Reflective trail markers

• US 6,299,379 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1998
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lewis Hunting Accessories, Mfg., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lewis Hunting Accessories, Mfg., Inc.
• Inventors: Lewis, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Markovich, Kristine
• Application Number:
  US09/157,130
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 404/9, 404/12, 404/14, 116/63.P, 116/209, 359/543, 359/544, 359/545, 247/114
• US Class Current: 404/9
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/619 with reflectors; with means for keeping reflectors clean

Abstract

A reflective trail marker which may be used to form an outdoor trail which is highly visible at night is provided. The reflective trail marker has a generally “hour-glass” shaped marker head, having a central portion and top and bottom cap portions. The central portion has a light reflective side wall surface. The top and bottom cap portions have non-reflective surfaces, and preferably overhang the reflective side wall surface of the central portion. Reflective trail markers may be attached to horizontal support structures, for 360° reflection, to mark a trail easily visible at night when a light is shined on the trail from any angle, or may be attached to vertical support structures, for limited angle reflection, to form a secret trail. A metal pin preferably extends from the bottom cap portion to allow easy attachment and removal of the marker from a tree or other support structure. A plurality of reflective trail markers in accordance with the present invention may be included in a kit, wherein each reflective trail marker in the kit has a top cap portion colored the same color.

Claims

1. A reflective marker, comprising:

(a) a marker head having a central portion having a plurality of flat reflective side wall surfaces and non-reflective flat top and bottom cap portions parallel to each other and perpendicular to an axis of the central portion and overhanging the reflective side wall surfaces of the central portion; and

(b) a fastening means attached to the marker head for attaching the marker head to a support structure.

2. The reflective marker of claim 1 wherein the central portion has four flat reflective side wall surfaces.

3. The reflective marker of claim 1 wherein the fastening means is a metal pin protruding from the bottom cap portion of the marker head.

4. The reflective marker of claim 1 wherein a surface of the top cap portion is colored with a color selected from the group of colors consisting of red, green, blue, yellow, orange, and white.

5. A reflective marker kit, comprising a plurality of reflective markers wherein each reflective marker comprises:

a marker head having a central portion having a plurality of flat reflective side wall surfaces and non-reflective flat top and bottom cap portions parallel to each other and perpendicular to an axis of the central portion and overhanging the reflective side wall surfaces of the central portion; and

a fastening means attached to the marker head for attaching the marker head to a support structure, wherein a surface of the top cap portion of each reflective marker in the kit is colored the same color.

6. The reflective marker kit of claim 5 wherein the central portion of each marker in the kit has four perpendicular flat reflective side wall surfaces.

7. The reflective marker kit of claim 5 wherein the fastening means of each marker in the kit is a metal pin protruding from the bottom cap portion of the marker head.

8. The reflective marker kit of claim 5 wherein the surface of the top cap portion of each marker in the kit is colored with a color selected from the group of colors consisting of red, green, blue, yellow, orange, and white.