LASER LEVEL
A laser level system including a laser level, the laser level projecting at least one laser line. The system also includes a bracket on which the laser level is mounted and a battery pack. The bracket includes a battery pack receptacle into which the battery pack is removably coupled. The battery pack powers the laser level. The battery pack has a maximum initial battery pack voltage (measured without a workload) of at least 18 volts. The system also includes at least one electrical conductor which delivers power from the battery pack in the battery pack receptacle to the laser level.
This application is a continuation of pending U.S. Application Nos. 17/326,918, file May 21, 2021, and U.S. Application No.17/327,214, filed on May 21, 2021. 17/326,918 and U.S. Application No.17/327,214 are continuations of U.S. Application No. 17/089,152, filed Nov. 4, 2020, now U.S. Pat. 11,435,181, issued on Sep. 6, 2022, which claims priority and benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/953,277 filed on Dec. 24, 2019. The entire contents of each are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to laser levels, battery powered laser levels, laser level brackets and laser level systems.
BACKGROUNDThere are various existing laser levels and laser level systems. It is desired to provide a laser level with an improved construction.
SUMMARYAccording to one aspect, there is an exemplary embodiment of a laser level system, including: a laser level, the laser level projecting at least one laser line; a bracket on which the laser level is mounted; a battery pack; wherein the bracket includes a battery pack receptacle into which the battery pack is removably coupled; wherein the battery pack powers the laser level; wherein the battery pack has a maximum initial battery pack voltage (measured without a workload) of at least 18 volts; and further comprising at least one electrical conductor which delivers power from the battery pack in the battery pack receptacle to the laser level.
The electrical conductor may be a wire.
The battery pack may have a capacity of at least 2.0 amp-hours.
The laser level may be a 3 × 360 laser level.
The laser level may be a cross-line laser level.
The bracket may include a mounting portion, the mounting portion including a plurality of magnets.
The plurality of magnets may include at least four magnets.
The plurality of magnets each have a rectangular cuboid shape.
The battery pack may have a maximum initial battery pack voltage (measured without a workload) of approximately 20 volts.
According to another aspect, there is an exemplary embodiment of a laser level system including a laser level; a bracket on which the laser level is mounted; a battery pack; wherein the bracket includes a battery pack receptacle into which the battery pack is removably coupled; and wherein the battery pack powers the laser level.
The laser level may project at least one laser line.
The laser level may project at least one laser spot.
The laser level may be a 3 × 360 laser level.
The laser level may be a cross-line laser level.
The bracket may include a mounting portion, the mounting portion including a plurality of magnets.
The plurality of magnets may include at least four magnets.
The plurality of magnets may each have a rectangular cuboid shape.
The battery pack may have a maximum initial battery pack voltage (measured without a workload) of at least 18 volts.
The battery pack may have a maximum initial battery pack voltage (measured without a workload) of approximately 20 volts.
According to another aspect, there is an exemplary embodiment of a laser level system, the system including a laser level; a bracket; and a battery pack; wherein the bracket includes at least a base portion, a battery pack receptacle portion and a mounting portion; wherein the laser level is mounted to the base portion; wherein the battery pack is removably coupled to the battery pack receptacle portion; and wherein the mounting portion includes at least four magnets; wherein the at least four magnets have a rectangular cuboid shape; wherein the battery pack powers the laser level; and wherein the battery pack has a maximum initial battery pack voltage (measured without a workload) of at least 18 volts.
As shown, in the laser level system 10 of
The battery pack 150 may also be a 40 V battery pack, having a maximum initial battery pack voltage (measured without a workload) of 40 volts (V). The battery pack 150 may have a maximum initial battery pack voltage (measured without a workload) of 80 volts or more; 50 volts or more; 40 volts or more; 30 volts or more; 20 volts or more; 18 volts or more; 16 volts or more. The battery pack 150 may have a capacity of approximately 1.5 or more amp-hours; 2 or more amp-hours; 3 or more amp-hours; or 4 or more amp-hours.
