CA2251515A1 - Projector level - Google Patents

Abstract

This projector level is composed of a bottom plate, a main structure above the bottom plate, a lid on the main structure, a connection plate over the lid, a main structure internal base block hanging freely from the lid with a perpendicular bi-axial universal coupling, a group of laser ray producers situated on the base block, and a battery case holding the battery that supplies power to the laser producers. On the base block, there is a semitransparent projection lens. In front of the semitransparent projection lens , there is an expansion lens. Parallel laser rays go through, and are reflected by, the projection lens. Those rays going through the projection lens proceed through the expansion lens to form a vertical or horizontal line on a surface in front of the projector.
Those rays reflected by the projection lens form two opposite dots, one above the projector level and the other below the projector level. These two dots form a plumb line.
Several similar projector levels can be used together, with one situated on the top of the other, and so on. The angles of multiple lines from several projector levels can be adjusted and can be based on the same reference coordinate, which is convenient for construction purposes.

Description

Lingua Translation Services Inc.
1235 Bay St., Ste.400 Toronto, Ontario Tel.: (416)513-1328 Fax: (416)513-1329 * a division of All Languages Translation Experts, official member of the Association of Translators and Interpreters [ATIO]
OFFICIAL TRANSLATION
DECLARATION
DOMINION OF CANADA
PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
h ~ ~~"~R~~""~ , of the City of Toronto in the Province of Ontario DECLARE THAT:
I hereby certify that I have accurately and carefully translated the attached copy of the original documents) purported to be a Document from the Chinese language into the English language.
DECLARED this 22"d day of September, 1998 for LINGUA TRANSLATION SERVICES INC.

A Summary of the Invention (Name of the Invention: Projector Level) rojector level is composed of a bottom plate, a main structure above the bottom plate, a lid on the m ' ructure, a connection plate over the lid, a main structure internal base block hanging freely from the h ' h a perpendicular bi-axial universal coupling, a group of laser ray producers situated on the base bloc , a battery case holding the battery that supplies power to the laser producers. On the base block, is a semitransparent projection lens. In front of the semitransparent projection lens , there is a ansion lens. Parallel laser rays go through, and are reflected by, the projection lens. Those rays going ough the projection lens proceed through the expansion lens toform a vertical or horizontal line o surface in front of the projector.
Those rays reflected by the projection lens form two opposite dots, above the projector level and the other below the projector level. These two dots form a pluSeveral similar projector levels can be used together, with one situated on the top of the other, and o_n. The angles of multiple lines from several projector levels can be adjusted and can be based 'o~ the same reference coordinate, which is convenient for construction purposes.
V. Explanation of the Invention This invention, a projector level, is a level that uses a group of laser rays to go through a semi-transparent lens to be projected or reflected on to surfaces. These rays go along three directions:
forward, upward and downward. The forward rays, after going through an expansion lens, form a horizontal or vertical line on a surface. The upward and downward rays go to a surface above and a surface below the level, respectively. Several of such projector levels can be used together. The angles of the laser rays can be adjusted. This projector level is easy to use in construction.
The traditional way of getting a vertical line is to use a plumb bob at the end of a line. Because of the weight of the plumb bob, the line is straight and vertical. But this instrument is not very convenient to carry and use, because it is easily influenced by external factors to swing.
In application, one has to wait for the swinging to stop before one can make any adjustment on the upper starting point. The traditional way of getting a straight horizontal line is to use a spirit level with water. Workers have to put water into the level to look at the leveling observation window at an end of it. It has to be used by two operators and it is often wet, which makes it inconvenient to use.
Because of the above mentioned reasons, a two dimensional projector for determining a horizontal or vertical line was invented (Application No. 80107192, Public Notice No.
174044, US Patent Number 5539990). The main structure of that projector has a group of laser producers, a reflection mirror and a grating. The main structure is hung on a supporting frame with a ball joint.
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Disadvantages of conventional projectors in comparison to our invention include:
I) Existing projectors utilize complex structures and the irregular supporting frame makes it inconvenient to carry. Also, conventional projectors cannot be used together with similar units, based on the same reference coordinate. In addition, the laser rays cannot be adjusted which limits its function as well as the area of where the unit can be applied.

