WO2009046500A1

WO2009046500A1 - Method and apparatus for use in navigating trails

Info

Publication number: WO2009046500A1
Application number: PCT/AU2008/001504
Authority: WO
Inventors: Phillip Joseph Murphy
Original assignee: Phillip Joseph Murphy
Priority date: 2007-10-11
Filing date: 2008-10-10
Publication date: 2009-04-16
Also published as: AU2008310315A1

Abstract

A method of monitoring a trail being navigated by a group of persons, one of the persons being a group leader, the method including the steps of providing the group leader with a plurality of course markers, the group leader placing the markers along the course at progressive intervals therealong, wherein the last person in the group collecting the markers as they proceed along the course until the group reaches a destination. There is also disclosed a course marker for use in monitoring or navigating a trail, the marker including a base panel hingedly connected together at one edge so that they can adopt a collapsed position in which the panels are arranged substantially planar with respect to one another and an operative position in which they are inclined relative to one another.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN NAVIGATING TRAILS

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for use in the navigation of trails and other courses. The various aspects of the invention may find application in activities such as hiking, horse riding, bike riding, caving or orienteering by way of example only.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of monitoring a trail being navigated by a group of persons, one of the persons being a group leader, the method including the steps of providing the group leader with a plurality of course markers, the group leader placing the markers along a course at progressive intervals therealong, wherein the last person or persons in the group collecting the markers as they proceed along the course until the group reaches a destination.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a course marker for use in monitoring or navigating a trail, the marker including a base panel and an indicator panel hingedly connected together at respective edges thereof, so that they can adopt a collapsed position in which the panels are arranged substantially planar with respect to one another and an operative position in which they are inclined relative to one another.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in the monitoring of the general position of one or more persons in a group of persons as they progress along a course, the apparatus including a plurality of course markers which are adapted to be placed by a leader of the group at spaced intervals along the course.

In use the group leader is provided with all of the markers. As the group leader proceeds along the course the markers are placed at progressive intervals along the course until at least some of the markers have been placed at the chosen locations. The group leader then waits at the position of the last placed marker. The trailing person or group of persons following the group leader collect the markers as they proceed along the course and return them to the group leader when they arrive at the final location. By this procedure the group leader can monitor the general position of the persons in the group as they progress along the course. Any suitable number of markers may be provided and the markers may be placed at any suitable distance apart. For example if there are five markers and they are placed approximately two hundred metres apart, the location of the persons in the group can be monitored within about a one kilometre distance. If a mishap occurs to one of the trailing persons the group leader can backtrack and locate that person relatively quickly. The above described method of monitoring the general position of one or more persons as they progress along a course is in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

In one form each marker may include a unique identifier associated therewith. Preferably the identifiers are such that they are placed along the course in an identifiable sequential order. In addition, the final marker retained by the leader may be different to the others. For example, each marker may have a unique number or code associated therewith. By this arrangement the trailing person or group can be certain they are progressing correctly along the course. Furthermore if a mishap occurs the leader can retrace the course and determine the position where the trailing person or persons have not reached. The identifier may also be in the form of a registration code which can be identified by searchers if the whole group get into difficulty.

The markers may further include a direction indicator associated therewith indicating the direction the person should progress along the course. The direction indicator may be in the form of an arrow or other sign which provides an indication as to the direction the leader proceeded from the marker placed at the location on the course. The arrow or other sign may be printed on the marker or the marker may be shaped so as to provide an indication of the direction to proceed.

In one form the indicator panel includes a plurality of wall sections which can be folded to form a post. The marker may include an anchoring point for anchoring the marker to a structure or surface. The marker may include one or more tabs extending from the base panel and which are adapted to cooperate with a section of the indicator panel to assist in holding the indicator panel in the operative position relative to the base panel. Preferably the tabs are generally resilient in nature.

The apparatus may further include a navigation aid for determining, for example, a cardinal compass point such as north or south.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a device suitable for signalling distress including one or more flexible strips which can be folded into a stored position and unfolded into an operative position in which it adopts a recognisable configuration. For example, in the operative position the strips may form a V or an X which are recognised distress signs. The device further includes a pocket on one of the strips for receiving the or each strip when in a folded position. The device may further include anchor receiving zones for receiving anchoring devices so as to secure the device to a surface.

One or more of the apparatus and devices described above may form part of a kit which may also include whistles, lanyards, carabina clips, and blankets or sleeping bags. Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in those drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a marker according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are schematic isometric views of a marker of the type shown in fig, 1 in first and second positions;

Fig. 4 is a detail of part of the marker of the type shown in figs. 1 to 3;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a marker according to another embodiment of the invention in one position;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the marker shown in fig. 5 in another position; Figs. 7 to 9 are illustrations showing how one form of marker can be used to determine compass positions;

Fig. 10 is a schematic illustration of a distress signalling device according to another aspect of the invention; and

Fig. 11 is a schematic illustration of one manner of using markers of the invention on a trail.

Referring to fig. 1 there is a course marker generally indicated at 10 which comprises a base panel 12 and an indicator panel 13 which are hingedly connected together at hinge 20. The indicator panel 13 includes a direction indicator 14 thereon which in the form shown is an arrow. The base panel has an aperture 16 and a mark or dimple 18 thereon. The base panel 12 includes spaced apart leg sections 21 and 24 extending to each side of the indicator panel 13, the legs providing additional stability for the marker when in the position shown in fig. 3.

Resilient retainer tabs 22 and 23 are provided which can assist in holding the indicator panel in an upright position relative to the base panel. When being carried or stowed the marker 10 is usually in the position as shown in figs. 1 and 2; that is it is arranged with the two panels in a generally planar configuration with respect to one another. It will be appreciated that the marker could be used in this position as a further operative position to that shown in fig. 3.

