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.

 

1. 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 the shape of a fan;

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

a pin that is movable from a first position wherein the pin is incapable of contacting a surface exterior of the line generating device and a second position wherein said pin is capable of contacting the surface, wherein the pin does not rotate during the movement from the first position to the second position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source generates a laser beam.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the laser beam has an asymmetric intensity pattern.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a support face that substantially extends along a first planar surface and the fan substantially lies within a second planar surface that intersects the first planar surface at an angle.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the angle is about 90°.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the light projects a line in a direction generally parallel to the first planar surface, the line extending in a direction of propagation of the light.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a battery mounted within the housing and switchably connected to the light source.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one reference level comprises a bubble level.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one reference level comprises two bubble levels oriented at right angles to each other.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an aperture in the housing.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein a corner of the lens has a radius of about 0.030 inches to about 0.060 inches.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the corner of the lens has a radius of about 0.047 inches.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the light in the shape of a fan is projectable as a visible line extending at least about 5 lengths of the housing from the housing.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a collimating optics that receives light from the light source and focuses the light into an ovate shape for the projection lens.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the projection lens is made from glass or plastic.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a lens cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the lens cover moves to a first lens cover position the light source is connected to the power supply and the lens cover does not substantially block the exit and when the lens cover moves to a second lens cover position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the lens cover substantially blocks the exit.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an opening through which the pin extends through when moving from the first position to the second position.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lever for pushing and holding the retractable pin into a surface.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the lever comprises a sliding member for moving the pin into the surface.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the lever 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 pin into the surface.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the lever is manually actuated exteriorly of the line generating device and such manual actuation causes the pin to move.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the lever comprises a sliding member for moving the pin into the surface.

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

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the pin is at least partially retractable into the housing.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the pin moves along an axis from the first position to the second position.

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

27. 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 that substantially lies within a second planar surface that intersects the first plane surface at an angle;

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

a pin that is movable from a first position wherein the pin is incapable of contacting a surface exterior of the line generating device and a second position wherein the pin is capable of contacting the surface, wherein the pin does not rotate during the movement from the first position to the second position.

28. The device of claim 27, further comprising a lever for pushing and holding the pin into a surface.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the lever comprises a sliding member for moving the pin into the surface.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the lever 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 pin into the surface.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the lever is manually actuated exteriorly of the line generating device and such manual actuation causes the pin to move.

32. The device of claim 30, wherein the lever comprises a sliding member for moving the pin into the surface.

33. The device of claim 27, wherein the light in the fan-shaped beam has an asymmetric intensity.

34. The device of claim 27, wherein the light projects a line in a direction generally parallel to the first planar surface, the line extending in a direction of propagation of the light.

35. The device of claim 27, wherein the power supply is a battery mounted within the housing and switchably connected to the light source.

36. The device of claim 27, wherein the at least one reference level comprises a bubble level.

37. The device of claim 27, wherein the at least one reference level comprises two bubble levels oriented at right angles to each other.

38. The device of claim 27, further comprising an aperture in the housing.

39. The device of claim 27, wherein a corner of the lens has a radius of about 0.030 inches to about 0.060 inches.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the corner of the lens has a radius of about 0.047 inches.

41. The device of claim 27, wherein the light in the shape of a fan is projectable as a visible line extending at least about 5 lengths of the housing from the housing.

42. The device of claim further comprising a collimating optics that receives light from the light source and focuses the light into an ovate shape for the projection lens.

43. The device of claim 27, wherein the projection lens is made from glass or plastic.

44. The device of claim 27, further comprising an aperture in the housing, the aperture providing an exit for the light and a lens cover switchably connected to the power supply, wherein when the lens cover moves to a first lens cover position the light source is connected to the power supply and the lens cover does not substantially block the exit and when the lens cover moves to a second lens cover position the light source is not connected to the power supply and the lens cover substantially blocks the exit.

45. The device of claim 27, wherein the housing defines an opening through which the pin extends through when moving from the first position to the second position.

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

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the pin is at least partially retractable into the housing.

48. The device of claim 27, wherein the pin moves along an axis from the first position to the second position.

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

50. A method for projecting a fan-shaped laser light generated from a line generating device onto a surface, the method comprising:

moving a pin of the line generating device from a first position wherein the pin is incapable of contacting the surface to second position wherein the pin is capable of contacting the surface;

mounting the line generating device onto the surface by inserting a portion of the pin, which is located at the second position, into the surface;

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.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the direction of propagation is oriented at about 90° with respect to the plane.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the light is substantially monochromatic.

