Abstract: A vacuum-operated waste disposal toilet system suitable for use on commercial passenger vehicles, in particular railcars, including at least one bowl for receiving waste material and a full-retention waste-holding tank connected to the bowl by a drain line. A vacuum blower connected to the waste tank for creating a vacuum in the drain line. A flush valve assembly is provided in the drain line, and is selectively openable to connect the vacuum in the drain line to the bowl for sucking the waste out of the bowl. A disposable spray ring containing a plurality of holes, selectively coupled to a water source, is wedged between the bowl and a separate lip member for dispensing water onto the interior surface of the bowl. The flush valve assembly includes a vacuum chamber with top and bottom vacuum inlet ports, a piston connected to a valve blade movable vertically within the chamber and a flush solenoid openable to selectively connect a second vacuum to the top and bottom inlet ports.

Abstract: A swimming pool skimmer closure having a sealing face plate positioned across the open end of the skimmer inlet and held thereon by a bolt extending through the center of the face plate and through a transversely extending brace member abutting interior, transversely spaced shoulders integral with the skimmer housing. The face plate is tightened into sealing engagement against the skimmer inlet by a nut threaded onto the end of the bolt and abutting the brace member so that the skimmer can be drained without draining the pool water during the winterization of the pool.

Abstract: A movable bathtub unit having a bathtub covered with a jacket receptacle is integrally assembled with bubble-jet producing equipment for emitting a jet of air bubbles or hot water into the bathtub so as to facilitate its transportation and installation. The bathtub further includes equipment for injecting various bath liquids or an aromatic or for illuminating the inside of the bathtub so as to render bathing more enjoyable.

Abstract: A portable crib for a sofa including a front section comprised of an inner gate and an outer gate. The inner gate is slidably received within the outer gate. The device includes a pair of side sections. Each of the side sections is comprised of an inner gate and an outer gate. The inner gate is slidably received within the outer gate. Each outer gate is secured to the inner gate and the outer gate of the front section. A sofa securement mechanism is hingedly coupled with a lower distal end of each of the inner gate and the outer gate of the front section.

Abstract: The invention provides a side rail assembly for use with an institutional bed. The assembly includes provision to move a vertical frame from an upper or deployed position where it is generally above the mattress on the bed, to a lowered position generally below and outside the mattress. The frame can then be moved longitudinally from the lowered position into a stored position below the mattress so that the frame will not interfere with an attendant who is assisting the patient. Further, the frame will then have no impact on access to the bed. The side rail assembly also includes a balance assembly to counterbalance the weight of the frame so that the frame is unlikely to cause accidental injury to a patient as the frame is moved vertically.

Abstract: A bed system with an excreting mechanism includes a front base for receiving the upper half of a patient's body and having a first front portion capable of being tilted up or down, a rear base for receiving the lower half of the patient's body and having a second front portion capable of being tilted up or down, a pot seat for supporting the patient's buttocks, a chamber pot for receiving the patient's excretions, and a posture regulating mechanism for regulating the patient's posture. In tilting gap of the second front portion of the rear base, the pot seat is positioned between the rear end of the front base and the front end of the rear base, and the chamber pot is positioned under the pot seat. The second portion of the rear base is tilted up or down around the rear edge of the second front portion and can be tilted up or down around the front edge of the second front portion.

Abstract: The arm protector head rest is a half cylindrical shaped head rest with an outer and inner surface having a soft foam wall body. The head rest has support ridges of integral skin polyurethane foam on the inner surface sufficient to support the weight of a person's head when resting. A passageway exists between the inner surface and the bed such that a person may place their arms under the head rest and thereby under the resting head without the weight of the head on the arms. An alternate head rest uses U-shaped ribs in the wall to provide the structural support for the weight of the head.

Abstract: An inflatable mattress comprising a pair of exterior tubes longitudinally disposed in parallel on opposite sides of the mattress in combination with a plurality of parallel connected interior tubes smaller in diameter then the exterior tubes and in sufficient number and dimension to partially enwrap a human user reclining on the inflated mattress.

