US3612700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser beam reference line means and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-01-21
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1989-01-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention comprises means and a method for establishing a reference line for construction purposes in the form of a energy beam or signal, such as a visible light beam, and preferably, a laser beam. The apparatus includes an energy beam source, adjustably mounted within a housing, pendulously suspended for movement within a vertical plane. The energy beam source and housing are stabilized with respect to a suspension point, so that the energy beam source and housing assume a stable, horizontal position. The apparatus further includes tridimensional adjustment mechanisms for the energy beam source and a stable support for the suspension point. The method of the invention includes the steps of establishing a line offset 90* to the reference line, placing the energy beam source approximately coincident to the reference line, adjusting the energy beam source vertically to coincide with the depth of the reference line, adjusting the energy beam source internally of its housing to desired grade, adjusting the energy beam source to coincide with the reference line in a horizontal plane, and interrupting the projection of the energy beam source to check true vertical plane alignment.
Inventors
- 👤 Rodney L Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S33/00; Y10S33/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for projecting an energy beam as a reference line for construction purposes comprising: a. a stationary support; and b. an energy beam assembly, pendulously suspended about a horizontal axis from the support, and comprising: 1. a bracket, pivoted to the support; and 2. an energy beam source secured to the bracket, and balanced with respect to the pendulous suspension axis to seek a horizontal orientation
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A system for projecting an energy beam as a reference line for construction purposes comprising: a. a stationary support; and b. an energy beam assembly, pendulously suspended about a horizontal axis from the support, and comprising: 1. a bracket, pivoted to the support; and 2. an energy beam source secured to the bracket, and balanced with respect to the pendulous suspension axis to seek a horizontal orientation
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
an energy beam source secured to the bracket, and balanced with respect to the pendulous suspension axis to seek a horizontal orientation
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
an energy beam source secured to the bracket, and balanced with respect to the pendulous suspension axis to seek a horizontal orientation
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the energy beam source comprises means for projecting a narrow light beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the energy beam source comprises a laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the stationary support comprises; a. a rigid, laterally extending support; b. a pivot block assembly, movable along the lateral support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system recited in claim 4 wherein the rigid, lateral support comprises a rail, inverted T-shaped in cross section, and the pivot block assembly comprises; a. a support plate beneath the rail; b. clamp means securing the support plate on the rail; c. a U-shaped pivot mount depending from the support plate; d. a pivot base, pivotally mounted in the U-shaped pivot mount, said bracket secured to said U-shaped mount; and e. means for incrementally rotating said pivot base about a vertical axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system as recited in claim 5 wherein said means for incrementally rotating said pivot base about a vertical axis comprise: a. a vertical ear, mounted on the support plate; and b. an adjustment screw, threaded through the ear and abutting said rail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
The system as recited in claim 5 wherein said means for incrementally rotating said pivot base about a vertical axis comprise: a. a backing plate, pivotally mounted centrally beneath the support plate, for rotation in a horizontal plane, said pivot base being secured centrally thereon; b. means defining a pair of curved slots in said support plate, one on each side of the rail; c. a first pin mounted on the backing plate and extending through one of the slots; d. a second pin, mounted on the backing plate and extending through the other of said slots; e. a vertical ear, mounted adjacent said one slot on the support plate; and f. an adjustment screw, mounted for rotation in said ear and threaded through the first pin, said slots thereby defining the limits of rotation of the backing plate with respect to the support plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system as recited in claim 4 wherein the rigid, laterally extending support comprises a generally cylindrical column, and the pivot block assembly comprises: a. a platform, mounted on the column; b. adjustable clamp means securing the platform to the column; c. a pivot base, to which the bracket is secured; d. means for mounting the pivot base on the platform for rotation about a horizontal axis; and e. means for incrementally, vertically moving the pivot base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system as recited in claim 8 wherein the pivot base includes means for incrementally rotating the bracket about a vertical axis, comprising; a. a vertical shaft for receiving a free portion of the bracket; b. means for rigidly securing the free portion of the bracket to the pivot base; and c. an adjustment screw, mounted on the pivot base and operatively connected to the bracket for rotating the bracket about the vertical shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system as recited in claim 8 wherein the means for mounting the pivot base on the platform for rotation about a horizontal axis comprise: a. a base member having two ears, Said pivot base being received between the ears; and b. a horizontally disposed pin, through the ears and the pivot base.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the means for incrementally, vertically moving the pivot base comprise: a. means defining a threaded, vertical bore through the base member of the pivot base; and b. a vertical worm, freely rotatably mounted with respect to the platform, and threaded through the vertical bore of the base member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the energy beam source includes: a. a housing, about the energy beam source, secured to the bracket; b. means mounting the energy beam source for rotation about a horizontal axis, at its center of gravity; and c. means for incrementally rocking the energy beam source about its horizontal axis mount, with respect to the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system as recited in claim 12 wherein the means for incrementally rocking the energy beam source about its horizontal axis comprise: a. a threaded, vertically disposed shaft, mounted on the impulse beam source and extending through the housing; and b. a knob, internally bored and threaded to receive the vertical shaft, abutting the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the means for incrementally rocking the energy beam source about its horizontal axis further include spring means mounted about the threaded, vertically disposed shaft, internally of the housing, for urging the energy beam source away from the knob.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the means for incrementally rocking the energy beam source about its horizontal axis further include means-indicating deviation of the energy beam source from the disposition of the housing, in a vertical plane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as recited in claim 12 wherein the energy beam source further includes a prism for interrupting and deflecting the impulse beam.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for establishing a light beam reference line for construction purposes comprising: a. establishing a pair of reference points at a known elevation and along a line forming a predetermined angle with the intended reference line; b. adjusting a light beam source, adjustably rotatable at its center of gravity about a horizontal axis within a housing which is pendulously suspended for free rotation in a vertical plane, within said housing in a vertical plane until the light beam coincides with the grade of the reference line; c. placing the pendulously suspended housing light beam source approximately at the predetermined angle with respect to a line drawn through the reference points; d. adjusting the light beam source housing vertically to coincide with the desired depth of the reference line by measuring, vertically, the distance between the reference points and the light beam source; and e. pivoting the light beam source housing about a vertical axis until the beam is disposed at the predetermined angle to the line drawn through the reference points.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for establishing a light beam reference line for construction purposes comprising: a. establishing a pair of reference points at a known elevation and along a line forming a predetermined angle with the intended reference line; b. adjusting a light beam source, adjustably rotatable at its center of gravity about a horizontal axis within a housing which is pendulously suspended for free rotation in a vertical plane, within said housing in a vertical plane until the light beam coincides with the grade of the reference line; c. placing the pendulously suspended housing light beam source approximately at the predetermined angle with respect to a line drawn through the reference points; d. adjusting the light beam source housing vertically to coincide with the desired depth of the reference line by measuring, vertically, the distance between the reference points and the light beam source; and e. pivoting the light beam source housing about a vertical axis until the beam is disposed at the predetermined angle to the line drawn through the reference points.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method as recited in claim 17 wherein the step of pivoting the light beam source about a vertical axis further includes; a. interrupting the light beam with a prism; b. placing an opaque indicator above the prism-diverted beam, having a line thereon parallel with the reference line in a vertical plane; and c. rotating the prism to display the beam along the indicator and rotating the housing until the beam coincides with the line on the indicator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |