Marker system with marker and installation apparatus

• US 7,992,754 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FlagShooter Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: FlagShooter Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Carrette, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DURAND, PAUL R
• Application Number:
  US12/435,156
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 227/109, 227/119, 227/120, 227/132, 227/135, 227/136, 227/139, 227/156, 173/90, 116/173, 116/175, 248/511, 248/530, 248/532, 248/533
• US Class Current: 227/120
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 1/02 operated by manual power
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/04 Permanent marks; Boundary markers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 17/00 Flags; Banners; Mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2017/0066 Stands for flags

Abstract

A marker installation apparatus is disclosed for inserting a marker of the type having shaft with a bottom end for inserting into a ground surface and an engagement portion of the shaft separated from the bottom end by an insertion portion of the shaft. The apparatus includes a magazine assembly defining a magazine space configured to receive at least one marker. The magazine space has a push position in the magazine space for receiving the at least one marker. The apparatus further comprises a push assembly mounted on the magazine assembly. The push assembly is configured to engage the engagement portion of the shaft of the marker located in the push position and push the marker from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated.

Claims

1. A marker installation apparatus for inserting a marker of the type having a shaft with a bottom end for inserting into a ground surface and an engagement portion of the shaft separated from the bottom end by an insertion portion of the shaft, the apparatus comprising:

a magazine assembly defining a magazine space configured to receive at least one marker, the magazine space having a push position in the magazine space for receiving the at least one marker; and

a push assembly mounted on the magazine assembly, the push assembly being configured to engage the engagement portion of the shaft of the marker located in the push position and push the marker from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated; and

wherein the magazine assembly defines a guide channel with a shoulder configured to abut against the engagement portion of the at least one marker when the at least one marker is positioned in the magazine space, the shoulder extending laterally with respect to an axis of the movement of the portion of the push assembly;

wherein the shoulder extends along an axis at an angle with respect to an axis perpendicular to the barrel bore, the angle measuring between approximately 0 degrees and approximately 75 degrees.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magazine assembly includes a base member defining a shoulder configured to abut against the engagement portion of markers when the markers are positioned in the magazine space.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the push assembly comprises a push member being mounted on the base member, the push member being movably mounted in a barrel bore of the base member of the magazine assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the push member has a marker engagement tab that is configured to engage the engagement portion of the at least one marker positioned in the push position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the push assembly further comprises a handle member mounted on and configured to move the push member with respect to the base member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a biasing assembly mounted on the magazine assembly and configured to bias the at least one marker in the magazine space toward the push position in the magazine assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the biasing assembly comprises:

at least one slider member mounted on the magazine assembly and configured to contact any markers positioned in the magazine space, the at least one slider member being movable in the magazine space toward and away from the push position; and

a biasing element configured to bias the slider member toward the push position such that the at least one slider contacts and biases any markers in the magazine space toward the push position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the slider member defines a well, and the biasing element of the biasing assembly comprises a coiled spring located in the well and having a free end fastened to the magazine assembly, the biasing assembly being configured such that movement of the slider member with respect to the magazine assembly away from the push position tends to unwind the coiled spring and movement of the slider member with respect to the magazine assembly toward the push position such that the coiled spring tends to bias the slider member toward the push position.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the biasing assembly includes at least one slider member positioned in and movable along the guide channel toward and away from the push position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the magazine assembly defines a barrel bore and a tab slot, the tab slot being in communication with the barrel bore and the magazine space;

and wherein the push assembly comprises a push member having a portion positioned in the barrel bore and a marker engagement tab positioned in the tab slot and extending into the magazine space in a manner permitting the push tab to engage the engagement portion of a marker when the marker is positioned in the push position.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 where the magazine assembly includes a base member and a cover member mounted on the base member, the cover member being mounted in a manner permitting movement of the cover member with respect to the base member between a closed position and an open position, the closed position being characterized by the cover member substantially closing the magazine space and the open position being characterized by the cover member exposing the magazine space.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the biasing assembly includes:

at least one slider member positioned in the magazine space and movable toward and away from the push position; and

wherein the cover member engages the at least one slider member to move the slider member away from the push position when the cover member is moved away from the closed position toward the open position.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a magazine assembly includes at least one cover support structure configured to support the cover member in the open position and the closed position of the cover member.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the push assembly does not extend out of the magazine assembly when actuated into an extended position.