Abstract:
A chalk box includes a housing with an opening and a rotatable reel disposed within the housing. An elongated line is arranged to be wound on the reel. A reel winder is arranged to rotate the reel to wind the line on the reel. A movable cover is mounted to the housing and is movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover when open permits a powder or a fluid marker material to be placed into the housing through the opening in the housing. The movable cover includes an elastomeric material enabling the cover to seal with the housing when the cover is closed to prevent leakage of the marker material at an interface between the movable cover and the housing. A releasable lock is arranged to releasably lock the cover in the closed position, the releasable lock being manually manipulable by a user's fingers to release the lock to permit access into the housing through the opening. The elastomeric material is overmolded onto and thus permanently connected to the relatively rigid material of the movable cover.
Abstract:
A device for determining the relationship of a surface relative to level is provided, the device having an elongated body portion and at least one attachment portion for attaching the elongated body portion to a workpiece. The at least one attachment portion may include a clamp or other attachment mechanism that can be stored in a storage position and deployed in at least one deployed position so as to attach the elongated body portion to the workpiece.
Abstract:
A level includes a body having first and second arms attached to each other for relative pivotal movement about a pivot axis between open and closed positions. The level also includes a bubble vial mounted to the body and having a longitudinal axis coaxial with the pivot axis. Movement of the arms from their closed position to their open position exposes a measurement portion of the first bubble vial for use. Movement of the arms from their open position to their closed position shields the measurement portion of the first bubble vial within the body to protect the bubble vial from damage during storage.
Abstract:
An anchor for securing a line is provided that has an elongated housing with a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end. The housing houses an attachment member for securing the anchor to a surface and the attachment member is configured to protrude from the housing and to retract substantially entirely within the housing. An actuation member is received by the housing and has a protruding. The actuation member is operably connected to the attachment member and biased in a direction toward the second end of the housing. The actuation member is further configured to slide axially within the housing and rotate about the longitudinal axis to selectively move the attachment member such that it protrudes from the first end of the housing at any one of a plurality of predetermined distances.
Abstract:
An item such as a passenger assist handle is anchored to an automotive framing component by a mounting stud passing through a hole in the framing component. The mounting stud includes a shaft with a helix at a first end and a threaded portion at a second end. The helix and threaded portion are of opposite hands and the threaded portion receives a stop nut thereon. The automotive framing component has a teardrop shaped opening therethrough having a first diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft and a second diameter substantially equal to the radius of the helix. Upon threading the nut onto the shaft, while the stud is held initially stationary by frictional engagement between its surface and surfaces of the framing component adjacent to the teardrop shaped opening, the stop nut bottoms against a shoulder on the shaft and then begins rotating the shaft to drive the helix through the teardrop shaped opening. The stop nut then engages the base portion and urges the base portion of the item into a tight relationship with the faming component. Preferably, the mounting stud is made of an acetal homopolymer.
Abstract:
A clamp assembly that can be installed on and removed from its mounting on an elongated structure (e.g., 2×4) without the need for sliding past an end of the structure is disclosed. The clamp assembly may include a pair of clamp bodies with pads for engaging a workpiece. Each of the clamp bodies includes a clamp mount with a movable member arranged to be moved into forced engagement with an exterior surface (e.g., side) of the 2×4 to fix the clamp body on the 2×4. At least one of or both of the clamp bodies include a releasable connection that, when released, allows for the removal of the clamp body from the 2×4 without the need to longitudinally slide the body past an end of the 2×4.
Abstract:
A chalk box includes a housing with an opening and a rotatable reel disposed within the housing. An elongated line is arranged to be wound on the reel. A reel winder is arranged to rotate the reel to wind the line on the reel. A movable cover is mounted to the housing and is movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover when open permits a powder or a fluid marker material to be placed into the housing through the opening in the housing. The movable cover includes an elastomeric material enabling the cover to seal with the housing when the cover is closed to prevent leakage of the marker material at an interface between the movable cover and the housing. A releasable lock is arranged to releasably lock the cover in the closed position, the releasable lock being manually manipulable by a user's fingers to release the lock to permit access into the housing through the opening. The elastomeric material is overmolded onto and thus permanently connected to the relatively rigid material of the movable cover.
Abstract:
A longitudinally-elongated, hand-held level includes a body having a reference surface, a longitudinally-extending corner adjacent the reference surface, and a plurality of bubble vials for indicating an orientation of the reference surface. One or more battery-powered lights (e.g., LEDs) create a longitudinally elongated light emitting region along the corner to illuminate a longitudinally-elongated area that is adjacent to the level for use in low-light environments. The light(s) may project light through a light guide and/or light diffuser(s) extending along the corner to disperse light along the longitudinal extent of the level. The light(s) may also illuminate the corner(s) of the level and/or the bubble vials to enhance use in low-light environments.
Abstract:
A hand tool has two digital video cameras mounted thereon adjacent to a working end of the tool for viewing a work site, which video cameras are connected to a pair of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) mounted on the tool proximate a control end of the tool. The hand tool includes a barrel with a handle at the control end and a control operator for activating the tool, wherein the control operator is in operative relationship with the handle and wherein the working end of the tool is positioned at the end of the barrel opposite the control end of the tool. In an illustrated example, the cameras and LCDs are mounted on a pneumatic nut runner with a T-head tool drive.
Abstract:
A device for determining the relationship of a surface relative to level is provided, the device having an elongated body portion and at least one attachment portion for attaching the elongated body portion to a workpiece. The at least one attachment portion may include a clamp or other attachment mechanism that can be stored in a storage position and deployed in at least one deployed position so as to attach the elongated body portion to the workpiece.