Abstract:
An outrigger attached to the side of a truck for carrying surveying rods from location to location without disassembly. The outrigger utilizes a standard stake pocket on the bed of the truck and a bungee cord hooking to the underside of the truck chassis. The surveying rods are supported on the outrigger through a receiver plate with a hole where a section of the stake of the surveying rod may be inserted, and a quick release rubber clamp at its highest point. In the middle are plates partially enclosing the surveying rod, and complete enclosure is achieved by way of an insertable wire lock pin.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Technical Field 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to side-mounted outrigger devices for holding surveying instrumentation, namely, G.P.S. and prism surveying rods. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    In conducting a land survey, a surveyor typically carries a global positioning system (GPS) rod or a standard prism rod from location to location to take measurements. Typically GPS rods include bulky electronic equipment and long antennas that are cumbersome to handle and store, especially when utilized in a surveying vehicle, the latter typically comprising a conventional pick-up truck. Usually, when traveling between locations, the surveyor must break down all of the equipment into various components and reassemble the same upon reaching the next survey location, resulting in lost time. Prior art efforts that have attempted to solve this shortcoming, such as telescoping rods that can be extended when used and compressed when traveling, have not resulted in significant savings in time. In this regard, and as is well known in the art, GPS units rely upon satellites to determine location, and require a “lock” on those satellites before reporting any information. When GPS antennas and receiver units are deconstructed for travel, such units need to be turned off, thus losing its lock on the satellites. After reaching a new location, a satellite lock is required to be re-established, which is known to be a time-consuming process. Similarly, problems are present when using conventional prism survey systems that require a visual connection back to a base station. In this regard, such systems typically utilize a pole that must be properly positioned to provide accurate surveying data; however, being able to quickly assemble such pole in the proper orientation is time consuming. 
         [0007]    Moreover, to the extent such surveying equipment is simply left in position upon the surveying truck, the equipment can become damaged from the shock coming from the road. Alternatively, when stowed in the bed of the truck, the surveying equipment tends to bounce around, resulting in malfunctions. 
         [0008]    These same drawbacks exist for practically all other types of surveying poles and related equipment, which thus adds substantial time and labor to surveying activities. Along these lines, it is well-known that dozens of surveying poles are routinely utilized in surveying practices, and that the ability to quickly deploy and store such poles presents an ongoing challenge and as such, there is a substantial need in the art for a device that can greatly facilitate the ability to deploy such surveying poles to thus enable the same to be quickly and easily utilized for their intended surveying purpose. There is also a need in the art for such a device that is of simple construction, relatively low cost to manufacture, can be utilized with virtually any type of surveying pole, and is capable of being utilized in combination with conventional pick-up trucks, as typically utilized in surveying tasks. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In light of the foregoing limitations, the present invention was conceived. Provided is an outrigger capable of vertically positioning a surveying rod for travel between multiple survey locations without disassembly and quick access to the same upon reaching a given survey location. In the case of a GPS surveying unit, a constant lock on satellites is maintained, and in the case of a conventional surveying unit, a visual connection to the base is maintained. 
         [0010]    The outrigger includes an elongate outrigger support member having a stake pocket adapter, which is inserted into the stake pocket of a conventional truck to secure a connection. The stake pocket adapter is connected to the outrigger with an adapter plate of sufficient length to prevent the outrigger member from scratching the side surface of the truck. The outrigger member is further retained in position by a rope, which preferably comprises a bungee cord, that wraps around the outrigger member and hooks to the underside of the truck, preventing outward movement. 
         [0011]    Preferably, three anchoring mechanisms are provided along the length of the outrigger member for use to secure a surveying rod. At the lowest end of the member, there is a plate having a hole where a surveying rod can be inserted. At the highest end, a rubber clamp grasps the surveying rod. The clamp has separation point in the middle so that an application of force will pull the two sides of the clamp apart, allowing the surveying rod to be removed or inserted. In the middle section are a plurality of plates sandwiching the surveying rod that, in combination with a rapidly removable wire lock pin, are operative to secure the surveying pole in secure vertical orientation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of the surveying rod outrigger attached to a truck having a conventional stake pocket. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an orthogonal view of the surveying rod outrigger. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a surveying rod inserted into a stake receiver plate. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are top views of a pair of middle anchor plates securing a surveying rod. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are top views of an upper rod holder clamp. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for developing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0018]    With reference now to  FIG. 1 , outrigger  100  holds surveying rod  150  vertically on the side of a vehicle  10 . In a preferred embodiment, surveying rod  150  is of a GPS enabled type, with GPS antenna  151  and GPS surveying unit  152 . However, the use of a GPS surveying rod here is by way of example only and not of limitation, and any type of surveying equipment having a unitary rod with stake end  153  may be utilized. 
         [0019]    Vehicle  10  is preferably a pickup truck having a bed  14  formed by a vertical outer panel  12  and bed rail  13  having a horizontally elongate length of outer panel  12 . Stake pocket  15  is a downward extending cavity with its opening on the top of bed rail  13 . Stake pocket  15  is configured for stake pocket adapter  105  to be inserted and secured to the interior of truck bed  14 , and is the primary mechanism by which outrigger  100  is attached to vehicle  10 . One end of adapter plate  104  is attached to stake pocket adapter  105  and the other end of adapter plate  104  is attached to elongate outrigger member  110 . Adapter plate  104  is of sufficient length to extend the position of outrigger  100  outwards from vehicle  10  to avoid contact with outer panel  12 . The vertical attachment position of adapter plate  104  with respect to outrigger member  110  can be modified to conform to any variation of heights of vertical outer panel  12 . Generally, adapter plate  104  is positioned in the middle section of outrigger member  110 . 
