Abstract: A carpenter level which comprises a body that is elongated in a predetermined direction and has a front, a back, an upper part with two terminal ends, a lower part with two terminal ends, and a middle part. The carpenter level also has at least one holder component that has at least one cavity formed to detachably hold at least one marking instrument such as a pen, pencil or scriber. The at least one cavity of the at least one holder component has a back and a front and a plurality of contacting positions to simultaneously contact and detachably hold the marking instrument.

Abstract: The present invention provides a level having a body which has a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, and a plane surface which connects the first and second ends, at least one level indicating device mounted to the body, and two end caps which are mounted onto the first and second ends, respectively. Each end cap has an outer end which is distributed by a plurality of resilient portions with small surface area for absorbing impact if the level is accidentally dropped or impacted.

Abstract: An apparatus is used to mount a spirit level on an elongate support such as a pipe, length of wood or the like so that the effective “levelling line” is greatly lengthened. The apparatus includes an elastic band having first and second ends and a body member to engage the level, preferably by bridging a rib on the level or by fitting to an aperture formed in the level. The body member has first and second hooks extending from it to receive the first and second band ends, respectively. In highly preferred embodiments, there are two elastic bands and two body members, each with a pair of hooks for engaging and retaining a respective one of the bands.

Abstract: The improved builder's level is used by carpenters, masons and the like for determining parallelism or perpendicularity with respect to a horizontal plane. The level has opposed depressed channels extending along its length, thereby permitting the level to be more securely gripped. The body of the level has interior ridges and an interior web for reinforcement and to properly position liquid-containing vials in such body.

Abstract: A liquid vial assembly comprises a liquid-containing vial having a seamless cylindrical wall and a transparent outer sleeve extending along the wall. The resistance of the vial to breakage is dramatically improved. The sleeve may be made of a resilient material capable of being slightly stretched (PVC tubing, for example) or of a hard material such as polycarbonate or tempered glass. Either material is preferably non-shatterable. A new method for making a liquid vial assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A spirit level includes a spirit level body having an I-shaped cross section, end caps arranged at the end faces of the spirit level body and at least one spirit level vial mounted in the spirit level body. Each end cap has a plate-like base member which is rectangular in the elevational view thereof and whose height and width corresponds to the height and width of the I-shaped cross section of the spirit level body. The base member has on one side thereof two wing lugs which define a gap therebetween. The width of the gap between the wing lugs corresponds to the wall thickness of the web of the spirit level body which is I-shaped in cross section. At least one recess is provided in the end face of the web of the spirit level body. The at least one recess has at least one toothed side. At least one projecting lug is provided within the gap between the wing lugs of the base member.

Abstract: A level instrument for determining angular relationships includes a frame having a rail section defining a working surface, a vial, and an end plate affixed to the frame. The end plate has a plastic body with integral lip, shoulder and stake or pawl elements. The frame includes passages which receive the stake or pawl elements to permanently interconnect the end plate and frame. Indexing elements automatically orient a shoulder and an edge of the end plate adjacent to the rail section defining the working surface to prevent false level readings occasioned by displacement. A method for constructing the level of the invention which includes affixing the end plate to the frame, displacing a portion of the lip overlaying the frame passage into the passage, to permanently anchor the end plate to the frame.

Abstract: An improved mounting between a cylindrical package, containing a sensitive instrument, and a protective cylindrical housing disposed thereabout. Plugs at opposite ends of the housing each have a conical recess opening toward the other plug and between which the package is confined. O-rings at each end of the package engage the tapered wall of the adjacent recess and absorb longitudinal and radial shock and center the package within the housing. To restrain relative rotational movement between the housing and instrument package, a plurality of coil springs are disposed within aligned bores in an end of the package and the adjacent plug.

Abstract: An accurate level sensor having an electrolytic switch 10 is mounted within a chamber 22 on a thermally insulating member 12 and is surrounded by a thermally insulating air space 23. Chamber 22 is mounted within a chamber 24 by thermally insulating members 38 and is surrounded by a thermally insulating air space 25. Chamber 24 is mounted to an inertial reference member 44 by thermally insulating members 46. All mounting surfaces are precisely parallel to each other and sensitivity to ambient temperature conditions is attenuated to provide a sensor for maintaining the inertial reference member level and stable within a high degree of accuracy.