Laser line generating device

A self-contained line generating device uses a laser diode and a lens to project a fan-shaped beam of visible light. The lens is useful for receiving light and transmitting light in an asymmetrical planar beam. The light is useful for aligning objects in a vertical or a horizontal line. The generator also includes a substantially flat face and leveling devices for leveling and orienting the generator onto a flat surface. Retractable pins enable a user to easily mount the line generator onto a wall and align objects.

 

What is claimed is:

1. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing comprising a support face that substantially extends along a first planar surface;

a light source mounted within the housing;

a power supply connected to the light source;

a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in the shape of a fan, wherein the housing and the fan substantially lies within a second planar surface that intersects the first planar surface at an angle;

at least one reference level on an outside of the housing;

a retractable pin extending from the line generating device;

an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and

a lever that contacts the pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for pushing the retractable pin into a surface.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an opening in the support face through which the pin extends.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the support face is integral with the housing.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the pin has a distal end that defines a point.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the pin does not rotate during retraction.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the pin is retractably mounted to the housing.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the pin is retractable into the housing.

8. The device of claim 8, wherein said lever comprises a sliding member for moving the retractable pin into a surface.

9. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing having a face and a closable aperture;

a light source mounted within the housing;

a battery switchably connected to the light source;

a lens that receives light and projects the light;

a retractable pin and a second pin that each extend from the line generating device;

at least two bubble levels at right angles to each other on an outside of the housing;

an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the battery, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the battery and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the battery and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and

a lever that contacts the retractable pin and is attached to the line generating device whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for moving the retractable pin into a surface.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the light source generates a laser beam.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the lens projects the light in the shape of a fan.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the face is integral with the housing.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said lever comprises a sliding member for moving the retractable pin into a surface.

14. The device of claim 9, further comprising an opening in the face through which the retractable pin extends.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the retractable pin has a distal end that defines a point.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the retractable pin does not rotate during refraction.

17. The device of claim 9, wherein the retractable pin is retractably mounted to the housing.

18. The device of claim 9, wherein the retractable pin is retractable into the housing.

19. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing;

a light source mounted within the housing;

a power supply connected to the light source;

a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in a direction of propagation in the shape of an elongated fan that substantially lies within a plane that is oriented at an angle with respect to the direction of propagation;

an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and

a lever that contacts a pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for moving the pin.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the pin extends through an opening in a face of the housing.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the face is integral with the housing.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the pin has a distal end that defines a point.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the pin does not rotate during retraction.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein the pin is retractably mounted to the housing.

25. The device of claim 19, wherein the pin is retractable into the housing.

26. The device of claim 19, wherein said lever comprises a sliding member for moving the retractable pin into a surface.

27. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing comprising a substantially flat face;

a retractable pin extending from the line generating device;

a light source mounted within the housing;

an optical system that receives light and projects the light as a fan-shaped beam that lies substantially within a plane and forms a visible line at an intersection of the beam and a surface of interest;

an aperture in the housing the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to a power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and

a lever that contacts the retractable pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for moving the retractable pin into a surface.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the substantially flat face is integral with the housing.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein said lever comprises a sliding member for moving the retractable pin into a surface.

30. The device of claim 27, further comprising an opening in the face through which the pin extends.

31. The device of claim 27, wherein the pin has a distal end that defines a point.

32. The device of claim 27, wherein the pin does not rotate during retraction.

33. The device of claim 27, wherein the pin is retractably mounted to the housing.

34. The device of claim 27, wherein the pin is retractable into the housing.

35. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing;

a retractable pin mounted for movement relative to the housing;

a light source mounted within the housing; and

a power supply connected to the light source;

an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the battery, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the battery and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the battery and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and

a lever that contacts the retractable pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated without use of external factors other than direct human contact for moving the retractable pin into a surface.

36. The device of claim 35, further comprising at least one lens that receives light from the light source.

37. The line generating device of claim 36, wherein the at least one lens that receives light from the light source projects the light as a fan-shaped beam.

38. The line generating device of claim 35, wherein the light source comprises a laser light source.

39. The line generating device of claim 35, further comprising at least one reference level on the housing.

40. The device of claim 35, wherein said lever comprises a sliding member for moving the retractable pin into a surface.

41. The device of claim 35, wherein the pin has a distal end that defines a point.

42. The device of claim 35, wherein the pin does not rotate during retraction.

43. The device of claim 35, wherein the pin is retractably mounted to the housing.

44. The device of claim 35, wherein the pin is retractable into the housing.

45. A method of aligning an object with a light beam, the method comprising:

positioning a light generator with a retractable pin adjacent to a surface;

mounting the light generator to the surface via manually actuating the retractable pin without the use of external devices so that the retractable pin penetrates the surface;

generating light from the light generator along a direction of propagation so that a line is formed along the surface, wherein the line is interruptible in that should an impediment be positioned on the line, the line will be present on either side of the impediment, wherein the generating comprises moving a cover from a first position to a second position that causes light from the light generator to be generated and to pass through an exit that is blocked by the cover at the first position; and

placing an object so that a portion of the object is aligned by the light.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the method generates light in the shape of a fan that lies substantially in a second planar surface that intersects the first planar surface at an angle.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the angle is about 90.degree..