Abstract: A multi-purpose fencing tool which includes an elongated member (2) having a slidably adjustable flange (3) which may be positioned and fixed along the length of elongated member (2). Elongated member (2) includes one end having a point extending therefrom for engaging a link on a chain and the other end presents a flattened surface for tamping. Elongated member (2) also includes a plurality of holes along its length so that slidably adjustable flange (3) may be positioned along the length of elongated member (2) and fixed in its location. The tool may serve as a post puller, as an implement for tamping and compacting fill around a newly installed fence post, as an implement for assisting the fence builder in easily pulling fencing wire from a spool and as an implement for tensioning fencing wire prior to securing the wire to the post.

Abstract: A pair of pliers for gripping, twisting, and cutting wires having undulating wire gripping surfaces, a wire cutting cavity, and a resilient wire gripping material. The undulating wire gripping surfaces have high and low portions that unequally traverse the gripping surfaces and extend unequally beyond the centerline of the pliers. Such a configuration provides an equally distributed gripping force for an entire range of wires without causing any nicks and scrapes on the wire. The cutting cavity has a plurality of surfaces that form tiger tooth-like members. The geometry formed by the cavity's surfaces and tooth-like members provides a large surface area for the resilient gripping material to adhere to.

Abstract: The slide element of a termination tool is modified to include an outer torque/slide body portion, thereby forming a combination--torque and slide--element, which provides the auxiliary capability of imparting torque to an engageable hardware element, such as slotted end or cross-point end screwdriver bit, thereby enabling the tool used to drive commonly used hardware fasteners. The interior bore of the handle in which a slide element is normally axially translatable is modified to capture respective halves of a protective sleeve element. The protective sleeve element is shaped to conform with the shape of a torque/slide body portion of the torque/slide element. The torque/slide element is preferably metallic (e.g. steel) and is generally cylindrically shaped, having a longitudinal axis that is alignable with the longitudinal axis of the tool.

Abstract: A weldless grating comprising: (a) a plurality of longitudinally extending primary load-bearing members having an upper portion, a lower portion and a web located between the upper portion and the lower portion, the primary load-bearing member having a plurality of spaced-apart openings in the web, the openings in each of the primary load-bearing members being aligned with the openings in adjacent primary load-bearing members; (b) a plurality of secondary load-bearing members having an upper edge and a lower edge, the secondary load-bearing members provided with first slots extending downwardly through the upper edge to provide top slots and with upwardly extending slots through the lower edge to provide bottom slots located substantially opposite the top slots, the secondary load-bearing members positioned in the aligned openings in the web of the primary load-bearing members, the top and bottom slots in the secondary load-bearing member forming a locking engagement with the web surrounding the openings in t

Abstract: A suction nozzle adapted for use in a suction cleaning device, such as an automatic swimming pool cleaner, includes a body having a throat extending from an inlet at one end of the body to an outlet at an opposite end of the body. The body itself is split longitudinally into a plurality of discrete body portions to form the throat of the nozzle. One body portion is movable relative to the other body portion, whereby the throat automatically expands in response to the relative movement of the body portions. The resulting expansion of the nozzle allows substantially unrestricted passage of large foreign objects through the throat during the operation of the suction cleaning device.

Abstract: A toothbrush for cleaning and polishing teeth includes a handle attached to a brush head. Attached to the brush head is at least one prophy cup device for polishing teeth, and a plurality of bristle tufts for scrubbing teeth, the bristle tufts being attached to the brush head and placed about the perimeter of each prophy cup device.

Abstract: A fingertip toothbrush is disclosed herein employing a tapered spiral brush having bristles carried on a wire support in coaxial relationship and outwardly projecting from the end of a cup-like base member. The base member includes an internal recess with an opening or entrance for insertably receiving the tip of the user's finger. A semicircular slot is provided in the base member through which an extended fingernail may be accommodated. A reinforcement element secures the wire support and the bristles on the base member.

Abstract: Vacuum cleaner including a unit, comprising an electric motor and an associated suction fan, and a suction nozzle (36) connected to the inlet side of the unit via a dust separating device (15), either directly or via a connectable rigid conduit (13). The vacuum cleaner comprises a handheld unit (10) which when not in use is arranged to be positioned on a stationary storage unit (11), said handheld unit (10) incorporating the said unit and the dust separating device (15) and being provided with a coupling means (12) for connecting of the rigid conduit (13). For power supply purposes, by means of an extensible flex (26), the handheld unit (10) is connected to the storage unit (11) which via an additional flex (39) is connectable to a mains outlet.

Abstract: A blower vacuum comprising a motor (10) operated by a switch (16) and located in a housing (4), a fan (14) drivable by a motor, at least one attachment member (6,106) which covers the fan and which is releasably attachable to the housing, and a safety interlock located at the interface between the housing and the attachment member comprising an actuating means (53) for activating the switch only when the attachment member is attached to the housing and a locking means (54, 42) for locking the attachment member to the housing when the motor is switched on.

Abstract: A disposable cover for an operating room lighting fixture handle comprises a sheath attached to a generally flat flange. At least one tab is integrally formed projecting from the flange, to provide a snap fit between the flange and a recessed area on the light fixture handle. Two covers may be conveniently packaged within a compact envelope by engaging the locking tabs of each cover with those of the other.

Abstract: A hinge with self-closing mechanism includes a hinge arm fastened swivelable to a hinge cup and also includes an elastic element which lies with one end of the elastic element on the hinge arm and disposed outside the hinge cup under the bottom of the hinge cup.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a fiber batt to a fiber processing machine includes a rotatably supported feed roll; a feed table having a face portion cooperating with the feed roll and defining therewith a nip through which the fiber batt passes in an advancing direction; an arrangement rendering at least one part of a feed table surface wear resistant which directly contacts the fiber batt upon passage thereof; a movably supported elongated holding element extending spaced from, and generally parallel to the feed roll; and a plurality of sensor elements each being affixed to the holding element and each being arranged to undergo excursions as a function of thickness variations of the fiber batt passing through the nip. The sensor elements impart a displacing force on the holding element which moves to an extent representing a sum of the displacing forces. A sensor arrangement is connected to the holding element for generating a signal as a function of displacements of the holding element.

Abstract: An attachment system for coupling an object such as a small pouch or case or a tool or flashlight to a belt, backpack, knapsack, vest or the like. The attachment system includes a tab which is sewn to the belt, backpack or etc. . . and which has an elevated region defining a key-like opening. The system also includes a coupling member having a key-like structure which may be inserted into the opening in the tab member, and which may be rotated between a position wherein the coupling member is secured to the tab member and a second position wherein the coupling member may be detached from the tab member. The coupling member may be attached to a pouch or small case. In another embodiment, the coupling member can releasably attach the shaft of a tool or flashlight.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ice pack clip for sealing an ice bag having a blade, a trough, a hinge and a latch. At the hinge end of the clip, the trough has a cam and the blade has a cam follower surface. At the latch end, the trough has projecting nubs and the blade has laterally extending stops. The cam, cam follower surface, nubs and stops cooperate to prevent longitudinal movement of the blade relative to the trough, even if the hinge should fail. Also, the nubs and stops may serve as a secondary latch to prevent unintentional opening of the latch upon bumping the latch release knob.

Abstract: A closure system for a garment of any type, also useful to join two garments, including cooperating magnet assemblies, interdimensionally fixed to opposing closure surfaces of the garment, that securely and removably join the closure surfaces by the attractive action of the magnets. The magnet assemblies are laminates, each laminate produced from a support layer to which is added an adhesive layer. One or more magnets are positioned on the adhesive layer to align and retain them in place. Finally, a cover layer is added over the one or more magnets, and shaped to the magnet(s) to form the laminate that is the magnet assembly. A garment is securely joined when a magnet assembly is aligned with a cooperating magnet assembly, that is, one magnetically opposable, and the magnets attract each other. A garment is opened when the magnet assemblies on the opposing closure surfaces are disengaged from each other by peelably disengaging them.

Abstract: A multiple purpose fastening device, system and method is provided which utilizes one or more fastening elements having an elongate flexible member with respective releasably interengaging, interlocking, or compressively joining, coupling or adhering opposing surfaces covering the entire length thereof with the exception of an end tab, gripping surface or end loop at at least one end thereof. The fastening apparatus of the present invention is not limited to a particular size or dimension. A method of fastening, joining, bundling, and/or the like one or more objects together employs one or more of the fastening devices of the present invention wrapped around one or more objects in a common direction to overlap or superimpose upon itself with the opposing releasable coupling surfaces joined over a portion of each flexible member. The end loops provide an anchoring point for attachment of additional devices, accessories, clips, and the like.

