Abstract:
A survey marker having a rod with a pointed tip and a section of auger flights at a selected location thereof spaced apart from the tip, wherein the auger flights do not extend the entire length of the rod and preferably does not extend pass the half-way mark of the rod. A head extending from a distal end of the rod opposite the point includes means for retaining a survey flag, means for engaging a drive tool, and means for alignment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/202,511 filed May 5, 2000, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in this application. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Conventional survey indicators consist of plates, spikes, posts, or rods driven in, placed, or attached to natural geographic structures such as rocks or trees. Most permanent markers are formed of concrete posts or the like utilizing a plate or disk having the requisite markings and indicators affixed to or molded therein. 
     The surveyor usually surveys the tract of property to obtain the boundaries and uses temporary markers, such as pins or pegs having indicia or markings thereon. At a later time the surveyor or some other person must return to the numerous survey reference point cites and affix a more permanent marker at the site. 
     Permanent markers now used in the industry such as concrete post are heavy and difficult to carry and require a vehicle to transport them to the marker sites. Sometimes the vehicles cannot be driven close to the marker site and the difficult and time consuming task falls upon the surveying team to move the marker to the site. Moreover, these concrete markers are dangerous to walk around or over, or to mow over once vegetation such as grass crops or weeds hide them over time. 
     None of the above known types of survey markers, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed in the instant application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention achieves the above objects by providing a survey marker having a body formed of a rod having a pointed tip with a section including a short segment of auger flights and having a generally flat or convex shaped head with indicia thereon extending from the distal end of the rod head connected thereto including a means for cooperatively engaging a device for rotating and driving the survey marker into the ground. The head also includes means for removably attaching a survey marker peg and permanently attaching an indicator or locator rod thereto. 
     More particularly, a preferred embodiment of the survey marker of the present invention includes a rod having a pointed tip and a section of auger flights at a selected location thereof spaced apart from the tip, wherein the auger flights do not extend the entire length of the rod and preferably does not extend pass the half-way mark of the rod. A head extending from a distal end of the rod opposite the point includes means for retaining a survey flag, means for engaging a drive tool, and means for alignment. 
     Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a permanent survey marker which is light enough to be carried with the surveyor on the initial survey and placed into the ground to form a permanent survey marker. 
     Another object of the present invention is to incorporate a directional indicator on the survey marker and optionally to provide indicia or stamped markings indicating north, south, east, west and/or hash marks and/or degrees. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a metal or plastic disk such as a washer or the like to fit around the periphery of the marker and be attached thereto providing indicia or stamped markings indicating north, south, east, west and/or hash marks and/or degrees. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a metal or plastic disk such as a plate having a center hole therein for disposing the rod body, wherein the outer edge of the plate extends outwardly past the periphery of the head including means for locking the plate in place to the head wherein the plate can provide indicia or stamped markings indicating north, south, east, west and/or hash marks and/or degrees. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a survey marker driving means consisting of a rod having a first end with a means of attaching to the survey marker head or mounting thereto and having a handle formed by a cross member attached to the opposing end of the driving means. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a driving means having a rod or shank long enough to permit the user to place the survey marker rotatively in the ground without having to kneel on the ground. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a driving means which optionally includes a shaft which is telescoping or extendible which can be locked into the telescoping position by pins, spring loaded tabs and slot arrangements, or by a rotating frictional locking mechanism. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a survey marker having a generally smooth head whereby it can be walked over or mowed over without tripping or injuring the person or damaging the vehicle. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a convex plate shaped head for the survey marker forming a dome. 
     It is another object of the present invention to fabricate the survey marker from stainless steel, brass, aluminum, fiberglass, or graphite composite material to prevent corrosion and promote longtivity. 
     It is another object of the present invention to utilize plastic or fiberglass permanent locating rods up to three feet in length for extending from the top of the survey marker when used for farm land, large lots, and subdivision lots which can be cut off before sod, straw, or seeding goes down. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in extended position, showing the tip of the rod penetrating the ground, and the auger flight in contact with the surface of the ground; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an insertion tool for providing cooperative engagement between the survey head and driving tool; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the survey marker head; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the driving tool for connecting with the insertion tool and rotating and driving the survey marker rod into the ground; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan top view of the head of an alternate embodiment having an alignment arrow forming a conical shape and showing a survey cap as a cylindrical member wedged into the alignment arrow void; 
     FIG. 6 is another preferred embodiment showing the head including an drop shaped arrow aperture disposed on one side of the central positioning dimple, showing a square rod aperture opposite thereof, and a square aperture on the side thereinbetween for engaging a rotating tool; 
     FIG. 7 is another preferred embodiment showing the head including an drop shaped arrow aperture disposed on one side of the central positioning dimple, showing a triangular rod aperture opposite thereof, and a square aperture on the side thereinbetween for engaging a rotating tool; 
     FIG. 8 is another preferred embodiment showing the head including an drop shaped arrow aperture disposed on one side of the central positioning dimple, showing a round rod aperture opposite thereof and a square aperture on the side thereinbetween for engaging a rotating tool; and 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 showing the lower concave surface of the head. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The survey marker  10  of the present invention as shown in A FIG. 1 includes a longitudinal rod  12  for anchoring the survey marker  10  in the earth, and a head portion  14  serving as an indicator source. More particularly, the rod  12  includes a pointed tip  16 ; however, it is contemplated that a tip having a screw, flat tip, chisel tip, or other cutting edge may be utilized to enhance penetrability of the tip  16  in a hard substrate. The rod  12  of the preferred embodiment includes a short section of auger of large diameter auger flights  18  located near, but not extending to the point  16 , and not extending all of the way up to the head  14 . Preferably the flights  18  stop before the half-way point of the rod. The flights  18  aid in pulling the rod  12  into the ground upon rotation by the driving tool  20 . 
