Non-slip cap for a tool suitable for viewing a dimension or position
Patent Information
- Application Number
- ES2026030347U
- Authority / Receiving Office
- ES · ES
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-18
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2036-02-18
Abstract
Description
Non-slip cap for a tool suitable for viewing a dimension or position Field of invention The object of the present invention is a non-slip cap for a tool suitable for visualizing a dimension or position, according to the preamble of the main claim. A tool of this type with said cap is also claimed. State of the art Tools for visualizing a dimension or position are widely known and used, especially in the fields of construction and DIY. These tools include, for example, levels used to measure or verify the flatness or verticality of surfaces, or rulers or straightedges, which allow for measuring distances, even in a general way, or help the worker to draw horizontal, vertical, or oblique lines on the surfaces being worked on (for example, a wall). These tools usually have a hollow parallelepiped-shaped body with opposite faces of different areas, typically made of light metal such as aluminum; this body can have a rectangular and / or square cross-section. This body may have gripping elements and, in the case of a level, one or more vials containing an air bubble through which the flatness and / or verticality of a surface can be checked. At the ends of this tool body, there are plugs that seal off access to the tool's internal cavity. One problem identified with this type of tool is that, upon contact with vertical surfaces or surfaces with a low coefficient of friction (such as glass, wood, or marble), the tool tends to slip or become misaligned, rendering it unusable. For this reason, current technology has developed solutions to increase the adhesion of the aforementioned tool to the surface on which it is placed. Some of these solutions include adding anti-slip elements with a high coefficient of friction, such as polymer, rubber, or similar materials, to one or more faces of the tool body. These anti-slip elements can have different shapes, such as strips, rings, cylinders, or similar forms; they can be molded together with the tool body or inserted into recesses provided for them. Specific plugs, inserted into openings at the end of the tool body, are also used as anti-slip elements. These plugs may have a body made of different materials, with one part protruding from opposite sides of the plug, so that, when the plug is in the working position, it protrudes from at least one face of the tool.The protruding part is made of a material with a high coefficient of friction and can be made contact with the surface where the tool is placed to prevent it from slipping. Other known solutions include end caps, which contain several separate anti-slip elements with a high coefficient of friction. However, these caps have a limited size or contact area with the surface on which the tool rests. Consequently, the effectiveness of these solutions is low, and the desired effect is often unsatisfactory, since their small size often fails to effectively prevent the tool body from slipping on the surface. Another problem observed in the prior art is that anti-slip elements, which have a high coefficient of friction, often protrude from both sides of the tool body. In such cases, the tool for visualizing a position or dimension always protrudes from the surface on which it is placed, even when it should be in direct contact with the surface being machined or subjected to measurement or evaluation of its spatial position. Furthermore, in the case of separate and distinct anti-slip elements, these may be pressed against the surfaces being measured with varying forces, which can lead to uneven wear. Since wear does not occur to the same degree on all anti-slip elements, the thickness of these elements varies from one to another, resulting in inaccurate measurements. Description of the invention The objective of the present invention is to create a plug that fits onto the open end of a tool used to visualize a dimension or position, in order to prevent the tool from slipping on the surface on which it rests, said plug being an improvement over other similar plugs already known. In particular, the objective of the present invention is to offer a plug of the aforementioned type that is made of a material with a high coefficient of friction and that has a large surface area suitable for contact with the surface on which the utensil rests, so as to effectively prevent its slippage. Another objective is to offer a plug of the type mentioned that prevents the tool from slipping without any particular pressure being exerted on it. Another objective is to offer a cap of the type mentioned that performs the anti-slip function even when holding the tool against the surface on which it rests with one hand, so that it is easier, for example, to use the tool as a ruler to draw lines on that surface using the other hand. Another objective is to offer a plug that can be quickly and easily inserted into the corresponding hollow end of the tool. Another objective is to offer a plug that can be easily placed on the hollow end of the tool. Another objective is to offer a tool to visualize a dimension or position in space of a surface or body, that is easy to manufacture and low cost, and easy