Land mine probe

• US 20030145665A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altra Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Altra Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Robley, Ronald J.
• Application Number:
  US10/355,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/866.5
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/12 Means for clearing land minefields; Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines

Abstract

A land mine probe includes a handle and a first shaft extending from the handle and terminating at a tip. In one embodiment, the probe includes a second shaft extending from the handle and terminating at a second tip. In another embodiment, the shaft includes a plurality of segments releasably attached to one another and releasably attached to the handle. In yet another embodiment, the probe includes a sound amplification device. In still another embodiment, the probe includes a device for emitting light in a direction towards the tip.

Claims

1. A land mine probe comprising:

a handle;

a first shaft extending from the handle and terminating at a first tip; and

a second shaft extending from the handle and terminating at a second tip.

2. The probe of claim 1, wherein the handle has a non-uniform surface characteristic.

3. The probe of claim 2, wherein the handle has a non-uniform surface contour.

4. The probe of claim 1, wherein the first shaft has a first characteristic and wherein the second shaft has a second characteristic different than the first characteristic.

5. The probe of claim 1, wherein the first tip has a first characteristic and wherein the second tip has a second characteristic different than the first characteristic.

6. The probe of claim 5, wherein the first tip includes an electrically non-conductive material and wherein the second tip includes an electrically conductive material.

7. The probe of claim 6, wherein the first tip includes a polymeric material and wherein the second tip includes a non-magnetic metallic material.

8. The probe of claim 5, wherein the first tip includes a polymeric outer surface and wherein the second tip includes a nonmagnetic metallic outer surface.

9. The probe of claim 8, wherein the first tip is formed entirely from a polymeric material and wherein the second tip is formed entirely from a non-magnetic metallic material.

10. The probe of claim 1, wherein the first shaft includes a plurality of indicia indicating a distance from a terminal point of the first tip.

11. The probe of claim 10, wherein the plurality of indicia are equally spaced along the first shaft.

12. The probe of claim 10, wherein the plurality of indicia comprise roughened portions spaced along the first shaft.

13. The probe of claim 12, wherein the roughened portions comprise knurls.

14. The probe of claim 1, wherein the first shaft includes a first main portion extending from the first end of the handle and a first tip segment providing the first tip, wherein the first tip segment is removably attached to the first main portion.

15. The probe of claim 14, wherein the second shaft includes a second main portion extending from the second end of the handle and a second tip segment providing the second tip, wherein the second tip segment is removably attached to the second main portion.

16. The probe of claim 15, wherein the second tip segment is configured to be removably attached to the first main portion.

17. The probe of claim 15, wherein the first tip segment includes an electrically non-conductive outer surface and wherein the second tip segment includes a non-magnetic metallic outer surface.

18. The probe of claim 14, wherein the first main portion includes a plurality of first main segments removably attached to one another.

19. The probe of claim 18, wherein one of the plurality of first main segments is removably attached to the first end of the handle.

20. The probe of claim 18, wherein the second shaft includes a second main portion extending from the handle and a second tip segment providing the second tip, wherein the second tip segment is removably attached to the second main portion.

21. The probe of claim 20, wherein the second tip segment is configured to be releasably attached to at least one of the plurality of first main segments.

22. The probe of claim 20, wherein the second main portion includes a plurality of second main segments removably attached to one another.

23. The probe of claim 22, wherein one of the plurality of second main segments is removably attached to the second end of the handle.

24. The probe of claim 23, wherein the plurality of first main segments are interchangeable with the plurality of second main segments.

25. The probe of claim 20, wherein the plurality of first main segments are interchangeable with the plurality of second main segments.

26. The probe of claim 20, wherein the handle has a first length and wherein the first main segments and the second main segments have individual lengths no greater than the first length.

27. The probe of claim 26, wherein the first main segments and the second main segments have individual lengths no greater than one inch less than the first length.

28. The probe of claim 20, wherein the plurality of second main segments are configured to be releasably attached to and between a first one of the plurality of first main segments and a second one of the plurality of first main segments.

29. A land mine probe comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle and terminating at a tip; and

a sound amplification system coupled to the shaft.

30. The probe of claim 29, wherein the sound amplification system is coupled to the handle.

31. The probe of claim 30, wherein the sound amplification system is releasably coupled to the handle.

32. The probe of claim 29, wherein the sound amplification system includes a stethoscope.

33. A land mine probe comprising:

a handle;

a shaft extending from the handle along an axis and terminating at a tip; and

a light emitting device configured to emit light in a direction towards the tip.

34. The probe of claim 33, wherein the light emitting device is supported by the handle.

35. The probe of claim 33, wherein the light emitting device is configured to emit a light along the axis.

36. The probe of claim 35, wherein the light emitting device is configured to emit a light substantially parallel to the axis.

37. The probe of claim 33, wherein the light emitting device is configured to emit a laser towards the tip.

38. The probe of claim 37, wherein the laser is green.

39. The probe of claim 33 including a switch for actuating the light emitting device.

40. A method for detecting underground land mines, the method comprising:

inserting a tip of a shaft into the ground until an obstruction is struck;

emitting a light towards the tip; and

observing a reflection of the light.

41. A method for detecting underground land mines, the method comprising:

inserting a tip of a shaft into the ground until an obstruction is struck;

amplifying a sound transmitted through the shaft as the result of striking the obstruction with the tip; and

listening to the amplified sound to determine whether the obstruction is a land mine based on the amplified sound.

42. A land mine probe comprising:

a handle;

a plurality of main segments releasably attached to one another and releasably attached to the handle; and

a tip segment releasably coupled to one of the plurality of main segments.