US5699048A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Omnidirectional passive electrical marker for underground use
Assignee: Greenlee Tools Inc
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Filing: 1996-10-03
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Granted: 1997-12-16
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Expires: 2016-10-03
Abstract
Abstract A passive marker is placed adjacent to a structure in order to locate that structure after burial. The marker has a tuned circuit arrangement contained within a housing. The tuned circuit arrangement has plural tuned circuits that are oriented substantially orthogonally to each other. A multidirectional response pattern is produced by the tuned circuit arrangement, which pattern is broader than the directional response pattern of a single tuned circuit. The housing is divided into two hemispheres for ease of assembly. Each hemisphere has channels formed therein for receiving the respective tuned circuits. The channels can be formed by the exterior wall of the housing, interior walls of the housing, or in an interior spherical mandrel.
Inventors
- 👤 George G. Galloway
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V15/00; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/04; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/22; H01Q1/2208; H01Q1/2225; H01Q15/00; H01Q15/14; H01Q15/18; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/28; H01Q7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A passive marker for use in locating buried structures, comprising: a) two or more tuned circuits, with each of said tuned circuits comprising an inductance and a capacitance, each of said inductors having an axis; b) said tuned circuits being oriented such that said axes are angled with respect to each other; c) said oriented tuned circuits being contained within a housing, wherein said tuned circuits are capable of producing a broad directional response, said tuned circuits being electrically insulated from any transmitter or receiver; d) said marker being buried.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A passive marker for use in locating buried structures, comprising: a) two or more tuned circuits, with each of said tuned circuits comprising an inductance and a capacitance, each of said inductors having an axis; b) said tuned circuits being oriented such that said axes are angled with respect to each other; c) said oriented tuned circuits being contained within a housing, wherein said tuned circuits are capable of producing a broad directional response, said tuned circuits being electrically insulated from any transmitter or receiver; d) said marker being buried.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The passive marker of claim 1 wherein the plural tuned circuits comprise three tuned circuits that are concentric and substantially orthogonal with respect to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The passive marker of claim 1 wherein each of said inductances has an air core.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The passive marker of claim 1 wherein each of the tuned circuits are tuned to the same frequency.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The passive marker of claim 1 wherein the plural tuned circuits comprise a first tuned circuit and a second tuned circuit, said first tuned circuit being tuned to a first frequency and said second tuned circuit being tuned to a second frequency that is different from said first frequency.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The passive marker of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises substantially circular channels on an inside surface of said housing, each of said channels receiving one of said tuned circuits, said channels maintaining said tuned circuits in a substantially orthogonal orientation with respect to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The passive marker of claim 6 wherein said housing is nonspherical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The passive marker of claim 6 wherein said housing is spherical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The passive marker of claim 6, wherein said housing has an exterior wall, said channels are formed by indentations in said exterior wall of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The passive marker of claim 6, wherein said channels are formed by interior walls projecting inwardly from an exterior wall of said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The passive marker of claim 1, wherein: a) each of said inductances comprises a coil having individual turns of wire, with said individual turns of wire being coupled together to form a band; b) said tuned circuits abut against an inside surface of said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The passive marker of claim 1 wherein each of said inductances is wrapped around a mandrel, with said mandrel being contained within said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The passive marker of claim 12 wherein said mandrel is a ball.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The passive marker of claim 1, wherein: a) the plural tuned circuits comprise three tuned circuits; b) each of said inductances comprises a coil of wire with an air core; c) said housing comprises channels on an inside surface of said housing, each of said channels receiving one of said tuned circuits therein, said channels maintaining the tuned circuits in a substantially orthogonal orientation with respect to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A ground installation, comprising: a) a structure buried in the ground; b) at least one passive marker buried in the ground adjacent to the structure, with each passive marker comprising: i) plural tuned circuits, with each of said tuned circuits comprising an inductance and a capacitance, each of said inductors having an axis, each said tuned circuits having a directional pattern of response; ii) said tuned circuits being oriented such that said axes are angled with respect to each other in order to obtain a cumulative directional pattern from said tuned circuits that is broader than the directional pattern of any one of said tuned circuits; iii) said tuned circuits being located in a sealed enclosure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
A ground installation, comprising: a) a structure buried in the ground; b) at least one passive marker buried in the ground adjacent to the structure, with each passive marker comprising: i) plural tuned circuits, with each of said tuned circuits comprising an inductance and a capacitance, each of said inductors having an axis, each said tuned circuits having a directional pattern of response; ii) said tuned circuits being oriented such that said axes are angled with respect to each other in order to obtain a cumulative directional pattern from said tuned circuits that is broader than the directional pattern of any one of said tuned circuits; iii) said tuned circuits being located in a sealed enclosure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ground installation of claim 15 wherein the plural tuned circuits are substantially orthogonal to each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ground installation of claim 15 wherein the plural tuned circuits comprise three tuned circuits that are concentric with respect to each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The ground installation of claim 15, wherein said sealed enclosure comprises substantially circular channels on an inside surface of said enclosure, each of said channels receiving one of said tuned circuits, said channels maintaining said tuned circuits in a substantially orthogonal orientation with respect to each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ground installation of claim 18, wherein said enclosure has an exterior wall, said channels are formed by indentations in said exterior wall of said enclosure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ground installation of claim 18, wherein said channels are formed by interior walls projecting inwardly from an exterior wall of said enclosure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
