Surveying Patents

© Brooke Clarke 2003 - 2007


Pilot Baloon Theodolites

21 Dec 2005 - changed all links to stable format
Pat#
     Title                    Date    Inventor    Class    Comment
519        Surveying Instrument Dec 20, 1837 J. McCann - compass with sights and degreew moving independently 33/272; 62/345
4675        Compasses July 31, 1846 S. Kern 33/272
3147   Protracting Circumferenter and Theodolite June 24, 1843 G. D. Varney 33/272
2880  Surverying Instrument  33/277; 227/73
3147  Protracting Circumferenter and Theodolite June 24, 1843 G D Varney  33/272 - compass w/hor circle and sights
4070   Drafting Instrument June 7, 1845 33/20.1  scope to paper (precursor to alidade)
4675  Compasses 33/272
4964  Mariner's Time Compass  33/271; 209/177; 209/205
7477   Collimating Level July 2, 1850 J. Locke 356/249; 227/105 Locke hand level
AI247  (USPTO, Google) Alitude Instrument Aug 9, 1859 R. Yesier Improved Instrument for taking altitudes of the Sun (also see: 22913)
X9428  Solar Compass W. A. Burt Feb 25, 1936 33/268  (Hand written, not typed)
7510   Surveyor's Compass July 16, 1850 J. Locke 356/148
9888  Surveying Instrument  33/274; 227/95
15040  Surveying Instrument  33/279; 342/350 - dual scopes for distance
16002    Altitude Instrument Nov 4, 1856 W. A. Burt 356/147; 33/268 "equatorial sextant" for ships at sea
18608  Altitude Instrument  33/274
18728     Leveling Instrument     Dec 1, 1857 C. Becker 33/292
20506    Altitude Instruemnt June 8, 1858 J Oakes 33/268 hemisphere records Sun's location
20915    Surveyors' Tripod     July 13, 1858 W. J. Young 248/180.1 - tripod head is adjustable rather than using legs
21895    Transit Instrument Oct 26, 1858 R. C Matthewsen 33/268 designed to measure the direct angle between two heavenly bodies "lunar diatnace"
22598     Distance Instrument     Jan 11, 1859 G. Windle 33/281; 33/291 - Hor & Vert angles to arc minutes
22876  Surveying Instrument  33/277; 114/74R; 174/138G
23294    Surveying Instrument Mar 22, 1859 B De Villeroi 356/142- uses two targets on the rod
22913    Altitude Instrument Feb 8, 1859 F. Yesier 33/268 - a cylinder with a spiral groove is adjusted to align with the Sun to determine North
27210  Surveyor's Compass  33/274
29703    Leveling Instrument Aug 21, 1860 L. Lea 33/292
33970    Altitude Instrument Dec 17, 1861 F. Yesier 33/268 to find North
34608  Telescope  33/277 - with stadia lines
45753    Instrument for Determining the Variation of the Compass Jan 3, 1865 E.S. Ritchie 33/285
51675  Combined Level, Square, Compass and Plumb  33/273; 33/275R
53420  Instrument for Measuring Distances  33/277
58241  Distance Instrument  33/278
79266     Spirit Level (mounted on degree circle with sights)  June 23, 1868 J. D. Sibley 33/290 This is the oldest Alidade patent I have found.
79582     Level (with sights and calibrated vertical slide)     July 7, 1868
92197     Surveying Instrument July 16, 1869 J. D. Leach 33/272
129311  Improvement in Theodolites  33/273; 33/418
141766    Solar Compass Aug 12, 1873 H O Cook  33/268 gimbled for use at sea
149837    Solar Compass Apr 12, 1874 H O Cook 33/268 gimbled for use at sea but face looks much like the British solar compass
155124  Instruments for Measuring Distances  33/279
165616  Instrument for Measuring Distance and Altitude  33/278; 73/384
165828  Transits  33/269; 33/270
181384    Leveling-Rods Aug 22, 1876 G. L. Whitehouse 33/296 - has fine scale for the rodman to read
181451  Surverying Instrument Aug 22, 1876 W Kuebler  33/273 -
184922    Transit Instrument     Nov 20, 1876 N. Spofford 33/299
197369    Tripod Head for Surveying Instruments     Nov 20, 1877 D. Hoffman   248/180.1; 33/299; 279/17; 279/19
202916     Tripod Head      April 23, 1878 A. Young 248/180.1; 33/299; 279/17; 279/19; 285/261
205481  Tripod for Surveying Instruments July 2 1878 W Gurley  248/188.5; 182/186.6
205742  Telescope Attachment for Surveyor's Compass July 9, 1878 W. & L.E. Gurley 33/272
212405     Leveling Device for Surveying Instruments     Feb 18, 1879 G. N. Saegmuller 248/180.1; 33/299
215749  Surveying-Instruments May 27, 1879 I. Humphrey 33/272
216759    Improvment in Surveying Instruments June 24, 1879 T. F. Randolph 33/285; 33/352 - scope detachable fro compass
218222    Distance Instrument 33/279
218710    Leveling Instrument Aug 19, 1879 J. Clark 33/292
219076  Surveying-Instrument  33/274
219146   Altitude Attachment for Distance instruments 33/278; 73/384
D234098   Combination Timber Cruising and Range Pole Jan 14, 1975 D10/65; 33/293; 33/296; D10/70
221916    Surveyor's Target Nov 25, 1875 S. Haslett 33/296- micrometer for adjusting target
232309  Meridian Attachment to Transit-Instruments, B. Smith,  Sep 14, 1880, 356/147 - 
234332   Telescope Attachment to Surveyors' Compasses Nov. 9, 1880 T. F. Randolph 33/272
234709    Leveling Instrument Nov 23, 1880 J. W. Harmon 33/292
239315 Altitude Instrument, S.C. Chandler, March 29, 1881 356/250, 359/876 - down pointing telescpe build on the sideof a pendulum rod mirror at bottom reflects Sun or star lignt into scope.  For making equal altitude measurements.
