Abstract:
An aerially deployable position marking device includes an elongated housing, a handle secured to the housing, a ground engaging portion at or adjacent the lower end of the housing and at least one locating element which may take the form of visibility enhancing elements which are nonenergized, electrically energized, visibility enhancing devices or acoustic devices or energy releasing elements which release RF signals or other sources of energy as well as other types. Appropriate sources of energy and switch or switches may be provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an aerially deployable marking device and, more specifically, it relates to such a device which has features which will not only mark an area, thereby freeing aircraft from the need to hover over the same until others arrive at the scene, but also has enhancing features which facilitate more ready location of the device by ground personnel. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It has been known in connection with missions performed by various law enforcement agencies, military units and other situations to mark a specific land location employing aircraft, such as helicopters, co-acting with ground crews to pinpoint specific ground locations for the ground crew. Often, a helicopter is required to hover over the area until the ground crew arrives at the location. Examples of such needs include trailing a fleeing criminal, warning of dangerous areas such as mine fields, locating injured personnel or casualties in a battle zone or the result of terrorist action, and locating a site of illegal activity such as growing of controlled substances, such as marijuana. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,008 discloses a location marker which has a suitably energized flashable strobe lamp and is adapted to being deployed in a water environment. It also has a metal ring for attachment to clothing. It is not, however, designed to be aerially deployable, and as a result, has no unique weighting to facilitate landing with a particular orientation, and does not have a ground engaging element. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,363 discloses a portable audible beacon which has a housing with signal generating means and an acoustic transducer. The signal generating means generates an oscillating signal that is periodically interrupted by a zero signal. The fundamental frequency is said to correspond to the frequency of high auditory sensitivity to the human ear, whereas the interruption frequency is said to relate to-directionally discernable frequency to the human ear. It contains a projection to resist the unit being positioned with the speaker facing downwardly. 
     There remains, therefore, a very real and substantial need for a system and product for more efficiently marking a location on land by means of an aerially deployed device which will be sufficiently durable to survive the drop, will provide means for enhancing the ability of ground personnel to locate the same, and will enhance the likelihood of it engaging the ground upon contact. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has met the above-described need. It provides an aerially deployable position marking device which has an elongated housing having upper and lower ends, a handle secured to the housing, a ground engaging portion adjacent to the lower end of the housing and at least one locating element. The ground engaging portion may be a projecting spike which is adapted to penetrate the earth or other contact surface. 
     The locating element may be an energized or unenergized item. For example, it may be a streamer. An energized locating element may be a light, for example. A suitable battery and switch are provided for units that have to be energized. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an aerially deployable marking device which may be thrown from aircraft or otherwise thrown through the air and, under the influence of gravity, contact the ground so as to mark an area for ground personnel or other personnel. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device which is adapted to physically engage the earth or other contact area. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to facilitate efficient use of aircraft in various law enforcement, military and other activities such that the time the aircraft is present over a particular location of interest is minimized. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a durable, relatively inexpensive device of this type. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a device which is reusable. 
     These and other objects of the invention will be fully understood from the following description of the invention with reference to the drawings appended hereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational illustration of a form of aerially deployable position marking device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a view of the device of FIG. 1, with portions broken away for clarity of illustration. 
     FIG. 3 is a view of a component of an aerially deployable position marking device of the present invention which serves to facilitate efficient movement through the air. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The device of the present invention should have adequate strength to withstand the force of impact with the ground or other underlying surface when it is dropped from aircraft or thrown from a high elevation, such as from a building, tower, mountain or tree, for example. 
     The internal components where switches, batteries, lights and other energized embodiments which are employed will generally be protected by suitable packing material or an internal suspension structure in any of numerous ways which will be well known to those skilled in the art. For example, among the suitable packing materials are foam rubber It and polystyrene foam. 
     Another important advantage of the present invention is that it provides a device which has a locating element which makes it easier for personnel to locate the device, both for purposes of efficient marking and to facilitate retrieval and reuse of the same. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the aerially deployable position marking device has an elongated housing  2  which has an upper end  6  and a lower end  8 . In the form shown, a locating element which is a bulb  10  which is energized by operation of a suitable switch  12  which communicates through the housing to the exterior and is powered by a battery (now shown in this view) located behind access door  14 . Similarly, an acoustic sound indicator which emits sound, such as a nine volt pulsing piezo buzzer having a speaker  16 , may be energized by a battery (now shown) positioned behind access door  20 . The device has a handle  26  which in the form shown is generally “U” shaped to facilitate grabbing the same for manually handling and releasing it so that under the influence of gravity, it can proceed toward the earth. A streamer  30  may be ribbon-like and made of plastic or fabric. It may be of a color that contrasts readily with surrounding terrain and vegetation and may be of any desired length which does not interfere with functioning of the device. The streamer  30  is secured to the device and, in the form shown, is secured to the gripping portion  32  of the handle. At the lower end  8 , there is positioned a weight  36  which serves to facilitate the device travelling toward the earth in a generally vertically oriented position such as that shown in FIG.  1 . Depending from the weight  36  or passing through the same and secured to or within the housing  2  is a projecting spike member  44  which has a tapered portion  46  and terminates in a point  50  to facilitate penetration of the earth or underlying substrate. The spike member  44  may be made of steel or other material which has adequate strength. The height “H” of the housing  2  will preferably be about 15 to 20 inches for most uses. The overall height O, as measured from the tip  50  of the spike  44  to the upper portion of bulb  10  will preferably be about 20 to 30 inches for most uses. The housing external diameter “D” is preferably about 1.5 to 3 inches. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, which has a portion of the housing  2  broken away to show some interior components. Like numbers will be employed as in FIG. 1 with respect to like components. The switch  12  is connected to battery  60  through electrical lead  62  and to battery  64  through electrical lead  66 . Electrical lead  70  connects the battery  60  with the light  10  and electrical lead  72  connects switch  12  with the light  10 . Electrical lead  76  connects the battery  64  with the piezo buzzer  80  which is operatively associated with speaker  16 , and electrical lead  78  connects switch  12  with piezo buzzer  80 . It will be appreciated by depressing switch  12  both the lamp  10  and the piezo buzzer  80  will be energized. 
     It will be appreciated that both electrically energized and nonenergized locating elements facilitate location of the device on the ground and, depending upon the timing and positioning of the personnel, may also facilitate their observing the travel from the time of release until ground engagement. Such an advantage may be particularly helpful during night release. It will be appreciated that additional locating elements may be employed or less than those identified herein. For example, in lieu of or in addition to the audible or acoustic piezo buzzer  16 , an RF transmitter may be employed with a suitable antenna. The housing may function as the antenna. 
     In operating the device, one would normally engage it by handle  26 , push switch  12  if there are electrically energizable components and then drop or throw the device. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a further refinement wherein a handle, such as  26 , has a parachute  86  attached thereto. This serves as a locating element, as it enhances visibility on the way down and after landing. It also tends to reduce the velocity at which the device moves under the influence of gravity toward the ground. The size of the parachute  86  will influence the degree to which it retards the rate of descent and accuracy in hitting the target area. The smaller the parachute, the less the retarding effect and the greater the accuracy. 
     The device may be made of any material of suitable strength and durability which is economically feasible. For example, aluminum and steel are among the materials which may be employed advantageously. 
     The housing may be tubular and may have any desired cross sectional shape, such as round or square, for example. 
     It will be appreciated, therefore, that the invention provides an improved means of aerially deploying positioning devices and thereby freeing aircraft for other activities or a return to base. Also, the devices preferably contain locating elements which enhance the visibility of the same both during descent and after landing. 
     Whereas particular embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.