Patent Application
20240384480
The present invention relates generally to the field of reflector devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a visible property line marker that can be applied to fences, trees, and other property line areas. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.
By way of background, this invention relates to improvements in reflector devices. Generally, property owners may put up signs to prevent trespassers from actively accessing their private property. However, landowners may spend considerable time and energy putting up these signs only to have them ignored or not easily seen by others. Further, lowlight conditions make these signs even more difficult to see, if they are not reflective.
Reflective devices of all types have long been used to mark the identity of an object or a hazard by reflecting incident light rays in low ambient light conditions. Often, such reflective devices comprise a post which is driven into the ground or a sign posted on a tree, which have a light reflective device attached to the top of the post or surface of the sign. A reflective device for use in such applications typically comprise a metallic disk, or the like, with a lens fixed thereto having reflective cells which retro-reflect incident light rays in darkness.
A disadvantage of these reflective devices is that these devices typically retro-reflect light rays only through a relatively small angle of incidence. Thus, the marker is capable of being seen by a user, only through a small angle as the user approaches the marker. As a consequence, multiple reflective elements must be mounted on the post in order to obtain the desired wide angle of reflectability. In such cases, the process of mounting the reflective elements to the posts can involve considerable labor adding to the cost associated with installing the markers.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a reflector device for use with fence posts, trees, and other property line areas, which is convenient to mount or install, but also has the capability of reflecting incident light rays through a wide angle of incidence and is visible in multiple directions. It is further desirable to provide such a device which is easily manufactured and can be produced at low cost. Still further, it is desirable to provide such a device which is resistant to the elements.
Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that provides users with a visible property line marker that can be applied to fences, trees, and other property line areas. There is also a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that ensures people can easily see property lines to prevent trespassing on private property. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that features several different sizes and configurations of the device that can be applied to fence posts and other objects. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that is easily visible via reflective purple paint. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that reflects light in multiple directions to ensure property boundaries can be seen at any time of the day. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that can be used to mark private property boundaries.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a reflector device. The device is an improved private property line marker comprised of a slide-over, reflective device for property fences. The reflector device comprises a body component that is configured in multiple shapes and configurations, such as square, circular, cross-shaped, triangular, etc., with a hollow interior cavity, allowing the body component to be slid over a fence post, wire, stake, etc. Further, the body component can also be configured in a flat design, allowing the device to be secured to a tree or other object. The device can be adapted for use with any boundary marker and may be any color but is preferably purple or orange. Furthermore, a purple or orange reflective material, glass, paint, vinyl, etc., is applied to the molded plastic body component. Thus, the device would be visible in at least two directions, and up to four directions.
In this manner, the reflector device of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides users with a device that provides visible property line markers that are applied to fence posts and trees. The device is a molded plastic body component which is slid over a fence post. The device comprises a purple or orange reflective material.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a reflector device. The device is an improved private property line marker comprised of a slide-over, reflective device for property fences. The reflector device comprises a body component configured in multiple shapes, with a hollow interior cavity, allowing the body component to be slid over a fence post, wire, stake, etc. Furthermore, a purple or orange reflective material is applied to the body component, giving the device visibility.
In general, a number of fences are installed everywhere to separate property lines and prevent trespassing of private property. These fences help identify the property lines and prevent access to private property. Most conventional horizontal fences are made of steel, wire, wood, metal, vinyl, etc., painted or plated with paint to improve weather resistance and corrosion resistance, especially for rainfall, or made of stainless steel to make the material itself into a corrosion resistant material. However, these conventional fences do not emit light by themselves or exhibit fluorescence or phosphorescence, so the visibility of the fence by the human eye, especially at night, is limited.
The present invention relates to a reflector device for a fence post. More specifically, the present invention is detachably fixed to a fence post and reflects light, so that the existence of the fence post can be easily recognized and identified. Thus, multiple reflector devices, each applied to a fence post would provide visible identification of a user's property line.
In one embodiment, the reflector device comprises a body component that can be any suitable shape and size as is known in the art. Specifically, the body component can be configured in multiple shapes and configurations, such as square, circular, cylindrical, cross-shaped, triangular, etc., or any other suitable shape or configuration as is known in the art. Typically, the body component would be a slender, rod-like design to mimic a fence post, rail, slat, or stake, etc. The opposing ends of the body component would be open, allowing for access to the hollow, interior cavity. Additionally, the body component comprises an exterior surface and an interior surface.
Further, the body component is preferably sized and shaped to slidingly receive a fence post, rail, slat or stake, etc., but also prevent rotational movement of the body component relative to the fence post. Specifically, the open opposing ends allow the body component to be slid onto an end of the fence post, such that the end of the fence post rests within the hollow, interior cavity and contacts the interior surface of the body component.