Abstract: A zip-fastener slide with pull tab can be manufactured in one single injection step. For this purpose the opening beneath the bow on the slide body, serving to secure the pull tab, is fashioned by four movable mould cores. The four mould cores are shifted into the mould before injection, and withdrawn in order to eject the finished slide again from the mould. Similarly it is also possible to provide a locking cam which, when in the inoperative position, projects into the intermediate space between two zipper links and blocks the movement of the slide. By means of pulling on the pull tab, the locking cam can be withdrawn from this intermediate space, and the slide can be released.

Abstract: In a hook structure for a molded surface fastener, in an arbitrary cross section of each of a stem and a hook-shape engaging portion of a hook, the cross-sectional area is divided into front and rear side cross-sectional areas with respect to the center line of the hook, and the front side cross-sectional area is defined to be larger than the rear side cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A buckle includes a female member having a main body provided at opposite ends with sockets, a belt retainer adapted for fastening one end of a belt thereto and provided on one side of the main body so as to extend between the sockets, an engaging member having engaging claws facing the sockets and projecting toward the belt retainer and elastic pieces which urge the engaging member toward the belt retainer, and a window for allowing a portion of the engaging member to project downward; and a pair of male members adapted for fastening one end of a pair of belts and insertable into the sockets of the main body to be retained thereby, each male member having an insert formed with an engaging claw which projects toward the inner wall of the main body on the side thereof opposite from the belt retainer and engages with the associated engaging claw of the engaging member when the male member is inserted into the associated socket, the engagement between the engaging claws of the female member and the engaging claw

Abstract: A casket includes a plurality of walls. An attaching device is connected to at least one of the walls for non-removably attaching decorative hardware to the exterior of the casket without accessing the interior of said casket. The decorative hardware includes a decorative body portion and an engaging device. The engaging device provides attachment of the decorative hardware to the attaching device without the use of tools.

Abstract: A seaming device for connecting building panels in a continuous along adjacent side edges of two building panels in the construction of a building or light structure which is particularly suited for seaming panels with both curved and straight portions. The seaming device includes a first frame having an electric motor and two horizontally opposed rollers and a second portion having an electric motor and two horizontally opposed rollers with the first and second portions being coupled together in a hinge-like manner.

Abstract: A dowel extraction device comprising: an inner cylinder formed in a generally cylindrical configuration with an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface including a bore extending therein, the bore including adjustable coupling devices to permit gripping of dowels having different diameters; a central shaft formed an elongated cylindrical configuration with a plurality of external screw threads, the shaft being fixedly attached to the upper surface of the inner cylinder, a nut having a threaded aperture adapted to be threadedly coupled to the central shaft; and an outer cylinder formed in a hollow generally cylindrical configuration with a closed upper end and an open lower end, the upper end including an aperture, the outer cylinder being positioned over the inner cylinder with the central shaft extending through the aperture, the nut being coupled to the shaft above the upper end of the outer cylinder, the apparatus adapted to grip and vertically remove a dowel by rotating the large nut thereby

Abstract: A fastener system for multi-piece swage type fasteners, including a pin and a collar, and providing a stump type fastener constructed to be set as a pull type fastener with the fastener pin having a threaded gripping portion and including an installation tool having a swage anvil and a rotary nut member adapted to be threaded onto the threaded pull portion of the pin whereby a relative axial force is applied between the pin and the collar via the nut member and swage anvil to cause the anvil to radially overengage the collar to swage it into locking grooves on the pin and the pull portion remaining on the pin after installation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hydraulic actuator body such as, for example, a brake wheel cylinder or a clutch or brake master cylinder. The method includes the steps of forming a basic actuator body having at least one spigot projecting externally therefrom, holding the body by gripping the spigot between co-operating jaws and machining the body while it is held by the spigot. If desired the spigot can be removed from the body when all other machining is complete.

Abstract: A method for automatically attaching a bolt for a mortise lock to its draw bar includes the steps of boring a hole longitudinally in the bolt on the axis of the bolt; drilling a hole, having a small diameter relative to that of the bored hole, transversely in the bolt to intersect the bored hole such that the drilled hole is tangent to the wall of the bored hole at its outer edge and intersects the bored hole at the midpoint of the depth of the bored hole; selecting a bar having a diameter which fits snugly in the bored hole; cutting a groove around the bar, the groove having a depth and width substantially equal to the diameter of the drilled hole, and being set back from a first end of the bar a distance substantially equal to half the depth of the bored hole; inserting the bar into the bored hole; and pressing a spring pin into the drilled hole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and stacking laminations that are used in an electro-magnetic device such as a motor or transformer is disclosed. The method steps and apparatus used provides the incremental forming of a predetermined number of laminations from magnetically conductive material with each lamination having at least one coil winding segment of predetermined incrementally varying width. Each coil winding segment is formed by the movement of forming elements such as punching or stamping dies or laser devices and the magnetically conductive material relative to one another.

