Position loactor beacon

• US 8,723,644 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Bruce Morehead
• Original Assignee: James Bruce Morehead
• Inventors: Morehead, James Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US13/385,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20120200394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/8.1, 340/6.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.32, 446/213, 473/571, 473/199, 473/578, 273/317.2, 273/400, 342/386
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources

Abstract

The device of this invention is for use in marking, locating and retrieving an object with respect to the user, and has particular usefulness for hunters and the like to assist in locating a hunted game that has fallen some distance from the hunter. The device is an object that can be fastened to or hung from a user, can be easily removed from its attachment, is hand-holdable in size, and light weight for being launched or thrown toward the location to be marked. Once places and after a reasonable time delay, the device can emit sound, light or electronic signals that can assist the user in finding the marked location. The device can be have other uses as an assist in returning to a located place after the device has been launched or placed.

Claims

1. A position locator beacon device for use in locating and retrieving a marked specific position or object with respect to the user, said device comprising:

a) self-contained casing of hand-holdable size for enclosing beacon components and including a releasable mounting attachment and actuating apparatus,

b) said casing being impact resistant, substantially waterproof and enclosing powered multiple beacon signal sources for timed controlling of emitting detectable visual, audible or electronic beacon signals that can identify the location of a marked position,

c) said releasable mounting and activating apparatus including a portion adapted to be attached to the user by a releasable connection to said casing, said releasable connection including an interior set of contacts adapted to actuate some or all of said powered multiple beacon signal sources when said casing is released from said releasable connection,

d) said casing being sized and weighted to be easily thrown to a markable position and adapted in exterior configuration to inhibit rolling or sliding movement after being positioned.

2. The beacon signal sources of claim 1 including one or more components selected form the group consisting of:

an audible signal generator,

a light source,

a radio signal generator,

a GPS signal generator,

a timing device for controlling any of the above,

an antenna for transmitting radio and GPS signals.

3. The self contained casing of claim 2 having separable parts to enclose a battery power supply source within a sealable compartment, an integrated circuit board for actuating and timing components within said casing, an audio signal sound speaker for generating audible sounds, a light generating source, a ON/OFF switch operated when said device is separated from its mounting attachment,

a GPS signal generator,

said casing comprising two parts having mating surfaces including water proof sealing surfaces,

all of the above contained within said casing.

4. The self contained casing of claim 1 constructed of impact resistant material and having a shape that conforms to the hand of a user and is aerodynamically smooth to permit ease of being transportable to a position to be marked.

5. The self contained casing of claim 3 having sound penetrating surfaces in sound communication with said internal audio signal sound speaker.

6. The self contained casing of claim 3 wherein said ON/OFF switch comprises a female entry port through said casing into said interior set of contacts and a male plug member for passing through said entry port to control said interior set of contacts, said interior set of contacts being biased toward each other under resilience of said contacts, and said male plug separating said set of contacts when inserted and placing said contacts in an OFF position.

7. The separable contacts of claim 6 being operable to connect and interrupt power to said internal components when said male plug is withdrawn from said casing.

8. The beacon of claim 1 adapted to be placed or thrown or launched to serve as a marker for a specific location or an object, said placement being launched by being thrown by a user, or launched by a sling or by compressed air or by gas means for launching to a specific location.

9. The beacon of claim 2 wherein said audio signal generator is a speaker actuated by a signal generator or a piezoelectric transducer.

10. The beacon of claim 9 wherein said audio signal generator is a speaker energized to produce sounds in the form of natural sounds selected for the group consisting of birds, insects, amphibians or repeating ping or buzzer sounds.

11. The beacon of claim 2 wherein said timing circuit includes a time delay between placing said beacon and the start of said beacon signal sources.

12. The beacon of claim 2 wherein said casing includes an antenna for transmitting said signals to and from said radio signal source and wherein said source is controllable in frequency, tone or pulse to provide a single frequency or multiple frequency signals allowing for the identification of individual beacons when multiple beacons are used.

13. The beacon of claim 2 wherein said GPS source is adapted to transmit signals showing the position of said beacon and/or the relative position of said beacon in relation to the user.