Patent US3813170A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3813170A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alignment of a datum line source
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-06-28
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Granted: 1974-05-28
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Expires: 1992-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and means are provided for aligning a datum line source useful in performing precise surveying or construction operations relative to a predetermined reference point. The datum line source utilizes a laser beam generator and may be precisely aligned with a predetermined reference point without the aid of a plummet. A portion of a downwardly directed laser beam passes though an aperture in a reflecting surface disposed in the path of the laser beam to enable precise alignment with a predetermined reference point. The other portion of the laser beam is directed by the reflecting surface for use as a datum line.
Inventors
- 👤 E Sears
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/10; G01C15/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a unidirectional laser beam, a housing for said source having a longitudinal axis, said housing receiving and securely retaining said source such that the laser beam is directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, means for supporting said housing, means for adjustably mounting said housing on said supporting means such that said longitudinal axis of said housing may be positioned in a true vertical position, and means for separating said unidirectional laser beam into a first substantially constant portion and a second substantially constant portion, said separating means comprising an apertured reflective surface disposed in the path of said unidirectional laser beam, said reflective surface comprising first means for directing said first portion of said laser beam in a true vertical direction such that said laser beam may be vertically aligned with a predetermined reference point, said first directing means comprising an aperture through said reflective surface having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said laser beam, and second means for directing said second portion of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said true vertical direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line, said second directing means comprising at least a portion of the surface of said reflective surface adjacent said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a unidirectional laser beam, a housing for said source having a longitudinal axis, said housing receiving and securely retaining said source such that the laser beam is directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, means for supporting said housing, means for adjustably mounting said housing on said supporting means such that said longitudinal axis of said housing may be positioned in a true vertical position, and means for separating said unidirectional laser beam into a first substantially constant portion and a second substantially constant portion, said separating means comprising an apertured reflective surface disposed in the path of said unidirectional laser beam, said reflective surface comprising first means for directing said first portion of said laser beam in a true vertical direction such that said laser beam may be vertically aligned with a predetermined reference point, said first directing means comprising an aperture through said reflective surface having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said laser beam, and second means for directing said second portion of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said true vertical direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line, said second directing means comprising at least a portion of the surface of said reflective surface adjacent said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
215 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a laser beam, a housing for said source having a longitudinal axis, said housing receiving and securely retaining said source such that the laser beam is directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, means for supporting said housing, means for adjustably mounting said housing on said supporting means such that said longitudinal axis of said housing may be positioned in a true vertical position, means for directing a first substantially constant portion of said laser beam in a true vertical direction such that said laser beam may be vertically aligned with a predetermined reference point and means for directing a second substantially constant portion of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said true vertical direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line, said means for directing said second portion of said laser beam comprising a planar reflecting surface, said laser beam having a circular transverse cross-sectional configuration and said reflecting surface including an aperture therethrough having a major dimension meaSured in a plane parallel to said reflecting surface of less than the diameter of said circular cross-sectional configuration of said laser beam for transmitting said first portion of said laser beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
215 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a laser beam, a housing for said source having a longitudinal axis, said housing receiving and securely retaining said source such that the laser beam is directed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, means for supporting said housing, means for adjustably mounting said housing on said supporting means such that said longitudinal axis of said housing may be positioned in a true vertical position, means for directing a first substantially constant portion of said laser beam in a true vertical direction such that said laser beam may be vertically aligned with a predetermined reference point and means for directing a second substantially constant portion of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said true vertical direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line, said means for directing said second portion of said laser beam comprising a planar reflecting surface, said laser beam having a circular transverse cross-sectional configuration and said reflecting surface including an aperture therethrough having a major dimension meaSured in a plane parallel to said reflecting surface of less than the diameter of said circular cross-sectional configuration of said laser beam for transmitting said first portion of said laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The alignment means of claim 2 wherein the configuration of said aperture comprises a truncated, right-circular cone having a central, longitudinal axis transverse to the plane of the reflecting surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
