TOOL ASSEMBLY
A tool assembly that includes a tool, which has a frame and a pair of suction cups. Each suction cup has a cup housing and a cup structure. The cup housing is coupled to the frame. The cup structure is at least partly received in the cup housing. At least one of the cup structures is rotatable relative to the frame. A method for releasably securing a tool assembly to a wall is also provided.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/181,874 filed Jul. 13, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/470,924 filed Apr. 1, 2011. The disclosure of each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirely herein.
INTRODUCTIONThe present invention generally relates to a tool assembly and a method for its use. In one form, the tool assembly can comprise a tool and a pair of suction cups that are configured to releasably couple the tool to a work surface. In another form, the tool assembly that is configured to display the location of a hidden object detected by a hidden object detector. In still another form, the tool assembly includes a device that can be employed to temporarily mount an article to a wall at a desired mounting position and to indicate a position at which a hanger is to be installed so that when the article is mounted to the hanger the article will be located at the desired mounting position.
Various tool assemblies employ a tool and a suction means that is coupled to the tool. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,717 to von Wedemeyer discloses a level having
We have found that some users can have difficulties using such levels, particularly when the level has a length that is greater than about three-quarters of a meter in length. Additionally or alternatively, we believe that some users would appreciate additional functionality incorporated into a level or other tool assembly. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an improved tool assembly, such as an improved level.
SUMMARYThis section provides a general summary of some aspects of the present disclosure and is not a comprehensive listing or detailing of either the full scope of the disclosure or all of the features described therein.
In one form, the present teachings provide a tool assembly that includes a tool, which has a frame, and a pair of suction cups. Each suction cup has a cup housing, and a cup structure. The cup housing is coupled to the frame. The cup structure is at least partly received in the cup housing. At least one of the cup structures is rotatable relative to the frame.
In another form, the present teachings provide a method for releasably securing a tool assembly to a wall. The tool assembly includes a level sensor and a first suction cup. The method includes: abutting the tool assembly to the wall; purging air from the first suction cup to create a pressure differential that secures the first suction cup to the wall; and rotating the level sensor about the first suction cup.
In still another form, the present teachings provide a tool assembly includes a pair of suction cups and a tool. Each suction cup has a cup housing, and a cup member. The cup housing includes a cup mount. The cup member is at least partly received in the cup housing and is rotatable relative to the cup housing. The tool has a mating cup mount that removably receives the cup mount to thereby couple the suction cup to the tool.
In a further form, the present teachings provide a tool assembly that includes a rail, a hidden object detector, which is slidably coupled to the rail, and a display unit having a display member and a marking unit. The marking unit is configured to be activated to form a mark on the display member in response to detection of a hidden object by the hidden object detector.
In another form, the present teachings provide a tool assembly that includes a pair of rails, which cooperate to form a set of ways, a hidden object detector, which is slidably mounted on the ways, a display member, which is mounted to a first one of the rails, and a marking unit that is coupled to the hidden object detector and disposed in-line with the display member. The marking unit is activated in response to detection of a hidden object by the hidden object detector to generate electromagnetic radiation that impinges on the display member to thereby form a mark on the display member.
In yet another form, the present teachings provide a tool assembly having a frame, a level sensor mounted to the frame, a pair of suction cups coupled to the frame, a display member, a hidden object detector that is slidably disposed on the frame, and a marking unit. The frame has a pair of rails that define a set of ways and a first one of the rails has an internal wall that is partly exposed. The hidden object detector slidably mounted on the ways. The display member mounted to the exposed portion of the internal wall. The marking unit is coupled to the hidden object detector and is disposed in-line with the display member. The marking unit is activate-able to form a mark on the display member.
In still another form, the present teachings provide a tool assembly having a suction cup that is configured to be removably coupled to a vertical wall and a device for temporarily mounting an article to the suction cup at a desired mounting position and for indicating a position of a hanger on the vertical wall. The hanger is configured to be secured to the vertical wall to mount the article to the vertical wall.