53. The method of claim 50, further comprising forming a line on a surface of interest.

54. The method of claim 50 further comprising pivoting the fan-shaped light onto the surface of interest.

55. The method of claim 50 further comprising orienting and leveling the fan-shaped light.

56. A line generating device, comprising:

a housing comprising a pin mounted on a face of the housing, wherein the pin is movable from a first position wherein the pin is incapable of contacting a surface exterior of the line generating device and a second position wherein the retractable pin is capable of contacting the surface, wherein the pin does not rotate during the movement from the first position to the second position;

a light source mounted within the housing; and

a power supply connected to the light source.

57. The device of claim 56, further comprising at least one lens that receives light from the light source.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein the at least one lens that receives light from the light source projects the light as a fan-shaped beam.

59. The device of claim 58, wherein the light in the fan-shaped beam has an asymmetric intensity.

60. The device of claim 56, wherein the light source comprises a laser light source.

61. The line generating device of claim 56, further comprising at least one reference level on the housing.

62. The line generating device of claim 56, wherein the housing defines an opening through which the pin extends through when moving from the first position to the second position.

63. The device of claim 56, wherein the pin is mounted to the housing.

64. The device of claim 63, wherein the pin is at least partially retractable into the housing.

65. The device of claim 56, wherein the pin moves along an axis from the first position to the second position.

66. A method of aligning an object with a light beam generated from a line generating device onto a surface, the method comprising:

moving a pin of the line generating device from a first position wherein the pin is incapable of contacting the surface to second position wherein the pin is capable of contacting the surface;

mounting the line generating device onto the surface by inserting a portion of the pin, which is located at the second position, into the surface;

generating light along a direction of propagation so that a line is formed along a first planar 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; and

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

67. The method of claim 66, 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.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the angle is about 90°.

69. The method of claim 66, further comprising focusing the light into a fan-shaped beam offset from the surface by a distance.

70. A method for projecting a fan-shaped laser light generated from a line generating device onto a vertical surface, the method comprising:

attaching the line generating device to the vertical surface, wherein gravity acts on the line generating device parallel to the vertical surface, wherein the attaching comprises inserting a pin through a portion of the device so that the pin pierces the vertical surface;

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.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the direction of propagation is oriented at about 90° with respect to the plane.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein the light is substantially monochromatic.

73. The method of claim 70, further comprising forming a line on a surface of interest.

74. The method of claim 73 further comprising pivoting the fan-shaped light onto the surface of interest.

75. The method of claim 70 further comprising orienting and leveling the fan-shaped light.

76. A method of aligning an object with a light beam generated from a line generating device onto a vertical surface, the method comprising:

attaching the line generating device to the vertical surface, wherein gravity acts on the line generating device parallel to the vertical surface, wherein the attaching comprises inserting a pin through a portion of the device so that the pin pierces the vertical surface;

generating light along a direction of propagation so that a line is formed along a first planar 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; and placing an object so that a portion of the object is aligned by the light.

77. The method of claim 76, 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.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the angle is about 90°.

79. The method of claim 76, further comprising focusing the light into a fan-shaped beam offset from the surface by a distance.

80. The method of claim 76 further comprising orienting and leveling the light.

81. A method for projecting a fan-shaped laser light generated from a line generating device, the method comprising:

attaching the line generating device to a surface, wherein the attaching comprises inserting a pin through a portion of the device so that the pin pierces the surface;

focusing a light into a fan shape that substantially lies within a plane;

projecting the fan-shaped light in a direction of propagation that is oriented at an angle with respect to the plane; and

removing the line generating device from the surface.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the direction of propagation is oriented at about 90° with respect to the plane.

83. The method of claim 81, wherein the light is substantially monochromatic.

84. The method of claim 81, further comprising forming a line on a surface of interest.

85. The method of claim 84 further comprising pivoting the fan-shaped light onto the surface of interest.

86. The method of claim 81 further comprising orienting and leveling the fan-shaped light.

87. A method of aligning an object with a light generated from a line generating device onto a surface, the method comprising:

attaching the line generating device to the surface, wherein the attaching comprises inserting a pin through a portion of the device so that the pin pierces the vertical surface;

generating light along a direction of propagation so that a line is formed along a planar surface, wherein the line is interruptable in that should an impediment be positioned on the line, the line will be present on either side of the impediment;

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

removing the line generating device from the surface.

88. The method of claim 87, 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.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the angle is about 90°.

90. The method of claim 87, further comprising focusing the light into a fan-shaped beam offset from the surface by a distance.

91. The method of claim 87 further comprising orienting and leveling the light.