2) Conventional projectors require a motor to turn the reflection mirror to make the original laser light dot move in a circular motion, continuously, which results in a flickering laser light line. The laser rays are scattered, which wastes the light energy.

3) Conventional projectors may require complex manufacturing and assembly processes.
Manufacturing cost is high thus making it unaffordable to construction workers.

4) Conventional methods include the main structure hanging freely from the supporting frame with a ball-joint and the main structure requiring to be hung in its position with the unit's own weight so that it can project a horizontal or vertical line.
This ball-joint has a large surface touching other parts of the supporting frame, which interferes with the main structure and thus affects its accuracy.

5) Because conventional methods have the main structure hanging freely from the supporting frame with the ball-joint, friction occurs. The ball-joint incurs friction with other connecting parts. To solve this problem, a heavier weight and a longer dangling line may be required A heavier weight may cause the supporting frame to become more susceptible to damage during vibrations or impact. Also, a longer dangling line would require more free hanging space from the supporting frame, which limits product operation.

6) Because conventional methods have the main structure hanging freely from the supporting frame with the ball-joint, the two-dimensional projected lines may not be accurately aimed at the object under construction with the turning of the supporting frame. It is just like one can not, by turning a basin, aim a floating object in the basin of water at an external point. Thus, convenience is highly affected.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a projector that can be used conveniently. This new projector is composed of a bottom plate, a main structure above the plate, a lid on the main stn~cture, a connection plate over the lid, a main structure internal base block hanging freely from the lid with a perpendicular bi-axial universal coupling, a group of laser ray producers situated on the base block, and a battery case holding a battery that supplies power to the laser producers.
On the base, there is a semitransparent projection lens. In front of the semitransparent projection lens, there is an expansion lens. Parallel laser rays go through and are reflected by the projection lens. Those rays through the projection lens continue to flow through the expansion lens to form a vertical or horizontal line on the surface in front of the projector. Those rays reflected by the projection lens form two opposite dots, one above the projector and the other below the projector. The lid of this projector and the bottom plate are parallel, and they are co-axial. They are shaped in a way so that several similar projectors can be used together, with one situated on top of the other and so on. Furthermore, the angles of the laser rays can be adjusted, which is convenient for construction application. With the expansion lens, the forward aiming rays are turned in a line, displaying on the surface in front of it. The additional opposite upper and lower light points are also useful for constn.iction application.
Moreover, gravity centre of the base block and the semitransparent lens are both designed for convenient fine tuning in factory as well as for future servicing purpose.
The following detailed technical explanation, together with the appended illustrations, describes the main structure and its various parts clearly.
Illustrations:
Illustration 1 shows the various parts of the projector in a three-dimensional way.
lllustration 2 is another three-dimensional display of the projector.
Illustration 3 is a three-dimensional picture of the projector's external appearance.
Illustration 4 demonstrates how three projectors work together.
Illustration 5 is a dissection picture of three projectors used together.
Illustration 6 shows, in a three-dimensional way, the base block and various parts within the block.
Illustration 7 shows, in a three-dimensional way, the base block and various parts within the block, with the expansion lens vertically situated in front of the projection lens.
Illustration 8 shows, in a three-dimensional way, the base block and various parts within the block, with the expansion lens horizontally situated in front of the projection lens.
Illustration 9 shows, with a dissection picture, the base block and various parts within the block, illustrating how the gravity-centre of the block can be adjusted by tuning the gravity weight.
Illustration 10 is a rear view of the base block.
Illustration 11 and Illustration 12 display how the angle of the projection lens in the base block can be adjusted by tuning the screws.
Illustration 13 demonstrates how one expansion lens changes the directions of original rays.PPNS~T
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Explanation of the illustration numbers:

Bottom plate 11 Protruding disc 12 Opening 13 Indicator 14 Mortise 20 Main structure 21 Container 22 Front opening 23 Glass 24 Bottom and lid openings 25 Indented circle 26 Protruding rim 27 Battery room 28 Measurement 30 Lid 31 Lid opening 32 Coupling slot 40 Connection plate 41 Protruding disc 42 Upper opening 43 Tenon 50 Base block 51 Dangling block 511, 512 Axes 52 Lens compartment 53 Front block 54 Back block 55 Laser module hole 56 Projection hole 57 Expansion lens groove 58 Screw 59 Base block opening 60 Laser producer group 61 Gravity weight 70 Battery case 71 Battery 72 Wiring 80 Semitransparent projection lens 81 Positioning plate 82 Screws 83 Adjustment plate 84 Curve plates 85 Hooks 90 Expansion lens As demonstrated in illustrations 1 and 2, this projector level has a bottom plate 10, a main structure 20 above the bottom plate, a lid 30 on top of the main structure, a connection plate 40 above the lid, a base block 50 that hangs freely from lid 30 with a perpendicular, bi-axial universal coupling in main structure 20, a laser module 60 situated on base block S0, a battery case 70 that supplies laser module 60 with power, a semitransparent projection lens 80 on the base block 50, and an expansion lens 90.
Bottom plate 10 has a protruding disc 11, which is naturally indented at its base (see illustration 5).
Opening 12 is in the centre, and there is indicator 13 at the circumference.
Mortise 14 is at the base of bottom plate 10.
In the centre of main structure 20, there is container 21, which has a V-shaped opening 22 in the front.
There is a piece of glass at opening 22, and at the base of container 21 there is bottom opening 24 (see illustration 5). The base of bottom opening 24 has indented circle 25 to fit protruding disc 11 on bottom plate 10. Bottom opening 24 has protruding rim 26 to fit opening 12. As well, with protruding rim 26, main structure 20 can be turned on bottom plate 10. On each side of the main structure 20, a battery room contains battery case 70. At the base circumference, there is measurement 28, together with the indicator on bottom plate 10, to indicate the angle turned between main structure 20 and bottom plate 10.
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Covering main structure 20, (id 30 has, in its centre, lid opening 31, which has coupling slots 32 on two sides.
In its centre, connection plate 40 has protnrding disc 41, and protmding disc 41 has at its base a natural circular indention (see illustration 5). In the centre of protruding disc 41 is upper opening 42.
On the surface of connection plate 40, there is tenon 43, which can fit into the mortise 14 of bottom plate 10 of another projector level, and these two projectors are positioned with the same axis at the same angle.
With perpendicular bi-axial, universal coupling, axis 511 situated in coupling slot 32 of lid 30 and axis 512 connect dangling block 51, from which base block SO hangs. Base block 50 balances itself with its own gavity. In the centre of base block 50, lens compartment 52, where semitransparent projection lens 80 sits, divides base block 50 into two parts: front block 53 and back block 54. Base block opening 59 is at the bottom of lens compartment 52. Laser module hole 55 goes through the centre of back block 54, and projection hole 56 goes through front block 53. Projection hole 56's position is exactly the opposite of the position of laser module hole 55. In front of front block 53 there is a horizontal or vertical expansion lens groove 57 across projection hole 56 (see illustration 6) to receive expansion lens vertically or horizontally. Near the top of front block 53, on two sides, two screws 58 go through front block 53 and reach back block 54. With the screwing of screws 58, tiny changes in the distance between front block 53 and back block 54 can be made (see illustrations 11 and I 2).
Laser module 60 is a group of lights that can produce parallel rays. Situated in laser module hole S5, laser module 60 is fitted with eccentric gravity weight 61 at its rear end.
With turning gavity weight 61, you can change the position of the gavity centre. Because laser module 60 is a familiar product, it is not described in details here.
Inside battery case 70, there is battery 71, which, connected with laser module 60 by helical wiring, provides laser module 60 with power.
Semitransparent projection lens 80 can be a zero dioptric lens or a triangular prism. The degree between semitransparent projection lens 80's light receiving surface and laser module 60 is 45~. A
zero dioptric semitransparent projection lens 80 can only transmit forward going rays and reflect a upward going ray, while a triangular prism can transmit forward going rays, reflect an upward going ray and reflect a downward going ray (see illustrations 6, 11 and 12).
Positioning plate 81 and screws 82 keep semitransparent projection lens 80 in lens compartment 52 on base block 50. As part of positioning plate 81, adjustment plate 83 extends downward at an angle of 70 to the curve plates 84, which have, at their tops, middles and bottoms hooks 85, to hold semitransparent projection lens 80 in its place.
Expansion lens 90 is a cylinder, or a half cylinder or a FRESNEL lens (see illustration 13) that transmits rays, and spreads the rays (see illustrations 7, 8 and 13) into a plane.