To enable the marker to adopt the position shown in fig. 3, the indicator panel 13 is pivotally moved about hinge 20 so that the edges 15 and 17 of the panel 13 adjacent to and at each side of the hinge can pass over the tabs 22 and 23 as a result of their resilient nature so as to hold the panel 13 in the position shown in fig. 3. In this position with the base panel 12 nesting or anchored on a surface the panel 13 extends in an upright fashion from the surface. Aperture 16 can be used as an anchoring point for the base panel 12.

A further form of marker is illustrated in figs. 5 and 6. This marker 30 includes a base panel 32 and an indicator panel 33 which comprises a series of wall sections 35 which can be folded relative to one another to form a post. This is best illustrated in fig. 5. An edge of one of the wall sections 35 is hingedly connected to the base panel at hinge 37 and retaining tabs 42 and 43 hold the indicator in an upright position relative to the base panel in a similar fashion to that described above. Fig. 7 illustrates a means by which a direction such as north can be located during the day. To this end, use is made of the graduated clock face 28 or semi-circular part of a clock face on the marker. A shadow producing element in the form of a rod or card 60 is used.

In the example shown the time of day is 3:30 pm. The rod or card 60 is positioned relative to the sun and clock face so that it casts a shadow across the face at the correct time of day. The shadow is arranged to pass through mark 18. In the southern hemisphere the clock face indicates 6 am on the right and 6 pm on the left. With the clock face in this position the north direction is at 12 o'clock in the dial face.

In the northern hemisphere 6 am is on the left and 6 pm on the right. The south direction is at 12 o'clock on the dial. The aforementioned calculations are for non-daylight saving time. To locate the south direction at night in the southern hemisphere using the marker according to the present invention, the night sky is scanned and the Southern Cross located. The marker is raised and the arm of the user extended so as to align the top and bottom stars of the Southern Cross through the cut out 75 in the centre of the marker (Fig. 8a). This gives the correct distance to locate the southern direction. The marker is then turned 90° and the bottom star aligned with hole 16 in the marker (Fig. 8b). To determine south reference is made to the far end 76 of the marker and an imaginary line dropped to the horizon, this being the southerly direction.

To locate the northerly direction in the northern hemisphere using the marker, the night sky is scanned so as to locate the big dipper. The marker is raised and the user's arm is extended to align the two stars at the top of the big dipper with the short side 65 of the marker (Fig. 9). The north star Polaris is found by following the long side of the marker as illustrated and an imaginary line is dropped to the horizon from Polaris, this being the northerly direction. Fig. 10 illustrates a distress signalling device 50 which includes a strip of flexible material 52 which can be positioned on a surface so that it is visible from the air. The material may be nylon and of fluorescent colour or reflective material. A pocket 54 may be formed on the strip of flexible material into which it can be folded. Eyelets 56 may be provided to enable the device to be anchored to a surface. Velcro straps or the like may be provided to hold the device in its folded position.

Fig. 11 illustrates a typical trail on which the markers of the present invention can be used. Reference numeral 100 is the commencement point and reference numeral 105 is the destination. In use the group leader positions the markers 10 along the trail at convenient locations which may for example be approximately 200 metres apart. The group leader waits at the destination until all of the group members reach the destination. The last member or members of the group collect the markers as they move along the trail. If a mishap occurs the group leader can return along the trail until the position of the last uncollected marker is located thereby providing useful information as to where the mishap may have occurred. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a trail being navigated by a group of persons, one of the persons being a group leader, the method including the steps of providing the group leader with a plurality of course markers, the group leader placing the markers along the course at progressive intervals therealong, wherein the last person in the group collecting the markers as they proceed along the course until the group reaches a destination.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein each marker has a unique identifier associated therewith.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the identifiers are such that they are placed in an identifiable sequential order.

4. A method according to any preceding claim including a direction indicator associated therewith indicating the direction the person should progress along the course.

5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein one or more of said markers include a base panel hingedly connected at one edge so that they can adopt a collapsed position in which the panels are arranged substantially planar with respect to one another and an operative position in which they are inclined relative to one another.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said indicator panel includes a plurality of wall sections which can be folded to form a post.

7. A method according to any preceding claim further including an anchoring point for anchoring the marker to a structure or surface.

8. A method according to any preceding claim further including a navigation aid for determining a compass point such as north or south.

9. A course marker for use in monitoring or navigating a trail, the marker including a base panel hingedly connected together at one edge so that they can adopt a collapsed position in which the panels are arranged substantially planar with respect to one another and an operative position in which they are inclined relative to one another.

10. A marker according to claim 9 wherein said indicator panel includes a plurality of wall sections which can be folded to form a post.

11. A marker according to claims 9 or 10 further including an anchoring point for anchoring the marker to a structure or surface.

12. A marker according to claims 10 or 11 further including a navigation aid for determining a compass point such as north or south.

13. A marker according to any one of claims 9 to 12 further including one or more tabs extending from the base panel and which are adapted to cooperate with a section of the indicator panel to assist in holding the indicator panel in the operative position relative to the base panel.

14. A marker according to claim 13 wherein the tabs are generally resilient in nature.

15. A device suitable for signalling distress including one or more flexible strips which can be folded into a stored position and unfolded into an operative position in which it adopts a recognisable configuration.

16. A device according to claim 15 further including a pocket on one of the strips for receiving the or each strip when in a folded position.

17. A device according to claim 15 or claim 16 further including anchor receiving zones for receiving anchoring devices to secure the device to a surface.