Flagger/marker/locator

• US 6,053,260 A
• Filed: 06/23/1998
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boon, Peter, Jack Bates
• Original Assignee: Boon, Peter, Jack Bates
• Inventors: Boon, Peter, Bates, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALVE, JAMES P
• Application Number:
  US09/102,588
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 173/90, 173/91, 173/1, 173/128, 173/171, 173/149, 227/147, 227/156, 227/111, 81/489, 81/492, 81/177.1, 81/177.2, 81/177.8, 294/57, 294/58, 116/209, 222/174
• US Class Current: 173/90
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/608 for guiding, warning or controlling traffic, e.g. delineator posts or milestones
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/00 Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/02 laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile

Abstract

An underground utility line flagger and marker having an elongated main body having an upper end and a lower-end ground penetrator, a forwardly projecting handle at the upper end at an acute angle to the main body, the ground penetrator having a marker flagstaff-engagement recess at the bottom thereof, and a foot-driven projection on the main body whereby the staff of a marker flag lying on the ground can be inserted into the ground with the flag upright by using the handle to place the engagement recess on the flagstaff and stepping on the peg.

Claims

1. An underground utility line flagger and marker, comprising:

an elongated main body having an upper end and a lower end, a front surface and a rear surface;

an elongated, rigid ground penetrating member having a top and a bottom end;

a handle connected to said upper end and extending from said front surface at an acute angle to said main body;

said top end of said ground penetrating member connected to said lower end and said front surface of said main body;

said bottom end of said ground penetrating member having a marker flagstaff-engagement notch in a bottom edge thereof, wherein the ground penetrating member extends downwardly from the lower end and forwardly from the front surface of the main body at an obtuse angle to the main body; and

a foot driven projection on a lower end of said main body whereby a staff of a marker flag lying on the ground can be inserted into the ground with the flag upright by using the handle to place the engagement notch on the flagstaff and stepping on the foot driven projection.

2. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 1, wherein said acute angle is about 35-55 degrees.

3. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 1, wherein said acute angle is about 48 degrees.

4. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 1, further comprising a utility flag retainer connected to said elongated main body.

5. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 4, wherein said utility flag retainer includes a drainage hole to prevent liquid buildup.

6. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 5, further comprising a retainer for receiving a pressurized paint retainer connected to said main body;

an engagement member; and

an actuator operatively connecting said handle and said engagement member for actuation of a paint vessel in said retainer to mark the ground.

7. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 6, wherein said actuator includes connecting linkage.

8. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 6, wherein said actuator includes a finger-engageable button knob.

9. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 1, wherein said handle includes a grip.

10. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 9, wherein said grip is of polymeric material.

11. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 10, wherein said grip is shaped/contoured to conform to a human hand thereby providing comfort to the user.

12. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 1, wherein said ground penetrator includes a knife portion to facilitate ground penetration.

13. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 1, wherein said flagstaff engagement recess is of substantially inverted U shape.

14. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 1, wherein said foot driven projection is a peg.

15. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 14, wherein said peg is attached to said main body at a slight upward slant toward the handle to help prevent the user'"'"'s foot from slipping off said peg during operation.

16. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 15, wherein said peg includes a retaining element attached to said peg outer end to prevent a user'"'"'s foot from slipping off said peg during operation.

17. An underground utility line flagger and marker, comprising:

an elongated main body having an upper end and a lower end, a front surface and a rear surface;

an elongated, rigid ground penetrating member having a top end and a bottom end wherein said bottom end has a knife blade portion;

a handle connected to said upper end and extending from said front surface at an acute angle to said main body;

said top end of said ground penetrating member connected to said lower end of said main body, wherein the ground penetrating member extends downwardly from the lower end and forwardly from the front surface of the main body at an obtuse angle to the main body;

said knife blade portion further including a marker flagstaff engagement notch in a bottom edge thereof;

a foot driven projection on a lower end of said main body; and

a flag having a flagstaff wherein said marker flagstaff engagement notch receives said flagstaff whereby said flagstaff is inserted into the ground by actuating said foot driven projection.

18. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 17, wherein said acute angle is about 35-55 degrees.

19. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 17, wherein said acute angle is about 48 degrees.

20. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 17, further comprising a utility flag retainer connected to said elongated main body.

21. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 20, wherein said utility flag retainer includes a drainage hole to prevent liquid buildup.

22. The underground utility line flagger or marker in claim 21, wherein said actuator includes connecting linkage.

23. The underground utility line flagger or marker in claim 21, wherein said actuator includes a finger-engageable button knob.

24. The underground utility line flagger and marker in claim 17, further comprising a paint vessel retainer connected to said main body for receiving a paint vessel;

an engagement member; and

an actuator operatively connecting said handle and said engagement member for actuation of a paint vessel in said paint vessel retainer to mark the ground.