GB2336671A - Level gauge - Google Patents

Abstract

A level device comprises first and second arms 10, 11 which are interconnected end-to-end by a hinge 18 and exhibit respective longitudinal edges which lie in respective, first and second, non-parallel planes, these edges also lying in a common plane to which a line along which said first and second planes intersect is normal. The arms 10, 11 have level indicating devices 17 for indicating the levels of the reference edges of the arms 10, 11 in their respective first and second planes. The level device can be used at a corner between two walls, with the reference edges of the arms 10, 11 placed against the respective walls and the indicating devices used to check that the arms lie horizontally on the respective walls.

Description

2336671 Level Gauge Device This invention relates to a device or so-called

spiritlevel for gauging or testing the horizontal level of a line or object to which the device is applied.

It is well known to horizontally attach elongate decorative items such as picture rails and wall paper borders around the walls of a room. Typically, a conventional spirit level is used to independently set the level of the respective lengths of the decorative item along each of the walls. However, it is difficult to ensure that the adjacent lengths on adjacent walls are level with each other and meet up at the corner of the room.

I have now devised a level gauge device which alleviates the abovementioned problems.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a level gauge device comprising first and second interconnected elongate arms, each having respective longitudinally extending reference edges, which respectively lie in first and second non-parallel planes as well as in a common perpendicular plane which extends normal to a line along which said first and second planes meet, said first and second arms comprising a level indicating device for indicating the level of their respective edges in said first and second planes respectively.

In use, the device is applied to the corner of a room, with one arm extending along one wall and the other arm extending along the adjacent wall. The position of the device can then be adjusted until the level indicating devices on both arms of the device are showing that their respective edges are lying horizontally.

The edges of both arms lie in a common plane and thus it will be appreciated that the horizontal arms are also level with each other on adjacent walls of the corner. Thus, it is relatively easy to ensure that two lengths of elongate decorative items are set horizontally and level with each other on respective adjacent walls.

Preferably the arms are interconnected by a hinge which enables the arms to pivot about a line which extends 2 perpendicular to the common plane, so that the device can be used to set horizontal and level lines on adjacent walls of a corner, regardless of the angle at which the walls meet.

Preferably each arm comprises a flat elongate surface 5 lying in said common plane.

Preferably the f irst and second arms each provide a flat face lying in or parallel to said first and second planes respectively.

Preferably at least one of the arms comprises an aperture through which a fastening can be passed, in order to temporarily fasten the device in place, say whilst attaching elongate decorative items horizontally to the wall. Preferably the aperture is keyhole-shaped.

Preferably at least one of the arms comprises an elongate flexible filament extending from the free end thereof. In use, the filament can be configured to co-extend with the arm of the level, thereby enabling an elongate horizontal line to be defined along the wall.

Preferably the filament carries a materialf such as chalk dust, which can mark the wall to provide a line against which picture rails and the like can be set.

Preferably the device comprises a reel onto which the filament can be wound when not in use.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a perspective view of a level gauge device in accordance with this invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a level gauge device comprising a pair of elongate I-section arms 10, 11 formed of extruded aluminium or plastics material. Each arm 10, 11 comprises an upright, longitudinally-extending central planar web 12 which is respectively attached at its upper and lower edges to upper and lower opposed, longitudinallyextending cross members 13. 14, disposed perpendicular to the web 12. Each cross-member e.g. 13 defines two longitudinallyextending parallel straight edges which are aligned with the corresponding edges of the other cross-member e.g. 14 to define planes parallel to and spaced from the plane of the web 12. The cross-members 13, 14 respectively define upper and lower 1 3 oppositely-directed flat surfaces, which extend perpendicular to the plane of the web 12 and perpendicular to the aforementioned planes defined by the straight edges.

The arms 10, 11 are interconnected by a hinge 18, such that the arms 10, 11 can pivot about an axis P which extends perpendicular to the parallel planes def ined by the f lat surfaces of their cross-members 13, 14 and within the planes defined by their respective webs 12.

