Universal center punch
A universal center punch has a body with a passage therein, a punch rod extending along the passage, a first leg pivotally mounted adjacent one side of the body so as to extend outwardly of the body, and a second leg pivotally mounted adjacent an opposite side of the body so as to extend outwardly of the body. The first and second legs are linked together so such that a movement of one of the legs causes a corresponding movement of the other leg. Each of the legs has a magnet thereon. An inclinometer can be removably affixed to the body so as to measure an inclination of the punch rod.
1. A universal center punch comprising:
a body having a passage extending therein;
a punch rod extending along said passage of said body;
a first leg pivotally mounted adjacent one side of said body so as to extend outwardly of said body; and
a second leg pivotally mounted adjacent an opposite side of said body so as to extend outwardly of said body.
2. The universal center punch of claim 1 , said first and second legs being linked together such that a movement of one leg of said first and second legs causes a corresponding movement of the other leg of said first and second legs.
3. The universal center punch of claim 2 , said first leg having at least one tooth thereon, said second leg having at least one tooth that meshes with the tooth of said first leg.
4. The universal center punch of claim 3 , said body having a channel formed at an end thereof, said first and second legs having a portion positioned in said channel, the teeth of said first and second legs meshing together within said channel.
5. The universal center punch of claim 1 , said first leg having a first magnet thereon or therein, said second leg having a second magnet thereon or therein.
6. The universal center punch of claim 5 , said first leg having an orifice formed therein, said first magnet received in said orifice, said second leg having another orifice formed therein, said second magnet received in said another orifice.
7. The universal center punch of claim 6 , said first leg having a covering affixed thereto and located over said first magnet, said second leg having another cover affixed thereto and located over said second magnet.
8. The universal center punch of claim 1 , each of said first and second legs having a generally planar bottom surface.
9. The universal center punch of claim 8 , each of said first and second legs having a wedge shape with a first end that has a thickness less than a thickness of said second end, said second end pivotally mounted to said body, said first end extending outwardly of said body.
10. The universal center punch of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inclinometer affixed to said body, said inclinometer adapted to measure an inclination of said punch rod.
11. The universal center punch of claim 10 , said inclinometer being removably affixed to said body.
12. The universal center punch of claim 11 , said body having an outwardly extending surface, said inclinometer being removably affixed to said outwardly extending surface, said outwardly extending surface being in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of said punch rod.
13. The universal center punch of claim 12 , said inclinometer being magnetically connected to the outwardly extending surface.
14. The universal center punch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spring received in said passage of said body, said spring bearing against a surface of said punch rod.
15. The universal center punch of claim 14 , said punch rod having a portion extending outwardly of said body at an upper end thereof, said portion of said punch rod movable upwardly so as to compress said spring and to charge said punch rod.
16. The universal center punch of claim 15 , further comprising:
a pushbutton resiliently mounted to or within said body and having a surface extending outwardly of said body, said pushbutton cooperative with said punch rod so as to cause the charged punch rod to be released.
17. The universal center punch of claim 16 , further comprising:
a ball positioned in an interior of said body and cooperative with said punch rod and said pushbutton, said ball movable to a first position so as to lock said punch rod in the charged position, said ball movable to a second position so as to release said punch rod from the charged position.
18. The universal center punch of claim 17 , said pushbutton having a recessed formed thereon, said ball received in said recess when in said second position, said punch rod having a recessed formed therein, said ball received in said recess of said punch rod when in said first position.
19. A universal center punch comprising:
a body having a passage extending therein;
a punch rod extending along said passage of said body;
a first leg pivotally mounted adjacent one side of said body so as to extend outwardly of said body; and
a second leg pivotally mounted adjacent an opposite side of said body so as to extend outwardly of said body, said first and second legs being linked together such that a movement of one leg of said first and second legs causes a corresponding movement of the other leg of said first and second legs.
20. The universal center punch of claim 19 , said first leg having a first magnet thereon or therein, said second leg having a second magnet thereon or therein.