# US 11,077,456 B2 · Real-time laser measurement and marking apparatus

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- Number: US 11,077,456 B2
- Document ID: US11077456B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/947,332
- Filed: 2020-07-28
- Published: 2020-11-12
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-12
- Applicants: Tom Beaumont
- Inventors: Tom Beaumont
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077456B2

## CPC

- B05B 12/124: {responsive to distance between spray apparatus and target}
- A63C 19/065: {Line markings, e.g. tapes; Methods therefor}
- B05B 12/004: {comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm (B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00)}
- B05C 17/00506: {Means for connecting the outlet element to, or for disconnecting it from, the hand tool or its container}
- B65D 83/384: the container body being an aerosol container located in an outer shell or in an external container
- B65D 83/75: {Aerosol containers not provided for in groups B65D83/16 - B65D83/74}
- G01C 3/00: Measuring distances in line of sight; Optical rangefinders (tapes, chains or wheels for measuring length G01B3/00; active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, G01S17/48)
- G01C 3/08: Use of electric radiation detectors
- A63C 2019/067: {Machines for marking}
- B05B 15/62: Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
- B05B 16/60: Ventilation arrangements specially adapted therefor
- B65D 83/38: Details of the container body (pressure relief devices B65D83/70)
- B65D 83/386: {actuation occurring by moving the aerosol container relative to the outer shell or external container}
- E01C 23/22: by spraying {(E01C23/206 takes precedence)}
- E01C 23/222: {specially adapted for automatic spraying of interrupted, individual or variable markings}
- E01C 23/227: {the marking material being supplied in aerosol containers}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00)
- B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H)

## Abstract

A real-time measurement and marking apparatus is provided. The disclosure providing a portable marking device comprising: a housing including a main housing structure and a can cover, the main housing structure having a front open end, a rear nozzle end, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of opposing side walls, wherein at least one of the side walls defines an aperture, the can cover having a rear open end, a front closed end, the can cover extending at the rear open end to selectively engage with the aperture defined by at least one of the side walls releasably securing a spray can within the housing; a nozzle member positioned at the rear nozzle end of the of the main housing structure; an optical measuring apparatus for real-time measuring of a distance between a point of focus and the portable marking device activated by one or more buttons.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A portable marking device comprising:
a housing including a main housing structure and a spray can cover, the main housing structure comprising a housing groove located at a bottom inner surface of the main housing structure, wherein the main housing structure comprises a front open end configured to receive a nozzle end of the spray can, a rear end configured to hold a back end of the spray can, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of opposing rounded side walls defining an aperture for placement of the spray can,
the spray can cover having a rear open end, a front closed end, at least one portion of the spray can cover extending at the rear open end to selectively engage with the aperture defined by at least one of the side walls, wherein the spray can cover is configured to cover a portion of the spray can for releasably securing the spray can within the housing;
a nozzle member positioned at the rear nozzle end of the main housing structure, the nozzle member having a spray aperture and a spray nozzle button configured to dispense a marking material from the spray can through the spray aperture;
an optical measuring apparatus contained within the main housing structure and configured to measure a distance between a point of focus and the portable marking device;
a housing guard disposed over the optical measuring apparatus;
a spray can bracket comprising a bracket top surface, bracket bottom surface, and a bracket side surface; and
a bracket sleeve comprising a curved surface wherein the bracket sleeve is oriented to couple inside the spray can bracket at the bracket top surface,
wherein:
the optical measuring apparatus comprises a range finder disposed on a surface at the rear nozzle end above the nozzle member; and
the bracket sleeve comprises a sleeve coupling member configured to engage the housing groove.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The portable marking device of claim 1, further comprising a range measurement button disposed on the top surface of the main housing structure for activating real-time measuring by the optical measuring apparatus, and a measurement display screen positioned on a front face of the main housing structure above the range measurement button.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The portable marking device of claim 2, wherein the portable marking device is configured to perform real-time measuring when a user aims the range finder at the point of focus and activates the optical measuring apparatus to obtain a real-time measurement of distance; and wherein the portable marking device is further configured to display the real-time measurement on the measurement display screen.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The portable marking device of claim 1, wherein the optical measuring apparatus is configured to transmit a first laser on the point of focus for obtaining a real-time measurement of the distance to the point of focus.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The portable marking device of claim 4, wherein the optical measuring apparatus is configured to transmit a second laser on the point of focus, wherein the optical measuring apparatus is further configured to determine the real-time measurement based on a first measurement of the first laser and a second measurement of the second laser.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The portable marking device of claim 1, wherein the portable marking device further comprises a universal serial bus (USB) port and a controller configured to interface with the optical measuring apparatus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The portable marking device of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to perform time tracking, perform data logging, receive user input, and transmit and receive data.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The portable marking device of claim 7, further comprising a memory, a computing device, a transmitter, and a receiver.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The portable marking device of claim 7, further comprising a motor electronically coupled to the controller.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The portable marking device of claim 3, wherein the measurement display screen is further configured to display a power level indicator.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The portable marking device of claim 9, wherein the housing is manufactured from injected molded plastic selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate alloy (PC), and a combination thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The portable marking device of claim 1, wherein the real-time measurement of distance is within 0.005% accuracy.

