Self-orienting buried marker
AssigneeTextron Inc.
InventorsWilbur Keith Moffatt, Daniel Ugale, Kenneth Ollie Stark, Curtis Clifford Taylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A marker for burying adjacent an underground structure such that a location of the underground structure can be identified from above a ground surface. The marker comprises a housing, a gimbal beacon retention device pivotally disposed within the housing, and a beacon device carried by the gimbal beacon retention device. The gimbal beacon retention device is structured and operable to orient the beacon device in a desired orientation relative to a ground surface regardless of the orientation of the housing relative to the ground surface.
Claims15
A marker for burying adjacent an underground structure such that a location of the underground structure can be identified from above a ground surface, said marker comprising:
- a housing;
- a gimbal beacon retention device pivotally disposed within the housing;
- and
- a beacon device carried by the gimbal beacon retention device,
- wherein the gimbal beacon retention device is structured and operable to orient the beacon device in a desired orientation relative to a ground surface regardless of the orientation of the housing relative to the ground surface.
A marker for burying adjacent an underground structure such that a location of the underground structure can be identified from above a ground surface, said marker comprising:
- a housing;
- a beacon device;
- and
- a gimbal beacon retention device pivotally disposed within the housing and to which the beacon device is connected, the gimbal beacon retention device comprising:
- an outer gimbal structure pivotally disposed within the housing;
- and
- an inner gimbal structure pivotally disposed within the outer gimbal structure,
- wherein the beacon device is carried by the inner gimbal structure, and wherein the inner gimbal structure is structured such that, with the beacon device carried therein, a lower portion of the inner gimbal structure is heavier than an upper portion of the inner gimbal structure so that the gimbal beacon retention device is structured and operable to orient the beacon device in a desired orientation relative to a ground surface regardless of the orientation of the housing relative to the ground surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.