Abstract: A mobile vehicular antenna for use in accessing stationary geosynchronous and/or geostable satellites. A multi-turn quadrifilar helix antenna is fed in phase rotation at its base and is provided with a pitch and/or diameter adjustment for the helix elements, causing beam scanning in the elevation plane while remaining relatively omni-directional in azimuth. The antenna diameter and helical pitch are optimized to reduce the frequency scanning effect. A technique is provided for aiming the antenna to compensate for any remaining frequency scanning effect.

Abstract: A process for a production of a vertical magnetic head. With this process of producing a vertical magnetic head, a magnetic spacer defining a head gap is formed. This magnetic spacer is formed from a same material as a substrate of the vertical magnetic head. Such a vertical magnetic head has particular application to magnetic recording and reproducing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for positioning a wing panel or other member for riveting or conducting other operations thereon. The member is loaded at floor level on a plurality of hydraulic cylinders spaced over the length thereof and raised to a position for conducting the operations thereon. The hydraulic fluid flow to and from the hydraulic cylinders is controlled to synchronize the movements of the cylinder piston rods so that each of the piston rods bears its share of the load throughout raising and lowering of the member. The cylinders are also individually operated to accommodate passage of riveting machine heads or other tooling relative to the member.

Abstract: The specification discloses a system for producing and distributing index coded hangers to a plurality of locations, wherein the index indicia is correlated to the characteristics of the garment to be hung from the hanger at each of the plurality of locations. A unique hanger and index cap is disclosed, along with a method and means of making the same that is particularly adapted to high volume semi-automated operation. A device for assembling the index cap and hanger at the time the garment is hung is also disclosed.The system contemplates the localized production of the index caps for improved control of batch color and other characteristics, with remote molding and assembly of the hangers at said plurality of remote locations.

Abstract: A biologically implantable percutaneous connector for providing optionally separable interconnection of a large number of small electrical conductors of an externally located electrical cable includes a mating face incorporating an array of exposed end surfaces of tiny conductive rods sealed in a supporting matrix of dielectric material which is supported in a connector body. Elastomeric anisotropic connector material is located between corresponding arrays of contacts to provide for repeated reliable electrical connection and disconnection. External surfaces of the implantable body of the percutaneous connector are coated with a bioactive material promoting integration of surrounding tissue into the surfaces of the implanted percutaneous connector.

Abstract: A thermal detection system (10) includes a focal plane array (12), a thermal isolation structure (14), and an integrated circuit substrate (16). Focal plane array (12) includes thermal sensors (28), each having an associated thermal sensitive element (30). Thermal sensitive element (30) is coupled with one side to infrared absorber and common electrode assembly (36) and on the opposite side to an associated contact pad (20) disposed on the integrated circuit substrate (16). Reticulation kerfs (52a, 52b) separate adjacent thermal sensitive elements (30a, 30b, 30c) by a distance at least half the average width (44, 46) of a single thermal sensitive element (30a, 30b, 30c). A continuous, non-reticulated optical coating (38) may be disposed over thermal sensitive elements (30a, 30b, 30c) to maximize absorption of thermal radiation incident to focal plane array (12).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a new apparatus and method for customized cooling of chips using a plurality of thermally conductive materials. More particularly, the invention encompasses an apparatus and a method that provides customized cooling of a MCM (Multi-Chip Module) by using a plurality of thermally conductive materials.

Abstract: Cutout portions are respectively formed at the lower edges of a pair of terminal plates, one being deeper than the other. At predetermined positions of holding grooves of a lower mold, protruding portions for positioning are formed, by which the terminal plates are positioned when the protruding portions are respectively engaged with the cutout portions. With this construction, terminal plates can be accurately fitted into a holding groove of the mold so that an O-ring can be smoothly attached to the molding.

