Square Level Measuring Tool

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of hand tools and it is designed to create means to combine several commonly used hand tools into one unit.

2. Description of Prior Art

In the past, efforts were made to simplify or combine tools, but unfortunately, in most cases, these efforts resulted in partial success only. This revolutionary new invention contains a carefully chosen and well-coordinated group of tools to gain better utility.

The inventive tool in one embodiment resembles a carpenter's square where the longer straight edge of the square is marked on both surfaces with inches or metric measuring units and fractions thereof. The shorter edge is affixed in right angles to the longer edge and it contains builtin levels, recoil-type tape measure, an attachment clip, marking devices, and a stud finder.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The following discussion taken in conjunction with subsequent drawings shows:

FIG. 1 as a view of one embodiment of the present invention showing partial cross-sectional view of the recoiled measuring tape.

FIG. 2 shows a typical application of the inventive tool.

FIG. 1 shows one of the preferred embodiments of the Square-Level-Measuring tool, depicting the entire device and a partial cutaway of certain hidden areas. The main body of the tool is a square 1 composed by the vertical scale 2 made of metals or hard nonmetals. Both edges of the scale 2 is engraved with inch or metric graduations 3 showing full units and fractions thereof. The edges 4 are straight and parallel to each other. The horizontal stock 5 is made of hard wood, plastics or of light metals such as aluminum alloys and it is rigidly attached to the vertical scale 2 by fasteners 7. The horizontal stock 5 has straight and parallel longitudinal edges 6. The edges 4 of the vertical scale 2 and the longitudinal edges 6 of the horizontal stock 5 are oriented in right angles to each other. There are two pairs of bubble levels 8 affixed and rigidly attached to the inside of the horizontal stock 5 and are oriented in right angles respectively to each other, making possible to establish true horizontal or vertical directions using either edge of the square 1. Recessed and aligned with the centerline of the horizontal stock 5, a stud finder 9 is secured in place to locate hidden nails. A hard steel pointed marker scriber 10 is pushed into a mating hole 11. In a recessed portion 12, of the horizontal stock 5, spring clips 13 are holding a marking device 14, a pen or pencil in place. An oval or circular shaped internal cavity 15 is provided within the horizontal stock 5 to store a flexible recoil-type measuring tape 16, having a metal catch 17, affixed to its end 18. The measuring tape 16 passes through a channel 19. When the measuring tape 16 is fully retracted and the catch 17 is out of the way, it will not inhibit the use of the square 1 to check right angles with. An attachment clip 20 and circular bore 21 are provided to make it easy to carry and to store the inventive tool.

FIG. 2 will explain a typical practical use of the inventive tool. The horizontal stock 5 is resting on the substrate 22 where the bubble level 8 indicates that the substrate 22 is level. The catch 17 hooked to the edge of the substrate 22 and the tape 16 indicates the distance between said edge of the substrate 22 and the edge 4 of the vertical scale 2. A point 23 may be established at a desired elevation along the edge 4 of the vertical scale 2 and defined by the marking device 14 as shown.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be nor should it be deemed to be limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.