In one embodiment, the body member may also be provided with a plurality of through bores which serve to reduce the material used in construction of the body component.
In one embodiment, the body member is covered completely over its exterior surface with a layer of a light reflective material. Specifically, the layer of reflective material comprises a reflective medium, glass, paint, vinyl, etc., or any other suitable reflective material as is known in the art. Accordingly, many other forms of reflective material can also be used. For example, reflective coatings are known, which may be sprayed on the exterior surface of the body component. Also known are retro-reflective devices of various types, which may be attached or adhered to the body component at desired positions around its periphery, over the sprayed reflective coating. The reflective material can be any suitable color as is known in the art but is typically purple or orange. Thus, the light reflective material is applied to the body component as a paint, is applied to the body component as a self-adhesive sticker, or applied to the body component via gluing the material to the exterior surface of the body component. Further, the light reflective material can be applied to the body component in any suitable application manner, as long as the light reflective material covers the entire exterior surface of the body component, which creates visibility in at least two directions and up to four directions.
In one embodiment, in order to secure the body component to the fence post, rail, slat, or stake, etc., the body component is typically friction fit on the fence post, allowing for easy insertion and removal. Furthermore, the body component can also be secured via gluing, adhesives, etc. In another embodiment, the body component is bolted onto the fence post. Specifically, a suitable bolt is received by a laterally extending through bore in alignment with the studs of the fence post. When installed on the fence post, the bore may be aligned with a space between any two adjacent studs, such that the bolt may be threaded into the bore serving to cooperate with the studs to limit axial movement of the body component relative to the fence post. In yet another embodiment, the body component can be secured via use of a simple cotter pin, which functions like the bolt to limit axial movement of the body component relative to the fence post.
In one embodiment, the body component may readily be manufactured from a suitable extruded or molded plastic of any known composition exhibiting resistance to sunlight and corrosion by the elements. The body component can be easily attached to a standard fence post with few tools. Specifically, the body component can be slid over a fence post end via the open opposing ends or attached to a fence post, rail, slat, or stake, etc., via a slit that extends the length of the body component. In this embodiment, the body component would comprise a slit that extends the length of the body component from end to end. A user would then grasp the edges of the slit and pull them away from each other, allowing for access to the hollow, interior cavity. The interior surface of the body component is then exposed and wrapped around a fence post, rail, slat, or stake, etc. Once in place, the user lets go of the edges and they return together to their original position, allowing the body component to wrap around the fence post, rail, slat, or stake, etc. Moreover, once attached, the device has the capability of reflecting light rays incident from all directions around its circumference. Hence, it is most suitable for use in applications where wide angles of reflectivity are desired.
In one embodiment, the body component can be configured in multiple shapes, and does not need to mimic the shape of the fence post, rail, slat, or stake, etc. Although, the body component advantageously mimics the cross-sectional shape of the fence post, allowing for the body component to be friction fit on the fence post without additional securing means, it need not be identical. Other shapes can be utilized and the body component need not be formed in the identical cross-sectional shape of the fence post, so long as the body component is secured to the fence post via adhesives, gluing, bolts or pins, to prevent axial movement of the body component relative to the fence post.
In another embodiment, the body component can be configured in a long, flat rectangular strip, or any other suitable shape and size as is known in the art. In this configuration, the body component would be secured to an exterior of a tree or other object. Generally, the body component would be nailed to the tree, bolted, stapled, etc., or any other suitable securing means as is known in the art. In another embodiment, the body component would be a self-adhesive sticker and would be adhered to the tree via adhesives, glue, etc.
In one embodiment, the fence post may be a conventional cylindrical metal rod, cross-shaped rod, square rod, triangular rod, etc., or a combination of a horizontal rod and a vertical rod or a combination of various other types of metal rods. It is used to construct the property line to prevent trespassers. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to such a fence and the like, but can also be applied to an independent post, a tree, a wire, a stake that is pushed into the ground, etc., or other suitable means for marking private property boundaries.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the reflector device is detachably fixed to at least one post constituting the fence, etc., and reflects light semi-permanently in at least two directions, and up to four directions, so that the existence of the post can be easily recognized and identified. Any suitable number of fence posts or other objects can be covered with the device, depending on the length of the property line and/or the amount of visibility needed. Further, the device can be used to cover an entire fence post, the top half of the fence post, a tip of the fence post, a horizontal rail or slat of the fence, a portion of the wire of a fence, a top of the stake inserted into the ground, or a section of a tree, etc., or any other amount of a fence post, rail, wire, slat, stake, tree, etc., or any other object as is known in the art. Additionally, the reflective material can be changed or updated, as necessary. Thus, a new layer of reflective material can be applied to the body component of the device, to give the device a new color or renewed, updated look.