The ground installation of claim 15, wherein: a) said plural tuned circuits comprise three tuned circuits; b) each of said inductances comprises a coil of wire with an air core; c) said enclosure comprises channels on an inside channel of said enclosure, each of said channels receiving one of said tuned circuits therein, said channels maintaining the tuned circuits in a substantially orthogonal orientation.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of making a passive marker, said marker for use in locating buried structures, comprising the steps of: a) providing plural tuned circuits with each tuned circuit comprising a coil and a capacitance, said coil having individual turns of wire that are coupled together so as to form a band; b) providing an enclosure that has guides therein, said guides forming channels on an inside surface of said enclosure, said channels being substantially orthogonal to each other and intersect each other, said enclosure being formed of plural portions; c) locating a first one of said tuned circuits in a first one of said channels; d) locating a second one of said timed circuits in a second one of said channels, said second one of said tuned circuits being located either around or through a portion of said first one of said tuned circuits; e) bringing said enclosure portions together and sealing said enclosure.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of making a passive marker, said marker for use in locating buried structures, comprising the steps of: a) providing plural tuned circuits with each tuned circuit comprising a coil and a capacitance, said coil having individual turns of wire that are coupled together so as to form a band; b) providing an enclosure that has guides therein, said guides forming channels on an inside surface of said enclosure, said channels being substantially orthogonal to each other and intersect each other, said enclosure being formed of plural portions; c) locating a first one of said tuned circuits in a first one of said channels; d) locating a second one of said timed circuits in a second one of said channels, said second one of said tuned circuits being located either around or through a portion of said first one of said tuned circuits; e) bringing said enclosure portions together and sealing said enclosure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
111 words
A passive marker for use in locating hidden structures, comprising: a) two or more tuned circuits, with each of said tuned circuits comprising an inductance and a capacitance, each of said inductors having an axis; b) said tuned circuits being contained within a housing; c) each of said tuned circuits forming a closed circuit within said housing so as to resonate when subjected to an electromagnetic field of a selected frequency, said tuned circuits being oriented such that said axes are angled with respect to each other so as to produce a broader directional resonate response when subjected to the electromagnetic field than any single one of said tuned circuits alone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
111 words
A passive marker for use in locating hidden structures, comprising: a) two or more tuned circuits, with each of said tuned circuits comprising an inductance and a capacitance, each of said inductors having an axis; b) said tuned circuits being contained within a housing; c) each of said tuned circuits forming a closed circuit within said housing so as to resonate when subjected to an electromagnetic field of a selected frequency, said tuned circuits being oriented such that said axes are angled with respect to each other so as to produce a broader directional resonate response when subjected to the electromagnetic field than any single one of said tuned circuits alone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The passive marker of claim 23 wherein said tuned circuits are electrically insulated from each other.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The passive marker of claim 23 wherein each of said inductances comprise of a coil of wire formed into a band, the bands being self supporting, with one of the bands located inside of the other band.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The passive marker of claim 23 wherein the tuned circuits comprise three tuned circuits that are concentric and substantially orthogonal with respect to each other.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The passive marker of claim 23 wherein the housing is watertight.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
94 words
A passive marker for use in locating a hidden structure, comprising: a) plural tuned circuits, with each of said tuned circuits comprising an inductance and a capacitance, each of said tuned circuits producing an electromagnetic response when subjected to an electromagnetic field of a selected frequency; b) said tuned circuits being contained in an enclosure, said tuned circuits being electrically insulated from any transmitter or receiver; c) said tuned circuits being oriented with respect to each other so as to produce an omnidirectional response when said tuned circuits are subjected to said electromagnetic field.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
94 words
A passive marker for use in locating a hidden structure, comprising: a) plural tuned circuits, with each of said tuned circuits comprising an inductance and a capacitance, each of said tuned circuits producing an electromagnetic response when subjected to an electromagnetic field of a selected frequency; b) said tuned circuits being contained in an enclosure, said tuned circuits being electrically insulated from any transmitter or receiver; c) said tuned circuits being oriented with respect to each other so as to produce an omnidirectional response when said tuned circuits are subjected to said electromagnetic field.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
11 words
The passive marker of claim 28 wherein the enclosure is watertight.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The passive marker of claim 28 wherein said enclosure comprises channels on an inside surface of said enclosure, each of said channels receiving one of said tuned circuits.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The passive marker of claim 30, wherein said enclosure has an exterior wall, said channels are formed by indentations in said exterior wall of said enclosure.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The passive marker of claim 30, wherein said channels are formed by interior walls projecting inwardly from an exterior wall of said enclosure.
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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) | 2000-12-15 | 2001-06-16 | 2001-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-15 | 2005-06-16 | 2005-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-15 | 2009-06-16 | 2009-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |