Attachment for a surveyor's instrument

• US 7,500,583 B1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Cox Joint Revocable Trust
• Original Assignee: Enoch Cox
• Inventors: Cox, Enoch
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US11/002,502
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 222/402.1, 222/402, 222/402.19, 222/402.24, 222/402.13, 2221811-1813, 222182-184, 239360-364, 239/288, 239/288.3, 239/288.5, 401/190, 401/118, 401/264
• US Class Current: 222/402.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/02 Means for marking measuring points

Abstract

An attachment triggers dispensation of paint through the valve of an inverted aerosol can onto a surface target in response to manipulation of a surveyor'"'"'s rod or pole. A coupling connects the attachment to the lower end of the surveyor'"'"'s instrument and a cap seals against the valve end of the inverted aerosol can. A support structure holds the coupling, the inverted aerosol can and the cap together for motion in unison. A nozzle defines a path of pneumatic communication from the valve through the cap. The portion of the cap surrounding the nozzle is resiliently pliable so that, when the nozzle is rested on and the surveyor'"'"'s instrument is pressed toward the surface target, the resiliently pliable portion of the cap flexes to actuate the valve and dispense paint through the nozzle onto the surface target.

Claims

1. For triggering dispensation of paint through a valve of an aerosol can onto a surface target in response to manipulation of a surveyor'"'"'s instrument, an attachment comprising a cap adapted to seal against a valve end of the aerosol can, said cap having a resiliently pliable central portion with a nozzle therethrough, said nozzle being aligned and contoured to seat the valve of the aerosol can thereon when said cap is sealed against the can and extending downwardly from said pliable central portion of said cap and means for connecting a lower end of the instrument to said cap whereby, when said nozzle is rested on and the surveyor'"'"'s instrument is pressed toward the surface target, said resiliently pliable central portion of said cap flexes to actuate the valve and dispense paint through the nozzle onto the surface target.

2. For triggering dispensation of paint through a valve of an aerosol can onto a surface target in response to manipulation of a surveyor'"'"'s instrument, an attachment comprising a container of height substantially equal to the height of the aerosol can and contoured to hold the aerosol can in an inverted orientation, said container having an upper end adapted for connection to a lower end of the surveyor'"'"'s instrument and a cap on a lower end of said container, said cap having a resiliently pliable central portion with a nozzle therethrough, said nozzle having a throat aligned to seat the valve of the aerosol can thereon when the can is held in said container whereby, when said nozzle is rested on and the surveyor'"'"'s instrument is pressed toward the surface target, said resiliently pliable central portion of said cap flexes to actuate the valve and dispense paint through the nozzle onto the surface target.

3. For triggering dispensation of paint through a valve of an aerosol can onto a surface target in response to manipulation of a surveyor'"'"'s instrument, an attachment comprising a cylindrical container of height substantially equal to the height of the aerosol can and contoured to hold the aerosol can in an inverted orientation, said container having an upper end adapted for concentric connection to a lower end of the surveyor'"'"'s instrument, a cap on a lower end of said container, said cap having a resiliently pliable central portion with a central nozzle therethrough, said nozzle extending concentrically upwardly to seat the valve of the aerosol can thereon when the can is held in said container and extending concentrically downwardly below said cap whereby, when said nozzle is rested on and the surveyor'"'"'s instrument is pressed toward the surface target, said resiliently pliable central portion of said cap flexes to actuate the valve and dispense paint through the nozzle onto the surface target.

4. An attachment according to claim 3, said cap being threadedly engaged on said container to permit replacement of the can.

5. An attachment according to claim 3, said container being sufficiently rigid to resist distortion when said resiliently pliable central portion of said cap is flexed.

6. An attachment according to claim 3, said nozzle having at least one vent hole through a downwardly depending side wall thereof.

7. An attachment according to claim 3, said nozzle having an approximately one inch inside diameter.

8. An attachment according to claim 3, said container upper end adaptation being an inside threaded tube axially aligned through said upper end of said container.

