Alignment aid

Abstract

An alignment aid includes a joint section, at least one central section connected to the joint section, at least one central section being hollow and defining at least one linear channel, at least one rider arranged within the at least one linear channel, each rider connected to an attachment mechanism.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An alignment aid comprising:
 a central section, the central section being linear;   at least one end section connected to an end of the central section;   one end element releasably secured to each end section; and   an attachment mechanism movably connected to the central section.   
     
     
         2 . The alignment aid of  claim 1 , wherein one end element is releasably secured to each end section by a clamp. 
     
     
         3 . The alignment aid of  claim 2 , wherein each end section is hollow and thereby defining a void and wherein each end element is a telescoping end element arranged within the void defined with one end section. 
     
     
         4 . The alignment aid of  claim 3 , wherein each clamp is a pole clamp. 
     
     
         5 . The alignment aid of  claim 3 , wherein the alignment aid comprises a tip connected to one end of each end element. 
     
     
         6 . The alignment aid of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment mechanism is movably connected to the central section within a linear channel defined in the central section. 
     
     
         7 . The alignment aid of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment mechanism is a spring clamp. 
     
     
         8 . The alignment aid of  claim 6 , wherein the central section is of circular cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The alignment aid of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment mechanism is movably connected to the central section by a rider movably arranged within the linear channel. 
     
     
         10 . The alignment aid of  claim 9 , wherein the central section is hollow and wherein the rider comprises an internal element located within the hollow central section and an external element connected to the internal element, wherein the external element is connected to the attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The alignment aid of  claim 6 , wherein the central section comprises a first central section and a second central section, wherein the first central section is connected to the second central section by a joint. 
     
     
         12 . The alignment aid of  claim 11 , wherein the joint comprises a hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The alignment aid of  claim 12 , wherein the joint comprises a first barrel fixedly connected to the first central section and a second barrel fixedly connected to the second central section, wherein each barrel is connected to the hinge. 
     
     
         14 . The alignment aid of  claim 13 , wherein each barrel comprises an end, wherein each barrel end defines a void, and wherein each void contains at least one magnet. 
     
     
         15 . An alignment aid comprising
 a joint section;   a first central section connected to the joint section and defining a first linear channel;   a second central section connected to the joint section and defining a second linear channel;   a first attachment mechanism movably arranged within the first linear channel;   a second attachment mechanism movably arranged within the second linear channel;   a first end section connected to the first central section;   a first end element releasably secured to the first end section;   a second end section connected to the second central section; and   a second end element releasably secured to the second end section.   
     
     
         16 . The alignment aid of  claim 15 , wherein a first end element is releasably connected in telescoping arrangement to the first end section and wherein a second end element is releasably connected in telescoping arrangement to the second end section. 
     
     
         17 . The alignment aid of  claim 16 , wherein the first end element is releasably connected to the first end section by a first clamp and wherein the second end element is releasably connected to the second end section by a second clamp. 
     
     
         18 . The alignment aid of  claim 17 , wherein the first clamp is a pole clamp and wherein the second clamp is a pole clamp. 
     
     
         19 . The alignment aid of  claim 15 , wherein the joint section comprises a joint, wherein the joint is a hinge. 
     
     
         20 . A method assembling an alignment aid, the method comprising:
 connecting a hollow first end section to a first central section, the first end section defining a first void;   connecting a hollow second end section to a second central section, the second end section defining a second void;   joining the first central section to the second central section by a joint;   arranging a first end element in telescoping arrangement within the first void; and   arranging a second end element in telescoping arrangement within the second void.