beams away from the body, wherein the laser beam generating means are arranged such that the two laser beams are oppositely directed and are co-linear, and wherein the co-linear laser beams are aligned with said portion of the body.

2. A hand implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the laser beam generating means comprise two laser beam generators mounted on the body.

3. A hand implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the laser beam generating means comprise a single laser beam generator and beam splitting componentry for deriving said two laser beams from a single laser beam generated by said laser beam generator.

4. A hand implement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the body includes a flat surface for contacting another surface at said location, and wherein each laser beam generator is mounted in a raised position on the body such that the co-linear laser beams are spaced from said flat surface, whereby any irregularities in said another surface do not interfere with the two laser beams.

5. A hand implement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said portion of the body provides a straight edge and said co-linear laser beams are aligned with said straight edge.

6. A hand implement as claimed in claim 5 wherein the body additionally includes means for indicating an orientation of the straight edge of the body.

7. A hand implement as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for indicating is a spirit or bubble tube for indicating a level, vertical or 45° orientation of the straight edge.

8. A hand implement as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for indicating is a spirit or bubble tube which is mounted in a rotatable member carried by the body, wherein the rotatable member includes a reference marker and the body includes a protractor scale for the reference marker to indicate an angle of inclination of the body relative to a horizontal orientation of the spirit or bubble tube.

9. A hand implement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said portion of the body includes an aperture for marking a point and said co-linear laser beams are aligned over or through said aperture.

10. A hand implement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the body includes a handle for facilitating the positioning and holding of the body at said location.

11. A hand implement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 including a support pivotally mounted on said body, additional laser beam generating means mounted on the support for generating and propagating two further laser beams away from the support, wherein the additional laser beam generating means are arranged such that the two further laser beams are oppositely directed and are co-linear, wherein the support is releasably fixable in different pivotal positions relative to the body such that the two further co-linear laser beams are angularly adjustable relative to the two first defined co-linear laser beams.

12. A hand implement as claimed in claim 11 wherein the support is mounted on the body such that it is additionally linearly adjustable along the line of the two first defined co-linear laser beams.

13. A hand implement as claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein the laser beam generating means comprises two laser beam generators mounted on the body and the additional laser beam generating means comprises two laser beam generators mounted on the support.

14. A hand implement substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 , Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Figs. 4 and 5, Fig. 10, or Fig. 12.