Signals and indicators – Indicators – By location
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2001-09-11
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Indicators
By location
C116S201000, C116S06300T
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286450
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to line marker posts for marking the location of buried conduit such as pipeline or utility conduit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of pipeline or utility marking systems are in use at the present time. The purpose of these pipeline or utility marking systems is to indicate the location of buried pipeline, cable, conduit, etc., (referred to collectively as conduit herein), as well as to identify its owner. By properly marking the subterranean conduit, construction crews and others attempting to excavate the site can avoid accidentally damaging the buried conduit. The marker also serves as a warning to the general public that a buried conduit is present in the area.
Applicants have introduced a right of way line marker, sold as the “Maloney Line MRKR” system which has enjoyed commercial success. This marker system includes an upright support member which has a cylindrical exterior with a lower end which is positionable within a surrounding terrain so that the upright member is positioned in an upright vertical position. The cylindrical upright member carries an end cap on the upper exposed extent thereof. The end cap and upright support member are preferably formed of a synthetic plastic such as high density polyethylene. Either the end cap or an associated sleeve carries indicative marking such as “GAS PIPELINE”, “WARNING PETROLEUM PIPELINE”, or “FIBER OPTIC CABLE.” The marker post is available in vivid colors that stand out against any background. A typical marker is provided in, for example, 3.75 inch OD tubular design, and is highly visible from any angle as well as from the air. The addition of a fluorescent cap enhances visibility for aerial observation.
The tubular nature of the “Maloney Line MRKR” offers several advantages over the traditional “flat” right of way line marker posts. For example, the polymeric tubular marker cannot spark when struck, thereby eliminating the possibility of spark ignition, fire or explosion and is less susceptible to “wind whi” that can occur with flat line markers. The greatest advantage of the tubular design is perhaps the ease of visibility from any angle, as well as from the air. The traditional flat line markers are actually U-shaped in cross-section and are used for a variety of purposes, including standard highway sign indicia, such as stop signs.
In spite of the advantages of the synthetic, tubular line marker, a large number of flat line markers exist is use today. It would be advantageous to provide a tubular cap assembly for such flat line markers which would allow the marker post to be equipped or retrofitted with a high visibility tubular cap.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a cap assembly for a traditional flat right of way line marker which allows a conical end cap to be quickly and exactly installed on the exposed upper end of the marker post.
Another object of the invention is to provide a cap assembly which includes a unique mounting assembly for quickly and securely mounting the conical end cap upon the upright marker post.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a cap assembly which is simple in design and economical to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A cap assembly is shown for a right of way line marker which includes an upright support member having an exposed upper end and a lower end. The lower end is positionable within a surrounding terrain in use to position the support member in an upright vertical position. The assembly includes a cap body having a conical exterior with an end opening and an initially open interior. The cap also includes a mounting assembly comprising a lower, stationary disk which is sized to be received and retained within the end opening of the cap body and an upper, sliding disk. The lower, stationary disk has an aperture therein for receiving the upper end of the support member. The upper, sliding disk is positionable within the cap open interior upon contact with the upper end of the support member to provide stability for the cap assembly.
Preferably, the upper and lower disks each have upper and lower planar surfaces, respectively, the planar surfaces being arranged in a plane generally perpendicular to the vertical axis of the support member in use. A locking detent is located on the upper planar surface of the lower disk. The locking detent is engageable with mating openings provided on the upright support member for locking the lower disk and, in turn, the cap at a plurality of selected vertical locations on the support member. The lower disk can be formed of a resilient synthetic material whereby the locking detent can be provided as a flexible tab which is integrally formed with the upper planar surface of the lower disk.
Preferably, the upper and lower disks have mating engagement members which are located thereon. In this way, the disk components can initially be assembled with the respective planar faces thereof in contact, thereby forming a compact unit for shipping or for immediate installation. The unit can be easily installed within the end opening of the conical cap with the upper and lower disks located at the approximate end opening of the cap. As the support member is inserted through the aperture provided in the lower disk, it contacts the upper disk and slides the disk vertically upward within the opening interior of the cap body to a selected location therein. The presence of the lower disk with its support member receiving aperture and the upper disk provides a stable arrangement for mounting the cap assembly upon the upright support member.
In the method of the invention, a mounting assembly is installed within the end opening of a conical cap body. The mounting assembly includes the previously described lower and upper disks. The upper end of the support member is inserted through the aperture provided in the lower disk. The upper end of the support member contacts the upper disk and drives the upper disk to an axially displaced location within the cap interior. The upper and lower disks serve to securely mount the cap body about the upper end of the support member.
Additional objects, features and advantages will be apparent in the written description which follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1435363 (1922-11-01), Wood
patent: 2186428 (1940-01-01), Patten
patent: 2779240 (1957-01-01), Gaydos
patent: 2790257 (1957-04-01), Ware
patent: 3267805 (1966-08-01), Ackerman
patent: 3928930 (1975-12-01), Attwood
patent: 3935655 (1976-02-01), Fritzinger
patent: 4106879 (1978-08-01), Diedershagen et al.
patent: 4250491 (1981-02-01), Dotson
patent: 4343567 (1982-08-01), Sarver et al.
patent: 4454671 (1984-06-01), Morgenstern
patent: 4779955 (1988-10-01), Schmanski
patent: 5299883 (1994-04-01), Arth, Jr.
patent: 5956875 (1999-09-01), Aughenbaugh
Maloney LineMRKR brochure 1998.
Allen Charles I.
Murrin Pamela C.
Bracewell & Patterson LLP
Gutierrez Diego
S&B Technical Products, Inc.
Smith R. Alexander
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