The upper and lower cross-members 13, 14 at the hinged ends of the arm 10, 11 are provided with cut-cuts on one side of the hinge, which enable the arms 10, 11 to pivot between 00 and 1350 about the axis P.

The arms 10, 11 are interconnected such that the surfaces defined by their upper and lower cross-members 13, 14 lie in respective upper and lower common parallel planes.

The arm 10 is about twice the length of the other arm although this is not essential. Both arms 10, 11 are preferably provided with cut-outs 15, in their webs 12 which help reduce the weight of the device and save material costs, as well as serving to provide a hand grip.

Each arm 10, 11 is also provided with keyhole-shaped apertures 16 in their webs, through which a screw or nail can be passed in order to temporarily fasten the device to a wall or the like.

A level indicating device or so-called spirit level 17 is rotatably mounted in apertures formed in each arm 10, 11. Each spirit level 17 comprises an elongate, liquid-filled glass tube which is oriented in the plane of the web 12 to which it is affixed. Under normal conditions the portion in which the glass tube lies longitudinally of the arm.

A bubble disposed inside each spirit level 17 is arranged to adopt a central position within its glass tube when the opposite ends of the glass tube are horizontal within the plane of the web to which it is affixed.

An elongate length of cha lk- impregnated string 19 is wound onto a reel 20 disposed at the free end of the longer arm 10. The string extends through a channel which guides the string axially of the arm 10 in the same plane as the surface of the upper crossmember 13 of the arm 10.

4 In use, the device can be used to indicate two horizontal lines along adjacent walls at the corner of a room. This is achieved by applying the device to the corner of the room, such that one arm extends along one wall and the other arm extends along the other wall. Normally, the walls meet at 900 in which case the arms also extend at 900 to each other. However, the hinge enables the device to be used on both internal and external corners between walls which meet at a wide range of angles.

once in place, the device is manoeuvred until the spirit levels 17 on each arm 10,11 show that the longitudinal surfaces of their respective cross-members are horizontal, whereupon a line can be marked around the corner.

If necessary, the device can be temporarily fixed to the wall, after it has been to the horizontal position, to provide a guide against which horizontal wall hangings and the like can be applied. Also, once the device has been fixed in place, the person using the device can use his free hands to extend the chalked string 19 right the way across the wall to define a horizontal line, which co-extends with the surface of the upper cross-member 13 of the arm 10. The chalked string can be agitated, so that it leaves a visible deposit of chalk dust on the wall before it is rewound onto the reel.

The upper surfaces of both arms 10,11 lie in the same plane and thus can define a horizontal line at the same level right away around the corner of a room.

i j 1 claims 1) A level device comprising first and second elongate arms which are interconnected, said arms having respective, longitudinally-extending reference edges which lie in respective first and second, non-parallel planes, said reference edges also lying in a common plane such that a line along which said first and second planes intersect is normal to said common plane, said arms having level indicating devices for indicating the levels of said reference edges in their respective first and second planes.

2) A level device as claimed in claim 1, in which said first and second arms are interconnected by a hinge which enables said arms to pivot about an axis normal to said common plane.

3) A level device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said arms have respective flat, elongate surfaces lying in said common plane.

4) A level device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said arms provide respective flat faces lying in or parallel to the respective said first and second planes.

5) A level device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one of said arms is formed with an aperture through which a fastening can be passed for fastening the level device temporarily in position.

6) A level device as claimed in claim 5, in which the or each aperture is keyhole-shaped.

7) A level device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each arm has an I-shaped cross-section.

8) A level device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one of said arms is provided with an elongate flexible filament extending from the free end of said arm.

6 9) A level device as claimed in claim 8, in which said filament carries material capable of marking a wall against which, in use, the level device is placed, for making a line on said wall.

10) A level device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a reel around which said filament is normally wound.

11) A level device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.