9. For triggering dispensation of paint through a valve of an aerosol can onto a surface target in response to manipulation of a surveyor'"'"'s instrument, an attachment comprising a cylindrical container of height substantially equal to the height of the aerosol can and contoured to hold the aerosol can in an inverted orientation, said container having an upper end adapted for concentric connection to a lower end of the surveyor'"'"'s instrument, a cap on a lower end of said container, said cap having an outer annular flange, a concentric resiliently pliable central portion and a concentric nozzle therethrough, said nozzle having an upper expanding throat extending concentrically to seat the valve of the aerosol can therein when the can is held in said container and said nozzle extending downwardly below said cap whereby, when said nozzle is rested on and the surveyor'"'"'s instrument is pressed toward the surface target, said resiliently pliable central portion of said cap flexes to actuate the valve and dispense paint through the nozzle onto the surface target.

10. An attachment according to claim 9, said nozzle having a downwardly expanding throat extending below said upper expanding throat to the top of a constant diameter throat.

11. For triggering dispensation of paint through a valve of an inverted aerosol can onto a surface target in response to manipulation of a surveyor'"'"'s instrument, an attachment comprising a coupling adapted for connection to a lower end of the surveyor'"'"'s instrument, a cap adapted to seal against a valve end of the inverted aerosol can, means for securing the coupling, inverted aerosol can and cap for motion in unison and a nozzle defining a path of pneumatic communication from the valve through a resiliently pliable portion of said cap whereby, when said nozzle is rested on and the surveyor'"'"'s instrument is pressed toward the surface target, said resiliently pliable portion of said cap flexes to actuate the valve and dispense paint through the nozzle onto the surface target.

12. An attachment according to claim 11, said coupling and said securing means co-operating to align the surveyor'"'"'s tool and the valve of the aerosol can on a common axis.

13. An attachment according to claim 11, said cap and said securing means co-operating to align the valve of the aerosol can and said nozzle on a common axis.

14. An attachment according to claim 11, said coupling, said cap and said securing means co-operating to align the surveyor'"'"'s tool, the valve of the aerosol can and said nozzle on a common axis.

15. An attachment according to claim 14, said nozzle having an upper throat tapering upwardly outwardly to seat the valve of the aerosol can therein, a middle throat tapering downwardly outwardly from a lower end of said upper throat and a lower throat extending cylindrically downwardly from a lower end of said middle throat to a target end of said nozzle.

16. An attachment according to claim 15, said cylindrical throat having an approximately one inch inside diameter.

17. An attachment according to claim 14, said cylindrical throat having at least one vent hole through a side wall thereof.

18. An attachment according to claim 11, said coupling comprising an inside-threaded tube.

19. An attachment according to claim 11, said cap being detachably connectable to said securing means to permit replacement of the can.

20. An attachment according to claim 11, said coupling and said securing means being sufficiently rigid to resist distortion when said resiliently pliable portion of said cap is flexed.

21. For triggering dispensation of paint through a valve of an aerosol can onto a surface target in response to manipulation of a surveyor'"'"'s instrument, an attachment comprising a cap adapted to cover a valve end of the aerosol can, a nozzle reciprocally slidable in and extending through said cap and having a throat aligned to seat the valve of the aerosol can thereon when said cap covers the valve end of the can, means for biasing said nozzle against motion toward the valve and means for connecting a lower end of the instrument to the can whereby, when said nozzle is rested on and the surveyor'"'"'s instrument is pressed toward the surface target to overcome said biasing means, the valve is actuated to dispense paint through the nozzle onto the surface target.

22. For triggering dispensation of paint through a valve of an aerosol can onto a surface target in response to manipulation of a surveyor'"'"'s instrument, an attachment comprising a container of height greater than the height of the aerosol can and contoured to hold the aerosol can in an inverted orientation, said container having an upper end adapted for connection to a lower end of the surveyor'"'"'s instrument, a cap on a lower end of said container, a nozzle reciprocally slidable in and extending through said cap and having a throat aligned to seat the valve of the aerosol can thereon when the can is held in said container and a compression spring biasing the can against motion toward said nozzle whereby, when said nozzle is rested on and the surveyor'"'"'s instrument is pressed toward the surface target to overcome said compression spring, the valve is actuated to dispense paint through the nozzle onto the surface target.