240849    Solar Transit May 3, 1881 G N Saegmuller 33/268 - a second scope is attached above a the main transit scope and is easily aligned using a level bubble, used to sight the Sun to find North
253856  Transit Compass Feb 21, 1882 A. W. Elkins 33/272
256142  Surveying Instrument Apr 11, 1882 G. W. Hill 33/272
260956  Compass Alidade July 11, 1882 P. J. Drake 33/272
263278  Surveying Instrument  33/274
264061     Surveyors Transit     Sep 12, 1882 H. Blattenr 33/299 - base plate folds
267178   Surveying Instrument Nov 7, 1882 K. Freeman 33/272
270679    Solar Attachment for Transit Instruments Jan 16, 1883 R M Jones 33/268  complicated double latittude arcs
275913 Solar Theodolite, J.W. Holmes, Apr 17 1883,
270951    Artificer's Level Jan 23, 1883 J.W. Harmon 33/285
272494  Surveying Instrument  33/278; 248/181.1
281267  Artificer's Leveling Instrument July 17, 1883 J. W. Harmon 33/272
282117     Surveyor's Compass     July 31, 1883 T. F. Randolph   33/273; 248/182.1 - tripos mounted, no telescope
286606     Leveling Instrument     Oct 16, 1883 W. & L.E. Gurley 33/292; 33/386
287021    Leveling Rod Oct 23, 1883 W. Gurley 33/296 - easy for rodman to read target position even when up 13 feet.
289401  Theodolite  33/278 - no optics, just angle measuring
293013    Alidade Feb 5, 1884 J. E. Hand 33/285 - can be used to read the Azmiuth of the Sun
293667    Surveyor's and Engineer's Transit T. L. Nixon 33/285
294014     Leveling Instrument     Feb 26, 1884 W. T. Comstock 33/292; 12/123; 248/180.1
297164     Surveyor's Level     April 22, 1884 T. F. Randolph 33/292
297419    Device for Ascertaning the Variation of Compasses Apr 22, 1884 C. E. Kirtland 33/285 - sights North Star
302609      Farmer's and Drainer's Combined Level and Plane Table     July 29, 1884 has provision to level the table
303269   Surveyor's Instrument Aug 12, 1884 H. F. Dunham 356/249 hand level uses binocular vision, one eye through instrument the other eye directly
304313    Transit Instrument with Solar Attachemnt Sep 2, 1884 L E Gurley 33/268
311221    Leveling Rod Jan 27, 1885 H. F. Bean 33/296 -
311386  Surveying Instrument 33/277
312548  Level  33/273; 33/354; 33/429; 33/451
313494    Surveying Instrument March 10, 1885  J. Hale 33/285 - open sight alidade
313659  Surveyor's Instrument  33/274
322921    Aligning Instrument July 28, 1885 R. Garich 33/272
330210    Engineer's Reversable Level Nov 10, 1885 C. F. & T. Cooke 33/292
330818    Distance Instrument Nov 17, 1885 J. L. Buford 33/272 - H & V circles & compass & Scope
340702  Surveyor's Target 33/275R; 362/29
351690  Field Graphometer 33/273
353406    Telescopic Hand Level Nov 30, 1886 W. Gurley 356/249; 89/41.19 includes a magnified view of target
356503  Navigator's Position Indicator 33/274; 108/6
359073    Distance Instrument March 8, 1887 R. R. Gurley 33/285 - a 52.8" bar can sight to 5,280 feet
360805    Telescopic Hand Level Apr 5, 1887 W. Gurley Dec.d 356/249
364630  Distance Instrument 33/279; 33/457; 235/414; 342/458
367067    Distance Instrument July 26, 1867 K. Schneider 33/272 - parallax for distance
368308    Surveyor's Transit Aug 16, 1887 C.F. Richardson 33/285 - maybe related to being able to zero the hor circle prior to a sight
377396 Plumb Level  33/273; 33/352; 33/374; 33/391
381243  Leveling Instrument April 17 1888 W C Holmes   33/290; 248/182.1
387633  Distance Instrument 33/272
393879  Leveling Instrument 33/272
407767 Distance Instrument  33/274
407786  Distance Instrument 33/276
423894    Solar Surveying Instrument March 25, 1890 E. W. Arms 356/147; 356/255
434399    Leveling Instrument (Wye "Y" Engineer's Level with removable telescope)     Aug 12, 1890 J. Paoli 24/517 964,776 Clamp
431286  Solar Attachment for Transit-Instruments, W. Scott, Jul 1, 1890, 356/147
435201 Distance Measuring Machine  33/279
441975 Indicator for Range Finder  33/279; 89/41.19
444602    Transit Instrument Jan 13, 1891 C. Sutphen 33/285 - worm gear used to read angles to seconds
446956    Leveling Instrument Feb 24, 1891 E. G. Slotmann & H.E. Grabau 33/292