Thus, it can be appreciated that the reflector device can be readily manufactured at low cost, it is simple and convenient to install, and it is highly effective for use in such applications as marking property lines, preventing trespassing on private property, and preventing trespassers from actively accessing their private property, etc.
In yet another embodiment, the reflector device comprises a plurality of indicia.
In yet another embodiment, a method of identifying property lines via visible property line markers is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a reflector device comprising a body component with a hollow interior cavity and comprising a purple or orange reflective material. The method also comprises choosing a specific configuration for the reflector device based on the shape of the fence post to be used. Further, the method comprises sliding the specific configuration of the reflector device over at least one fence post. Finally, the method comprises securing the reflector device to a tree or other object.
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, upon reading and understanding the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that provides users with a visible property line marker that can be applied to fences, trees, and other property line areas. There is also a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that ensures people can easily see property lines to prevent trespassing on private property. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that features several different sizes and configurations of the device that can be applied to fence posts and other objects. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a device that is easily visible via reflective purple paint. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that reflects light in multiple directions to ensure property boundaries can be seen at any time of the day. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a reflector device that can be used to mark private property boundaries.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel reflector device. The device is an improved private property line marker comprised of a slide-over, reflective device for property fences. The reflector device comprises a body component that is configured in multiple shapes and configurations, such as square, circular, cross-shaped, triangular, etc., with a hollow interior cavity, allowing the body component to be slid over a fence post, wire, stake, etc. Further, the body component can also be configured in a flat design, allowing the device to be secured to a tree or other object. The device can be adapted for use with any boundary marker and may be any color but is preferably purple or orange. Furthermore, a purple or orange reflective medium, glass, paint, vinyl, etc., is applied to the molded plastic body component. Thus, the device would be visible in at least two directions, and up to four directions.
The present invention also includes a novel method of identifying property lines via visible property line markers. The method includes the steps of providing a reflector device comprising a body component with a hollow interior cavity and comprising a purple or orange reflective material. The method also comprises choosing a specific configuration for the reflector device based on the shape of the fence post to be used. Further, the method comprises sliding the specific configuration of the reflector device over at least one fence post. Finally, the method comprises securing the reflector device to a tree or other object.
Referring initially to the drawings,
Generally, a number of fences 110 are installed everywhere to separate property lines and prevent trespassing of private property. These fences 110 help identify the property lines and prevent access to private property. Most conventional horizontal fences 110 are made of steel, wire, wood, metal, vinyl, etc., painted or plated with paint to improve weather resistance and corrosion resistance, especially for rainfall, or made of stainless steel to make the material itself into a corrosion resistant material. However, these conventional fences 110 do not emit light by themselves or exhibit fluorescence or phosphorescence, so the visibility of the fence 110 by the human eye, especially at night, is limited.
The present invention relates to a reflector device 100 for a fence post 108. More specifically, the present invention is detachably fixed to a fence post 108 and reflects light, so that the existence of the fence post 108 can be easily recognized and identified. Thus, multiple reflector devices 100, each applied to a fence post 108 would provide visible identification of a user's property line.
Overall, the reflector device 100 comprises a body component 102 that can be any suitable shape and size as is known in the art. Specifically, the body component 102 can be configured in multiple shapes and configurations, such as square, circular, cylindrical, cross-shaped, triangular, etc., or any other suitable shape or configuration as is known in the art. Typically, the body component 102 would be a slender, rod-like design to mimic a fence post 108, rail, slat, or stake, etc. The opposing ends 114 of the body component 102 would be open, allowing for access to the hollow, interior cavity 104. Additionally, the body component 102 comprises an exterior surface 116 and an interior surface 118.
Further, the body component 102 is preferably sized and shaped to slidingly receive a fence post 108, rail, slat or stake, etc., but also prevent rotational movement of the body component 102 relative to the fence post 108. Specifically, the open opposing ends 114 allow the body component 102 to be slid onto an end 120 of the fence post 108, such that the end 120 of the fence post 108 rests within the hollow, interior cavity 104 and contacts the interior surface 118 of the body component 102.
