Reflective Bubble Level with Sloping Optical Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bubble levels require complex manufacturing and high production costs due to the need for mirrors, making it inconvenient to observe the bubble from the direction facing the measured surface, especially when the side is blocked.
Innovation Solution
A bubble level with a transparent, integrally formed body and sloping surfaces for reflection, allowing observation from the front and reducing manufacturing complexity and costs, featuring a second observation surface for direct viewing and enhanced brightness through film coating or illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mirror is installed into the bubble level to enable observation from the front direction, then the convenience of observation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mirror component from the bubble level structure and replaces it with a transparent body that allows direct optical observation of the bubble through the front surface. This extraction of the mirror element simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the ability to observe the bubble from the front direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent body creates an optical copy or image of the bubble that can be viewed from the front direction without requiring a physical mirror. The light passes through the transparent body to form a visible image of the bubble, eliminating the need for reflective surfaces while achieving the same observational convenience.
2Ease of operation
If a mirror is installed into the bubble level to enable observation from the front direction, then the convenience of observation is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mirror component is extracted from the design, eliminating the need for precision mirror mounting, alignment, and calibration processes. The transparent body can be manufactured using standard molding techniques, significantly reducing production costs while maintaining observational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent body serves as a simple, inexpensive replacement for the mirror assembly. It can be manufactured as an integral part of the bubble level body using cost-effective materials and molding processes, eliminating the need for expensive optical components and their associated installation and maintenance costs.
3Reliability
If the side of the level is blocked, then the ability to observe the bubble from the side is maintained, but the convenience of measurement in special occasions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent body provides dual functionality: it allows observation from the side (maintaining traditional usage) and simultaneously enables observation from the front direction (adding new capability). This multi-functionality ensures that the bubble level can be used effectively in both open and blocked side conditions, greatly improving adaptability to special occasions.
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
Facilitates simple and cost-effective production with improved visibility of the bubble unit from multiple angles, ensuring precise measurement and reduced production costs while maintaining clear image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a sloping surface for reflecting the bubble unit
Implementation Method 2
The body is a transparent body which facilitates the light transmission in the body to form a clear image of the bubble unit
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a spirit level having reflection bubble which comprises an elongate body , a first surface and a second surface, a cavity which has an opening on the second surface is arranged between the first surface and the second surface; the spirit level arranged in the cavity comprising: a non-opaque body having a slope and a first viewing plane; a bubble component has a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first surface is mounted in the body of the level, and the first surface is mounted between the first end of the bubble component and the measured surface, the first viewing plane is mounted between the second end of the bubble component and user; the image of the bubble component is formed by the reflection of the slopes; users can observe the image of bubble component from the first viewing plane via reflected by the slope. The present invention provides a spirit level having reflection bubble which using the reflection of light through the interface makes user can observe the bubble component from the front when the user measures the verticality, the spirit level is formed integrally, additional assembly and calibration are not needed, so the manufacturing is simple and the costs of production is low.