### Claim 13

A portable marking device comprising:
a housing including a main housing structure and a spray can cover, the main housing structure comprising a housing groove located at a bottom inner surface of the main housing structure, wherein, the main housing structure comprises a front open end configured to receive a nozzle end of the spray can, a rear end configured to hold a back end of the spray can, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of opposing rounded side walls defining an aperture for placement of the spray can,
the spray can cover having a rear open end, a front closed end, at least one portion of the can cover extending at the rear open end to selectively engage with the aperture defined by at least one of the side walls, wherein the spray can cover is configured to cover a portion of the spray can for releasably securing the spray can within the housing;
a nozzle member positioned at the rear nozzle end of the main housing structure, the nozzle member having a spray aperture and a spray nozzle button configured to dispense a marking material from the spray can through the spray aperture;
an optical measuring apparatus contained within the main housing structure for real-time measuring of a distance between a point of focus and the portable marking device;
a housing guard disposed over the optical measuring apparatus;
a spray can bracket comprising a bracket top surface, bracket bottom surface, and a bracket side surface; and
a bracket sleeve comprising: a curved surface and a front end wherein the curved surface is oriented to couple inside the bracket top surface, and
a sleeve coupling member located at a front end of the bracket sleeve,
wherein:
the optical measuring apparatus comprises a range finder disposed on a surface at the rear nozzle end above the nozzle member; and
the sleeve coupling member is configured to engage the housing groove.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The portable marking device of claim 13, wherein the spray can bracket comprises a U-shape defined by at least one set of protrusions extending from the bracket side surface of the spray can bracket, wherein protrusions extend in a curved profile to mirror the external surface area of a spray can, wherein the spray can bracket further defines a mounting channel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The portable marking device of claim 13, wherein the optical measuring apparatus further comprises a multifunction button configured to: activate the power on the optical measuring apparatus, initiate the optical measuring of a distance, and send the distance to a measurement display screen.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The portable marking device of claim 15, further comprising a mounting clip wherein a first portion of the mounting clip is configured to engage a mounting channel and a second portion of the mounting clip is configured to engage a portion defined by a user with a clip assembly.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The portable marking device of claim 8, wherein the measurement data is communicated between an external computing device or external application via the transmitter and the receiver.

### Claim 18 (depends on 8)

The portable marking device of claim 8, wherein the computing device comprises a GPS, wherein the real time position of the portable marking device can be determined.

### Claim 19

An apparatus comprising:
a housing including a main housing structure and a spray can cover, the main housing structure comprises a front open end configured to receive a nozzle end of the spray can, a rear end configured to hold a back end of the spray can, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of opposing rounded side walls defining an aperture for placement of the spray can,
the spray can cover having a rear open end, a front closed end, at least one portion of the can cover extending at the rear open end to selectively engage with the aperture defined by at least one of the side walls, wherein the spray can cover is configured to cover a portion of the spray can for releasably securing the spray can within the housing;
a nozzle member positioned at the rear nozzle end of the main housing structure, the nozzle member having a spray aperture and a spray nozzle button configured to dispense a marking material from the spray can through the spray aperture;
an optical measuring apparatus contained within the main housing structure for real-time measuring of a distance between a point of focus and the apparatus;
a bracket sleeve having a front portion and a rear portion; and
a mounting bracket coupled to the rear portion of the bracket sleeve,
wherein:
the optical measuring apparatus comprises a range finder disposed on a surface at the rear nozzle end above the nozzle member; and
the bracket sleeve is configured to engage the main housing structure.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, the apparatus further comprising:
a sleeve coupling member coupled to the front portion of the bracket sleeve; and
a housing groove configured to receptively engage the sleeve coupling member.