449681  Plumb Level 33/277
453159     Engineer's Instrument     May 26, 1891 Paloi 33/272
456404    Distance Measurement July 21, 1891 S. Davis 356/20; 33/285; D10/66 - uses two instruments and a base line wire to fix their seperation
459455  Geodetic Altazimuth Sep 15, 1891 T W Goad 33/272 -
461389   Telescope Oct. 13, 1891 J Paloi   356/21; 359/427 - the stadia hairs can be adjusted for seperation
461390    Leveling-Instrument for Builders Oct. 13, 1891 J Paloi  33/285 - level use or transit use
467895  Optical Instrument for Mesuring Angles or Distance 33/277; 33/284
499939 Leveling adn Measuring Telemeter 33/273
499950  Instrument for Measuring Distances 33/277; 33/458
513377  Instrumnet for Asertaining Distances 33/274
519319 Distance Measuring Instrument 33/279
526021    Pocket Transit Sep 18, 1894 D. W. Brunton  356/142; 33/285; 356/147 -
531705 Telemeter  33/277; D14/215
534993    Distance Measuring Instrument March 5, 1895 J.L. Buford 33/285; 297/176; 297/178 - a scope can be traversed laterally so two sights can be taken on a known base line
552751  Surveying Instrument 33/272; 401/240; 401/242
554190     Surveying Instrument Feb 4, 1896 G Legh 356/142 - protractors and compass
555231    Engineer's Y-Level Feb 25, 1896 C. L. Berger 33/292
559117  Surveyor's Transit Apr 28, 1869 C L Berger 33/278 - mine second scope
559689  33/279; 33/431
561876  Traversing and Leveling Head for Theodolites June 6, 1896  248/179.1; 248/181.1 -
563496  Photographic or Surveyor's Stand  248/170; 108/8; 182/109; 248/182.1; 248/188.5; 248/188.9 - Tripod head Level and rotate
567867 Telescope in Combination with Comapsses Sep 15 1896 R Schmidt 33/27
576900 Measuring Instrument Feb 9 1897 H Scott 33/27
590696 Rapid Field Sketching Case Sep 28 1897 M A Batson 33/273; 33/443
600083  Range and Position Finder March 1 1898 I N Lewis 33/274
600438   Range Finder March 8 1898 W Moran 33/278
609256   Telemeter or Range Finder Aug 16 1898 W L Wyllie 33/277
613566   Device for Measuring Distances Nov 1 1898 J W Farrand 33/262; 33/277
622045    Surveying or Astronomical Instrument Mar 28, 1899 A hein 248/182.1
635606   Miner's Compass Oct 24 1899 W Van Slooten 33/272
642314    Micrometer Attachment for Engineer's Transit Oct 11, 1898 G.W. Dickinson 33/285; 74/10.85; 116/298 -
663252   Leveling, Plumbing and Angle Measuring Instrument Dec 4 1900 J S Bogardus 33/273; 33/397 -
686127 Surveyor's Solar Compass, J.B. Potter, Nov 5, 1901, 33/269 -
686770    Distance Instrument Nov 19, 1901 G.M. Searle & G.N. Seagmuller 356/148; 356/7; 356/20
690008    Equatorial Adapter for Mine Surveying Instruments Dec 31, 1901 C L Berger 33/268 "equatorial adapter" for finding the meridian (North)
700717   Ditching 7 Terracing Level May 20 1902 E A Bostrom 33/292
702354   Surveying Instrument June 10 1902 J Beal 33/272
707161   Surveying and Reconnaissance Instrument Aug 10, 1902 J. C. Sala 356/21; 356/148
709046   Pocket Compass Sep 16 1902 C C Rueger  33/273 -
715823   Transit Dec 16, 1902 A Leitz  33/273; 177/DIG9
723041  Compasses (drawing) 17 March 1903 W Schwarzer - handle is at 1/2 the included angle of compass legs
725073   Surveying Instrument April 14 1903 Gouyard 33/273; 33/355R - Like Burton pocket transit
728915    Altitude Instrument May 26, 1903 E G Hewitt 33/268; 33/271 like a slide rule with the movable scale removable and replaceble
735497   Range Finder Aug 4 1903 Griffith 356/9; 33/278
746513    Instrument for Measuring Angles Dec 8, 1903 F.E. Hutchins 33/285 - worm gear with 360 teeth
751647     Instrument for Measuring Angles Feb 9, 1904 F.E. Hutchins 33/285 - fractional second readout
752667     Geodetical Instrument Feb 23, 1904 H Grubb  356/142 - uses optics to locate the reference line at the targer so you don't need to focus close
774515    Optical and Mathematical Instrument Nov 8, 1904 P.A. Geier 33/285; 74/10.54; 248/186.2; 433/55 - improvment on tangent screw
774566   Initial Heading Indicator for Surveying instruments Nov 8 1904 R Cox 33/272; 74/10R; 248/362 -