The battery pack 150 may be of a generally known power tool battery pack construction and may be compatible with other tools, such as drills, saws, sanders and impact drivers and power such tools.. For example, the battery pack 150 may be of the type shown and described by U.S. Pat. No. 8,092,932; U.S. Pat. No. 7,719,234 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,413. U.S. Pat. No. 8,092,932; U.S. Pat. No. 7,719,234; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,413 are hereby incorporated by reference.
As shown in
As shown in
The pendulum assembly 175 rotates about a relatively small angle so that the laser modules 170 project beams in the horizontal and vertical planes when placed on a surface that is not entirely horizontally flat. For example, if the laser level 10 is placed on a surface that is sloped five degrees (5°) with respect to horizontal, the pendulum assembly 175 will tilt under the influence of gravity so that the laser modules 170 are aligned to produce a laser line 111 in a horizontal plane and laser lines 112 and 113 in vertical planes. Additionally, in some embodiments the laser level 100 includes a locking device to lock the pendulum assembly 175. In those instances the pendulum assembly 110 will be locked in a particular position rather than allowed to rotate under the influence of gravity and it may produce laser lines offset from the vertical and horizontal.
The laser lines 111, 112, 113 project out from the laser level 100 onto walls, floors ceilings or other surfaces. As there are three beams which project in a circular pattern, the laser level 100 is considered a 3 × 360 laser level. When the laser level assembly 10 is attached to a vertical wall at the mounting portion 203, the laser level 100 produces two vertical laser lines and one horizontal laser line. Similarly, then the laser level assembly is placed on a flat horizontal surface, the laser level 100 produces two vertical laser lines and one horizontal laser line. In some instances, the laser level 100 may be considered to be located at a front of the laser level assembly 10 and the mounting portion 203 at the back of the laser level assembly 10.
The internals and operation of laser level 100 may be the same in general as those of the laser level of U.S. Pat. 10,598,490. U.S. Pat. 10,598,490 is hereby incorporated by reference. However, unlike U.S. Pat. 10,598,490, in the present non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the battery pack 150 is coupled to the bracket 200 rather than directly on the laser level housing 110.
As shown in, for example,
As shown in various Figs., the bracket 200 of the exemplary embodiment includes a user interface (UI) 220. The user interface 220 may include a plurality of buttons 221 and or a display 222. The buttons 221 may be used to control operations of the mount or the laser level 100. For example, the buttons 221 may be used to turn the laser level 100 on and off. It may be used to turn individual laser beams of the laser level 100 on and off. It may be used to allow or disable remote control or change the power of the laser beams. It may also be used for other known functions of the laser level, mount or a laser level and mount system. The display 222 may be used to display information to a user including, but not limited to, whether the laser level is on or off, battery life for the battery pack 150/150′, whether a remote control is active, or other information that may be informative or useful to a user.
According to other non-limiting exemplary embodiments, a different type of laser level may be used in the laser level assembly, such as is shown in
As shown in
As shown in the schematic of
In some instances, using large magnets may provide a large magnetic force if the bracket 200 is placed against a large/thick piece of metal and a small force if placed against a small/thin piece of metal. This can cause the bracket 200 to fail to adequately attach to the thin piece of metal if small magnets are used. On the other hand, if large magnets are used, the bracket 200 may adequately attach to a small/thin piece of metal but stick to a large/thick piece of metal with too much force, causing it to be difficult to remove. The design provided
While the invention has been described by way of exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description, rather than words of limitation. Although the description provided above provides detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the expressly disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.
Claims
1. A laser level assembly, comprising:
- a bracket comprising a mounting portion configured to mount the laser level assembly to an object;
- a laser level supported on the bracket;
- wherein the laser level is configured to project a first line;
- wherein the laser level is configured to project a second line perpendicular to the first line;
- wherein the bracket further comprises a battery pack receptacle configured to removably receive a battery pack configured to power the laser level;
- wherein the laser level assembly is configured such that when the laser level assembly is attached to a vertical wall via the mounting portion, the first line is a horizontal line and the second line is a vertical line; and
- wherein the first line crosses the second line.