         [0020]    Outrigger  100  is secondarily anchored to vehicle  10  at its lower end with an elastic cord  102 . Elastic cord  102  binds outrigger member  110  and hooks on to chassis underside  16  of vehicle  10 , and prevents outrigger  100  from swinging outwards. The force of elastic cord  102 , however, pulls outrigger member  110  against outer panel  12 . In order to prevent scratches, cylindrical cushion  106  is placed on outrigger member  110  where the curvature of outer panel  12  and the force of elastic cord  102  would otherwise result in outrigger member  110  contacting and scratching outer panel  12 . 
         [0021]    As described in  FIG. 2 , elastic cord  202  attaches to the underside of the vehicle with elastic cord hooks  212   a  and  212   b . In a preferred embodiment, elastic cord  202  is a conventional hooked bungee cord. However, it may also be any elastic fastening device such as a ratchet tie down strap or a rubber tie down strap. Rod stake receiver plate  201  prevents elastic cord  202  from sliding off outrigger member or support shaft  210 , and enables elastic cord  202  to apply a downward and lateral force to outrigger support shaft  210  to prevent rotational movement along the axis perpendicular to that of the vehicle outer wall. Typically, rod stake receiver plate  201  is attached to the bottom of outrigger support shaft  210 . 
         [0022]    Rod stake receiver plate  301  of  FIG. 3  includes stake securing hole  303 , which functions as the first anchor point in which a surveying rod is secured to outrigger support shaft  310 . The circumference of stake securing hole  303  is substantially less than the circumference of the main shaft portion  351  of surveying rod  350 , but greater than the circumference of stake point  353 . This configuration enables a section of stake portion  352  of surveying rod  350  to abut from stake securing hole  303  while preventing the entire surveying rod  350  from sliding through, thereby securing surveying rod  350  rod stake receiver plate  301  by gravitational force. Additionally, simple removal and insertion of surveying rod  350  is provided. 
         [0023]    With reference again to  FIG. 2 , the second anchor point of the surveying rod is at middle anchor plates  207   a  and  207   b , two identical members attached to opposite sides in the middle portion of elongate outrigger member  210 , and extending in a parallel configuration along the same axis and direction away from outrigger support shaft  210  as rod stake receiver plate  201 . Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , middle anchor plates  407   a  and  407   b  include lock pin insertion holes  408   a  and  408   b , respectively. Both lock pin insertion holes are positioned in substantially the same relative location, and are configured to receive a wire lock pin  407  that traverses lock pin insertion holes  408   a  and  408   b  and mechanically couples middle anchor plates  407   a  and  407   b . As shown in  FIG. 4   a , surveying rod  450  is placed in the space defined by wire lock pin  407 , middle anchor plates  406   a  and  406   b , and outrigger support shaft  410 , and its movement while stowage is limited therein. When wire lock pin  407  is removed, surveying rod  450  is easily removed as shown in  FIG. 4   b.    
         [0024]    The use of wire lock pin  407  is one preferred embodiment for quickly releasing the hold of the second anchor point, but any number of fasteners may be utilized, for example, a clevis pin/cotter pin combination, or a tab-lock pin. Additionally, any number of other release mechanisms capable of quickly releasing a hold on surveying rod  450  may be utilized. 
         [0025]    A third anchor point of the surveying rod is upper rod holder  208  of  FIG. 2  located on the upper end of outrigger member  210 . Detailed views of the upper rod holder are shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , with two semicircular clamp element sections  520  and  521  connected to outrigger member  510 . Upper rod holder  508  is constructed of semi-rigid material that permits flexing and separation at center opening  515 , allowing surveying rod  550  to be easily removed when sufficient force is applied, as depicted in  FIG. 5   b . Without sufficient force, the two clamp elements remain in contact at center opening  515 , and prevents surveying rod  550  from being removed, as shown in  FIG. 5   a.    
         [0026]    In order to secure a surveying rod for travel, the following exemplary steps may be performed. First, with reference to  FIG. 4   a , wire lock pin  407  is removed from lock pin insertion holes  408   a  and  408   b . Then, with reference to  FIG. 3 , stake point  353  is inserted into stake securing hole  303  at a slight angle, since upper rod holder  508  of  FIG. 5  will hinder a fully upright position. The surveying rod is pushed into the clamp with sufficient force to overcome the elastic force keeping semicircular clamp elements  520  and  521  together. Now, the surveying rod is being held and supported at two extremities of the outrigger support shaft. Finally, as depicted in  FIG. 4   a , the wire lock pin  407  of is reinserted, ensuring that the surveying rod is prevented from shifting outside the constraints of wire lock pin  407 , middle anchor plates  408   a  and  408   b , and outrigger support shaft  410 . 
         [0027]    For removing the surveying rod upon reaching a destination, the reverse of the forgoing may be performed. Wire lock pin  407  shown in  FIG. 4   a  is removed, and the surveying rod is pulled with sufficient force to overcome the elastic forces of semicircular clamp elements  520  and  521  of  FIG. 5 . The surveying rod is then lifted up and removed from stake securing hole  303  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]    This description of the various embodiments of the present invention is presented to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and other inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed. The appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.