Spirit level frame for mounting spirit vial units

Claim 2

A spirit level of elongated structure having spirit vial units at longitudinally spaced intervals thereof, said spirit level consisting essentially of a spirit level frame comprising an elongated channel of U-shaped cross section, said frame having parallel sidewalls and a thin connecting web extending perpendicularly between said sidewalls, said sidewalls projecting a substantial distance from one surface of said web thereby forming a deep recess adapted to receive spirit vial units, a plurality of spirit vial units which are spaced longitudinally along said web and all of which are mounted on the same side of said web within the channel of said frame, at least one of said spirit vial units having one spirit vial oriented perpendicularly to said sidewalls and another spirit vial disposed perpendicularly to said web, and means on said unit facilitating simultaneous viewing of both spirit vials from a position laterally of said frame, at least one of said spirit vial units having a spirit vial oriented longitudinally of and parallel to said sidewalls, a thin walled projecting member extending beyond the other surface of said web and providing with said surface of the web at least one right-angle corner, whereby adjacent surfaces of said web and projecting member are adapted for collective engagement with two perpendicularly disposed vertical surfaces and with adjacent perpendicularly disposed horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Claim 3

A spirit level frame as defined in claim 1 wherein said projecting member is in alignment with one of said sidewalls and forms in conjunction therewith an enlarged surface.

Claim 4

A spirit level as defined in claim 1 wherein said projecting member is intermediate said sidewalls and forms, with the adjacent surface of said web, two right-angle corners for collective engagement with perpendicularly disposed surfaces.

Claim 5

A spirit level as defined in claim 3 wherein said projecting member is positioned inwardly from one of said sidewalls a distance which is at least about equal to the distance said projecting member extends from the surface of said web.

Claim 6

A spirit level comprising an elongated frame of channelled contour defined by parallel sidewalls and a thin connecting web perpendicular to said sidewalls, said sidewalls projecting a substantial distance from one surface of said web, a thin walled projecting member extending beyond the other surface of said web providing at least one right-angle corner between said projecting portion and adjacent web surface, and at lease one self-contained dual spirit unit secured to said connecting web between said sidewalls, said spirit unit comprising a body part and a spirit vial part, the body part having back and bottom walls disposed at right angles to each other, the backwall having a triangular extension arranged over and spaced from said bottom wall, one surface of said extension facing said bottom wall being at an acute angle to said bottom wall, a mirror supported on said one surface, a forward portion of the bottom wall having a short raised wall forming, in combination with said back and bottom walls, an upwardly directed channel, said spirit vial part having a rectangular base fitting snugly in said channel, said vial part including means projecting at the upper surface of said base for visably supporting and positioning two spirit vials in a common plane parallel to said bottom wall in close proximity to and at right angles to each other, and said body part including means at the rear of said backwall, comprising rearwardly extending flanges along opposed edges of said backwall and a central threaded recess, for adjustably mounting said spirit unit on the web of said frame.

Claim 7

A spirit level comprising an elongated frame of channelled contour defined by parallel sidewalls and a thin connecting web perpendicular to said sidewalls, said sidewalls projecting a substantial distance from one surface of said web, a thin walled projecting member extending beyond the other surface of said web providing at least one right-angle corner between said projecting portion and adjacent web surface, and at lease one self-contained dual spirit unit secured to said connecting web between said sidewalls, said spirit unit comprising a body part and a spirit vial part, the body part having back and bottom walls disposed at right angles to each other, the backwall having a triangular extension arranged over and spaced from said bottom wall, one surface of said extension facing said bottom wall being at an acute angle to said bottom wall, a mirror supported on said one surface, a forward portion of the bottom wall having a short raised wall forming, in combination with said back and bottom walls, an upwardly directed channel, said spirit vial part having a rectangular base fitting snugly in said channel, said vial part including means projecting at the upper surface of said base for visably supporting and positioning two spirit vials in a common plane parallel to said bottom wall in close proximity to and at right angles to each other, and said body part including means at the rear of said backwall, comprising rearwardly extending flanges along opposed edges of said backwall and a central threaded recess, for adjustably mounting said spirit unit on the web of said frame.

Claim 8

A spirit level as defined in claim 5 wherein a plurality of said spirit units are mounted at longitudinally spaced positions on the web of said frame, at least one of sAid spirit units being disposed with the plane of said spirit vials perpendicular to the planes of the sidewalls of said frame.

Claim 9

A spirit level as defined in claim 5 wherein a plurality of said spirit units are mounted at longitudinally spaced positions on the web of said frame, at least one of said spirit units being disposed with the plane of said spirit vials parallel to the sidewalls of said frame.

Claim 10

A spirit level as defined in claim 5 wherein a plurality of said spirit units are mounted at longitudinally spaced positions on the web of said frame, at least two of said spirit units being differently oriented with one such unit being disposed with the plane of said vials perpendicular to the planes of he sidewalls of said frame, and the other of said units being oriented to dispose the plane of said vials parallel to the sidewalls of said frame.

Claim 11

A spirit level as defined in claim 5 wherein said projecting member is in alignment with one of the sidewalls of said frame providing with said sidewall are enlarged outer bearing surface.

Claim 12

A spirit level as defined in claim 9, wherein at least three spirit units are secured to the web of said frame, one of said units being located centrally of said frame, with the plane of said vials parallel with the sidewalls of said frame and adapted for viewing when the spirit level is resting on said enlarged outer bearing surface of the frame, and two other units being located at end portions of said frame with the plane of the vials of each such unit being disposed perpendicularly to the planes of the sidewalls of said frame, and the mirror on each such unit extending toward the adjacent end of said frame.

Claim 13

A spirit level as defined in claim 5 wherein said projecting member is intermediate the sidewalls of said frame providing, with the outer surface of said web, two right-angle corners for selective engagement with perpendicularly disposed surfaces.

Claim 14

A spirit level as defined in claim 11 wherein four spirit units are secured to said frame, two of said units being located centrally of said frame with the planes of said vials parallel to said sidewalls of said frame, the vials of one such unit being adjacent to one sidewall and the vials of the other such unit being adjacent the opposed sidewall, and two other units being located at end portions of said frame with the plane of the vials of each such unit being disposed perpendicularly to the planes of the sidewalls of said frame, and the mirror on each such unit extending toward the adjacent end of said frame.