Patent ID: 7699288

Claim:
A delineator extraction system, comprising: an outer conduit comprising a first distally positioned portion and a second proximally positioned portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by a first stop, wherein the first portion comprises a second stop positioned proximate a distal end of the outer conduit, and wherein the outer conduit is configured to be positioned at least partially in a delineator conduit; a first elongated member comprising a proximal end coupled proximate the distal end of the outer conduit, wherein a distal end of the first elongated member is at least partially threaded; a slide hammer positioned proximate the first portion of the outer conduit, wherein the slide hammer is moveable in the first portion of the outer conduit between the first and second stops, wherein the slide hammer is configured to convey a force applied by a user; a second elongated member, wherein a distal end of the second elongated member extends through a first opening in the first stop, wherein the distal end is coupled to the slide hammer, and wherein a proximal end of the second elongated member extends through a second opening in a proximal end of the outer conduit; and an extractor couplable to the threaded distal end of the first elongated member, wherein the extractor comprises: a third opening, wherein the opening is at least partially threaded such that the opening can be coupled proximate to the distal end of the first elongated member and positionable along the threaded portion of the first elongated member; and at least one engager, wherein a distal end of at least one of the engagers is coupled to the extractor such that the proximal end of at least one of the engagers is configured to rotate away from the outer conduit as the distal end of the outer conduit moves toward the extractor such that the proximal end of the engager engages an interior surface of the delineator conduit; wherein the delineator extraction system is configured to extract a delineator installed in a surface formation.