Following illustrations 1 and 2, install laser module 60, semitransparent projection lens 80 and expansion lens 90 on base block 50, with perpendicular bi-axial universal coupling, use axis 511, axis 512 and dangling block 51 to assemble base block 50 to the bottom of lid 30, cover main structure 20 with lid 30, make sure base block SO with all its parts is in container 21, connect power from battery case 70 with laser module 60, put main structure 20 on bottom plate 10, put connection plate 40 on top of lid 30, and you have a projector level as shown in illustration 3.
As shown in illustration 4, situated in a room, parallel rays from laser module 60 are transmitted and reflected by semitransparent projection lens 80 to form forward, upward and downward rays (see illustrations S and 8). Going through expansion lens 90, the forward rays come out of the front of main structure 20 to draw a horizontal or vertical line on a surface. Whether the line is horizontal or vertical depends on the orientation of the expansion lens assembly 90 (in part or in whole) (see illustrations 7 and 8). The upward and downward rays display a marked point on upper and/or lower surfaces. Together, these rays serve the purpose of alignment.
As shown in illustration 5, the shape of "the projector level" is a cylinder, and several of them can be stacked together. In addition, because of the mortise on bottom plate 10 and the tenon on connection plate 40, several projector levels can be used with the same axis. They can also be turned around to needed degrees, and indicator 13 and measurement 28 demonstrate the degrees turned. You can use several projector levels to draw multiple parallel lines or multiple lines that cross each to serve your different construction purposes.
Furthermore, because gravity weight 61 fitted to the rear end of laser module 60 is eccentric, the position of gavity weight 61 decides forward or backward gravity centre of base block 50, that is, the forward or backward dip angle of base block SO when it hangs there freely (see illustration 9). By turning gravity weight 61, you can move the gravity centre towards left or right, that is, the left or right dip angle of base block 50 when it hangs there freely (see illustration 10).
Semitransparent projection lens 80 can be a zero dioptric lens or a triangular prism. The degree between semitransparent projection lens 80's light receiving surface and laser rays must be 45~. While a triangular prism has its surface receiving laser rays at the angle of 45 by itself, a zero dioptric semitransparent projection lens must be positioned at 45~ with positioning plate 81 (see illustrations 11 and 12). Because the degree between adjustment plate 83 and curve plates 84 is 70 , you can finely adjust a zero dioptric semitransparent projection lens 80's degree to the correct angle to make accurate measurements.
The above explanation can be summarized into the following points:
1) The structure of this invention is unique as well as simple. Based on the same reference coordinate, several projector levels can be used together to produce multiple horizontal and vertical lines and a pair of plumb line dots, which can be applied at different places to optimal effects.
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2) With the indicator and the measurement, the relative degree can be determined, which is easy to use for constnrction workers.
3) With the expansion lens turning parallel rays into a line to be shown on a surface, there is no flickering.
4) With the position of the expansion lens, you can decide whether you want to draw a horizontal or vertical line.
5) With the semitransparent projection lens, you can project a plumb line dot, which is a unique character of this invention.
6) Because of the uncomplicated structure and easy assembly, the manufacture cost is not high.

7) With a dangling block, axes and universal coupling, the base block hangs freely from the lid.
The axes are fine and smooth, and with little fi-iction, the flexibility of the base block's dangling is kept. With a short swing aria and a light swing weight, the accuracy of the level is maintained.

8) With a short swing arm, the swinging time of the base block is short, and one can quickly get an accurate measurement.

