Patent ID: 9417062
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: G01C

Claim Text:
1. A self-plumbing target for an electronic distance measuring instrument comprising: a target, said target is in a vertical orientation; wherein said target is weighted to expedite and maintain a position plumb with the ground; a pointer portion at a bottom of said target; a connecting rod, said connecting rod in communication with said target; a laser plummet, said laser plummet in communication with said connecting rod; a target holder framework; wherein said target holder framework prevents twisting oscillation of said target from wind; a ball and socket joint mechanism connecting said target pointer to said target holder framework; wherein said ball and socket joint mechanism has a ball portion and a socket portion; a pin, said pin disposed on said ball portion of said ball and socket joint mechanism; wherein said ball and socket joint mechanism is configured to limit rotation of the target in the horizontal plane about a vertical axis; wherein said target is suspended from said target holder framework above the ground about said ball and socket joint mechanism; wherein said pin is disposed perpendicular to said target; wherein said pin maintains said target within the same plane of said target holder framework; and wherein said socket portion is in direct communication with said pin as said ball portion rotates horizontally, preventing said ball portion from full rotation about the vertical axis.