Marker setting device and marker

• US 20030196585A1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward J. Kreul, James C. Mcdonald, Stephen M. Miller
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Kreul, James C. Mcdonald, Stephen M. Miller
• Inventors: Kreul, Edward J., McDonald, James C., Miller, Stephen M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,802,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 116/211
• 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: G01C 15/04 Permanent marks; Boundary markers

Abstract

A device for inserting a utility marker is described that includes an elongated handle with upper and lower ends; a marker extractor adjacent the handle lower end that is moveable along a vertical pathway, and a marker magazine adjacent the handle lower end adapted to hold a plurality of markers including a leading marker adjacent the marker extractor pathway. The extractor, when moved to its extended position by pushing on the plunger, extracts the leading marker from the marker magazine, and inserts the lower end of the marker into the ground. Simultaneously, a valve actuator at the lower end of the handle is moved to an operative position to open the valve of an aerosol can, spraying paint adjacent to the marker. In one embodiment of the invention, the magazine is adapted to enclose a continuous roll of markers. In another embodiment, a housing adjacent the marker extractor pathway receives a replaceable magazine of stacked markers.

Claims

1. A marker setting device for inserting a marker into the ground comprising:

a) an elongated handle having an upper end and a lower end;

b) a marker extractor adjacent the lower end of said handle, said marker extractor being movable along a marker extractor pathway between a raised position and an extended position, said marker extractor having a lower end extending beyond said handle lower end when said marker extractor is in the extended position; and

c) a marker magazine adjacent said handle lower end adapted to enclose a continuous roll of markers including a leading marker adjacent said marker extractor pathway, each of said markers including an extractor receiver, the extractor receiver of said leading marker extending into said marker extractor pathway, whereby said leading marker extractor receiver is engaged by said marker extractor to extract said marker from said magazine when said plunger is moved from its raised position to its fully extended position.

2. The marker setting device of claim 1, wherein said handle includes a tubular lower handle section with upper and lower ends, a plunger with upper and lower ends slidable in said lower handle section between a raised position and a lowered position, and a resilient member urging said plunger to said raised position, said marker extractor being carried adjacent the lower end of said plunger.

3. The marker setter of claim 1, further includes an aerosol can carrier attached at the lower end of said handle, and a valve actuator in communication with said handle, said valve actuator having an operative position to engage a valve on a spray can carried by said can carrier.

4. The marker setting device of claim 1, wherein said extractor receiver is selected from the group consisting of tips, projections, depressions and holes.

5. The marker setting device of claim 1, wherein said handle includes a striker foot on its lower end.

6. The marker setter of claim 1, wherein said lower handle section includes a first vertical slot at its lower end, said marker engagement member being moveable within said slot.

7. A marker setting device comprising:

a) an elongated handle having an upper end and a lower end, said handle including a tubular lower handle section with upper and lower ends, a plunger with upper and lower ends slidable in said lower handle section between a raised position and a lowered position, and a spring urging said plunger to said raised position;

b) a marker extractor attached to the lower end of said plunger, said marker extractor being movable along a marker extractor pathway between a raised position and a lowered position, said marker extractor having a lower end extending beyond said lower handled section lower end when said marker extractor is in its extended position; and

c) a housing attached to said lower handle section, said housing being adapted to receive a replaceable magazine containing a plurality of stacked markers including a leading marker that is placed adjacent said marker engagement pathway whenever said replaceable magazine is received by said housing, each of said markers including an extractor receiver, the extractor receiver of said leading marker extending into said marker engagement pathway whenever said replaceable magazine is housed within said housing, whereby said lead marker is engaged by said marker extractor to extract said marker from said magazine when said plunger is moved from its raised position to its fully lowered position.

8. The marker setter of claim 7, further including an aerosol can carrier attached at the lower end of said handle, and a valve actuator in communication with said plunger, said valve actuator having an operative position engaging said valve when said plunger is in the lowered position.

9. The marker setter of claim 7, said housing includes a front wall having a discharge opening attachable adjacent said marker extractor pathway and a hinged door having an attached spring to urge markers within said replaceable magazine toward said discharge opening.

10. The marker setter of claim 7, wherein said handle includes a striker foot on its lower end.

11. The marker setter of claim 7, wherein said lower handle section includes a first vertical slot at its lower end, said marker engagement member being within said slot.

12. The marker setter of claim 7, wherein said marker is comprised of an upper signal section having at least one planar surface, a longitudinal axis, opposed sides, an upper end and a lower end;

a lower post section having a lower end and an upper end attached to the lower end of the signal section; and

an extractor receiver extending outwardly and upwardly from the post section.

13. The marker setting device of claim 7 wherein said extractor receiver is selected from the group consisting of tips, projections, depressions and holes.

14. A marker setting device for inserting a marker into the ground comprising:

a) an elongated handle having an upper end and a lower end;

b) a marker extractor adjacent the lower end of said handle, said marker extractor being movable along a marker extractor pathway between a raised position and an extended position, said marker extractor having a lower end extending beyond said handle lower end when said marker extractor is in its extended position;

c) a marker magazine adjacent said handle lower end adapted to hold a continuous roll of markers including a leading marker adjacent said marker extractor pathway, each of said markers including an extractor receiver, the extractor receiver of said leading marker extending into said marker extractor pathway, whereby said leading marker is engaged by said marker extractor to extract said marker from said magazine when said plunger is moved from its raised position to its extended position; and

d) an aerosol can carrier attached at the lower end of said handle, said carrier being adapted to support a valved aerosol can, and a valve actuator in communication with said handle, said valve actuator having an operative position to engage a valve on a spray can carried by said can carrier when said marker extractor is in the extended position.

15. The marker setting device of claim 14, wherein said handle includes a tubular lower handle section with upper and lower ends, and a plunger with upper and lower ends slidable in said lower handle section between a raised position and a lowered position.

16. The marker setting device of claim 14, wherein said valve actuator includes a rod with a distal valve engagement end, and a proximal end and a spring urging said rod in the direction of the proximal end.

17. The marker setting device of claim 14, wherein said valve actuator is moved to its operative position by contact with an outwardly extending inclined camming surface carried at the end of a plunger opposite said marker extractor.

18. The marker setting device of claim 14, wherein each lead marker is separable from its immediately trailing marker when said lead marker is inserted into the ground.

19. The marker setting device of claim 14, wherein marker separation is effected by perforations between said markers, by cutting of said markers at their interface with a segment of the extractor.

20. The marker setting device of claim 14, wherein said marker extractor receiver is selected from the group consisting of tips, projections, depressions and holes.

21. A utility marker insertable with a marker setting device having a downwardly moveable marker extractor comprising:

a) an upper signal section with a lower end;

b) a lower post section having an upper end joining the lower end of the signal section and a lower end; and

c) an extractor receiver engageable by said marker extractor.

22. The marker of claim 21, wherein the upper end of said post forms said marker extractor.

23. The marker of claim 21, wherein said signal section, said post section and said engagement projection are integrally formed from a single sheet of material.

24. The marker of claim 21, wherein said marker extractor receiver is selected from the group consisting of tips, projections, depressions and holes.

25. The marker of claim 21, wherein said engagement projection extends upwardly and outwardly from the lower end of said post section.

26. The marker of claim 21, formed from a single sheet of flexible plastic or paper.

27. The marker of claim 21, wherein said signal section lower edge is at least twice the width of said post section upper end.