780397     Location Attachment for Transits &c.Jan 17, 1905 F. Whitney 356/255 prisim acts as optical plumet
786093    Ditching & Terracing Level March 28, 1905 E A Bostrom  33/292; 248/180.1-
810541   Telemeter Jan 23 1906 Joors & Mercenier  33/279 -
811777    Angle Measuring Instrument Feb 6, 1906 A Konig 356/143; 356/142 - H or V angles shown in the field of view of hand held scope
812587    Meridian Transfer Device Feb 13 1906 McFarlane 33/275R; 33/321; 74/5.9
814111    Leveling Instrument March 6, 1906 E.A. Bostrom 33/285 - Improved clamping for patent # 786093
814292     Instrument for Measuring Angles     March 6, 1906 F. E. Hutchins 33/281 <-looks like a transit
839433    Theodolite Dec 25, 1906 Sorensen 33/272 -
840923    Engineer's Transit Jan 8, 1907 J. A. Early 33/285 - place the vernieers at right angles to the line of sight making reasing easier
846989    Surveying Instrument March 12, 1907 P. Ferber 33/285 - very rigid method of attaching the scope to the rest of the transit
857687   Combination Hand Level and Triangle June 25, 1907 W. Thorburn 356/149; 356/249
857688   Combination Hand Level and Triangle June 25, 1907 W. Thorburn 356/149; 356/249
869129    Range and Azimuth Finder Oct. 22, 1907 F. Baumann 33/285 - triangulation method
879122    Level Feb 11, 1908 G. N. Saegmuller 356/143; 33/348; 356/21 -
890656 Table Atachment for chairs June 16, 1908 I N Johnson 108/1; 108/8; 248/229.12; 248/276.1
892731    Angle Measuring Instrument with Telescope July 7, 1908 H. Jacob 33/285 - teeth allow big angle steps and the scope can see a finer scale
902257  Drawing Compass Oct. 27, 1908 G. Schoenner 33/558.5
906680    Base for Surveying Instruments     Dec 15, 1908 C.L. Berger 248/180.1
912065    Leveling Instrument Feb 9, 1909 E.A. Bostrom - can convert from level to transit
921773    Telescopic Level May 18, 1909 H. Wild 356/249; 359/402 - vertical tube and the possiblity of a liquid mirror
955392    Solar Transit Apr 19, 1910 P Ferber 33/268 two scopes mounted on the same horizontal axis
955958    Combined Transit and Level Apr 26, 1910 A Frese 33/285 -
978093    Azimuth Instrument Dec 6, 1910 A.F.H. Weule 33/285- determine the deviation on ship's compass at different lattitudes
991598   Surveying Instrument May 9, 1911 J. Barbow 356/143; 33/283; 356/21- very similar to the K&E 1571697
994665    Surveying Instrument June 6, 1911 A.M. Weimer 33/285 - pendulum self levels
994903    Dumpy Level June 13, 1911 W. L. Berger 33/292
1010339     Transit     Nov 28, 1911 A. Angel 33/273; 33/281-
1016311   Tachometric Telescope Feb 6, 1912 H. Wild   356/21; 359/426 -  Stadia Telescope optics
1023373    Surveying Instrument April 16, 1912 EE Graham 356/21; 356/142 - as scope is turned in the verticle plane it makes trig corrections to the stadia factors so no table is needed.
1032379   Telescope Level July 16, 1912 H. L. Cole 356/249; 33/334; 42/122
1034049   Spirit Level with a Reflecting System July 30, 1912H. Wild 356/249
1062582   Transit May 27, 1913 D W Brunton    33/272 - can make fore and back sights in weak light conditions
1063761  Level and the Like 356/249 June 3, 1913 A.C.W. Aldis
1086124    Surveying Instrument Feb 3, 1914 R. E. Beebe 356/148 hand level
1088153  Drawing Board Stand Feb 24, 1914 A Johnson  108/8
1092822    Sight for Transits and similar Instruments April 14, 1914 D W Brunton  356/143; 356/142; 356/147 - speep sight
1093750   Combination Tripod and Staf Apr 21, 1914 H S Welby 248/170; 182/108; 248/188.9 -
1115026    Surveyor's Level Oct 27, 1914 G. N. Sagemuller 359/428; 33/292  Bausch & Lomb
1125053    Surveying Instrument Jan 19, 1915 H. Brautigam 356/249; 356/148; 356/255 Clinometer
1144594  Automatic Leveling Attachment for Surveying Instruemnts etc. June 29, 1915 L F hellmann  248/182.1  -
1218422  Navigator's Alidade  Mar. 6, 1917  33/271
1234520     Combination Level and Transit     July 24, 1917 A. Wissler 33/282 -
1125053   Surveying Instrument Jan 19, 1915 H. Brautigam 356/249; 356/148; 356/255 clinometer