Generally, the body component 102 is covered completely over its exterior surface 116 with a layer of a light reflective material 106. Specifically, the layer of reflective material 106 comprises a reflective medium, glass, paint, vinyl, etc., or any other suitable reflective material as is known in the art. Accordingly, many other forms of reflective material can also be used. For example, reflective coatings are known, which may be sprayed on the exterior surface 116 of the body component 102. Also known are retro-reflective devices of various types, which may be attached or adhered to the body component 102 at desired positions around its periphery, over the sprayed reflective coating. The reflective material 106 can be any suitable color as is known in the art but is typically purple or orange. Thus, the light reflective material 106 is applied to the body component 102 as a paint, is applied to the body component 102 as a self-adhesive sticker, or applied to the body component 102 via gluing the material to the exterior surface 116 of the body component 102. Further, the light reflective material 106 can be applied to the body component 102 in any suitable application manner, as long as the light reflective material 106 covers the entire exterior surface 116 of the body component 102, which creates visibility in at least two directions and up to four directions.
Furthermore, in order to secure the body component 102 to the fence post 108, rail, slat, or stake, etc., the body component 102 is typically friction fit on the fence post 108, allowing for easy insertion and removal. Furthermore, the body component 102 can also be secured via gluing, adhesives, etc. In another embodiment, the body component 102 is bolted onto the fence post 108. Specifically, a suitable bolt 122 is received by a laterally extending through bore 124 in alignment with the studs of the fence post 108. When installed on the fence post 108, the bore 124 may be aligned with a space between any two adjacent studs, such that the bolt 122 may be threaded into the bore 124 serving to cooperate with the studs to limit axial movement of the body component 102 relative to the fence post 108. In yet another embodiment, the body component 102 can be secured via use of a simple cotter pin, which functions like the bolt 122 to limit axial movement of the body component 102 relative to the fence post 108.
Generally, the body component 102 may readily be manufactured from a suitable extruded or molded plastic of any known composition exhibiting resistance to sunlight and corrosion by the elements. The body component 102 can be easily attached to a standard fence post 108 with few tools. Specifically, the body component 102 can be slid over a fence post end 120 via the open opposing ends 114 or attached to a fence post 108, rail, slat, or stake, etc., via a slit 126 that extends the length of the body component 102. In this embodiment, the body component 102 would comprise a slit 126 that extends the length of the body component 102 from end to end 114. A user would then grasp the edges 128 of the slit 126 and pull them away from each other, allowing for access to the hollow, interior cavity 104. The interior surface 118 of the body component 102 is then exposed and wrapped around a fence post 108, rail, slat, or stake, etc. Once in place, the user lets go of the edges 128 and they return together to their original position, allowing the body component 102 to wrap around the fence post 108, rail, slat, or stake, etc. Moreover, once attached, the device 100 has the capability of reflecting light rays incident from all directions around its circumference. Hence, it is most suitable for use in applications where wide angles of reflectivity are desired.
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Furthermore, the fence post 108 may be a conventional cylindrical metal rod, cross-shaped rod, square rod, triangular rod, etc., or a combination of a horizontal rod and a vertical rod or a combination of various other types of metal rods. Generally, t is used to construct the property line to prevent trespassers. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to such a fence 110 and the like, but can also be applied to an independent post, a tree 112, a wire, a stake that is pushed into the ground, etc., or other suitable means for marking private property boundaries.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the reflector device 100 is detachably fixed to at least one post 108 constituting the fence 110, etc., and reflects light semi-permanently in at least two directions, and up to four directions, so that the existence of the post 108 can be easily recognized and identified. Any suitable number of fence posts 108 or other objects can be covered with the device 100, depending on the length of the property line and/or the amount of visibility needed. Further, the device 100 can be used to cover an entire fence post 108, the top half of the fence post 108, a tip of the fence post 108, a horizontal rail or slat of the fence 110, a portion of the wire of a fence 110, a top of the stake inserted into the ground, or a section of a tree 112, etc., or any other amount of a fence post 108, rail, wire, slat, stake, tree 112, etc., or any other object as is known in the art. Additionally, the reflective material 106 can be changed or updated, as necessary. Thus, a new layer of reflective material 106 can be applied to the body component 102 of the device 100, to give the device 100 a new color or renewed, updated look.
Thus, it can be appreciated that the reflector device 100 can be readily manufactured at low cost, it is simple and convenient to install, and it is highly effective for use in such applications as marking property lines, preventing trespassing on private property, and preventing trespassers from actively accessing their private property, etc.
In yet another embodiment, the reflector device 100 comprises a plurality of indicia 500. The body component 102 of the device 100 may include advertising, a trademark, or other letters, designs, or characters, printed, painted, stamped, or integrated into the body component 102, or any other indicia 500 as is known in the art. Specifically, any suitable indicia 500 as is known in the art can be included, such as but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc., that may or may not be fence, property line, or brand related.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different users may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “reflector device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the reflector device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the reflector device 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the reflector device 100 as shown in
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/502,940, which was filed on May 18, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63502940 | May 2023 | US |