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising focusing the light into a fan-shaped beam offset from the surface by a distance.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the mounting comprises moving a lever of the light generator that causes the pin to enter into the surface.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the pin does not rotate during the moving of the lever.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising removing the light generator from the surface after the placing has been completed and then retracting the pin into the housing.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein after the placing the cover is moved from the second position to the first position that causes the light generator to cease generating light.

53. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing comprising a support face that substantially extends along a first planar surface;

a light source mounted within the housing;

a power supply connected to the light source;

a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in the shape of a fan, wherein the housing and the fan substantially lies within a second planar surface that intersects the first planar surface at an angle;

at least one reference level on an outside of the housing;

a retractable pin extending from the line generating device, the pin comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is accessible exteriorly of the line generating device and the second end cannot be directly contacted exteriorly of the line generating device;

an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the cover moves to a first position the light source is connected to the power supply and the cover does not substantially block the exit and when the cover moves to a second position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the cover substantially blocks the exit; and

a lever that contacts the pin and is attached to the line generating device, whereby the lever is manually actuated exteriorly of the line generating device and such manual actuation causes the retractable pin to move.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein the manual actuation of the lever is performed without use of external factors other than direct human contact for moving the retractable pin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Alignment of surfaces is a perennial problem in a variety of fields, ranging from construction to interior decorating. Alignment is necessary for walls that should be perpendicular to a floor, or otherwise plumb. Masonry and brick-laying practitioners are well aware of the importance of plumbed and aligned surfaces and chalk lines. A home interior decorated with pictures and other wall ornamentation makes a much better appearance when the ornamentation is aligned, especially with respect to vertical or horizontal alignment. Many mechanical and electrical alignment devices are available, and some laser devices are available. Some of these products are cumbersome, others are not as useful as they could be. Chalk lines, for instance, are sometimes undesirable for use in finished, interior areas.

One aspect of alignment-product performance, and in particular of laser-alignment products, that could be improved is the width, brightness and straightness of the laser light. A visible, straight laser line is acceptable, but may be limited in its brightness over a distance, and may also tend to defocus and become dimmer as a user works away from the source of the laser. Rotating lasers are used to project lines on walls perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the laser. Thus, such devices may have limited utility or may not work in confined spaces requiring a longer alignment tool.

Moreover, a conventional laser is not well-equipped for projecting a flat or planar beam of light. The essence of laser light is that it is coherent or substantially monochromatic, that is, of a single wavelength or a narrow wavelength band. Thus, when a beam of laser light is refracted through a prism, the prism output is not a spreading of the beam as with ordinary "white" light, but rather a coherent, focused beam, very similar to the input. The laser beam is thin and is usefully only visible when projected onto a surface.

Another aspect that could be improved is the inability of laser devices to work around obstructions. That is, if a wall-hanging, such as a picture frame, interrupts the laser beam, it may be blocked from further projection. Therefore, it is necessary to mark locations or heights, one by one, rather than working with the actual objects, in order to align them. Obstructions may include moldings placed in a doorway, picture frames in the way of those being aligned on one horizontal line, the operator of the device, other obstacles, or even textured or stuccoed surfaces on interior walls.

There are devices that direct a laser beam parallel to but away from a surface requiring alignment. A marker device or detector component is then used to sight the beam and mark corresponding locations on the wall adjacent the beam. Use of such a device requires multiple components and at least two people, one to align the laser and another to mark the wall. Moreover, the wall itself requires marking with this method.

A conventional laser beam projector is thus not able to project a laser line on the wall on which it is mounted, nor can it go around obstructions. A laser alignment beam mounting on the wall where alignment is needed would allow a person seeking alignment, whether a carpenter, a painter, or an interior decorator, to accomplish his or her task in a quicker and easier fashion. The ability to work around obstacles would save much time and effort. Finally, such laser alignment devices must be aligned themselves, and are typically equipped with a tripod and a sophisticated leveling device so that they read true for horizontal and vertical plumbs. While leveling is necessary, such sophistication as a tripod adds to the expense and bulkiness of the leveling device. What is desired is a convenient, easy-to-level laser device useful for aligning objects.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention is a laser line generating device. The line generating device includes a housing. Within the housing are mounted a light source and a power supply connected to the light source. There is a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in the shape of a fan. There is also at least one reference level on an outside of the housing. The light is projected substantially along its direction of propagation onto the wall on which it is mounted. Another embodiment is a line generating device. The line generating device includes a housing and a light source mounted within the housing. There is a power supply connected to the light source, and there is a projection lens that receives light and projects the light in a direction of propagation in the shape of an elongated fan that substantially lies within a plane that is oriented at an angle with respect to the direction of propagation.

Another embodiment is a method for projecting a fan-shaped laser light onto a surface. The method includes focusing a light into a fan shape that substantially lies within a plane, and projecting the fan-shaped light in a direction of propagation that is oriented at an angle with respect to the plane. Another embodiment is a line generating device. The line generating device includes a housing and a light source mounted within the housing. Within the housing there is also an optical system that receives light and projects the light as a fan-shaped beam that lies substantially within a plane and forms a visible line at an intersection of the beam and a surface of interest. Another embodiment is a lens for receiving and projecting light. The lens includes an optical material, and has at least one corner radiused from about 0.030 to about 0.060 inches. The lens is adapted to receive light and to transmit light in a fan-shaped beam.

The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an outside of an embodiment of a laser line generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an alternate view of the generator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway isometric view showing the inside of the generator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view depictin