1125939     Surveying Instrument     Jan 26, 1915 C.L. Berger 248/186.2; 248/180.1  "Y" level
1134388    Optical Instrument  April 6, 1915 F.L.G. Kollmorgan (assigned to K&E) 356/21; 356/7; 359/405 - submarine periscope with zoom lens and adjustable stadia hairs
1135153    Surveyor's Instrument Apr 13, 1915 C. L. Berger 33/292
1140895    Distance Measuring Device May 25, 1915 33/285 - lateral movement of scope & triangulation
1160228     Leveling Instrument     Nov 6, 1915 H. Wild 356/249; 359/426 - combines a spirit level and a telescope
1179271     Telescope Support     April 11, 1916 W. A. Burger  248/176.1; 33/299
1182881     Leveling and Adjusting Means     May 9, 1916 J. S. Frye 248/180.1; 33/299   - shows a transit over the head that's the subject of pat
1193978    Surveyor's Instrument Aug 8, 1916 L. H. Berger 33/292 - improved level
1254361     Magnetic Compass Jan 22, 1918 C F Ryland  356/143
1273411    Magnetic compass July 23, 1918 C F Ryland 356/142 - mirror above compass card and magnifier
1448289     Surveying Instrument, Level, and the like March 13, 1923 J.W. French 356/249; 356/255
1480055  Solar Compass, F.W. Fellows, Jan 8 1924, 33/268 ; 33/271 -
1491075     Leveling and Adjusting Device     April 22, 1924 S. L. Batchelor 248/180.1
1508585    Theodolite, H. Wild,  Sep 16, 1924
1563483     Telescopic hand level     1 Dec 1925 A. A. Grossmann 356/249 - hand held spirit level and telescope
1571697     Transit Feb 2 1926 C.M. Bernegau assignor to Keuffel & Esser 33/273; 33/352 - this is very similar to the the Brunton pocket transit 526021 or military M2 compass
1674317   Shaft Bearings June 19 1928 L F Buff (Buff & Buff) 384/219
1675158     Attachment for Abney Levels June 26, 1928 E. C. Buck 356/148; 356/249 makes clinometer
1682034   Surveying Instrument Aug 28, 1928 D. M. Burmister 356/249; 356/148; 356/255 Abney clinometer with an additional right angle siting capability
1696508    Hand Level and Angling Device Dec 25, 1928 W. Thorburn 356/144; 356/249
1703705    Means for Determining Altitude Feb 26, 1929 K. H. Beij 356/148; 362/23 bubble sextant
1714827    Leveling Device May 28, 1929 F. Torka et al 356/249 hand level
1741422     Hand Level Dec 21, 1929 O. J. Kuker 356/249
1781667     Surveying Instrument     Nov 11, 1930 F. Mihalyi  33/282; 206/305; 206/316.1 - fitted to wooden carrying case
1788830    Tacheometric Telescope Jan 13, 1931 J Grone 356/21; 356/146 -
1809855    Leveling Instrument June 16, 1931 A. Langsner 356/249 hand level assigned to E. Dietzgen
1834017      Optical Instrument DEC 1. 1931 V. E. Carbonara 356/249 356/148 359/726 hand level assigned to Pioneer Instruments
1953804     Dividing Engine     April 3, 1934 G. B. Hays 33/281 - micrometer head used in place of a vernier to read out to deg:min:sec
1969697      Surveying Instrument     Aug 7, 1934 W. F. Kiefer 33/292; 29/34B
1971751    Leveling Rod Aug 28, 1934 A. W. Keuffel 403/110; 33/296; 403/286 - Clamp holds even if rod bumped on ground
1998775      Surveyor's or Engineering Transit     April 23, 1935 R. N. Bunstine 356/254 - optical plummet
2111516    Cinetheodolite March 15, 1938 E. Roux 33/1T; 33/1MP; 33/286; 346/2; 346/107.2; 352/59 - Az & El printed on movie frames
2132170    Transit    Oct 4, 1938 A. Langsner 33/299; 24/265B assigned to E. Dietzgen
2164051     Surveying Instrument     June 27, 1939 A. N. Brunson 248/180.1; 33/299
2190569    Optical Sighting Aparatus Feb 13, 1940 C D Macgill 356/21; 359/734- Heads Up Display using stadia method
2208014      Surveying Instrument     July 16, 1940 A. N. Brunson 248/180.1; 248/180.1
2280057     Support for Surveying Instrument Telescopes     April 21, 1942 A. N. Brunson 248/180.1; 33/299
2289126     Drafting Machine     July 7, 1942 C. W. Kuffel 33/438; 248/180.1
2322681   Condenser Gravity Meter Juen 22, 1943 (Standard Oil Co)    73/382R; 73/514.32; 73/514.36; 177/210R; 361/280; 361/290 - uses the beat frequency of  an oscillator controled by the sensing capacitor and a fixed oscillator to detect 0.1 milli gal or less changes in gravity, ie. a geophone.
