Surface marking tool

• US 10,234,589 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2015
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zircon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zircon Corporation
• Inventors: Wingate, Barry, Chen, Chien-Hsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tung X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hawkins, Dominic
• Application Number:
  US14/641,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20160077232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,472 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

A surface marking tool, comprising a housing a sensor coupled in the housing to identify a specific location on a surface a marker having a back end and an engaging end, whereby the back end is coupled to the underside of the housing and the engaging end extends beyond the underside of the housing to engage with the target surface; and at least one foot coupled to the underside of the housing. Another aspect of the present invention includes a surface marking tool, comprising a housing, a sensor coupled in the housing to identify a specific location on a surface, a marker having an engaging end, whereby the marker is housed in an open faced cartridge with a back end, whereby the engaging end of the marker extends beyond the cartridge to engage with the target surface, and the back end of the cartridge is coupled to the underside of the housing and extends beyond the underside of the housing, and at least one foot coupled to the underside of the housing. Another aspect of the present invention includes a method of using a surface marking tool, comprising the steps of positioning the surface marking tool against a target surface, using a sensor coupled in the housing to identify a specific location on the target surface, and applying force to the surface marking tool against the target surface, and causing at least one foot to compress and causing a marker housed within the underside of the housing to engage with the target surface and leave a mark.

Claims

1. A surface marking tool, comprising:

a housing, said housing having an underside, and an upper section;

a sensor coupled in the housing to identify a specific location on a surface;

a marker having a back end and a marking end, whereby the back end is coupled to the underside of the housing and the marking end extends beyond the underside of the housing to engage with the target surface, wherein the marking end is capable of moving from a non-marking position to a marking position; and

at least one pad coupled to the underside of the housing, and wherein said at least one pad extends beyond the underside of the housing, and wherein upon pressure on the at least one pad the marking end of the marker extends beyond the underside of the housing to engage with the target surface by moving from the non-marking position to the marking position.

2. The surface marking tool of claim 1, wherein the marker is pre-inked.

3. The surface marking tool of claim 1, wherein the marker is removably coupled to the underside of the housing.

4. The surface marking tool of claim 1, wherein the marker is removably housed in a blind hole within the underside of the housing.

5. The surface marking tool of claim 1, wherein at least one pad is compressible.

6. The surface marking tool of claim 1, wherein at least one pad is housed in a blind hole within the underside of the housing.

7. The surface marking tool of claim 1, wherein the marker has a removable cover to protect the marking end.

8. The surface marking tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one pad extends beyond the engaging end of the marker.

9. A surface marking tool, comprising:

a housing, said housing having an underside, and an upper section;

a sensor coupled in the housing to identify a specific location on a surface;

a marker having a marking end, whereby the marker is housed in an open faced cartridge with a back end, whereby the marking end of the marker extends beyond the cartridge to engage with the target surface, wherein the marking end is capable of moving from a non-marking position to a marking position, and the back end of the cartridge is coupled to the underside of the housing and extends beyond the underside of the housing; and

at least one pad coupled to the underside of the housing, and wherein said at least one pad extends beyond the underside of the housing, and wherein upon pressure on the at least one pad the marking end of the marker extends beyond the cartridge to engage with the target surface by moving from the non-marking position to the marking position.

10. The surface marking tool of claim 9, wherein the marker is removably housed in the cartridge.

11. The surface marking tool of claim 9, wherein the cartridge is removably coupled to the underside of the housing.

12. The surface marking tool of claim 9, wherein the cartridge is removably housed in a blind hole within the underside of the housing.

13. The surface marking tool of claim 9, wherein at least one pad is compressible.

14. The surface marking tool of claim 9, wherein at least one pad is housed in a blind hole within the underside of the housing.

15. The surface marking tool of claim 9, wherein the at least one pad extends beyond the engaging end of the marker.

16. The surface marking tool of claim 9, wherein at least one pad is coupled to at least one substrate that permits compression.

17. A method of using a surface marking tool, comprising the steps of:

positioning the surface marking tool having at least one pad, and a marker having a marking end against a target surface, wherein the marking end is capable of moving from a non-marking position to a marking position, and wherein said surface marking tool has an underside, and an upper section, and wherein said at least one pad and said marking end extends beyond the underside of said surface marking tool;

using a sensor coupled in a housing to identify a specific location on the target surface; and

applying force onto the at least one pad of the surface marking tool against the target surface; and

causing the at least one pad to compress and causing the marking end of the marker housed within the underside of said surface marking tool to engage with the target surface and leave a mark, by moving from the non-marking position to the marking position.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of detecting a hidden object behind the target surface and indicating to an operator the detection of the hidden object.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of using a handle attachment that removably couples to an upper section of the housing to mark the target surface.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of using one or more extensions that removably couple to a handle attachment to mark the target surface.