to use and handle for the operator. Another objective of the present invention is to manufacture a tool of the type mentioned with anti-slip elements of high coefficient of friction that allow said tool, during its use, not to slip when it rests on a surface, for example, a vertical wall. Another objective is to offer a tool with a usable friction surface in contact with the surface to be measured without adding any new part (or detail) to the measuring tool, but simultaneously using both caps that are usually present at both ends of the tool. These and other objectives, which will be obvious to experts in the field, are achieved by means of a non-slip stopper according to claim 1 and a tool including said stopper according to the corresponding independent claim. Brief description of the drawings For a better understanding of the present invention, the following drawings are attached for illustrative purposes only, but not as a limitation, in which: Figure 1 shows an elevation view of a tool for visualizing a dimension or spatial position of a surface or body according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a plug according to the present invention associated with the tool of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view from another angle of the plug in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a side view of the single-component anti-slip plug of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a view from below of the plug in Figure 2; Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view along trace AA of Figure 4; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view along trace BB of Figure 5; Figure 8 shows a front view of the plug from Figure 2; Figure 9 shows an enlarged view of the detail indicated by C in Figure 6; and Figure 10 shows an enlarged view of the detail indicated by D in Figure 6. Detailed description of some ways of carrying out the invention It should be noted that, when the term "substantial" or "substantially" is used in this description, it should be understood that this term includes a variation due to unavoidable construction tolerances. With reference to the figures mentioned, a tool for visualizing a dimension or spatial position of a surface or body is generically indicated by reference number 100 and comprises a body 10, hollow at least at its opposite ends 10A and 10B; each of these ends is associated with an anti-slip plug 1. In particular, this tool 100 is suitable for measuring the coplanarity of surfaces or helps to draw straight lines in horizontal, vertical, and / or oblique directions. This tool 100 can be a level, a ruler, or a straightedge, provided with non-slip caps 1 at its ends. Body 10 can be a parallelepiped-shaped profile made of a rigid yet lightweight material, resulting in a light and easy-to-handle component. Advantageously, this body 10 is made of aluminum. In the embodiment shown in the figures, said body 10 has a rectangular cross-section comprising four surfaces, two by two parallel to each other. In this particular embodiment, the first two lateral surfaces S1 have a larger area than the second two lateral surfaces S2. Furthermore, the body 10, at its opposite ends 10A and 10B, also comprises two external perimeter surfaces 12 that define end cavities 13. However, it should be noted that body 10 can also have a square section, while still remaining a parallelepiped. In the form of the figures, the body 10 (which defines, in the example, a level) also comprises one or more bubbles 11, intended to allow determining whether a surface, to which the level is brought, has a perfectly horizontal, vertical or oblique position. As mentioned, tool 100 comprises, at its opposite ends, anti-slip caps 1 suitable for increasing the tool's grip on the surface it approaches (and with which it obviously comes into contact). In fact, due to the low coefficient of friction of the material that constitutes body 10, it would tend to slip or rotate on said surface, which would make the measurement results less accurate and unstable due to the difficulty of keeping the tool fixed to the wall even for a limited time. To prevent such slippage, in the present invention non-slip plugs 1 are used, which are inserted inside each of the two end cavities 13 of the body 10, corresponding to the external perimeter surfaces 12. The anti-slip cap 1 is made from a single material characterized by a high coefficient of friction. Therefore, it is a one-piece, single-component body made of rubber or a flexible polymer material. Preferably, it is made of rubber or a similar material. Said single-component anti-slip plug 1 comprises a molded body including a first part 2 and a second part 3. Said plug is hollow inside to the full depth of both parts 2 and 3. The first part 2 is suitable for insertion into a corresponding end cavity 13 of the body 10 by means of an interference fit. In the embodiment shown in the figures, said first part 2 has essentially a rectangular cross-section. In order to facilitate the insertion of said first part 2 into the cavity 13 of the body 10, said first part 2 comprises, corresponding to its free end 2A, a chamfered edge 7 (as shown in figures 2 and 7). Preferably, said chamfered edge 7 is inclined at 15°. Furthermore, in order to further facilitate the insertion of the first part 2 into the cavity 13 of the body 10, said first part 2 has reinforcing partitions 8A, parallel