2329978      Engineers Level     Sep 21, 1943 A. N. Brunson 248/180.1; 33/299; 359/426
2360822   Stadiametric Range Finder and Viewer Oct 24, 1944 F E Altman 356/21; 359/616; 359/629; 396/141- projected image instead of stadia hairs
2363877    Theodolite Nov 28, 1944 H R Larsen (W. & L E Gurley) 356/139 - reads the glass scale at two places 180 deg apart
2384666   Astronomical Camera Sep 11, 1945 D. L. Wood 356/148; 356/249; 396/322; 396/332; 396/429 assigned to Kodak takes photo of Zenith with a mark where the true zenith is located so that the position of the camera can be determined knowing the sidereal time when exposed
2407416     Level or like surveying instrument Sep 10, 1946 J E Gudmundson 356/250 - mirror and pendulum with horizontal reference line
2424708     Telescope Mount    July 29, 1947S. H. Resch   248/183.1
2438479    Dust Proof Leveling Screw March 23, 1948 411/394; 248/179.1 (K&E) -
2439102      Indicator Adjustment for Sextants April 6, 1948 C. O. Rothweiler  116/299; 33/282; 74/383; 74/409; 384/257
2485558    Sight Alignment Attachment for Surveying Instruments Oct 25, 1949 M.W. Braunlich 359/428; 33/1T; 33/227; 33/286; 356/255 - optical plumet
2486954    Mirror System for Viewing Level Vials Nov 1, 1949 C. W. Keuffel  359/439; 33/348; 356/249 assigned to K&E
2509818  Dust Protected Screw  411/394; 248/179.1  (W & L E Gurley)-
2520948   Performance Recorder for Direction Indicators  T. O. McCarthy 346/2; 33/1T; 73/1.76; 347/224 for testing gyros and the like under operational conditions
2531252    Surveying Instrument Nov 21, 1950 A N Brunson 33/299 -
2544851   Performance Recorder for Direction Indicators Mar 13, 1951 T. O. McCarthy 346/2; 33/1R; 33/1T; 73/1.76; 346/107.1
2602231    Surveyor's Level July 8, 1952 M. J. Madison 33/291; 33/290; 356/249; 356/254
2627779  Range Finder Feb. 10, 1953 S. S. Szelwach (assigned to Edmond Scientific Corp, Edscorp?) 356/17
2643844     Vernier Control and Pivot Mounting for Transits and Like Instruments      June 30, 1953 H. C. Nette 248/180.1; 33/281
2707898    Vertically Oriented Optical System May 10, 1955 R. B. Horsfall, Jr. 356/249; 33/365 - Zenith Star Source N. American Avation
2731873    Hand Surveying Instrument Jan 24, 1956 L Churgin 356/249 assigned to C.L. Berger & Sons - Locke type hand level
2766530     Surveying Instrument     Oct 16, 1956 R. Tishler 33/227; 248/180.1
2774275    Optical Instrument Dec. 18, 1956 W. G. Keller 356/138 - optical alignment like used for aircraft
2786275    Surveying Instruments March 26, 1957 J A Ewing 356/21 - Theodolite accessory that does the stadia reduction for hor & ver distance factors
2818652  Transit  Jan 7, 1958 A.L. Baker (K&E)  33/285
2837956  Theodolite with Scale Reading Means June 10, 1958 W.Schneider 356/148; 33/1T; 33/282; D10/66 optical scales
2284831  Mensuration Instrument June 2, 1942 P. H. Mcanlies 356/22 356/11 - measures diameter of distant tree using range finder method
2857804  Interferometer Oct 28, 1958 K. Rantsch 356/508; 356/249 liquid causes interference fringes as it's tilted assigned to Carl Zeiss
2893123    Cinethoeodolites July 7, 1959 W. bach 33/227; 33/1T; 346/2; 346/107.2; 352/93; 396/317
2899673  Code Wheel Shaft Position Encoder, Recorder and Decoder Apr 11, 1959 S. Reiner 365/127; 33/1T; 178/15; 250/231.18; 313/54; 318/568.1; 318/602; 340/146.2;341/16; 355/40; 365/116; 396/377 uses film to record digital data indicative of absolute shaft angle
2921496   Means for Influencing the Path of Rays in Optical Devices Jan 19, 1960 J. Thurnheer  356/249; 359/557  Wild Heerburgg
2943529 Alidade with Pendulously Stabilized Reticule, A.L. Bakere (K&E), July 5, 1960, 356/250 ; 33/282
2960907 Range Finder Nov. 22, 1960 L. Leitz  356/18; 356/11; 356/16; 359/730; 396/139 -
2968228    Zenith and Level Recording Camera and Level Jan 17, 1961 E. L. Merritt 396/50; 33/292; 352/140; 352/170; 356/148; 356/249; 359/555; 359/664; 396/12
2971427   Self-correcting alidade, Allister L Baker, Conway D Hillman, Carl W Keuffel (Keuffel & Esser Co), Feb 14, 1961, 356/149 - see the K&E 760000
2976760    Automatic Tacheometer March 28, 1961 E L Callahan 356/21; 33/284 - able to easily get H and V distance uses calibrated optical disk
2995992   Zenith Camera System Aug 15, 1961 E. L. Merritt 396/50; 356/148; 356/249; 359/557; 359/665; 396/12
3013464 Optical Level (hand held),C.W. Keffuel (K&E),  December 19, 1961, 356/250 ; 33/292; 33/345 - pendulum audo leveling
3034709    Computer May 15, 1`962 O. E. Batori 235/61B; 235/61S; 235/61NV; 356/140 optically solves spherical trig for navigation
3085465    Hand Level with Mirror Apr 16, 1963 E. W. Davis 356/249
3092911     Target Tracking Instrument     12 Aug 1960 33/299 tripod heads for leveling and centering (adds electrical readout for Az and El)
3200696    Theodolite with Coded Indications Aug 17, 1965 E. Lang 356/139; 33/1T; 341/14; 346/2 binary digital output to 1 sec (not gray scale)
3220298    Theodolite for measuring azmuth and elevation angles of target Nov 30, 1965 356/141.3; 33/1T; 250/203.6; 250/203.7; 250/233; 356/141.4; 356/141.5; 359/235 - digital output pulses
3270419   Optical Level for Builders Sep 6, 1966 J. W. Lowe 33/291; 33/378; 356/249; 359/428
3324758   Optical Plumb for Transit having a Telescope such that the Telescope can view through a Compass at a point below the transit June 13, 1967 B. T. Rogers Jr.  356/401; 33/1T; 33/281; 356/249; 359/744; D16/132
3364810    Surveyor's Automatic Level Jan 23, 1968 356/249; 248/180.1; 356/254
3377910    Stablized Optical Instrument Utilizing Box Level Bubble as Lens Apr 16, 1968 M. Dordofsky 356/249; 356/254; 359/557; 359/665 Carl Zeiss
3382756     Optical Scale Reading Aparatus and Method May 14, 1968 E. J. Schneider 356/139; 116/201; 116/334; 356/395; 359/436
                    cites 1,397,547 & 2,457,286  seems to be related to optically rading a scale that is oscillating like a Focult pendulum.
