US4344110A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Supplemental identification system for channel and similar marker lights
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-12-31
•
Granted: 1982-08-10
•
Expires: 1999-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A channel marker includes signals which are unique so that the identity of a marker is readily apparent even against background lighting. The signals may include lights, prisms, lenses, luminescent strips and reflectors. The number and disposition of the signals further identify a marker. Photo-voltaic means can recharge batteries.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis W. Ruediger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:09
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B45/00; B63B45/02; F; F21; F21V; F21V7/00; F21V7/0008; F21W; F21W2111/00; F21W2111/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A marker comprising a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and signaling means in said body, said signaling means being disposed in an elongate vertical column within said body, said signaling means emitting original light uniformly from said main body continuously throughout 360 degrees in discrete visibly discernable spaced planes which are essentially horizontal so that the identity of the marker is readily apparent even against background lighting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A marker comprising a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and signaling means in said body, said signaling means being disposed in an elongate vertical column within said body, said signaling means emitting original light uniformly from said main body continuously throughout 360 degrees in discrete visibly discernable spaced planes which are essentially horizontal so that the identity of the marker is readily apparent even against background lighting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The marker defined in claim 1 wherein the signaling means further includes a primary light source in said main body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The marker defined in claim 2 wherein the primary light source includes plural light sources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The marker defined in claim 3 further including plural backup light sources.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The marker of claim 3 wherein the plural light sources are stacked plural light sources.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The marker of claim 3 wherein the plural light sources are connected for predetermined sequential operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The marker defined in claim 2 wherein said signaling means include a plurality of light redirecting means to redirect light emissions from said source into said spaced horizontal planes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The marker defined in claim 7 wherein said redirecting means comprises plural reflectors mounted on said main body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The marker defined in claim 2 wherein said signaling means incorporates vertically disposed lenticular lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The marker defined in claim 2 where said marker incorporates diffusive means in the body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The marker defined in claim 2 wherein the signaling means include fiber optics to redirect light into horizontal planes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The marker defined in claim 2 wherein the primary light source is of the gas discharge type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The marker defined in claim 2 further comprising a cap on the main body and a bird spike on the cap and proceeding upward therefrom along a longitudinal center line of the marker.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The marker defined in claim 2 wherein control means causes said main light source to flash according to a predetermined program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The marker defined in claim 2 further including vertically disposed luminescent material in said main body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The marker defined in claim 2 wherein the primary light source is a high intensity light source and further comprising a low intensity light source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The marker defined in claim 1 wherein said signaling means includes a plurality of vertically spaced signal light sources in elongate columnar arrangement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The marker defined in claim 17 wherein said signal light sources include gas discharge lamps.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The marker defined in claim 17 wherein the signaling means further includes back-up light sources adjacent to said signal light sources.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The marker defined in claim 17 wherein the signaling means further comprises control means for causing said light sources to flash according to a predetermined sequence.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The marker defined in claim 20 wherein the control means causes the light sources to flash in a vertical sequence.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The marker defined in claim 17 wherein said signal light sources include incandescent lamps.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The marker defined in claim 17 wherein said light sources are so spaced in a manner unique to each marker so that the identity of a marker is apparent from the location of the lights.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The marker defined in claim 17 wherein said signaling means incorporates vertically disposed lenticular lens.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The marker defined in claim 17 wherein said marker incorporates difussive means in the body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The marker defined in claim 1 further including a physical protuberance being located on said main body in a manner unique to each marker so the identity of a marker is apparent from location of the protuberance.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The marker defined in claim 1 wherein the signaling means further comprises control means for causing said planes of light to be emitted from said signaling means according to a predetermined sequence.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The marker defined in claim 27 wherein the control means causes the planes of light to be emitted in a vertical sequence.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
90 words
