Illuminated trail marker apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A trail marker device adapted for prepositioning in a substantially fixed predetermined orientation at a specific trail waypoint or destination and operative to self-illuminate in response to an actuation signal, said trail marker device comprising:
- a housing;
a closure member cooperating with said housing to define a substantially sealed cavity;
a light source;
a first optical lens juxtapositioned with said light source to focus and project light emitted by said light source within a predetermined viewing sector disposed about a focus axis and extending outwardly from said device;
a light reflector disposed adjacent said first lens concentric with said focus axis and configured to re-direct light received from said light source into said viewing sector, and to reflect light received from a remote source located in said viewing sector back along said viewing sector towards said remote source;
a field-reconfigurable opaque hood disposed concentrically about said focus axis and extending outwardly from said housing, said hood operative to selectively reduce or limit said viewing sector;
a power supply; and
a control circuit at least partially disposed within said cavity and operative to selectively electrically interconnect said light source and power supply to effect externally viewable illumination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely actuated trail marker apparatus includes a transmitter unit designed to be carried by a hiker or hunter, which selectively broadcasts an interrogation signal throughout a predetermined range. One or more associated receiver units are adapted for pre-positioning at specific trail waypoints or a final destination. Each receiver unit generates a user sensible reply signal, such as self-illumination, in response to receiving the interrogation signal.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A trail marker device adapted for prepositioning in a substantially fixed predetermined orientation at a specific trail waypoint or destination and operative to self-illuminate in response to an actuation signal, said trail marker device comprising:
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a housing; a closure member cooperating with said housing to define a substantially sealed cavity; a light source; a first optical lens juxtapositioned with said light source to focus and project light emitted by said light source within a predetermined viewing sector disposed about a focus axis and extending outwardly from said device; a light reflector disposed adjacent said first lens concentric with said focus axis and configured to re-direct light received from said light source into said viewing sector, and to reflect light received from a remote source located in said viewing sector back along said viewing sector towards said remote source; a field-reconfigurable opaque hood disposed concentrically about said focus axis and extending outwardly from said housing, said hood operative to selectively reduce or limit said viewing sector; a power supply; and a control circuit at least partially disposed within said cavity and operative to selectively electrically interconnect said light source and power supply to effect externally viewable illumination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31)
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19. A remotely actuated trail marker apparatus comprising:
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a transmitter unit adapted to be carried by a user and operative to selectively broadcast an interrogation signal throughout a predetermined range; and at least one receiver unit adapted for prepositioning in a substantially fixed orientation at a specific trail waypoint or destination and operative to generate a user sensible reply signal in response to receiving said interrogation signal, said receiver unit comprising; a housing; a closure member cooperating with said housing to define a substantially sealed cavity; a light source; a first optical lens juxtapositioned with said light source to focus and project light emitted by said light source within a predetermined viewing sector disposed about a focus axis and extending outwardly from said device; a light reflector disposed adjacent said first lens concentric with said focus axis and configured to re-direct light received from said light source into said viewing sector, and to reflect light received from a remote source located in said viewing sector back along said viewing sector towards said remote source; a field-reconfigurable opaque hood disposed concentrically about said focus axis and extending outwardly from said housing, said hood operative to selectively reduce or limit said viewing sector; a receiver power supply; and a receiver control circuit at least partially disposed within said cavity and operative to selectively electrically interconnect said light source and power supply to effect externally viewable illumination. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 30)
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32. A reconfigurable trail marker device adapted for prepositioning in a substantially fixed predetermined orientation at a specific trail waypoint or destination and operative to self-illuminate in response to an actuation signal, said trail marker device comprising:
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a housing; a closure member formed of optically clear material releasably affixed to and cooperating with said housing to define a substantially sealed cavity; a light source; a first optical lens juxtapositioned with said light source to focus and project light emitted by said light source within a predetermined viewing sector disposed about a focus axis and extending outwardly from said device; a light reflector disposed adjacent said first lens concentric with said focus axis and configured to re-direct light received from said light source into said viewing sector, and to reflect light received from a remote source located in said viewing sector back along said viewing sector towards said remote source; a fixation device operative to secure said trail marker device to a trailside object in said predetermined fixed orientation and including a sharpened rigid elongated member affixed to and extending outwardly from said housing, said elongated member having a line of elongation concentrically aligned with said focus axis; a field-reconfigurable opaque hood disposed concentrically about said focus axis and extending outwardly from said housing, said hood operative to selectively reduce or limit said viewing sector, wherein said hood is removably affixed to said housing and is formed of relatively thin, flexible material in a generally cylindrical configuration defining an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein one of said surfaces is imprinted in a camouflage motif and the other of said surfaces is imprinted in a brightly colored attention-attracting motif, wherein said hood is field-reversible to selectively expose one of said surfaces to viewers located outside of said viewing sector, and wherein said hood further comprises a plurality of spaced calibration marks disposed on at least one of said surfaces for effecting an objective calibration of said viewing sector by selectively excising a portion of said hood; a power supply including a battery, a photovoltaic device disposed to receive ambient light and an electrical storage device; a control circuit at least partially disposed within said cavity and operative to selectively electrically interconnect said light source and power supply to effect externally viewable illumination, wherein said control circuit includes a receiver operative to generate said actuation signal in response to receiving a radio frequency interrogation signal from a remote transmitter, wherein said control circuit further includes a wake-up circuit and a timer operative to generate or disable said actuation signal at a predetermined time of day; switch means operative to electrically isolate said power supply from said control circuit; at least one tool receiving recess formed in an outer circumferential surface of said closure member and a cooperating engagement tab formed on an adjacent edge of said housing, wherein said tab is selectively deformed inwardly within said recess to interconnect said housing and closure member; and a second optical lens operative to effect focusing of ambient light upon said photovoltaic device, wherein said first and second optical lenses are integrally formed in said closure member, and wherein said second optical lens extends circumferentially about the outer periphery of said closure member to effect on-mi-directional receipt of ambient light.
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Specification