     The head  14  attached to the distal end of the rod  12  is generally convex in shape forming a plate having a center point an side edges curving downward therefrom. It is contemplated the head could be formed in a particular shape and/or be flat; however, the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG.  1 . The head  14  may be a thin metal plate having a curved bottom surface or be solid having a flat bottom surface. Indicia may be printed upon the top surface of the head or on a disk ( 80 ), such as a washer or plate attached to the outer edge of the head or have a central hole therein for extending the rod  12  there through. The washer or plate would have a larger diameter than the head in order for the indicia consisting of hash marks, degrees, north, south, east, west markings or the like to be shown around the periphery of the head  14 . Furthermore, the preferred embodiment includes an alignment arrow  22  and a survey flag rod ( 70 ) (locator) retaining hole  24 . The survey flag may be held by a long rod composed of plastic or fiberglass. The retaining hole  24  shown in FIG. 3 is ‘X’ shaped in order for the rod to be inserted therethrough and twisted to hold the rod  12  in place in a permanent manner. Moreover the head  14  includes a central dimple  25 , hole, or depression for locating and aligning the surveying instrument ( 90 ). 
     A means for rotating the survey marker  10  consists of a pair of holes  26  formed through the top of the head  14  for cooperatively engaging an insertion tool  28  having a flat base  30  with a pair of spaced apart aligned pegs  32  for cooperatively engaging the holes  26 . A drive nut  34  or other means of attachment, interlocking, or cooperatively engaging a means for driving such as a drive tool  20  is attached to the top of the flat base  30 . 
     The drive tool of the present invention includes a longitudinal member  36  connecting to a means for rotating such as a handle  38  formed by a short rod or bar extending normal to the longitudinal member  36  intersecting the midpoint thereof. A means  40  for cooperatively engaging the drive nut  34  of the insertion tool  28  such as a socket  40  extends from the distal end of the drive tool opposite the handle  38 . Moreover, the drive tool  20  may have hinged segments, or utilize telescoping sections held into position with spring loaded tabs and slots, pins and slots, or frictional twist holing means, so that the drive tool  40  is collapsible. Finally different types of means of driving can be utilized with or instead of the socket  40 . 
     It is contemplated that the drive nut  34  or other means of cooperatively engaging the drive tool  20  could be formed or attached to the head  14  and be integral with. Also a strong arm, tire tool, socket wrench with extension or any other tool could be used to engage and rotate the drive nut of the insertion tool. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 5-8, the alignment arrow may be formed as round alignment arrow aperture hole  42  for cooperative engagement with a tear shaped indicator stopper or cap  44 , or the aperture  42  may be formed in a tear shape. A rubber stopper or survey cap  44  may be driven or screwed into the alignment arrow aperture  42  or other aperture providing a means for holding such as best shown in FIG. 5, and indicia may be included thereon. 
     FIGS. 6-8 utilize a ratchet aperture  46  providing a square hole for cooperative engagement with the square male end of a ratchet or strong arm or extension shaft connected thereto in order to rotate the survey marker  10  and screw the flights  18  of the rod  12  into the ground. As shown in FIG. 6, the head  14  includes a drop shaped arrow aperture  44  disposed on one side of the central positioning dimple  25 , showing a square rod aperture  24  opposite thereof, and a square aperture on the side thereinbetween for engaging a rotating tool. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the head  14  includes a drop shaped arrow aperture  44  disposed on one side of the central positioning dimple  25 , showing a triangular rod aperture  24  opposite thereof, and a square aperture on the side thereinbetween for engaging a rotating tool. FIG. 8 shows the head  14  including an drop shaped arrow aperture  44  disposed on one side of the central positioning dimple  25 , showing a round rod aperture  24  opposite thereof and a square aperture  46  on the side thereinbetween for engaging a rotating tool. 
     Although the ratchet aperture  46  is offset from the center of the head  14 , it is disposed at a position which still allows the rotation of the head  14  with a ratchet or other driving means. Of course, the central positioning dimple  25  can be shaped to cooperatively engage a driving means, such as the square shaft of an extension tool or be formed as a slit or slot for connecting with other driving tools. The dimple  25  can also be cut through the head creating an aperture therethrough to accommodate a driving means or be threaded for engaging a bolt having an engageable head. 
     To use the survey marker, simply push or pres the rod  12  of the survey marker  10  into the ground until the auger flight  18  makes contact with the surface of the ground. Rotate the survey marker  10  using the drive means, whether it be the ‘T-tool’ and insertion tool for mounting within the head apertures, insertion of the distal end of a male longitudinal member of a strong arm or ratchet, or extension shaft extending therefrom cooperatively engaging the ratchet aperture  46 . The alignment arrow  22  or alignment aperture  44  are oriented to point in the direction of the next survey marker  10 . Once the survey marker  10  has been aligned, the insertion tool  28 , ratchet, strong arm, or other means for rotation are removed and the survey flag rod can be inserted into the retaining hole  24 . After the surveying has been completed the flag pole is cut or broken off at ground level. The survey marker  10  remains as a permanent marker. 
     The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modification will become obvious to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made upon departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, this invention is not intended to be limited by the specific exemplifications presented hereinabove. Rather, what is intended to be covered is within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.