Level Vial with Open Face Bubble Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional level vials have transparent housing surfaces that can become scratched or smudged, obscuring the magnification properties due to their curved configuration, which hinders the visibility of the bubble and its alignment with reference surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The level vial features an elongated vial liquid housing with an integral outer support body, creating an open space that allows the bubble to float to the center and remain unobstructed, facilitating magnification and visibility from opposing faces without the obstruction of a covering plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a transparent housing surface is used to support the vial liquid housing, then the vial can be viewed from opposing faces, but the transparent housing surface becomes scratched or smudged and obscures magnification properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the transparent housing surface that surrounded the vial liquid housing in conventional designs. By extracting this problematic component, the bubble becomes directly visible through the open front and rear faces of the level body without any housing surface to become scratched or smudged, while the bubble remains supported and contained within the vial liquid housing.
2Ease of operation
If a clear annular housing surrounds the vial liquid housing, then the vial is supported and visible from opposing faces, but the curved configuration obscures magnification properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the clear annular housing that surrounded the vial liquid housing in conventional side vials. By removing this housing structure, the design simplifies the overall device while allowing the bubble to be directly visible through the open faces of the level body, eliminating the obscuring effect of curved housing surfaces.
3Reliability
If the vial liquid housing is enclosed in a housing body, then the vial is protected and supported, but the enclosing surface obscures magnification and reduces visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the enclosing housing surface that surrounded the vial liquid housing at the front and rear faces. The vial liquid housing remains protected and supported within the level body structure, but the enclosing transparent surface is eliminated to allow direct, unobstructed viewing of the bubble through the open faces, thereby restoring magnification properties and visibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances the visibility and magnification of the bubble, improving the user's ability to determine levelness by maintaining an outwardly exposed and unobstructed configuration, unlike conventional vials which are often enclosed or have flat exterior surfaces that obscure magnification.
Implementation Method 1
The elongated vial liquid housing is shaped such that a horizontal orientation of the axis of elongation causes the liquid to flow such that the bubble floats to a center of the elongated vial liquid housing
Data Source
AI summary
A level vial includes an elongated vial liquid housing extending along an axis of elongation and containing a liquid and a bubble therein, an outer support body supporting the elongated vial liquid housing, the outer support body being integral with the elongated vial liquid housing, and having an inner surface at least partially surrounding the elongated vial liquid housing, and an open space between the inner surface and the elongated vial liquid housing. The elongated vial liquid housing is shaped such that a horizontal orientation of the axis of elongation causes the liquid to flow such that the bubble floats to a center of the elongated vial liquid housing. The elongated vial liquid housing and the open space are in an outwardly exposed and unobstructed configuration relative to a front face of the level vial.