In a further form, the present teachings provide a tool assembly having a suction cup, a first link member, a first hook, and a tool. The suction cup includes a cup housing, and a cup member. The cup housing has a cup mount. The cup member is at least partly received in the cup housing. The first link member is coupled to the cup housing. The first hook is coupled to the first link member on a side opposite the cup housing. The tool has a mating cup mount and a first hollow channel. The mating cup mount is removably received by the cup mount to couple the suction cup to the tool. The first link member and the first hook are received in the first hollow channel when the cup mount is received in the mating cup mount.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, its application and/or uses in any way.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. The drawings are illustrative of selected teachings of the present disclosure and do not illustrate all possible implementations. Similar or identical elements are given consistent identifying numerals throughout the various figures.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTSWith reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The seal member 42 can be overmolded onto the seal flange 52 so as to be cohesively bonded to the cup member 40. Alternatively, the seal member 42 can be a discretely formed seal structure, such as an O-ring, that can be fixedly coupled to the seal flange 52 in a desired manner (e.g., snap fit and/or an adhesive).
With reference to
The plunger 34 may be coupled to the cup structure 30 or the housing 32 and can be employed to deform the cup structure 30 to expel air from the interior of the cup structure 30 to cause the seal member 42 to sealingly engage a work surface. In the particular example provided, the plunger 34 is fixedly coupled to the cup structure 30 via a boss 80 on the cup structure 30 that matingly engages a stem 82 of the plunger 34.
With renewed reference to
The first link member 92 can be unitarily formed with the first hook 90 from a relatively stiff first wire that can be fixedly coupled to and extend axially from a first one of the arms 74, while the second link member 96 can be unitarily formed with the second hook 94 from a relatively stiff second wire that can be fixedly coupled to and extend axially from a second one of the arms 74.
As also described above, the means 22 can additionally or alternatively provide the function of indicating a position at which the hanger 600 (
While the means 22 has been illustrated and described in a particular manner, it will be appreciated that the means 22 may employ a single hook, that the hook(s) may have a shape that is different from that which is depicted in the drawings, that one or more of the hooks may be directly coupled to the housing 32 (i.e., without a corresponding link member), that one of the hooks can be configured to engage the other hook or its link member in addition to or in lieu of engagement with the article A and/or that one or both of the hooks can be remove ably coupled to their link member or from the housing 32. With specific regard to a hook that is removable from it's link member, it will be appreciated that the hanger 600 (
Returning to
The rails 210 can be generally hollow and can form a mating cup mount 220 that is configured to receive and retain the cup mount 64 such that the first link member 92 and the first hook 90 are stored in one of the hollow rails 210, while the second link member 96 and the second hook 94 are stored in the other one of the hollow rails 210. In the particular example provided, the rails 210 define a receiving portion 224 having a plurality of receiving wall members 226 that are configured to frictionally engage the insertion wall members 78 (
Each of the rails 210 can include a leveling side wall 230, an abutting surface 232 and a pair of tapered or angled guide surfaces 234a, 234b that are disposed on opposite sides of a central rib 236. The leveling side wall 230 can be fully or partially flat (i.e., with a V-shaped groove that is conventionally configured to permit the leveling side wall 230 to rest on a curved surface, such as the exterior surface of a tube) and can be perpendicular to the abutting surface 232. The abutting surfaces 232 can cooperate to define a datum plane D (
The level sensor units 202 can comprise any conventional (level sensing) means for determining a predetermined orientation (e.g., level state), such as one or more conventional fluid-carrying bubble vials 240, and a level housing 242 into which the level sensing means can be mounted. While the level sensing means depicted in the drawings comprises one or more fluid-carrying bubble vials 240, it will be appreciated that other means, including electronic circuits, can be employed in addition to or in lieu of the fluid-carrying bubble vials 240. It will be appreciated that each of the fluid-carrying bubble vials 240 can be configured to indicate the orientation of the leveling side walls 230 relative to a predetermined orientation. For example, the fluid-carrying bubble vial 240a can indicate the orientation of the leveling side walls 230 relative to a horizontal orientation (i.e., indicating levelness), while the fluid-carrying bubble vial 240b can indicate the orientation of the leveling side walls 230 relative to a vertical orientation (i.e., indicating plumbness). Each level housing 242 can be received into an associated aperture 246 (
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8-10, the detection and display unit 204 can comprise a detector unit 250 and a display 252. The detector unit 250 can comprise a unit housing 260, a conventional hidden object detector 262, and a low-friction abutment member 264, while the display 252 can comprise a marking unit 266 and a display member 268.