A marker comprising: a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and one or more signaling means including a primary light source in said main body, said signaling means being vertically disposed along the main body, said signaling means emitting light from said main body throughout 360 degrees in vertically displaced areas and in planes which are essentially horizontal, and further including a vertically oriented elongated low intensity light source in said main body, said low intensity light source being energized separately from said primary light source.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
90 words
A marker comprising: a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and one or more signaling means including a primary light source in said main body, said signaling means being vertically disposed along the main body, said signaling means emitting light from said main body throughout 360 degrees in vertically displaced areas and in planes which are essentially horizontal, and further including a vertically oriented elongated low intensity light source in said main body, said low intensity light source being energized separately from said primary light source.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The marker of claim 29 wherein the primary light source is a high intensity light source comprising a gas discharge light source.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
119 words
A marker comprising: a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and one or more signaling means including a primary light source in said main body, said signaling means being vertically disposed along the main body, said signaling means emitting light from said main body throughout 360 degrees in vertically displaced areas and in planes which are essentially horizontal, wherein said signaling means include a plurality of light redirecting means to direct light emission from the primary light source into the horizontal plane, and wherein said redirecting means are mounted on a bracket and are frustoconical in shape, said reflecting means being annular and being sized so that each is larger than a superjacent redirecting means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
119 words
A marker comprising: a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and one or more signaling means including a primary light source in said main body, said signaling means being vertically disposed along the main body, said signaling means emitting light from said main body throughout 360 degrees in vertically displaced areas and in planes which are essentially horizontal, wherein said signaling means include a plurality of light redirecting means to direct light emission from the primary light source into the horizontal plane, and wherein said redirecting means are mounted on a bracket and are frustoconical in shape, said reflecting means being annular and being sized so that each is larger than a superjacent redirecting means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The marker defined in claim 31 wherein the signaling means includes one or more Fresnel lenses to direct light in horizontal planes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The marker defined in claim 31 further including a vertically-directed reflector in said main body.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
99 words
A marker comprising: a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and one or more signaling means including a primary light source in said main body, said signaling means being vertically disposed along the main body, said signaling means emitting light from said main body throughout 360 degrees in vertically displaced areas and in planes which are essentially horizontal, wherein said signaling means include a plurality of light redirecting means to direct light emission from the primary light source into the horizontal plane, and wherein said redirecting means comprises plural prisms mounted on said main body.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
99 words
A marker comprising: a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and one or more signaling means including a primary light source in said main body, said signaling means being vertically disposed along the main body, said signaling means emitting light from said main body throughout 360 degrees in vertically displaced areas and in planes which are essentially horizontal, wherein said signaling means include a plurality of light redirecting means to direct light emission from the primary light source into the horizontal plane, and wherein said redirecting means comprises plural prisms mounted on said main body.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The marker defined in claim 34 further including a vertically-directed light reflector in said main body.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The marker defined in claim 34 further including a reflecting cone in said main body.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The marker defined in claim 29, 17 or 34, the signalling means further comprising one or more fresnel lenses to direct light in horizontal planes.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
39 words
The marker defined in claim 29, 17 or 34 further comprising a cap on top of the body and a bird spike on top of the cap and proceeding upward therefrom along a longitudinal center line of the marker.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The marker defined in claim 31 or 34 further including a reflecting cone in said main body.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
90 words
A marker comprising: a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and one or more signaling means including a primary light source in said main body, said signaling means being vertically disposed along the main body, said signaling means emitting light from said main body throughout 360 degrees in vertically displaced areas and in planes which are essentially horizontal, wherein the primary light source is a high intensity light source, and further comprising a low intensity light source, and wherein the low intensity light source is flourescent.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
90 words
A marker comprising: a base, an upright elongate main body mounted on said base, and one or more signaling means including a primary light source in said main body, said signaling means being vertically disposed along the main body, said signaling means emitting light from said main body throughout 360 degrees in vertically displaced areas and in planes which are essentially horizontal, wherein the primary light source is a high intensity light source, and further comprising a low intensity light source, and wherein the low intensity light source is flourescent.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The marker of claim 40 wherein the high intensity light source is a gas discharge light source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-09 | 1986-02-08 | 1986-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-09 | 1990-02-08 | 1990-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-09 | 1994-02-08 | 1994-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |