Visual marker or beacon

• US 3,323,117 A
• Filed: 06/29/1964
• Issued: 05/30/1967
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1964
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert P. Mason
• Original Assignee: Robert P. Mason
• Inventors: Mason, Robert P.
• Application Number:
  US04/378,908
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• US Class Current: 340/321
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/38 using flashing light

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR VISUALLY MARKING A TRAIL OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A TRANSLUCENT HOUSING COLORED TO CONTRAST WITH ITS INTENDED ENVIRONMENT, SAID HOUSING BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SPHERICAL AND FORMED FROM TWO HEMISPHERICAL SHELLS JOINED TO FORM A HOLLOW INTERIOR CHAMBER, AN ELECTRIC LAMP POSITIONED IN THE CENTRAL AREA OF SAID CHAMBER FOR ILLUMINATING AND PASSING LIGHT THROUGH A MAJOR PORTION OF SAID HOUSING, AN ELECTRIC ENERGY CELL POSITIONED WITHIN HOUSING FOR ENERGIZING SAID ELECTRIC LAMP AND HAVING TERMINALS AT THE ENDS THEREOF, A CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE EXTENDING RADIALLY WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND PROPORTIONED FOR HOLDING SAID ELECTRIC ENERGY CELL AND FORMING A PEDESTAL FOR SUPPORTING SAID ELECTRIC LAMP, SAID SLEEVE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID HOUSING HAVING THREADS THEREON, A CAP ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID THREADS TO CLOSE THE OUTWARD END OF THE SLEEVE WHEREIN A READILY ACCESSIBLE OPENING IS PROVIDED TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING, A CONNECTOR MEANS FORMING AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BETWEEN SAID ELECTRIC ENERGY CELL AND SAID ELECTRIC LAMP FOR TRANSFER OF ENERGY THEREBETWEEN, A FLASHER CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR CAUSING SAID ELECTRIC LAMP TO BLINK ON AND OFF, SAID CONNECTOR MEANS INCORPORATING A PAIR OF CONTACT PLATES ADAPTED TO LIE ADJACENT THE TERMINALS OF THE ELECTRIC ENERGY CELL AND MAKE CONTACT THEREWITH, A REMOVABLE INSULATING STRIP INTERPOSED BETWEEN ONE OF SAID CONTACT PLATES AND AN ELECTRIC ENERGY CELL TERMINAL TO HOLD SAID CIRCUIT OPEN AND UPON REMOVAL THEREOF TO ALLOW SAID CIRCUIT TO CLOSE, SAID ELECTRIC ENERGY CELL AND CONTACT PLATES AND INSULATING STRIP BEING ASSEMBLED AXIALLY IN SAID CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE IN SANDWICH FASHION WHEREIN SAID CAP WILL EXERT A CLAMPING FORCE THERON TO ASSURE POSITIVE CONTACT, EARS PROTRUDING FROM SAID HOUSING AND CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED THEREAROUND, AND A PARACHUTE HAVING HARNESS LINES ATTACHED TO SAID EARS WHEREIN SAID DEVICE CAN BE SAFELY DROPPED FROM THE AIR.