Spray paint marking tool

Details Spray paint marking tool Spray paint marking tool

1999-06-30

2001-09-25

Crispino, Richard (Department: 1734)

Coating apparatus

Projection or spray type

Plural projectors

C118S305000, C222S473000, C101S114000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06294022

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a spray paint marking tool and, more particularly, to a hand-held spray paint marking tool including a single button activation mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During the plant protection of fiber optic cables, technicians are often required to mark the electronic location of a buried cable facility. The marking is intended to allow contractors to avoid buried cable location during digging operations. Spraying a water-soluble paint on the ground is the usual method for providing this type of marking. Since the paint tends to wash off or wear away after two or three days, the buried cable location needs to be frequently re-marked to keep the contractors aware of the buried facility. Additionally, most state one-call laws require utility companies to identify the marked facility by the company name and by the standard color code of the buried facility. For example, any facility marked by an AT&T technician must have the words AT&T Buried Fiber Optic Cable on the mark for identification. In addition, the 800-call back number is also required to allow the digging contractor to call if there is a problem with the electronic locates.
The prior art method of providing this type of company-ID marking is to manually write the identification of the facility with a paint spray can. The marking, therefore, is only as legible as is possible for the technician to achieve. In situations where a technician is required to mark a large number of locations, the marking may become illegible and, as a result, of little use. A need remains, therefore, for an improved system of marking the location of buried cable facilities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The need remaining in the prior art is addressed by the present invention, which relates to a spray paint marking tool and, more particularly, to a hand-held spray paint marking tool including a single button activation mechanism.
A spray paint marking tool in accordance with the present invention comprises a spray paint can chamber for holding one or more cans of paint, with the cans held upside down so that the paint exits through the bottom of the chamber. A marking stencil is held in place across the bottom surface of the chamber in a manner such that the paint exiting the can(s) will contact the stencil and thus form a spray-painted marking on the ground immediately below the chamber. An extension arm, terminating in a control handle, is attached to the chamber. The control handle includes an activation mechanism which is coupled through the extension arm to the spray paint chamber. In operation, therefore, a technician can squeeze a trigger (or any other suitable type of activation mechanism) on the handle, activate the spray paint can(s) and paint through the stencil to mark the ground. The use of the stencil insures that each mark will be identical and legible.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spray paint chamber is formed to include a pair of channels in its bottom surface to accommodate the insertion and removal of a stencil. Since the stencil will quickly become paint covered, the ability to remove and clean the stencil is advantageous. The ability to remove the stencil also allows for various different stencils to be used with the same marking tool.
Other and further advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following discussion and by reference to the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4048918 (1977-09-01), Peck
patent: 5368202 (1994-11-01), Smrt
patent: 6062443 (2000-05-01), Smrt

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