US 12,377,430 B1
Trackable dipole devices, methods, and systems
Mark S. Olsson, La Jolla, CA (US); Jan Soukup, San Diego, CA (US); and James F. Kleyn, Santee, CA (US)
Assigned to SeeScan, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by SeeScan, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/430,455.
Application 18/430,455 is a continuation of application No. 17/467,435, filed on Sep. 6, 2021, granted, now 11,904,335.
Application 17/467,435 is a continuation of application No. 16/160,874, filed on Oct. 15, 2018, granted, now 11,117,150, issued on Sep. 14, 2021.
Application 16/160,874 is a continuation of application No. 15/623,174, filed on Jun. 14, 2017, granted, now 10,105,723, issued on Oct. 23, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/350,147, filed on Jun. 14, 2016.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C23C 16/00 (2006.01); B05B 9/01 (2006.01); B05B 12/00 (2018.01); B05B 12/12 (2006.01); B05D 1/02 (2006.01); B65D 83/184 (2025.01); E01C 23/22 (2006.01); G01V 3/12 (2006.01); G01V 3/165 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 12/122 (2013.01) [B05B 9/01 (2013.01); B05B 12/002 (2013.01); B05D 1/02 (2013.01); B65D 83/184 (2025.01); E01C 23/222 (2013.01); G01V 3/12 (2013.01); G01V 3/165 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A paint marking stick for use with a utility locating and marking system, comprising:
an elongate paint marking stick body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a handle coupled at or near the proximal end of the marking stick body;
a paint dispenser assembly coupled at or near the distal end of the marking stick body for dispensing paint;
a trackable magnetic field dipole device including a body, a power supply, an alternating current (AC) signal generator, and a magnetic field dipole antenna operatively coupled to the AC signal generator for generating a magnetic field dipole signal at the AC frequency, the dipole device coupled at or near the distal end of the body;
a mounting device for mounting a smart phone to the trackable magnetic field dipole device, wherein GPS location data and/or other system data collected by the smart phone may be wirelessly transmitted to a remote location, or to a cloud based network;
an actuator; and
an actuation apparatus operatively coupled to the actuator for deploying paint from the paint dispenser assembly and initiating generation of the magnetic field dipole signal from the trackable dipole device;
wherein the magnetic field dipole signal is generated in conjunction with deployment of paint from the paint dispenser assembly.