to each other, which create several cavities 8. In the embodiment shown in the figures, said cavities 8 have the same shape, as can be seen in figure 6.These cavities 8, separated by partitions 8A, simultaneously provide greater structural strength to part 2 and the necessary flexibility and elasticity to further facilitate its insertion into the end cavities 13 of body 10. The alternating partitions 8A and cavities 8 form a lattice structure in parts 2 and 3 of the plug, giving them lightness, strength, and elasticity. In the embodiment shown in the figures, these cavities 8 have a rectangular cross-section with beveled corners. To increase the adhesion between the one-component anti-slip plug 1 and body 10 once assembled, convex ribs 9 are present on the lateral surfaces of the first part 2, visible in the detail indicated by C in Figure 6 and shown, enlarged, in Figure 9. The second part 3 is, as mentioned above, a single piece with the first part 2. It has first opposite sides 3A of larger surface area suitable for being arranged in correspondence with the first lateral surfaces S1 of body 10, and second opposite sides 3B intended to be arranged in correspondence with the second surfaces S2 of body 10. Each side 3A and 3B has a first end, 31A and 31B respectively, oriented towards the first part 2 of the plug 1; the second end of said sides opposite 31A or 31B is joined to an end face 3K of the plug 1 (fig. 2 and 3). In the embodiment shown in the figures, the 3K end face has an arched shape, convex in the example; however, this 3K end face can also have a concave arched shape or a flat shape. These latter embodiments are not illustrated in the figures. It should be noted that the extreme 3K face is reinforced by the 8A partitions that extend from part 2 into its interior, while maintaining its elasticity, since the 8A partitions are also elastic as they are made of the same material as the 1 plugs. Partitions 8A have a first free side corresponding to end 2A of the first part 2, a second side in continuity with the first that separates from the inner part of the extreme face 3K of part 3, and the other two sides that separate from the two internal and opposite faces 2D and 2E of the first part 2 (see Figure 2) and that end against the inner wall of the extreme face 3K. A feature of the present invention is that each plug 1 has at least one of its first (opposite) sides 3A projecting with respect to the corresponding side 2B of the first part 2 (see Figures 2 and 3) or with respect to the side of part 2 located on the same flank of plug 1 where the first side 3A of part 3 is located. Thus, with the plug inserted into the end cavity 13 of the body 10, at least said first (opposite) side 3A projects from the plane containing a corresponding first surface S1 of said body. Since both plugs 1 located at the two ends of the body 10 are assembled so that they project with a first side 3A from the plane containing the surface S1 of the body 10, when the tool 100 rests on a surface to be measured, the first sides 3A of each plug simultaneously come into contact with said surface and prevent the free sliding of the tool on said bearing surface. In other words, the first side 3A of each plug, on the same side of the tool, protrudes from the corresponding side 2B of the first part 2 more than the thickness of the external perimeter surfaces 12 present at opposite ends 10A and 10B of the tool body 10. Thus, the first side 3A of the second part 3 of the plug, when the latter is coupled to the body 10, protrudes from the homologous larger area surface S1 (i.e., located on the same side of the body 10) and, when the tool is placed on a measuring surface (on which it is desired to draw a line or from which it is desired to visualize the spatial position), its plugs, along the entire length of their first sides 3A, touch that surface, while the homologous surface S1 of the body 10 remains separate from it. Since plug 1 is made of non-slip material with a high coefficient of friction, its contact with the measuring surface prevents any movement of the tool on the latter. Since friction is generated by the contact of the entire first side 3A with the measuring surface, it develops over a wide area, facilitating the anti-slip function. This contrasts with known solutions, where anti-slip elements, even when attached to the cap, have an almost point-like effect (or, in any case, a contact area much smaller than that of the first side 3A of cap 1), which does not guarantee optimal anti-slip performance for the user. In some embodiments, the second sides 3B of said second part 3 of each plug 1 are inclined at an angle of 1° to 3°, preferably 3°, with respect to the end face 3K of the plug, as illustrated in the embodiment of the figures; this is in order to reduce the volume of the plugs. In the embodiment of the figures, the second part 3 has only a first side 3A intended to protrude from the corresponding side 2B of the first part 2, such that this first side 3A also protrudes from the first homologous surface S1 of body 10. The other face of the plug, parallel and opposite to the first protruding face 3A, does not protrude from the corresponding second homologous surface of body 10. This allows the tool 100 to be placed, with its non-protruding side 3A, directly against the measuring surface when necessary and desired. This applies when the tool 100 is placed on a surface