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Air-delivered position marking device and method

  • US 5,951,346 A
  • Filed: 12/08/1997
  • Issued: 09/14/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An air-deliverable position marking device, comprising:

  • (a) an elongated body defining an interior chamber;

    (b) a fin assembly mounted on said elongated body for providing stabilization of flight of said device;

    (c) a payload assembly disposed in said interior chamber of said elongated body and including an inflatable flotation body, an actuatable mechanism coupled to said flotation body for inflating said flotation body, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and transmitter unit, and an electrical power source coupled to said GPS receiver and transmitter unit and being activatable for supplying electrical power to operate said GPS receiver and transmitter unit; and

    (d) a detonatable mechanism provided in said elongated body in communication with said interior chamber thereof such that firing of said detonatable mechanism generates a predetermined pressure in said interior chamber of said elongated body that causes ejection of said payload assembly from said interior chamber, actuates said actuatable mechanism to initiate inflation of said flotation body, and activates said electrical power source to initiate communications between said GPS receiver and transmitter unit and a remote station to determine the position of said position marking device at the desired location.

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