3428021   116/250; 74/10.45; 116/DIG29; 455/158.1
3431652    Rangefinder and Automatic Reticle Setter   J M Leatherwood March 11, 1969 42/122; 33/353; 356/21 - stadia based rifle sight
3433571    Focal Plane Micrometer For Reading the Scales of Engineering Instruments 356/139; 33/1R; 33/290; 359/438 March 18, 1969 A. N. Brunson
                    Claim 3 related it's use to Alidades although this is a general optical scale patent.
                    Cites 2363877 & 2757567
3469919  356/4.08; 33/1T; 33/281; 172/4.5; 250/236; 356/138; 356/400 Sep 30, 1969 F. L. Zellner Electronic Surveying Instrument - Laser and rotating 45 deg mirror form level datum
3541572    Coding Theodolite Nov 17, 1970 V. G. Shults 346/2; 33/1T; 341/9 uses two adjacent relatively prime incremental optical tracks
3557458    Coding Theodolite Jan 26, 1971 V. G. Shults 33/281; 33/1T
3561123     Hand Level Feb 9, 1971 C. G. Bowman 33/292; 33/365; 356/249 big bubble
3583814    Optical Level Jun 8, 1971 C. K. Shumway Jr. 356/150; 33/377; 356/153; 356/249; 356/510; 359/665; 359/832
3627429    Laser Optical Surveying Instrument and Method Dec 14, 1971 Janeicke & Evanson 356/153; 33/1T; 33/DIG21; 372/108 Spectra Physics
3653774  Improvement of Observation-and-Measuring Theorolite combined with a pularity of stationary evaluation devices Apr 4, 1972 U. LaRoche 356/254; 33/1T; 250/203.3; 356/255 uses 2 mirrors driven by servo motors to allow tracking fast objects
3732015     Angle-Measuring Device May 8, 1973 Menoptik 356/139; 359/442 - theodolite use
3934353     Surveying instrument January 27, 1976 D. C. Haines 33/262; 33/277 {33/262,282,277,285,227} hand held inst self plumbs and can be used for stadia
3958885    Optical surveying apparatus, such as transit, with artificial light scale illuminating system May 25, 1976 Wild Heerbrugg
                    356/139; 356/147  {356/20,139,140,147 116/124 A,124.4,129 P,DIG. 21,DIG. 31,DIG. 36,DIG. 33 }
3972621    Apparatus for stabilizing a line of sight August 3, 1976 Eisenkopf & Leitz 356/139.05; 250/203.1
4028813 Sun Compass, A.M. Eldridge, Jun 14, 1977, 33/270 ; 968/415 - not far from a P&G Heliochronometer
Calls:
281527 SUN-DIAL Jul 1883
303118 SUN-DIAL Aug 1884
794787  Sun Dial, A.C. Crehore, Jul 1905 - hour lines are almanna's
1674161  Time Measuring Device, P.D. Bogory, Jun 1928
2192750 CLOCK TIME SUNDIAL Mar 1940
3417473 UNIVERSAL SUNDIAL Dec 1968
4214372     Aiming instrument     July 29, 1980 42/138
4255743    Method for digital interpolation of a period of a three-phase analog signal March 10, 1981A. Guenin 341/116; 33/1T; 318/653; 356/138; 356/141.1; 356/152.3
