Survey device

Abstract

A survey device may include a shaft portion having a longitudinal axis, a prism having a center point and being arranged near the top of the shaft portion and offset laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion, and a laser having a laser emission point in general alignment along the shaft portion with the center point of the prism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A survey device comprising:
 a shaft portion having a longitudinal axis;   a prism having a center point and being arranged near the top of the shaft portion and offset laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion; and   a laser having a laser emission point in general alignment along the shaft portion with the center point of the prism.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the laser is a plumb bob laser configured to emit a laser in a substantially vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the prism is a survey prism configured to reflect light in a manner configured to define the center point of the prism. 
     
     
         4 . The survey device of  claim 1 , wherein the laser is spaced from the prism generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft portion. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket configured for coupling to the shaft portion and securing the prism and laser in relative alignment. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the bracket comprises a laser supporting member, a riser, and a prism supporting member. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the prism supporting member is spaced from the laser supporting member by a distance configured to receive a laser. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the prism supporting member tapers slightly upward and away from the laser supporting member. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the laser comprises a housing configured to receive the shaft portion. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is configured support the prism. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the housing is curved and sloping from a point at or near the shaft portion to a surface on which the prism is arranged. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the curved and sloping portion of the housing is a convex surface. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the laser emission point is positioned at the center point of the prism. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the laser is arranged within the prism. 
     
     
         15 . A survey device comprising:
 a prism having a center point and being configured for arrangement at or near the top of a survey pole while being offset laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the survey pole; and   a laser having a laser emission point and being configured for arrangement such that the laser emission point is in general alignment along the survey pole with the center point of the prism.   
     
     
         16 . The survey device of  claim 15 , wherein the laser is spaced from the prism generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pole on which the prism and laser are configured to be arranged. 
     
     
         17 . The survey device of  claim 16 , wherein the laser emission point is positioned at the center point of the prism. 
     
     
         18 . A method of laying out a point, comprising:
 positioning a survey pole having a prism and a plumb bob laser at a point;   checking the location of the point with a transit in communication with the prism;   swaying the top of the pole until the prism is in the correct position as determined by the transit;   identifying a point on a surface based on the indication of the point on the surface by the laser.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the surface is a surface above the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein positioning the survey pole comprises placing the survey pole on a generally flat surface and identifying a point comprises marking a location on a generally uneven surface adjacent the generally flat surface.