Pocket-sized leveling tool

Abstract

A leveling tool having: a body, including a first face and an opposite second face, the first and second faces defining a thickness between them, the body defining a first side surface, a second side surface opposite said first side surface, a first end surface, and a second end surface substantially opposite said first end surface; at least one level indicator disposed within the thickness; and a clip removably attachable to each of the first and second faces.

1 . A leveling tool comprising: 
 a substantially trapezoidal body including a first face and an opposite second face, said first and second faces defining a thickness therebetween, said thickness bordered by a first side surface, a second side surface opposite said first side surface, a first end surface, and a second end surface substantially opposite said first end surface, said first side surface having a first length greater than a second length of said second side surface, said first length being less than seven inches, said first and second side surfaces arranged parallel to one another, said first and second end surfaces arranged in non-parallel relationship to one another and extending contiguously between said first and second side surfaces, said first end surface defining a non-perpendicular first angle relative to said first side surface and a second non-perpendicular angle relative to said second side surface, said first length of said first side surface being between two and four times greater than a third length of said second end surface; and    at least one level vial disposed within said thickness and visible from said first and second faces, wherein said at least one level vial includes a first level vial arranged parallel to said first end surface.    
   
   
       2 . The leveling tool of  claim 1  wherein said first angle measures about 45 degrees relative to said first side surface, and said second angle measures about 135 degrees relative to said second side surface.  
   
   
       3 . The leveling tool of  claim 1  wherein said first side surface defines a v-shaped cross section, wherein a vertex of said v-shaped cross section extends inward into said thickness.  
   
   
       4 . The leveling tool of  claim 1  further including at least one magnet disposed in said thickness and operably exposed within at least one of said first and second faces.  
   
   
       5 . The leveling tool of  claim 1  wherein said at least one level vial includes a second level vial arranged parallel to said first and second side surfaces.  
   
   
       6 . The leveling tool of  claim 5  wherein said second end surface defines a perpendicular angle relative to said first and second side surfaces, and said at least one level vial includes a third level vial arranged parallel to said second end surface.  
   
   
       7 . The leveling tool of  claim 1  wherein said body includes a rounded corner at a junction between said first side surface and said first end surface.  
   
   
       8 . The leveling tool of  claim 7  wherein said rounded corner has a radius of at least one-eighth inch.  
   
   
       9 . A leveling tool comprising: 
 a substantially trapezoidal body including a first face and an opposite second face, said first and second faces defining a thickness therebetween, said thickness bordered by a first side surface, a second side surface opposite said first side surface, a first end surface, and a second end surface substantially opposite said first end surface, said first side surface having a first length greater than a second length of said second side surface, said first length being less than seven inches, said first and second side surfaces arranged parallel to one another, said first and second end surfaces arranged in non-parallel relationship to one another and extending contiguously between said first and second side surfaces, said first end surface defining a non-perpendicular first angle relative to said first side surface and a second non-perpendicular angle relative to said second side surface said first length of said first side surface being between two and four times greater than a third length of said second end surface;    at least one level vial disposed within said thickness and visible from said first and second faces, wherein said at least one level vial includes a first level vial arranged parallel to said first end surface; and    at least one magnet disposed in said thickness, said at least one magnet operably exposed on at least one of said first side surface, said second side surface, said first end surface, and said second end surface.    
   
   
       10 . The leveling tool of  claim 9  wherein said at least one magnet includes a plurality of magnets operably exposed on said first side surface.  
   
   
       11 . The leveling tool of  claim 9  wherein said at least one magnet includes a plurality of magnets disposed in said thickness, a first of said magnets being operably exposed on said first side surface, a second of said magnets being operably exposed on said second side surface, a third of said magnets being operably exposed on said first end surface, and a fourth of said magnets being operably exposed on said second end surface.  
   
   
       12 . The leveling tool of  claim 11  wherein a fifth of said magnets is operably exposed on said first side surface, a sixth of said magnets is operably exposed on said second side surface, a seventh of said magnets is operably exposed on said first end surface, and an eighth of said magnets is operably exposed on said second end surface.  
   
   
       13 . A leveling tool comprising: 
 a body including a first face and an opposite second face, said first and second faces defining a thickness therebetween, said body defining a first side surface, a second side surface opposite said first side surface, a first end surface, and a second end surface substantially opposite said first end surface, said first and second side surfaces arranged parallel to one another, said first and second end surfaces arranged in a non-parallel relationship to one another and extending contiguously between said first and second side surfaces, said first end surface defining a non-perpendicular first angle relative to said first side surface and a second non-perpendicular angle relative to said second side surface;    at least one level indicator disposed within said thickness and visible from said first and second faces; and    a clip attached to one of said first or second faces such that a distal end of said clip is closer than a proximal end of said clip to said first end surface.    
   
   
       14 . The leveling tool of  claim 13  wherein said first side surface includes a magnet disposed in said thickness and partially defining said first side surface.  
   
   
       15 . The leveling tool of  claim 13  wherein at least one of said first and second faces includes a magnet disposed in said thickness, operably exposed within said at least one of said first and second faces, and positioned substantially flush with said corresponding one of said first and second faces.  
   
   
       16 . The leveling tool of  claim 13  wherein said first side surface defines a cross-sectional v-shape extending inward into said thickness.  
   
   
       17 . The leveling tool of  claim 13  wherein said first angle measures about 45 degrees relative to said first side surface, and said second angle measures about 135 degrees relative to said second side surface.  
   
   
       18 . The leveling tool of  claim 13  wherein said at least one level indicator includes a first level vial arranged parallel to said first end surface.  
   
   
       19 . The leveling tool of  claim 13  wherein said first side surface is longer than said second side surface, said body including a rounded corner at a junction between said first side surface and said first end surface, said clip being elongate and substantially aligned with said rounded corner.  
   
   
       20 . The leveling tool of  claim 19  wherein said elongate clip is substantially parallel to and adjacent to said first side surface.