Abstract: A catalytic vessel for adsorbing catalytic metals, such as from automotive exhaust gases, and carrying out three-way catalysis includes an inlet at an upstream end, a plurality of catalytic chambers located downstream of the inlet, and an outlet. At least one of the catalytic chambers contains a plurality of sheet members preferably made of steel and adapted for deposition of a metal selected from the group of noble and non-noble metals, and more particularly from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, rhenium, palladium, and gold. The vessel may be used in a catalytic system which contains a liquid source of metal catalysts, such as a solution or a gasoline additive, means for adding metal catalysts to a combustion system, and the catalytic vessel, which collects the metal catalysts and is a site for three-way catalytic conversion of starting materials such as automotive emissions to final products.

Abstract: A method for making a plate-tube heat exchanger 10 is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a generally planar plate blank 36 from a deformable sheet of material, forming an aperture 38 at one end of the plate blank and forming a plurality of generally elongate bead preforms 40 in a predetermined configuration by drawing the material from the bottom surface of the plate blank towards the top surface. Next, a plurality of individual beads 34 are formed from each of the plurality of bead preforms by reverse drawing the bead preforms in a direction from the top surface of the plate towards the bottom surface of the plate. The method of the present invention concludes by forming the finish edges 46 of the plate.

Abstract: An elliptical cross section tube of novel construction that is capable of being expanded by a conventional conical tool of the type used to expand round cross section tubes. The tube is also reinforced by integral internal webs. The unexpanded tube cross section has concave lengthwise channels and concave internal webs that are all internally tangent to a circle representing a cross section of the expansion tool's conical head. As the head of the tool is pushed through the tube, it pushes the channels out into the fin hole while flattening the webs. The tube is thus mechanically bonded to the tube, and is left with a pair of internal reinforcing webs.

Abstract: A safety razor system includes a body member for attachment to a razor handle having a shell structure and an elongated blade mounted on the shell structure of the body member. The blade is arcuate along its lengthwise directions and has a skin contacting surface with a plurality of apertures formed therein, the perimeter of each aperture serving as a cutting edge. The blade is mounted on the body with the skin contacting surface entirely offset from the body member and is attached to a handle for pivotal movement in the widthwise direction about a pivot center offset from the skin contacting surface in the direction of contact.

Abstract: A utility knife has a blade magazine removably mounted in a manually holdable housing and rotatable about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing. The blade magazine has a series of radially and longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced blade-receiving slots for separately receiving thin blades having a cutting edge at at least one end thereof, each slot having an open front end to enable a blade therein to be removed from the magazine by forward movement through the front end of the slot. The housing also carries a slidable transport mechanism having a manually engageable actuator projecting from the housing and slidable in a longitudinal direction between front and rear positions, the transport mechanism also having a blade-engaging arm within the housing.

Abstract: A handheld appliance including a housing including a surface area, a moveable member moveable relative to the surface of the housing, and a latch for releasably preventing and permitting movement of the moveable member relative to the housing and including a series of indentations in the surface area of the housing, and a latch member movably carried on the moveable member for movement between a latch position preventing movement of the moveable member relative to the housing and a release position permitting movement of the moveable member relative to the housing, the latch member including a generally planar base portion, and a flange portion which is received in a selected one of the indentations when the latch member is in the latch position and free of the indentations when the latch member is in the release position.

Abstract: An electric hair trimmer with a blade edge protective mechanism including a protective plate that is movable between two positions along movable and immovable blades so that the protective plate extends beyond the edges of the blades when the shutter plate is at one position thus hindering the exposure of the blade edges and retracts from the edges of the blade when the protective plate is at another position thus exposing the blade edges. The main switch of the trimmer is linked to the protective plate so that the operation of the main switch changes the position of the protective plate between two positions.

Abstract: A support for a laser beam generator in a carpenter's level is positioned on the level so that the laser beam generated will lie in the plane of a flat reference surface of the level. A battery or other power supply is housed in the carpenter's level together with circuitry to connect the power supply to the laser beam generator and preferably a switch allowing the generator to be turned off and on. Gauges may be employed in the level for vertical, as well as horizontal, orientation to the reference surface and, if desired, a gauge enabling the reference surface to be repeatedly placed at a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal may be included. Such a gauge may be a commercial gauge such as an inclinometer. Preferably, however, a conventional gauge employing an arcuate tube filled with liquid having a bubble in it which seeks the highest level of the tube with calibration marks for accurately positioning the bubble.