2. The laser level assembly of claim 1, wherein the bracket further comprises a user interface;
- wherein the user interface comprises user controls configured to operate at least one of the mount or the laser level.
3. The laser level assembly of claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises a display configured to display information to a user.
4. The laser level assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery pack receptacle comprises a rail configured to guide the battery pack.
5. The laser level assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery receptacle comprises a plurality of rails configured to guide the battery pack.
6. The laser level assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery receptacle comprises an electrical connector configured to engage the battery pack.
7. The laser level assembly of claim 6, wherein the electrical connector is closer to the mounting portion than the laser level is to the mounting portion.
8. The laser level assembly of claim 6, wherein the laser level is rotatable relative to the mount about a vertical axis;
- wherein the mounting portion is configured to be mounted to a plane parallel to the vertical axis.
9. The laser level assembly of claim 8, wherein the electrical connector is closer to the mounting portion than the vertical axis is to the mounting portion.
10. The laser level assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery pack receptacle comprises an electrical connector; and
- wherein the laser level is rotatable relative to the electrical connector.
11. The laser level assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery pack receptacle comprises a plurality of rails; and
- wherein the laser level is rotatable relative to the plurality of rails.
12. The laser level assembly of claim 10, wherein the mounting portion comprises at least six magnets;
- wherein the at least six magnets have a cuboid shape.
13. The laser level assembly of claim 10, wherein the laser level comprises a first laser generator configured to project the first line; and
- wherein the laser level comprises a second laser generator configured to project the second line.
14. The laser level assembly of claim 13, wherein the first laser generator comprises a first laser diode; and
- wherein the second laser generator comprises a second laser diode.
15. A laser level assembly, comprising
- a bracket comprising a mounting portion configured to mount the laser level assembly to an object;
- a laser level supported on the bracket;
- a battery pack removably engaged with the bracket at a battery pack receptacle;
- wherein the battery pack receptacle comprises an electrical connector;
- wherein the battery pack receptacle comprises a plurality of rails;
- wherein the laser level is rotatable relative to the electrical connector;
- wherein the laser level is rotatable relative to the plurality of rails.
16. The laser level assembly of claim 15, wherein the mounting portion comprises a plurality of magnets.
17. The laser level assembly of claim 16, wherein the laser level is configured to project a first line and a second line;
- wherein the first line is perpendicular to the second line; and
- wherein the first line intersects the second line.
18. The laser level assembly of claim 16, the laser level is configured to project a plurality of laser spots including an up laser spot and a down laser spot.
19. A laser level assembly, comprising:
- a bracket comprising a mounting portion configured to mount the laser level assembly to an object;
- a laser level supported on the bracket;
- a battery pack removably engaged with the bracket at a battery pack receptacle and configured to provide power to the laser level;
- wherein the battery pack receptacle comprises an electrical connector;
- wherein the battery pack receptacle comprises a plurality of rails;
- wherein the laser level is rotatable relative to the electrical connector;
- wherein the battery pack has a capacity of at least 3 amp-hours;
- wherein the laser level is configured to project a first laser line and a second laser line, wherein the first laser line is transverse to the second laser line and wherein the first laser line and the second laser line intersect;
- wherein the mounting portion comprises at least one magnet.
20. The laser level assembly of claim 19, wherein the mounting portion defines a rear of the laser level assembly;
- wherein the laser level is rotatable about a vertical axis;
- wherein the electrical connector is more rearward than the vertical axis.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 24, 2023
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2023
Inventors: Muhammad Bahauddin KHAN (Southington, CT), Kun CHANG (Jiangsu), Wei CHEN (Jiangsu), Jun LIU (Jiangsu)
Application Number: 18/138,517