162 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a unidirectional laser beam, and means for separating said unidirectional laser beam into a first substantially constant portion and a second substantially constant portion, said separating means comprising an apertured reflective surface disposed in the path of said unidirectional laser beam, said reflective surface comprising first means for directing said first portion of said laser beam in a predetermined direction such that said laser beam may be aligned with a predetermined reference point, said first directing means comprising an aperture through said reflective surface having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said laser beam, and second means for directing said second portion of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line, said second directing means comprising at least a portion of the surface of said reflective surface adjacent said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a unidirectional laser beam, and means for separating said unidirectional laser beam into a first substantially constant portion and a second substantially constant portion, said separating means comprising an apertured reflective surface disposed in the path of said unidirectional laser beam, said reflective surface comprising first means for directing said first portion of said laser beam in a predetermined direction such that said laser beam may be aligned with a predetermined reference point, said first directing means comprising an aperture through said reflective surface having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said laser beam, and second means for directing said second portion of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line, said second directing means comprising at least a portion of the surface of said reflective surface adjacent said aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a laser beam, means for directing a first substantially constant portion of said laser beam in a predetermined direction such that said laser beam may be aligned with a predetermined reference point, and means for directing a second substantially constant portion of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line, said means for directing said second portion of said laser beam comprising a planar, reflecting surface, said laser beam having a circular, transverse cross-sectional configuration and said reflecting surface including an aperture therethrough having a major dimension measured in a plane parallel to said reflecting surface of less than the diameter of said circular cross-sectional configuration of said laser beam for transmitting said first portion of said laser beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a laser beam, means for directing a first substantially constant portion of said laser beam in a predetermined direction such that said laser beam may be aligned with a predetermined reference point, and means for directing a second substantially constant portion of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line, said means for directing said second portion of said laser beam comprising a planar, reflecting surface, said laser beam having a circular, transverse cross-sectional configuration and said reflecting surface including an aperture therethrough having a major dimension measured in a plane parallel to said reflecting surface of less than the diameter of said circular cross-sectional configuration of said laser beam for transmitting said first portion of said laser beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The alignment means of claim 5 wherein the configuration of said aperture comprises a truncated, right-circular cone having a central, longitudinal axis transverse to the plane of the reflecting surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a unidirectional laser beam, and means for separating said unidirectional laser beam into a first substantially constant portion and a plurality of second substantially constant portions, said separating means comprising a plurality of vertically spaced, apertured reflective surfaces, disposed in the path of said unidirectional laser beam, each of said surfaces comprising first means for directing said first portion of said laser beam in a predetermined direction such that said laser beam may be aligned with a predetermined reference point said first directing means comprising an aperture through said reflective surface having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said laser beam, and second means for directing one of said plurality of second portions of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
154 words
A means for aligning a datum line source comprising a source for producing a unidirectional laser beam, and means for separating said unidirectional laser beam into a first substantially constant portion and a plurality of second substantially constant portions, said separating means comprising a plurality of vertically spaced, apertured reflective surfaces, disposed in the path of said unidirectional laser beam, each of said surfaces comprising first means for directing said first portion of said laser beam in a predetermined direction such that said laser beam may be aligned with a predetermined reference point said first directing means comprising an aperture through said reflective surface having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said laser beam, and second means for directing one of said plurality of second portions of said laser beam at a predetermined angle to said direction of said first portion of said laser beam for use as a datum line.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of aligning a datum line with a predetermined reference point comprising the steps of generating a unidirectional laser beam, and separating said unidirectional laser beam into first and second substantially constant portions by means of an apertured reflective surface disposed in the path of said unidirectional laser beam and havinG an aperture with a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said laser beam, said separating step comprising the steps of disposing said aperture in the path of said unidirectional laser beam to thereby form said first and second portions by unimpeding one of said first and second portions and by reflecting the other of said first and second portions, directing said first portion in a predetermined direction to align said laser beam with a predetermined reference point and directing said second portion at a predetermined angle to the direction of said first portion for use as a datum line.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
153 words
The method of aligning a datum line with a predetermined reference point comprising the steps of generating a unidirectional laser beam, and separating said unidirectional laser beam into first and second substantially constant portions by means of an apertured reflective surface disposed in the path of said unidirectional laser beam and havinG an aperture with a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of said laser beam, said separating step comprising the steps of disposing said aperture in the path of said unidirectional laser beam to thereby form said first and second portions by unimpeding one of said first and second portions and by reflecting the other of said first and second portions, directing said first portion in a predetermined direction to align said laser beam with a predetermined reference point and directing said second portion at a predetermined angle to the direction of said first portion for use as a datum line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-27 | 1977-11-26 | 1978-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-27 | 1981-11-26 | 1982-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-27 | 1985-11-26 | 1986-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |