Feb. 13, 1951 T. c. KENNEDY 2,541,366 SPIRIT LEVEL ATTACHMENT FOR TOOLS Filed Nov. 15, 1946

. "WIN!" 1,. iiiiiii Ii?iinu , r -- “"“m 28 v ?aws WM? 1.1. i I Patented Feb. 13, 1951 2,541,366

>UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,541,366 SPIRIT LEVEL ATTACHMENT FOR TOOLS Thomas 0. Kennedy, Chicago, Ill. Application November 15, 1946, Serial No. 710,120 2 Claims. (Cl. 33-207) 1 2 This invention relates to a spirit level attach clamp member ll, which as shown is also formed ment for hand drills, braces and similar tools, with a V notch l8, which is complementary to the and its principal object is to provide leveling V notch I6. The clamp member is also formed means for such tools by means of which the user with two apertured ears 19, through which may determine if he is holding the tool at right screws 20 extend, and are threadedly mounted in angles to the piece of work, or if he is holding the base member l2. ' the tool at a predetermined angle thereto, so as The attachment is applied to‘ a drill by plac~ ' to drill a hole at said predetermined angle. ing a base member and clamp member upon the It is wel1 known that it requires expertness stem 21 of the drill, inserting the screws and 10 in holding a hand drill, brace or similar tool at tightening them up so as to clamp the attach right angles to the work, or at any other pre ment to the stem or to the hand holder or hous determined angle thereto. With the present at ing of the drill. tachment, the user can tell that the drill, brace From the side edges,l3, It of the base mem or similar tool is being held at the predetermined 15 ber extend apertured lugs 22, 23, 25 which lie in angle to the work by bringing the bubble of the the same plane as the base member, and in said proper spirit level into its level position. apertured lugs are secured spirit levels 26, 21, Another object is to provide a spirit level at which lie in the spaces between the ears 22, 24 tachment provided with a swingable spirit level and 23, 24. The spirit levels are of ordinary and which may be easily and quickly attached to conventional form, and the glass tubes thereof the tool upon which it is used. 20 Other objects and advantages will appear in are provided with guide lines between which the the course of this specification, and with said ob bubble occupies a position when the spirit level jects and advantages in view, this invention con is held in a horizontal position.‘ sists in the several novel features hereinafter Pivotally mounted upon the lug 24, as by a fully set forth, and more particularly de?ned in screw 28, is a spirit level 29, which is adjustable the appended claims. from a position paralleling the base member, as The invention is clearly illustrated in the draw seen in Fig. 2, to a position 180 degrees removed ing accompanying this speci?cation; in which: from said position. The spirit level 29 is formed Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hand drill oc with an apertured car 30, through which the cupying a position to drill an inclined hole in screw 28 extends, and said ear is formed with a piece of work, and showing a simple embodi graduation marks 3| which cooperate with a ment of the present invention applying to the marker or pointer 32 on the lug 24, to indicate drill; the angular relationship between the base mem Fig. 2 is a plan of the attachment with the ber and spirit level 29. shank of the drill shown in cross section; In use, for drilling a hole in an upwardly di Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a fragment of the rected angle in a piece of work W, the spirit level drill with the attachment applied thereto, and 29 is turned upon its axis to bring the graduation showing the drill occupying a vertical position; mark indicating said angle into line with the and marker. The drill point is then placed against Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the attachment the work and the drill shifted up and down until alone. the bubble of the spirit level 29 occupies the hori Referring to said drawing, the reference char zontal position between the guide lines (see Fig. acter IE designates a tool here shown in the 1) thereby indicating that the drill is being held form of a hand drill of conventional form. The at the predetermined angle with respect to the spirit level attachment is designated generally work. \ by the reference character H and comprises In drilling a downwardly inclined hole in a among other things a ?at base member l2 and piece of work, the spirit level 29 is adjusted to a clamp member with means to clamp the at bring the proper graduation mark in register tachment to a drill or similar tool. As shown with the marker and the drill point placed the base member has two side edges l3, I4, that 50 against the piece of work, and the drill shifted as extend at right angles to each other, and a third before, until the bubble occupies the position be side edge l5 which extends at an angle of 45 tween the guide lines. degrees to the side edges l3, l4. As shown, the In drilling a vertical hole upwardly, the drill edge i5 is formed a V notch 16. point is placed upon the point at which the drill Associated with the base member I2 is the 55 ing is to be done, and the drill shifted until the 2,541,366 3 4 bubble of the spirit level 21 occupies the position tures of a respective pair of said lugs and extend between the guide lines. ing through the space therebetween with said For drilling a vertical hole in a vertical down levels each being inset from the adjacent external ward direction, the drill point is placed upon the faces of its respective pair of supporting lugs. work and the drill shifted about until the bubbles 2. A spirit level attachment for drills, and of the two spirit levels 26, 21 occupy positions be similar tools, comprising a ?at, substantially tween the guide lines. In this position of the triangular-shaped base member having two side bubble, the drill is being held in a vertical posi edges extending at right angles to each other, tion. and a third side edge extending at an angle of When the spirit level 29 is adjusted, to an ac forty-?ve degrees to said other edges‘, a clamp curate position, parallel with the axis of the member and screws to connect the clamp mem stem l6 of the drill, the user can tell, by observ ber with the third side edge of said base member, ing the bubble of the spirit level when he is hold the latter edge and the adjacent edge of said ing the drill in a horizontal position, clamp- member having opposing V notches From the above it is apparent that I have pro 15 adapted to receive therein the stem of a tool, a vided a spirit level attachment for drills, braces pair of spaced apart apertured lugs projecting and similar tools by means of which the. user from each of said right angle side edges at right can tell with certainty when he is holding the angles thereto in the plane of the base member tool in the exact position required to drill the and integrally formed therewith, two spirit levels hole in the work or material. 20 each having its ends secured in the apertures of Having thus described my invention, itv is- ob a- respective, pair of said lugs" and extending vious that various immaterial modi?cations may through’ the space therebetween with said levels be made in the same without departing from the each being'inset fromthe adjacent external faces spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to of its respective pair of supporting lugs, and a’ be understood as limiting myself to- the exact 25 third spirit level pivotally mounted on onelof form, construction, arrangement gandicombina said; lugs and’ having an ear. provided with grad-i tion of parts herein shown and. described, or uses uation marks thereon-r mentioned. THOMAS C. KENNEDY. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 30 REFERENCES“ CITED 1. A spirit level attachment for drills, and The following references’ are of record in, the. similar tools, comprising a ?at, substantially ?le of this patent: triangular-shaped base member having. two side edges extending at right angles to each other, UNITED STA-TES'PATENTS and a third side edge extending at an angle of 35 Number Name Date forty-?ve degrees to said other edges, a clamp 92,927 Amory ______July 27; 1869, member and screws to connect the clamp mem 297,719 Root ______. ______- Apr. 29,1884 ber with the third side edge of said base member, 312,266 Gurley ______Feb. 174, 1885 the latter edge and the adjacent edge of said 903,011 Schtabe ______Nov.. 3,1908. clamp member having opposing V notches 407 960,718 Schtabe. ______,__ June 7, 1910-, adapted to receive therein the stem of a tool, a 1,063,342, Ekman ______June 3, 1-913‘ pair of spaced apart apertured‘ lugs projecting 1,137,892. Patterson. ______May 4, 1915-, from each of said right, angle side edges at right 1,255,644, Roth» ______Feb. 5,.1918v angles thereto in the plane of the base member 1,456,431 Frank ______May 22, 1923 and integrally formed therewith, andi‘two spirit 45 2,379,591 P'arisi ______July 3,. 1945 levels each having its ends secured in the aper