    calls
        3310798  Analog to Digital Optical Encoder Mar., 1967 Wingate 340/347.
        3533097 Digital Automatic Snychro Converter Oct., 1970 Sleven 340/347.
    is called by  4340881 Universal analog signal to digital signal interface July 20, 1982 Stack & Shoemaker of UTC
4280057     A surveying instrument having means for transmitting signals between an alidade and a fixed member     July 21, 1981 250/551
4318228   Leveling pole March 9, 1982 Class 33/809; 33/296
4412386    Compass Nov 1, 1983 J G Bennet (assigned to US Army) 33/268 rotating fiber optics & multiple azmiuth sensors
5159760   Device for aligning a geodetic instrument over a defined position mark Nov 3, 1992 Leica Heerbrugg 33/227; 33/228; 33/292; 33/299
5421096    Gear driven alidade assembly     June 6, 1995 33/290 (leveling instruments)
5414462      Method and apparatus for generating a comprehensive survey map     May 9, 1995 348/135; 348/144; 348/147 GIS based system
5425178   Solar Compass June 20, 1995 F G Steele 33/271; 33/268
6044567    Geodetic device April 4, 2000 Feist; Wieland  Carl Zeiss  optical plumet

Pilot Baloon Theodolites & Related

1432570 Theodolite, Roux, Oct 17. 1922, 346/2 ; 33/282; 346/107.2; 346/44
1913511 Meteorological Indicator, Reynolds, Jun 13, 1933
1913512 Meteorological Indicator, Reynolds, Jun 13, 1933
1967549 Balloon Theodolite, Schoute, Jul 24, 1934, 356/251, 33/274
2027367 System for Determining Meteorological Conditions by Radio, Blair, Jan 14, 1936
2156868 Control Device for Radiometeorgraph Signal Transmitter, Reynolds, May 2, 1939
2162582 Device and Method of Determining Upper Air Direction and Velocity, Kaster, Jun 13, 1939
2181832 Theodolite, Moerbitz & Roux, Nov 28, 1939, 356/139 ; 356/143; 356/147; 356/248
2489337 Aerial Reflecting Signal Target, Nov 29, 1949, 342/12 ; 244/1TD; 73/170.28
adds rarar reflector to balloon
2224064 Theodolite, Schnittger, Dec 3, 1940, 356/147
Allows for two users, one for each axis

Class 33 Geometrical Instruments -

K&E List of patents -
John Paloi Patents

453159 Engineer's Instrument May 26, 1891 Paloi 33/272
453160 Engineers Instrument May 26, 1891 248/180.1

Design Patents

D98678  Transit Feb 25, 1936 Adolph Langsner D10/74; D10/66 assigned to E. Dietzgen
D250400 Retroprism holder and sighting mechanism November 28, 1978 Haidek; Thomas N. D10/103; D10/66 {D10/103,66,62 356/4,5,106 R 33/292 D16/59} to be used with EDM or total stations
D311145 Transit D10/66 {356/138,139,140,141,142,143,144,145,146,147,148,149,150,151,152,153,154,155 } - appears like the Leitz 215A Engineers Transit

Laser Range Finder aka Distance Measuring Equipment

Yardage Pro 400 Laser Range Finder5623335 Laser range finder with target quality display, Bushnell Yardage Pro 400









Calls:
Patent Number Title Issue date
3464770 Laser Transmitter Sep 1969
3680958 Survey Apparatus Aug 1972
3698811 Distance Ranging System Oct 1972
3832056 Distance Measuring Device using Electro-optical Techniques Aug 1974
3852579 Method and Apparatus for Determining the
Surface Configuration of Elongate Objecte, Particularly Logs
Dec 1974
4346989 Surveying instrument Aug 31, 1982
4453825 Distance transducer Jun 12, 1984
4527894 Method and apparatus for measuring the
velocity of moved objects or the like
Jul 9, 1985
4569599 Method of determining the difference between
the transit times of measuring pulse signals
and reference pulse signals
Feb 11, 1986
4620788 Apparatus for measuring pulse signal delay interval Nov 4, 1986
4732472 Methods of, and systems for, determining the position of an object Mar 22, 1988
4787739 Range finder Nov 29, 1988
4948246 Leading-vehicle detection apparatus Aug 14, 1990
5291262 Laser surveying instrument Mar 1, 1994
5359404 Laser-based speed measuring device Oct 25, 1994
5471215 Radar apparatus Nov 28, 1995
5491546 Laser assisted telescopic target sighting system and method Feb 13, 1996
Called by:
Patent Number Title Issue date
5825480 Observing apparatus Oct 20, 1998
5880821 Self-calibrating precision timing circuit and method for a laser range finder Mar 9, 1999
5898484 Hand-held distance-measurement device with an enhanced viewfinder Apr 27, 1999
5926260 Compact laser-based distance measuring apparatus Jul 20, 1999
5988862 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three dimensional objects Nov 23, 1999
6002379 Glass unit Dec 14, 1999
6057910 Self-calibrating precision timing circuit and method for a laser range finder Note 1
May 2, 2000
6226077 Self-calibrating precision timing circuit and method for a laser range finder May 1, 2001
6246468 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects Jun 12, 2001
6330523 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects Dec 11, 2001
6402176 Fifth wheel coupler Jun 11, 2002
6420698 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects Jul 16, 2002
6445444 Self-calibrating precision timing circuit and method for a laser range finder Sep 3, 2002
6473079 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects Oct 29, 2002
6512993 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects Jan 28, 2003
6512518 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects Jan 28, 2003
6587185 Distance measuring apparatus Jul 1, 2003
6704097 Optoelectronic distance measuring device and operating method determined therefor Mar 9, 2004
6734849 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects May 11, 2004
6847462 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects Jan 25, 2005
6903811 Rangefinder binoculars Jun 7, 2005
7053992 Rangefinder and method for collecting calibration data May 30, 2006
7184036 Integrated system for quickly and accurately imaging and modeling three-dimensional objects Feb 27, 2007
Note 1 - contains schematics that use discrete parts and ICs.

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