US3468047A - All-weather marker device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 19 69 H. M. BEATTY ALL-WEATHER MARKER DEVICE Filed June 22, 1967 INVENTOR flask idff ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,468,047 ALL-WEATHER MARKER DEVICE Huston M. Beatty, P.0. Box 127, Sturgeon, Mo. 65284 Filed June 22, 1967, Ser. No. 648,087 Int. Cl. G09f 3/18, 7/18 U.S. CI. 40-10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tubular support portion is open at the upper and lower ends thereof, a stake being received in the lower end thereof and a cap closing off the upper end thereof. Reinforcing ribs are formed in opposite sides of the tubular support portion for rigidifying the support portion, the support portion including upper and lower portions joined by an integral arcuate portion and defining an included angle of approximately 120. A marker portion comprises a flat plate defining a fiat marker surface, the marker portion being formed of Fiberglas and adapted to receive on the marker surface thereof a suitable marking substance such as marking ink or grease from a grease pencil and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a marker device removably mounted on a stake driven into the ground, and provides a marking arrangement which remains legible under all weather conditions.

Marker devices have been provided in the prior art wherein marker portions are mounted on stakes adapted to be driven into the ground. Such prior art arrangements have posed a number of problems, a principal one of which is the fact that the indicia on the marker portions of such device do not remain legible when subjected to adverse weather conditions.

Additionally, the marker portions of prior art devices are often not readily removable from the stakes upon which they are mounted. Additionally, prior art marker devices of this type have not proved to be sufiiciently rigid, and yet at the same time of lightweight, simple and inexpensive construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The marker device of the present invention incorporates a marker portion formed of Fiberglas which is adapted to receive marking ink or grease from a grease pencil, and this particular arrangement enables the indicia placed on the marker portion to remain legible even after extensive exposure to various weather conditions.

The marker device of the present invention includes a tubular support portion which is open at the lower end thereof so that it can be readily slipped onto and off of supporting stakes. Additionally, the support portion includes reinforcing ribs to provide a rigid construction, and this tubular portion may be formed of aluminum or a similar substance so as to be of lightweight, inexpensive construction.

Additionally, the tubular support portion of the present invention includes upper and lower portions angularly related to one another so that when the lower portion of the support portion is mounted on a stake, the marker portion supported on the upper portion of the device will be disposed at a convenient upwardly facing angle so as to be readily visible to persons adjacent thereto when the device is mounted in operative position.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel all-weather marker device wherein indicia thereon remain legible under all weather conditions, and further wherein the marker portion of the device may be readily removed from a supporting stake, the device providing a rigid and lightweight yet simple and inexpensive construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top perspective view illustrating the device of the present invention mounted in operative position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top perspective exploded view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the structure shown in FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate cooresponding parts throughout the several views, the device includes a support portion indicated generally by reference numeral 10 and comprising a one-piece, tubular body 12 of generally rectangular crosssectional configuration which may be substantially square, this body being formed of a lightweight material such as aluminum or the like.

As seen paritcularly in FIG. 3, the lower end 14 of the tubular support portion is open and receives the upper end of a stake 16 having a lower pointed end 18 which is adapted to be driven into the ground.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tubular support portion is provided with reinforcing ribs 22 and 24 formed in opposite sides thereof, these ribs simply comprising indented portions of the tubular support portion extending longitudinally thereof as seen most clearly in FIG. 3. These reinforcing ribs serve to rigidify the support portion.

The upper end 30 of the tubular support portion is open and is adapted to receive an end cap 32 formed of plastic or a suitable substance, this cap being snugly received in the open end of the tubular support portion and including a peripheral flange portion 34 adapted to engage and provide a seal with the open end of the support portion so that the entry of water or foreign objects into this open upper end of the support portion is prevented. The cap also includes a portion 36 of substantially the same cross-sectional configuration as the upper part of the tubular support portion, portion 36 fitting within the open upper end of the support portion as seen in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 2, portion 36 is provided with a plurality of ribs 38 formed on the outer surface thereof which are adapted to engage the inwardly facing surface of the open upper end of the support portion so that the end cap can be forced into operative position as seen in FIG. 3 and will be tightly held in such position.

