Marker installation apparatus
First Claim
1. A system for use with a marker and a marker insertion apparatus in marking a ground surface, comprising:
- the marker comprising;
a shaft, the shaft having a bottom end and a top end, the shaft including;
an insertion portion for insertion into the ground, the insertion portion being located at the bottom end of the shaft;
a mast portion for extending above the ground surface when the insertion portion is at least partially inserted into the ground; and
an engagement portion located between the insertion portion and the mast portion with the insertion portion being located between the engagement portion and the bottom end, the engagement portion being configured to be engaged and pushed by the marker insertion apparatus to cause insertion of the bottom end of the shaft into the ground;
and the marker insertion 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 comprising a flipper assembly configured to lift one marker away from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated such that the push assembly engages the engagement portion of the shaft of the marker located in the push position and pushes the marker from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A marker installation system 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. A plurality of the markers are bonded together such that each of the markers can be removed from the rest of the plurality when it is desired to insert a marker into the ground.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for use with a marker and a marker insertion apparatus in marking a ground surface, comprising:
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the marker comprising;
a shaft, the shaft having a bottom end and a top end, the shaft including;
an insertion portion for insertion into the ground, the insertion portion being located at the bottom end of the shaft;a mast portion for extending above the ground surface when the insertion portion is at least partially inserted into the ground; and an engagement portion located between the insertion portion and the mast portion with the insertion portion being located between the engagement portion and the bottom end, the engagement portion being configured to be engaged and pushed by the marker insertion apparatus to cause insertion of the bottom end of the shaft into the ground; and the marker insertion 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 comprising a flipper assembly configured to lift one marker away from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated such that the push assembly engages the engagement portion of the shaft of the marker located in the push position and pushes the marker from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of marking a ground surface, comprising the acts of:
- providing a system for use with a marker and a marker insertion apparatus in marking a ground surface, comprising;
the marker comprising;
a shaft, the shaft having a bottom end and a top end, the shaft including;
an insertion portion for insertion into the ground, the insertion portion being located at the bottom end of the shaft;
a mast portion for extending above the ground surface when the insertion portion is at least partially inserted into the ground; and
an engagement portion located between the insertion portion and the mast portion with the insertion portion being located between the engagement portion and the bottom end, the engagement portion being configured to be engaged and pushed by the marker insertion apparatus to cause insertion of the bottom end of the shaft into the ground; and
the marker insertion apparatus comprising;
a magazine assembly defining a magazine space configured receive at least one marker, the magazine space having a push position in the magazine space for receiving the at least one mark and a push assembly mounted on the magazine assembly, the push assembly comprising a flipper assembly configured to lift one marker away from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated such that the push assembly engages the engagement portion of the shaft of the marker located in the push position and pushes the marker from the magazine assembly when the push assembly is actuated;
selecting one or more markers from a supply of markers;
inserting the one or more markers into the magazine space of the marker installation assembly;
locating a buried utility pipe or line;
vertically placing the marker installation apparatus over the buried utility pipe or line;
applying downward pressure to the marker installation apparatus to insert a marker into the ground.
- providing a system for use with a marker and a marker insertion apparatus in marking a ground surface, comprising;
Specification