# US 2014/0360031 A1 · Survey device

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- Number: US 2014/0360031 A1
- Document ID: US20140360031A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/300,349
- Filed: 2014-06-10
- Published: 2014-12-11
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-10
- Inventors: Keith Kahlow
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360031A1

## CPC

- G01C 15/06: Surveyors' staffs; Movable markers
- 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)

## Abstract

A survey device may include a shaft portion having a longitudinal axis, a prism having a center point and being arranged near the top of the shaft portion and offset laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion, and a laser having a laser emission point in general alignment along the shaft portion with the center point of the prism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A survey device comprising:
a shaft portion having a longitudinal axis;
a prism having a center point and being arranged near the top of the shaft portion and offset laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion; and
a laser having a laser emission point in general alignment along the shaft portion with the center point of the prism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the laser is a plumb bob laser configured to emit a laser in a substantially vertical direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the prism is a survey prism configured to reflect light in a manner configured to define the center point of the prism.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The survey device of claim 1, wherein the laser is spaced from the prism generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a bracket configured for coupling to the shaft portion and securing the prism and laser in relative alignment.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the bracket comprises a laser supporting member, a riser, and a prism supporting member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the prism supporting member is spaced from the laser supporting member by a distance configured to receive a laser.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein a portion of the prism supporting member tapers slightly upward and away from the laser supporting member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein the laser comprises a housing configured to receive the shaft portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the housing is configured support the prism.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the housing is curved and sloping from a point at or near the shaft portion to a surface on which the prism is arranged.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, wherein the curved and sloping portion of the housing is a convex surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the laser emission point is positioned at the center point of the prism.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, wherein the laser is arranged within the prism.

### Claim 15

A survey device comprising:
a prism having a center point and being configured for arrangement at or near the top of a survey pole while being offset laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the survey pole; and
a laser having a laser emission point and being configured for arrangement such that the laser emission point is in general alignment along the survey pole with the center point of the prism.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The survey device of claim 15, wherein the laser is spaced from the prism generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pole on which the prism and laser are configured to be arranged.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The survey device of claim 16, wherein the laser emission point is positioned at the center point of the prism.

### Claim 18

A method of laying out a point, comprising:
positioning a survey pole having a prism and a plumb bob laser at a point;
checking the location of the point with a transit in communication with the prism;
swaying the top of the pole until the prism is in the correct position as determined by the transit;
identifying a point on a surface based on the indication of the point on the surface by the laser.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the surface is a surface above the user.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein positioning the survey pole comprises placing the survey pole on a generally flat surface and identifying a point comprises marking a location on a generally uneven surface adjacent the generally flat surface.