A hole 40 is provided adjacent the open upper end of the support portion for receiving an attaching means, and a larger hole 42 is provided opposite to hole 40 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A marker portion indicated generally by reference numeral 50 comprises a plate formed of Fiberglas and includes an upwardly facing fiat marker surface 52 and an opposite flat surface 54. A hole 56 is formed through the marker portion for a purpose hereinafter described.

As seen particularly in FIG. 2, the upper portion of the support portion defines a flat surface 60 against which the undersurface 54 of the marker portion is adapted to rest as seen particularly in FIG. 3. When the marker portion is disposed in this position, a rivet 62 is inserted through holes 56 and 40, and a suitable tool inserted through the opposite hole 42 so that the inner end 64 of the rivet can be upset to securely attach the portions 3 of the device in the operative position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

As seen in FIG. 3, the upper and lower portions of the support portion are joined by an intermediate arcuate portion and define an included angle a of approximately 120'. This relationship is such that when the device is mounted on a stake extending substantially vertically as seen in FIG. 3, the upwardly facing marker surface 52 of the marker portion will be disposed at a convenient angle so that it can be readily observed by a person standing adjacent thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the apparatus is illustrated in its operative position wherein it may be used for indicating the price or description of some item in the general vicinity thereof. As seen in this figure, indicia 70 are provided on the marker surface 52 indicating the price of a particular item. As seen in this figure, the marker device is disposed relatively close to the ground. This arrangement may, however, be varied as hereinafter discussed.

The indicia 70 on the Fiberglas marker portion are formed with marking ink or grease from a grease pencil. The combination of this type of marking substance with the Fiberglas material of the marker portion is such as to enable the indicia to readily withstand all weather conditions and to remain clearly legible.

It is apparent that the size of the marker portion may be varied in accordance with various requirements, and that more than one support portion may be employed where a relatively large marker portion is desired. It is apparent that the length of the associated stake may be varied as desired in order to adjust the vertical height of the marker device, and this same purpose may be accomplished by extending the length of the tubular support portion itself.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel allweather marker device wherein indicia thereon remain legible when subjected to various adverse weather conditions. The marker device is readily removable from an associated stake and may be readily replaced thereon when desired. The marker device provides a rigid construction which at the same time is quite lightweight, simple and inexpensive in construction.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. An all-weather marker device comprising a tubular support portion generally rectangular in cross section, and open at the lower end thereof for receiving the upper end of a stake, said support portion including upper and lower integral portions joined by an intermediate arcuate portion having concave and convex surfaces so that the upper and lower portions are angularly related to one another, said concave and convex surfaces each being indented longitudinally and medially thereof forming parallel reinforcing ribs, and a marker portion attached to said upper portion and defining a fiat marker surface for receiving a marking substance thereon.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said marker portion is formed of Fiberglas.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 including cap means closing off the upper open end of said tubular support portion.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper and lower portions define an included angle of approximately 5. An all-weather marker device comprising a tubular support portion open at the lower end thereof for receiving the upper end ofa stake, said support portion including upper and lower integral portions joined by an intermediate arcuate portion so that the upper and lower portions are angularly related to one another, and a marker portion attached to said upper portion and defining a flat marker surface for receiving a marking substance thereon, said tubular portion being of generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration and having reinforcing ribs formed in opposite sides thereof for rigiditying the support portion, a cap closing off the Open upper end of said tubular support portion and said marker portion being formed of Fiberglas.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,970,697 8/1934 Hammitt. 2,153,229 4/1939 Arkin 40-l24.5 2,602,250 7/1952 Raising. 3,204,355 9/1965 Whitman 40145 X EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner WENCESLAO J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 40-145

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