IP Library Granted Patent US 12,392,608
Granted Patent B2
US 12,392,608 · App. 18/151,950 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Laser level with internal adjustable platform

Inventor: Samuel A. Gould (West Allis, WI)
Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
G01C15/004
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,392,608
App. No.
18/151,950
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A laser level emits one or more planar lasers that can be self-leveled via one or more internal leveling systems. The motors bias a platform to rotate the laser emitters to a targeted orientation, such as via the motors collectively rotating the laser emitters in response to instructions to rotate with respect to one or more axes.

Claims (41)

1. A laser generating device comprising:

a housing;

an arm pivotally coupled to the housing;

a platform coupled to the arm, the platform configured to be rotated with respect to the housing about both a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis distinct from the first rotational axis;

a first laser emitting device coupled to the platform, the first laser emitting device operable to generate a first output beam along a first plane;

a second laser emitting device coupled to the platform, the second laser emitting device operable to generate a second output beam along a second plane;

a first motor configured to exert a first force on the platform along a first axis; and

a second motor configured to exert a second force on the platform along a second axis distinct from the first axis;

wherein both the first motor and the second motor are activated to exert force on the platform when the platform is rotated with respect to the housing about the first rotational axis, and wherein both the first motor and the second motor are activated to exert force on the platform when the laser generating device rotates the platform with respect to the housing about the second rotational axis.

2. The laser generating device of claim 1 , wherein the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are not planar with respect to each other.

3. The laser generating device of claim 2 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are coupled to the platform such that an intersecting axis intersects each of the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis and the intersecting axis is perpendicular to each of the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis, wherein the intersecting axis and the first rotational axis define a third plane that is perpendicular to the second rotational axis, and the intersecting axis and second rotational axis define a fourth plane that is perpendicular to the first rotational axis.

4. The laser generating device of claim 3 , wherein the intersecting axis is parallel to the first plane.

5. The laser generating device of claim 3 , wherein the intersecting axis is parallel to each of the first plane and the second plane.

6. The laser generating device of claim 1 , wherein the first motor and the second motor are coupled to the platform such that an intersecting axis intersects each of the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis and the intersecting axis is perpendicular to each of the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis, wherein the intersecting axis and the first rotational axis define a third plane that is perpendicular to the second rotational axis, and the intersecting axis and the second rotational axis define a fourth plane that is perpendicular to the first rotational axis.

7. The laser generating device of claim 6 , wherein the intersecting axis is parallel to each of the first plane and the second plane.

8. The laser generating device of claim 1 , comprising a base, the platform coupled to the arm via the base, the base and the platform are configured to be rotated with respect to the housing about both the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis by the first motor and the second motor, wherein the platform rotates with respect to the base about a third rotational axis.

9. The laser generating device of claim 8 , wherein the first plane and the second plane each include the entire third rotational axis.

10. The laser generating device of claim 9 , wherein rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the first rotational axis comprises the first motor exerting a force on the platform in a first direction along the first axis, and rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the second rotational axis comprises the first motor exerting a force on the platform in a second direction along the first axis opposite the first direction.

11. The laser generating device of claim 10 , wherein rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the first rotational axis comprises the second motor exerting a force on the platform in a third direction along the second axis, and rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the second rotational axis comprises the second motor exerting a force on the platform in the third direction along the second axis.

12. The laser generating device of claim 8 , wherein rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the first rotational axis comprises the second motor exerting a force on the platform in a third direction along the second axis, and rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the second rotational axis comprises the second motor exerting a force on the platform in the third direction along the second axis.

13. The laser generating device of claim 1 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are parallel to each other.

14. A laser generating device comprising:

a housing;

an arm pivotally coupled to the housing;

a platform coupled to the arm, the platform configured to be rotated with respect to the housing about both a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis distinct from the first rotational axis;

a first laser emitting device coupled to the platform, the first laser emitting device operable to generate a first output beam along a first plane;

a second laser emitting device coupled to the platform, the second laser emitting device operable to generate a second output beam along a second plane; and

a first motor configured to exert a first force on the platform along a first axis;

wherein rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the first rotational axis comprises the first motor exerting a force on the platform in a first direction along the first axis, and rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the second rotational axis comprises the first motor exerting a force on the platform in a second direction along the first axis opposite the first direction.

15. The laser generating device of claim 14 , wherein the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are not planar with respect to each other, wherein the first motor is coupled to the platform such that an intersecting axis intersects each of the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis and the intersecting axis is perpendicular to each of the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis, wherein the intersecting axis and the first rotational axis define a third plane that is perpendicular to the second rotational axis, and the intersecting axis and second rotational axis define a fourth plane that is perpendicular to the first rotational axis.

16. The laser generating device of claim 15 , wherein the intersecting axis is parallel to each of the first plane and the second plane.

17. The laser generating device of claim 14 , comprising a second motor configured to exert a second force on the platform along a second axis distinct from the first axis, wherein rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the first rotational axis comprises the second motor exerting a force on the platform in a third direction along the second axis, and rotating the platform with respect to the housing around the second rotational axis comprises the second motor exerting a force on the platform in the third direction along the second axis.

18. A laser generating device comprising:

a housing;

an arm pivotally coupled to the housing;

a base coupled to the arm such that the base rotates with respect to the housing about both a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis distinct from the first rotational axis, the base including a first protrusion and a second protrusion;

a platform coupled to the base, the platform rotatable with respect to the base about a third rotational axis, the first rotational axis extending parallel to an X-axis in a Cartesian Coordinate System, the second rotational axis extending parallel to an Y-axis in the Cartesian Coordinate System, and the third rotational axis extending parallel to a Z-axis in the Cartesian Coordinate System, the platform comprising an interior recessed surface and an opposing exterior recessed surface, wherein when the platform is rotating with respect to the base about the first rotational axis the interior recessed surface interfaces with and moves with respect to the first protrusion and the exterior recessed surface interfaces with and moves with respect to the second protrusion;

a first laser emitting device coupled to the platform, the first laser emitting device operable to generate a first output beam along a first plane; and

a second laser emitting device, the second laser emitting device operable to generate a second output beam along a second plane.

19. The laser generating device of claim 18 , the platform defining an aperture, the laser generating device comprising a first motor, a first arm coupled to the first motor, and a first spring coupled to the first arm, wherein the first spring is received in the aperture, and wherein the first motor exerts a force along a first axis to rotate the platform about the third rotational axis with respect to the base.

20. The laser generating device of claim 18 , the first protrusion comprising a first ball that is spring-biased against the platform, the second protrusion comprising a second ball that is spring-biased against the platform.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2024
From: GOULD, SAMUEL A.
To: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067034/0039 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2022082425 · Dec 27, 2022
Provisional Application 63294612 · Dec 29, 2021
Related Publication 20230204356A1 · Jun 29, 2023
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