The unit housing 260 can be configured to house the hidden object detector 262 and the marking unit 266 and can be slidably mounted on the rails 210 of the frame 200 for movement across the central cavity 214. In the particular example provided, each pair of guide surfaces 234a, 234b on the rails 210 cooperate to form a set of ways that are matingly engaged by corresponding tapered or angled guide surfaces 270 (only one of which is specifically shown in
It will be appreciated that the datum plane D (
The hidden object detector 262 can include any type of means for detecting an object, such as a stud, hidden behind a wall. In the particular example provided, the hidden object detector 262 comprises conventional a hidden object sensor circuit 280 that can be similar to those which are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,099,118 and/or 4,464,622, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in detail herein. A detailed discussion of the construction and operation of the hidden object sensor circuit 280 need not be provided herein, but it will be appreciated that the hidden object sensor circuit 280 can conventionally include an on/off switch 282, light sources, such as one or more LED's 284 for indicating power operation, calibration, and/or the detection of an object, and/or a mode or reset switch 286.
The marking unit 266 can be any type of device that is configured to form a mark on the display member 268. The marking unit 266 can form in mark in any desired manner, and can employ electronic signals, magnetism physical contact, heat, or a form of electromagnetic radiation, such as a form of light, for example. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the marking unit 266 is configured to generate and direct UV light toward, and optionally focus the UV light on, the display member 268. In the particular example provided, the marking unit 266 comprises a plurality of UV light generating LED's 266a that are mounted in the unit housing 260 at a location in-line with one of the rails 210. The marking unit 266 can be electrically coupled to the hidden object sensor circuit 280 and can be operated to generate UV light in response to detection of an object by the hidden object sensor circuit 280. In the illustrated example the hidden object sensor circuit 280 is configured to provide an output signal that is employed to directly power the marking unit 266. It will be appreciated, however, that alternatively the hidden object sensor circuit 280 could output a signal that can be employed to actuate a power supply that is employed to provide electrical power for generation of UV light by the marking unit 266.
The display member 268 can be formed of a UV light sensitive material. The display member 268 can be mounted to the one of the rails 210, e.g., via an adhesive, so as to be situated between the frame 200 and the marking unit 266. For example, a portion of one of the rails 210 may be removed, as by machining, to expose a flat internal wall member 288 (
In the example provided, UV light emitted by the marking unit 266 can cause the UV sensitive strip 268 to change color and/or glow or luminesce in the area where the UV light emitted by the marking unit 266 impinges upon the display member 268 (“the UV light effected zone 290” which is depicted in
With reference to
With reference to
The user may activate (e.g., toggle on and calibrate) the hidden object detector 262 and then sweep the hidden object detector 262 across the central cavity 214. It will be appreciated that the ways (i.e., the sets of guide surfaces 234a and 234b (
The user may locate the unit housing 260 approximately centrally between the UV light effected zones 290 and may slide each of the hidden object markers 206 along the rails 210 such that they are centered or otherwise aligned with a corresponding one of the UV light effected zones 290. Thereafter the user may use a marking tool, such as a pencil (not shown), in the marking holes 326 to transfer the location of the studs 500 from the tool assembly 10 to the wall W.
While the display 252 has been described as employing a display member 268 that is coupled to the frame 200 of the tool 14, it will be appreciated that the display member 268 may comprise a discrete component that may be secured to the wall W independently of the frame 200. For example, the display member 268 could comprise a UV light sensitive adhesive backed paper that may be secured (e.g., on a temporary basis) to the wall W.
