Combined mine probe and marker

• US 5,052,329 A
• Filed: 09/06/1989
• Issued: 10/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Bennett, Stephen H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Application Number:
  US07/403,424
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 116/202, 116/209, 116/63 P, 362/34, 362/84, 362/102, 362/119, 362/120, 362/431
• US Class Current: 116/209
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/12 Means for clearing land minefields; Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines

Abstract

A combined probe and marker for probing mines as well as marking mines oncehey have been discovered, and marking a path free of mines, comprises a rod rigidly connected to a handle. At the upper end of the handle, there is a recess for frictionally holding a Combat Light Device. In another version of this invention, the handle has a central bore followed by a concentric threaded bore at the lower end of the handle. The rod is affixed to one of the threaded ends of a stub which has a middle enlarged section for removably attaching and storing the rod.

Claims

1. A combined probe and marker comprising;

a non-metallic rod having a distal pointed end and a proximate end;

a handle having an uper end, a lower end, a recess formed in the upper end of the handle for holding a cylindrically shaped chemical light means, a central longitudinal sheathing bore formed within the handle, and a concentric, internally threaded bore disposed at the lower end of the handle and in comunication with the sheathing bore; and

a mounting stub for connecting the proximate end of the rod to the lower end of the handle;

wherein said mounting stub has a central affixed between first and second stub ends having external threads, the threaded stub ends being in matching relationship with the threaded bore of the handle;

wherein the proximate end of the rod is mounted in a bore formed within the first stub end of the mounting stub, wherein the rod is removably attached to the handle by engaging the second stub end with the threaded bore of the handle for probing and marking and wherein the rod is stored within the central sheathing bore when not in use by reversing the mounting stub and engaging the first stub end with the threaded bore of the handle.

2. The probe and marker of claim 1 further comprising an opening transverse through the handle for holding a chemical light.

3. The probe and marker of claim 1 further comprising an opening transverse through the handle, adjacent to the recess for securing a rope.

4. The probe and marker of claim 1 wherein the probing rod is made of fiberglass-reinforced expoxy resin and the handle is made of high-impact polyacetal resin.

5. The probe and marker of claim 1 wherein the central hub is of the same diameter as the handle and its outer surface is knurled.