Survey marker

• US 6,578,512 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clarence E. Truax
• Original Assignee: Clarence E. Truax
• Inventors: Truax, Clarence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Courson, Tania C.
• Application Number:
  US09/850,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 521/03, 521/57, 248/530, 116/200, 116/209
• US Class Current: 116/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/04 Permanent marks; Boundary markers

Abstract

A survey marker having a rod with a pointed tip and a section of auger flights at a selected location thereof spaced apart from the tip, wherein the auger flights do not extend the entire length of the rod and preferably does not extend pass the half-way mark of the rod. A head extending from a distal end of the rod opposite the point includes means for retaining a survey flag, means for engaging a drive tool, and means for alignment.

Claims

1. A survey marker, comprising:

a head comprising a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface, said head including a first aperture comprising means for aligning said head in a selected direction, means within said head for engaging a drive tool for rotating said head and rod, means for positioning a surveying instrument, and an aperture for retaining a survey rod therein; and

a rod affixed to said center of said concave lower surface of said head, said rod having a pointed tip and at least one section of auger flights at a selected location thereon spaced apart from said tip and spaced apart from said head.

2. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said flight extends around said rod 360 degrees.

3. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein a front edge of said flight is spaced apart from and in vertical alignment with a rear edge of said flight.

4. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said flight has an inner edge connecting to said rod and said rear edge of said flight extends outwardly from said rod normal thereto and said front end of said flight extends downwardly at a selected angle.

5. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said aperture for retaining said survey rod therein comprises a triangular aperture.

6. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said aperture for retaining said survey rod therein comprises a round aperture.

7. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said means for engaging said drive tool for rotating said head is a square aperture.

8. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said means for engaging said drive tool is offset from the center of said head.

9. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said means for positioning said surveying instrument comprising a central positioning dimple.

10. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said means for aligning comprising a drop shaped aperture.

11. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said means for aligning comprising a slotted arrow.

12. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said auger flights extend along a selected portion of said rod.

13. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said auger flights are spaced apart from said head and said tip of said rod.

14. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said head includes markings or indicia selected from the group consisting of letters, words, hash marks and degrees.

15. The survey marker of claim 1, said head including a disk corporately engaging said head extending around the periphery thereof including markings and indicia thereon.

16. The survey marker of claim 1, including a disk having a center hole for receiving said rod, wherein an outer edge of said disk extends outwardly past the periphery of the head.

17. The survey marker of claim 1, including means for retaining a disk at a selected position with respect to said head.

18. The survey marker of claim 1, including a driving means.

19. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said head includes a drive nut corporately engaging said means for engaging drive means.

20. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said driving means includes a telescoping shaft.

21. The survey marker of claim 1, including a locating rod for extending from the top of said head.

22. The survey marker of claim 1, wherein said head and said rod are fabricated from material comprising stainless steel, brass, aluminum, fiber glass, graphite material, and combinations thereof.

23. A method of using and marking a survey comprising the steps of:

selecting a survey marker including a head comprising a convex upper surface, said head including a first aperture comprising means for aligning said head in a selected direction, means within said head for engaging a drive tool for rotating said head and rod, means for positioning a surveying instrument, and an aperture for retaining a survey rod therein; and

a rod affixed to said center of a concave lower surface of said head, said rod having a pointed tip and at least one section of auger flights at a selected location thereon spaced apart from said tip and spaced apart from said head;

pushing said rod of said survey marker into the ground until said auger flight makes contact with the surface of the ground;

engaging said means for engaging said drive tool with an insertion tool;

rotating said survey marker using said drive tool forcing said flights and said rod into the ground;

stopping said rotation of said survey marker at a selected position, orienting said means for alignment to point in the direction of another selected survey marker;

removing said drive means from said means for engaging;

inserting a survey flag rod into said aperture; and

after the surveying has been completed cutting said flag rod off at ground level leaving said survey marker as a permanent marker.