It will be appreciated that while the display 252 has been described as employing electromagnetic radiation to form a mark on the display member 268, electronic signals may be employed instead. For example, the display member 268x could comprise a light array 900 formed of a plurality of LED's and individual or groups of the LED's could be selectively illuminated based on an electronic signal generated or transmitted by the marking unit 266x as shown in
With renewed reference to
The suction cups 20 can be configured to create a relatively strong seal that is effective to secure the tool assembly 10 to even relatively rough surfaces. For the purposes of this disclosure and the appended claims, a “rough surface” is defined as being a sheet of ½″ thick commercially available sheet rock (i.e., paper-covered gypsum board also known as gypsum board and drywall) that has been painted via a medium nap paint roller with a coat of conventional and commercially-available drywall primer and a coat of conventional and commercially available flat-finish latex-base paint.
The suction cups 20 can be configured to secure the tool assembly 10 to the rough surface (e.g., the wall W) such that a force or weight that is less than or equal to a first magnitude may be exerted onto the rough surface-secured tool assembly 10 without the causing the cup structures 30 to disengage from or move relative to the rough surface. The first magnitude can be 0.2 kg to 0.8 kg when the cup members 40 are purged of air to a maximum practical extent. If desired, the suction cups 20 can also be configured to secure the tool assembly 10 to the rough surface such that a force or weight that is greater than the first magnitude but less than or equal to a second magnitude will cause the tool assembly 10 to translate relative to the rough surface without causing the suction cups 20 to disengaged (i.e., become completely unsealed from) the rough surface. For example, the second magnitude can be 0.5 kg to 2.5 kg. In some embodiments for example, the rough surface can a vertical wall and the tool assembly 10 is secured to the vertical wall at a height of 1 meter from the ground, the application and maintenance of a vertically downwardly directed force of the second magnitude to the tool assembly 10 can cause the tool assembly 10 to move downward on the vertical wall such that the tool assembly 10 will eventually contact the ground but will also remain adhered to the vertical wall via the suction cups 20. It will be appreciated, however, that other embodiments of a tool assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure can be configured to different parameters and may or may not have similar functionality to that which has been described.
With reference to
With reference to
It will be appreciated that in the alternative, the base 12 may be mounted to the wall W prior to the coupling of the first and second hooks 90 and 94 to the wire element WE.
While the frame 200 has been illustrated and described as comprising a pair of mount structures 212 that are formed of a solid material, it will be appreciated that the frame could be constructed somewhat differently. For example, the frame 200′ could be formed as shown in
With reference to
Additionally or alternatively, the cup mount can be configured somewhat differently from that which was described above. For example, the cup mount could include a single arm or tab (not shown) that can be received into a lateral end of a corresponding one of the hollow mount structures 212′, or could define an aperture (not shown) into which a portion of the frame can be received. Moreover, various other means aside from or in addition to a friction fit between the cup mount and the frame may be employed. For example, the cup mount 64′ can comprise one or more engagement elements 710 that can releasably engage one or more mating engagement elements 712 coupled to the frame 200′. In the example illustrated, the engagement element 710 comprises a generally U-shaped rigid wireform 720, while the mating engagement element 712 comprises a pair of wedge-shaped retaining tabs 722 that are mounted to the level housing 242′. The retaining tabs 722 can have a wedge-shaped directing surface 730 and an abutting surface 732. The wedge-shaped directing surface 730 can be configured to raise the wireform 720 over the retaining tab 722 as the housing 32′ is slidably coupled to the frame 200′, while the abutting surface 732 is configured to abut the wireform 720 to resist sliding removal of the housing 32′ from the frame 200′. If desired, a recess 740 in the level housing 242′ and/or a recess 742 in the wireform 720 can be provided to provide space for a user's finger (not shown) to permit the user to more easily pry the wireform 720 upward above the retaining tabs 722 to permit the user to remove the housing 32′ from the frame 200′. It will be appreciated, however, that various other devices may be employed to removably couple the housing 32′ to the frame 200′, including without limitation clips, detents, fasteners, and clasps.
