Laser line generation device with attachment base

Abstract

A line generating device comprising a housing with a support structure that substantially extends along a first plane, a light source mounted within the housing, and a lens that receives light and projects the light in the shape of a fan, wherein the fan lies substantially within a second plane that intersects the first plane at an angle. The device also includes at least one reference level on an outside of the housing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A line generating device, comprising: 
 a housing comprising a support structure that substantially extends along a first plane;    a light source mounted within the housing;    a lens that receives light and projects the light in the shape of a fan, wherein the fan substantially lies within a second plane that intersects the first plane at an angle;    a reference level on an outside of the housing; and.    an adhesive for mounting to the support structure for mounting the device to a surface.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, adhesive tape, adhesive putty, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, and an adhesive strip.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support face further comprises at least one of a notch and a bore.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch on an exterior of the housing.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second reference level that is at a right angle to said reference level.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure further comprises a recess on a bottom of the device.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive protrudes from a bottom surface of the device.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive further comprises a liner.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a removable pressure sensitive adhesive comprising an inner portion attached to the support structure and an outer portion releasably attached to the inner portion.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pin for mounting the device to a surface through a bore in the bottom of the device.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to the first plane.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to the second plane.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to a third plane that intersects the first plane at a second angle.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to the second plane.  
     
     
         15 . A line generating device, comprising: 
 a housing;    a support structure attached to the housing, the support structure comprising an external adhesive for supporting the device on a surface;    a light source mounted within the housing;    a lens receiving light from the light source; and    an aperture on an outside of the housing for emitting light.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising two reference levels mounted at right angles on the housing, wherein an exterior of the housing comprises a hand grip area and a switch.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the support structure is integral with the housing.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the light source comprises a laser light source.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the light source comprises a laser light source with a wavelength of about 635 nm.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the light source generates light in the shape of a fan.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein a bottom surface of the housing of the line generating device further comprises at least one of a notch and a bore.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises side surfaces that are substantially planar and perpendicular to the support structure.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the support structure substantially extends along a first plane and the device generates a fan-shaped beam of light that substantially lies within a second plane that intersects the first plane at an angle.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one pin for mounting the device to a surface through a bore in the support structure.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to the first plane.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to the second plane.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to the second plane.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to a third plane that intersects the first plane at a second angle.  
     
     
         29 . A light generating device, comprising: 
 a housing comprising a support structure that substantially extends along a first plane;    a laser light source mounted within the housing;    a lens that receives light and projects the light substantially within a second plane that intersects the first plane at an angle;    a reference level on an exterior of the housing; and    an adhesive attached to the support structure for mounting the device to a surface, wherein the support structure comprises an inner portion and an outer portion that rotate and swivel with respect to one another.    
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the inner and outer portions have matching curved surfaces.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 29 , further comprising a second reference level.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the support structure further comprises a recess for mounting the adhesive.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the support structure includes a bore or a notch.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the lens is cylindrical.  
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the adhesive is a removable pressure-sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to the first plane.  
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to the second plane.  
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to a third plane that intersects the first plane at a second angle.  
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein the housing pivots about an axis perpendicular to the second plane.  
     
     
         40 . A kit for a light generating device with a base, comprising: 
 a container defining a volume of space;    a base positioned within the volume of space, the base comprising an attachment structure; and    a light generating device positioned within the volume of space so as to be unattached to the base, wherein the attachment structure can be used for mounting the light generating device to an external surface.    
     
     
         41 . The kit of  claim 40 , wherein the base further comprises a connection structure for mounting the light generating device to the external surface.  
     
     
         42 . The kit of  claim 40 , wherein the light generating device generates a laser beam.  
     
     
         43 . The kit of  claim 42 , wherein the light generating device generates the laser beam with an asymmetric intensity.  
     
     
         44 . The kit of  claim 42 , wherein the light generating device generates light in the shape of a fan.  
     
     
         45 . The kit of  claim 44 , wherein the light generating device comprises a housing with at least one flat surface extending along a first plane and the fan substantially lies within a second plane that intersects the first plane at an angle.  
     
     
         46 . The kit of  claim 40 , wherein the attachment structure comprises an adhesive for attaching the device to the external surface.  
     
     
         47 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein the connection structure comprises a pin for attaching the device to the external surface.  
     
     
         48 . A kit for a leveling device with a base, comprising: 
 a container defining a volume of space;    a base positioned within the volume of space, the base comprising an attachment structure for mounting the light generating device to an external surface; and    a leveling device positioned within the volume of space so as to be unattached to the base.    
     
     
         49 . The kit of  claim 48 , wherein the base further comprises a connection structure for mounting the light generating device to the external surface.  
     
     
         50 . The kit of  claim 48 , wherein the attachment structure comprises an adhesive for attaching the light generating device to the external surface.  
     
     
         51 . The kit of  claim 48 , wherein the connection structure comprises a pin for attaching the light generating device to the external surface.  
     
     
         52 . The kit of  claim 48 , wherein the leveling device further comprises an automatic leveler selected from the group consisting of a pendulum, a cantilevered tilt mechanism, an electronic leveler, and a shaft held between journals.  
     
     
         53 . A method of aligning an object with a light beam, the method comprising: 
 positioning a light generator adjacent to a surface;    adhesively mounting the light generator to the surface;    generating light from the light generator along a direction of propagation so that a line is formed along the surface; and    placing an object so that a portion of the object is aligned by the light.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the line is interruptible in that should an impediment be positioned on the line, the line will be present on either side of the impediment, and wherein the generating comprising actuating a switch from a first position to a second position and causing light to be generated.