Marking paint applicator for use with portable utility locator

• US 10,569,951 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S., Turgeon, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jonaitis, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US16/105,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20190135528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 239525, 239146, 239147, 239150, 239154, 239722, 239 71, 239 73, 116211, 116209, 222174, 222192
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/00 Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/20 Masking elements, i.e. elements defining uncoated areas on an object to be coated
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/63 Handgrips
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/06 Stencils B05C17/04 takes precedence; stencils used in connection with printing plates or foils B41N1/24; drawing accessories B43L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/203 comprising an extension rod located between the aerosol container and the hand grip setting-out line markings on playing courts A63C19/065; marking-out on finished paving by spraying from aerosol containers E01C23/227
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/208 Pull cord operated actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/36 allowing operation in any orientation , e.g. discharge in inverted position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/46 Tilt valves B65D83/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A marking paint applicator for a portable electronic locator that locates buried cables and pipes via electromagnetic emissions is disclosed. The marking paint application may include an elongated support structure and a trigger mechanism, along with a bracket assembly, a receptacle for holding paint, and an actuating mechanism for selectively controlling release of the paint in response to operator actuation of the trigger mechanism.

Claims

1. A marking paint applicator for use with a portable locator that includes an input for receiving a paint deployment signal, comprising:

a support structure;

a mounting assembly for removable coupling of the applicator to the portable locator;

a trigger mechanism;

a receptacle mounted to the support structure for holding an aerosol paint can and positioning a valve stem of the aerosol paint can for spraying paint onto the ground;

an actuating mechanism for controlling the valve stem so as to cause the aerosol paint can to spray paint for deployment on the ground; and

a sensor operatively coupled to the actuation mechanism to provide a signal to the input of the locator indicating deployment of paint upon actuation so as to indicate paint deployment on a display of the locator.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly includes one or more clips to removably couple the applicator to the locator.

3. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly includes one or more brackets to removably couple the applicator to the locator.

4. The applicator of claim 1, wherein one or both of the receptacle and support structure comprises a non-metallic material for minimizing magnetic field distortion of magnetic field signals received by the locator.

5. The applicator of claim 1, further including one or more wheels coupled to the applicator.

6. A method of marking a utility in conjunction with a utility locator and associated paint applicator, comprising:

receiving, at a trigger mechanism of a paint applicator as in claim 1, a user actuation input;

actuating, at an actuating mechanism of the paint applicator of claim 1, deployment of paint from an aerosol paint can onto a ground surface;

sensing the discharge of paint at a sensor of the paint applicator of claim 1, and

providing a signal to the input of the locator so as to indicate paint deployment.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing an indication of paint deployment on the locator.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising adding a time tag to the paint deployment signal and storing the time tag in a non-transitory memory with data representing the paint deployment.