With reference to
It will be appreciated that the above description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or uses. While specific examples have been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various examples is expressly contemplated herein, even if not specifically shown or described, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the teachings of the present disclosure, but that the scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. The tool assembly of claim 3, wherein a level sensor unit is coupled to the frame.
3. A tool assembly comprising:
- a tool having a frame; and
- a pair of suction cups, each suction cup comprising a cup housing, and a cup structure, the cup housing being coupled to the frame, the cup structure being at least partly received in the cup housing, wherein at least one of the cup structures is rotatable relative to the frame;
- wherein each cup structure comprises a cup member and a seal member that is mounted on the cup member, the seal member being formed of a resilient material that is different from the material from which the cup member is formed.
4. The tool assembly of claim 3, wherein the material that forms the seal member has a durometer that is less than or equal to 15 Shore A.
5. The tool assembly of claim 4, wherein the material that forms the seal member has a durometer that is less than or equal to 10 Shore A.
6. The tool assembly of claim 3, wherein the seal member is overmolded onto the cup member so as to be cohesively bonded to the cup member.
7. A tool assembly comprising:
- a tool having a frame; and
- a pair of suction cups, each suction cup comprising a cup housing, and a cup structure, the cup housing being coupled to the frame, the cup structure being at least partly received in the cup housing, wherein at least one of the cup structures is rotatable relative to the frame
- wherein the cup structures are configured to releasably secure the tool assembly to a rough surface via an air pressure differential.
8. The tool assembly of claim 7, wherein the cup structures are configured to non-movably secure the tool assembly to the rough surface when a force of a first magnitude is applied to the tool assembly.
9. The tool assembly of claim 8, wherein the first magnitude is greater than or equal to 0.2 kg and less than or equal to 0.8 kg.
10. The tool assembly of claim 8, wherein the cup structures are configured to movably secure the tool assembly to the rough surface when a force of a second magnitude is applied to the tool assembly, the second magnitude being greater than the first magnitude.
11. The tool assembly of claim 10, wherein the second magnitude is greater than or equal to 0.5 kg and less than or equal to 2.5 kg.
12-18. (canceled)
19. A tool assembly comprising:
- a pair of suction cups, each suction cup comprising a cup housing, and a cup member, the cup housing including a cup mount, the cup member being at least partly received in the cup housing and rotatable relative to the cup housing;
- a tool with a mating cup mount that removably receives the cup mount to thereby couple the suction cup to the tool;
- wherein the tool defines first and second spaced apart hollow channels and wherein the cup mount comprises a pair of spaced apart arms that are received into the first and second hollow channels.
20. The tool assembly of claim 19, wherein each suction cup further comprises an engagement element that is releasably coupled to an associated mating engagement element that is coupled to the tool.
21. A tool assembly comprising:
- a pair of suction cups, each suction cup comprising a cup housing, and a cup member, the cup housing including a cup mount, the cup member being at least partly received in the cup housing and rotatable relative to the cup housing;
- a tool with a mating cup mount that removably receives the cup mount to thereby couple the suction cup to the tool;
- wherein each suction cup further comprises an engagement element that is releasably coupled to an associated mating engagement element that is coupled to the tool; and
- wherein one of the engagement element and the mating engagement element comprises a generally U-shaped wireform and the other one of the engagement element and the mating engagement element comprises a retaining tab that is configured to releasably engage the wireform.
22. The tool assembly of claim 20, wherein one of the engagement element and the mating engagement element comprises a generally U-shaped wireform and the other one of the engagement element and the mating engagement element comprises a retaining tab that is configured to releasably engage the wireform.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 1, 2011
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2012
Inventors: Christopher J. Murray (Baltimore, MD), Oleksiy P. Sergyeyenko (Ottawa)
Application Number: 13/286,279
International Classification: G01C 9/02 (20060101);