Marker tag for tree trunks and an applicator hammer for the application of same to tree trunks

• US 7,080,577 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2004
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Latschbacher GmbH
• Original Assignee: Latschbacher GmbH
• Inventors: Latschbacher, Klaus, Huber, Johann
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDONALD, SHANTESE L
• Application Number:
  US10/978,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20050274229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 81/20, 81/23, 81/24, 227/147, 227/152
• US Class Current: 81/23
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/099 Auxiliary devices, e.g. felling wedges
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/12 by pins, staples, or the like

Abstract

A marker tag for tree trunks is provided with a flat element bearing indicia adapted to clip onto an applicator hammer. A nail extends perpendicularly through the flat element and is able to slide in a passage opening in the flat element preferably subject to the action of a clamping force and only able to be slid on application of a force. After driving the nail provided with the marker tag into a living tree trunk the trunk continues to increase in diameter and accordingly pushes the marker tag along the nail so that after a certain number of years it is stripped off and drops to the ground.

Claims

1. A marker tag for tree trunks comprising a flat element with indicia and with holding means for clipping on an applicator hammer, wherein a nail extends perpendicularly through the flat element, said nail being able to slide in a through opening in the flat element, wherein the nail is held with a clamping effect in the through opening and may only be slid on the application of force.

2. The marker tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the nail, at least along part of the length thereof between an initial engaged position of the nail and the flat element and a rear end portion remote from the initial engaged position is provided with striations or peripheral grooves or with helical grooves.

3. The marker tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the holding force of the holding means is less than the force involved on sliding the nail through the through opening.

4. The marker tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein a rear end portion of the nail has a diameter widening like a cone.

5. The marker tag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flat element possesses integrally formed spacer elements on a flat side thereof facing away from the holding means.

6. A marker tag for tree trunks comprising a flat element with indicia and with holding means for clipping on an applicator hammer, wherein a nail extends perpendicularly through the flat element, said nail being able to slide in a through opening in the flat element, wherein slits extend from an edge of the through opening in an outward direction so that elastic lugs result.

7. A marker tag for tree trunks comprising a flat element with indicia and with holding means for clipping on an applicator hammer, wherein a nail extends perpendicularly through the flat element, said nail being able to slide in a through opening in the flat element, wherein the holding means are designed in the form of three or four holding members adapted to snap like hooks into an annular groove of the applicator hammer, preferably four holding members being arranged on four corners of the flat element which is substantially rectangular.

8. An applicator hammer for applying a marker tag to tree trunks, comprising a hammer handle and a hammer head, wherein the hammer head possesses a driver face adapted for engagement with a flat element of the marker tag, wherein behind the driver face there is a peripheral groove into which holding means of the marker tag may snap and wherein a receiving slot for a nail engaged through the marker tag extends perpendicularly to the driver face of the marker tag from the driver face as far as an abutment face for the rear end face of the nail.

9. The applicator hammer as set forth in claim 8, wherein the length of the receiving slot is less than the length of the nail to be driven into the tree trunk.

10. The applicator hammer as set forth in claim 8, wherein the driver face is arranged on the front face of a driver disk provided with said peripheral groove serving for receiving the holding means by same snapping into place.