9) With the position of gavity weight, the dip angle of the parallel rays from the laser module can be correctly adjusted. With the adjustment plate, the receiving surface of the semitransparent projection lens can be kept properly at 45' with the laser rays. Unrelated to the assembly of the lid and the bottom plate, the above mentioned two characteristics let the construction worker complete the optical correction quickly and perform measurements in a fast and accurate manner.
To put a long story short, this invention rectifies the shortcomings of a traditional projector level and has unprecedented fi~nctions. It made progress upon traditional measurement tools and has industrial application value. The structure and its characteristics of this invention are in accordance with the application conditions of your patent act. We respectfully request that your Bureau inspect the invention carefully and give it an appropriate new patent. Thank you ever so much.
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Claims (9)

1. A projector level, comprising:
a bottom plate having a bottom plate protruding disc in the center, said bottom plate protruding disc having a naturally formed bottom plate recessed disc on the opposite side of said bottom plate protruding disc and a bottom plate opening in the centre;
a main structure mounted above said bottom plate having a container, a V-shaped opening in front of said container, a battery room at each side of said container, and a main structure opening situated in a place corresponding to said bottom plate opening;
a lid mounted above said main structure having a lid opening located in a position corresponding to said bottom plate opening, and coupling slots on each side of said bottom plate opening;
a connecting plate having, in the center, a connecting plate protruding disc which coaxially fits said bottom plate nature indent so that two projectors can be used together with the same axis, and a connecting plate opening corresponding to said bottom plate opening;
a base block having a perpendicular bi-axial universal coupling, a base block opening in the centre, and a lens compartment, said perpendicular bi-axial universal coupling having a first axis seated in said two axis slots of said lid, a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, and a dangling block which connects to said lid near the top with said first axis and to said base block near the bottom with said second axis, said lens compartment seated in the centre of said base block dividing said base block into a front block and a back block, said front block having a projecting hole and an expansion lens groove in front and across said projecting hole, said back block having a laser module hole;
a laser producer group having two ends and being disposed in said laser module hole at front end for producing parallel laser rays;
a battery case seated inside said battery room having batteries which provide power to said laser module;
a semitransparent projection lens seated inside said lens compartment having a light receiving surface which forms a 45 degree angle with respect to said parallel laser rays, said semitransparent projection lens selected from the goup consisting of a zero dioptric lens and a triangular prism(s) transmitting partially and reflecting partially said parallel laser rays to form forward going rays and perpendicular going rays respectively; and an expansion lens seated within said expansion lens groove expanding said forward going rays into a plane perpendicular to said expansion lens.

2. A projector level of claim 1, further comprising:
a piece of glass seated at the front of said V-shaped opening of said main structure.

3. A projector level of claim 1, wherein said main structure includes a main structure protruding rim which can be inserted into said bottom plate opening so that said main structure can be turned around on said bottom plate.

4. A projector level of claim 1, wherein said bottom plate includes a measurement on the circumference wherein said main structure includes an indicator, said indicator and said measurement together indicating degree turned between said main structure and said plate.

5. A projector level of claim 1, wherein said bottom plate includes a mortise at the base, wherein said connection plate includes a tenor on the surface, said mortise of one projector level receiving said tenon of another projector level below to position two projector levels on the same axis and at the same angle.

6. A projector level of claim 1, wherein said front block includes two screws near the top on two sides, said two screws bolting through said front block and reaching said back block whereby the distance, and thereby the relative angle, between said front block and said back block can be changed slightly.

7. A projector level of claim 1, wherein said laser module includes an eccentric gravity weight at rear end whereby the gravity centre can be changed by sliding said eccentric gravity weight forward or backward and by turning said eccentric gravity weight towards left or right.

8. A projector level of claim 1, wherein said front block includes a positioning plate and two screws; said position plate having a adjustment plate extending downward to form a pair of curve plates and hooks at the top, in the middle and at the bottom for keeping said semitransparent projecting lens in 45 degree angle with respect to said parallel laser rays; said two screws positioning said positioning plate to said front block and adjusting the shape of said positioning plate for keeping the angle in 45 degree.

9. A projector level of claim 1, wherein said expansion lens is selected from the group consisting of a cylinder lends, a half cylinder lens and FRESNEL lens.