Patent ID: 7631447
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: G09F

Abstract:
1. A damage resistant marking stake comprising: a socket for insertion into the ground in order to mark a location, said socket having a first end and a second end, wherein said socket first end comprises a driving tip for inserting said socket into the ground, and said second end comprises a flange for abutting a ground top surface, wherein said socket further defines a socket cavity with a plurality of regularly spaced retaining ridges defining a periphery of said socket cavity, wherein said regularly spaced retaining ridges are a buttress screw thread that allows twisting of an elastomeric shaft into said socket determining said shaft extraction force based on the distance, said shaft is screwed into said socket against said buttress screw thread; and said elastomeric shaft having a first end configured for insertion into said socket cavity of said socket, said elastomeric shaft having a smooth outer surface, the portion of said elastomeric shaft adjacent said first end comprising an elongated socket engaging portion, wherein when inserted into said socket, a plurality of said regularly spaced retaining ridges engage said smooth outer surface at various points along said socket engaging portion of said elastomeric shaft to prevent said elastomeric shaft from being easily removed from said socket and wherein a user can select a desired shaft extraction force based on the insertion depth of said elastomeric shaft in said socket cavity and the resulting number of ridges that engage said smooth outer surface, and wherein said shaft extraction force is less than a socket extraction force that would be required to extract said socket from the ground.