Passive marker device for particular points, subsurface items and conditions

• US 5,771,835 A
• Filed: 10/02/1995
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven Alan Schneider
• Original Assignee: Steven Alan Schneider
• Inventors: Schneider, Steven Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HIRSHFELD, ANDREW HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/537,618
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 116/204, 116/209, 52/103, 52/104, 52/105, 343/719, 33/1 H
• US Class Current: 116/209
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/11 for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/23 the advertising or display material forming part of rotating members, e.g. in the form of perforations, prints, or transparencies on a drum or disc

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a passive type marker device (10) with a stem (11) placed in contact with or adjacent to a hidden object (14) or other particular point, providing for visual and/or electronic identification of such. Measurements (20) and directional markings (24) imprinted along the stem face indicate distance to the object. An alignment saddle (12) astride the object self aligns an arrow opening (18) through the stem defines the object'"'"'s orientation relative to its surroundings. The device'"'"'s color indicates object type such as red for electric, blue for water, etc. A marker dial (46) for optional placement in a finished surface also defines the object depth. The dial is indexedly installed atop an alignment indicating adapter (44) which is self aligned by insertion into the arrow opening of the stem. An arrow and indicia atop the adapter indicates the orientation and size of the object. An electronically locatable tuned circuit is encased within the alignment indicating adapter. Alternately the stem, the dial with the adapter or the adapter alone may be placed in the vicinity of the hidden object or particular point without the other parts.

Claims

1. A passive marker device for indicating information concerning a hidden object positioned underneath a concealing surface, said passive marker device comprising:

a stem containing an arrow shaped opening throughout the length of said stem; and

an alignment saddle mateable with a second end of the stem, said alignment saddle for orienting the stem relative to the hidden object,

whereby said stem delineates the position of said hidden object when said stem is placed vertically upon the top surface of the hidden object, or in immediate adjacency of said hidden object, so that the first end of said stem is extended flush to or projected beyond the concealing surface.

2. The passive marker device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said saddle includes an arrow shaped tongue for mating with the arrow shaped opening of the stem at the second end of the stem, whereby said saddle and said arrow shaped tongue are arranged to provide self alignment of said stem relative to the hidden object.

3. The passive marker device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said passive marker device is manufactured in a predetermined color for providing at least some of said information.

4. The passive marker device in accordance with claim 1 wherein measurement indicia is printed upon the outer surface of said stem with said measurement indicia beginning with zero at the first end of said stem and continuing with divisions of said measurement indicia in a continuous manner throughout the length of said stem.

5. The passive marker device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said passive marker device is mated to a tuned resonant circuit.

6. The passive marker device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a marker dial comprised of depth indicia imprinted on an upper face of said marker dial, a retainer lip at a base of said marker dial, a receptacle with lobes at the underside of said marker dial; and

an alignment indicating adapter comprising an alignment adapter tongue of an arrow shape for mating with the arrow shaped opening of said stem at said first end, and a head attached to the adapter alignment tongue, said head having thereon cogs and indents for mating with said lobes, said head also having an insert recess of an arrow shape, wherein an object diameter and alignment indicator is within said insert recess.