where an anti-slip effect is not required, such as in the corner between the floor and the wall. Advantageously, on the first face 3A of the plug that protrudes from the surface S1 of the body 10 there are grooves 6 (see, figure 8) in order to distinguish this first face 3A from the opposite face in case the latter does not protrude from the corresponding surface 10. The grooves 6 can be seen in detail in figure 10. As can be seen in figure 7, the second part 3 also includes cavities 8, which are an extension of the cavities 8 of the first part 2, which lightens the plug 1, while reinforcing it and maintaining its elasticity. In summary, each plug is made of a high-friction elastic material, such as natural or synthetic rubber. It is a single-piece, single-component plug, although it comprises two parts 2 and 3. The first part 2 is elastically flexible and suitable for insertion into a corresponding end cavity 13 of the tool body 10. The second part 3 has opposite sides 3A and 3B, also of different areas, as they are designed to be placed in correspondence with surfaces S1 and S2 of the body 10 of different lengths. At least one of the first sides 3A of the second part 3 of the plug, which has a larger surface area, protrudes from the corresponding side 2B of the first part 2 of the plug 1, so that, when the plug is attached to the tool body 10, it protrudes from the corresponding surface S1 of the body 10 located on the same side of the body mentioned and touches a measuring surface next to which the tool 100 is placed. Thus, the large surface area of the entire first side 3A provides the necessary friction to prevent the tool from moving on that surface during use, even by simply resting that side 3A on the measuring surface and without needing to exert any specific pressure.
Claims
1. A non-slip cap suitable for being attached to a corresponding end (10A, 10B) of a tool body (10) for visualizing a dimension or spatial position of a surface on which the tool rests, said tool body (10) having the shape of a parallelepiped and comprising first surfaces (S1) of greater extent and second surfaces (S2) of lesser extent, said non-slip cap (1) comprising a profiled body having a first part (2) configured to be inserted into an end cavity (13) present in the corresponding ends (10A, 10B) of said tool body, characterized in that said cap is a single-piece, single-component material made of a material with a high coefficient of friction, said cap (1) comprising a second part (3) having first sides (3A) of greater extent, second sides (3B) of lesser extent and an end face (3K),protruding at least a first side of greater extent (3A) from a corresponding side (2B) of the first part (2) of the plug, such that, with the plug attached to the body (10) of the tool, said first side (3A) protrudes from a homologous surface of greater extent (S1) of said body.
2. Anti-slip plug (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plug is hollow internally, both the first part (2) and the second part (3) comprising one or more internal cavities (8), obtained by means of one or more partitions (8A) parallel to each other having a first free side corresponding to the end (2A) of the first part (2),1. A second side continuous with the first, separating from the inner part of the end face (3K) of part (3), and the other two sides separating from the two opposite inner faces (2D) and (2E) of the first part (2), terminating against an inner part of the end face (3K).
2. A non-slip cap (1) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that both first sides (3A) of the second part (3) are parallel to a larger surface (S1) of the tool body (10).
3. A non-slip cap (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that both first sides (3A) of the second part (3) of the cap protrude equally from the second part (2) of the cap.
4. A non-slip cap (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one first side (3A) is continuous between said second sides (3B) of the second part of the cap.
6. Non-slip cap according to claims 1 and 2,characterized in that said end face (3K) of the second part (3) is arched.
7. Anti-slip cap (1) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said end face (3K) of the second part (3) is flat.
8. Anti-slip cap according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said end face (3K) of the second part (3) is concave.
9. Anti-slip cap according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said first part (2) has a beveled edge (7) corresponding to one of its free ends (2A).
10. Anti-slip cap according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the material with a high coefficient of friction is natural or synthetic rubber.
11. Anti-slip cap (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tool is a level.
12. Anti-slip cap (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims,13. A tool for visualizing a dimension or spatial position (100), characterized in that it comprises a body (10), at least hollow at its opposite ends (10A, 10B), and having anti-slip caps at said ends according to one or more of the preceding claims.
14. A tool according to claim 13, characterized in that the projecting side (3A) of each cap present at the ends (10A, 10B) of the body (10) is located on the same side of the tool.
15. A tool according to claims 13 and 14, characterized in that it is alternatively a level, a ruler, or a ruler.