VISUAL INDICATOR MARKER LOCATOR
An outdoor signage having a visual indicator for marking the location of a utility line or the status of a utility line service proximate the outdoor signage inserted into the ground. The visual indicator of the outdoor signage located at an above ground end. The visual indicator having a primary color in the form of the geometrical shape, and the configuration of the above ground end of the signage forming at least a portion of the geometrical shape in conjunction with the primary color. The outdoor signage also having three contiguous shapes including the above ground end and the below ground end that is in the form of a point, such that the contiguous shape allows easy insertion of the signage into the ground proximate the location of the utility line while simultaneously providing a visual warning indicator concerning the utility line or a visual status indicator concerning the status of the utility service to an ordinary observer.
1 . A signage having a visual indicator for marking the location of a utility line or the status of a utility line service, the signage comprising:
a substrate material having at least one colored layering applied to a first side of the substrate material and at least one colored layering applied to a second side of the substrate material, the first and second sides with the applied colored layerings defining two opposing outwardly facing surfaces, the two opposing outwardly facing surfaces configured to have at least three contiguous shapes comprising an above ground end having a portion of a geometrical shape, the above ground end connected to a below ground end by an intermediate middle portion, the intermediate middle portion having two substantially parallel and vertical edges that taper into a rounded point to form the below ground end; and
a visual indicator proximately located the above ground end configured to provide a proximate location of a utility line or a status of a utility service, the at least one colored layering proximate the visual indicator provided as a primary color in the shape of the geometrical shape, wherein the portion of the geometrical shape of the above ground end forming a top portion of the geometrical shape.
2 . The signage of claim 1 , further comprising a warning message contained within the visual indicator, wherein the warning message indicates a location of a utility line.
3 . The signage of claim 1 , wherein the primary color is red and the geometrical shape is an octagon.
4 . The signage of claim 3 , further comprising a warning message contained within the red primary color of the octagon shape.
5 . The signage of claim 1 , further comprising a status message contained within the visual indicator, wherein the status message indicates to an ordinary observer whether a utility service is on or off.
6 . The signage of claim 1 , wherein the primary color is red or green and the geometrical shape is a circle.
7 . The signage of claim 6 , further comprising a status message contained within the red primary color of the circle shape, wherein the status message indicates to an ordinary observer the utility service is off.
8 . The signage of claim 6 , further comprising a status message contained within the green primary color of the circle shape, wherein the status message indicates to an ordinary observer the utility service is on.
9 . The signage or claim 1 , further comprising a warning message contained within the primary color and the geometrical shape of the status indicator, wherein the warning message is a different color than the primary color, and wherein the warning message indicates to an ordinary observer a location of a utility line.
10 . The signage of claim 1 , further comprising a status message contained within the primary color and the geometrical shape of the status indicator, wherein the status message is a different color than the primary color, and wherein the status message indicates to an ordinary observer whether a utility service is on or off.
11 . The signage of claim 1 , wherein the middle portion has a primary color that is different than the primary color of the visual indicator.
12 . The signage of claim 11 , wherein the middle portion comprises a contact information for a utility company, a logo for a utility company, a universal call number relating to finding a utility line, or combinations thereof.
13 . The signage of claim 1 , wherein the substrate material is an aluminum composite, fiberglass material, plastic material, or metal composite.
14 . The signage of claim 1 , wherein the colored ink layering applied to the substrate material is a coating layer or a printed layer.
15 . The signage of claim 14 , wherein the colored ink layering applied to the substrate material is a digitally printed layer.
16 . The signage of claim 14 , wherein the colored ink layering applied to the substrate material is coated with an aliphatic urethane coating.
17 . The signage of claim 1 , wherein a width of each of the two opposing flat surfaces is between about 1.5 inches and about 6 inches.
18 . The signage of claim 1 , wherein a length spanning between the above ground end and the below ground end is between about 10 inches and about 30 inches.
19 . The signage of claim 1 , wherein a width of each of the two opposing flat surfaces is between about 2 inches and about 3 inches, a length spanning between the above ground end and the below ground end is between about 12 inches and about 20 inches, and a thickness between the two opposing outwardly facing surfaces is between about 2 mm and about 5 mm.
20 . A method of providing a visual indicator to an observer concerning a location of a utility line or a status of a utility line service, the method comprising:
providing a signage comprising:
a substrate material having at least one colored layering applied to a first side of the substrate material and at least one colored layering applied to a second side of the substrate material, the first and second sides with the applied colored layerings defining two opposing outwardly facing surfaces, the two opposing outwardly facing surfaces configured to have at least three contiguous shapes comprising an above ground end having a portion of a geometrical shape, the above ground end connected to a below ground end by an intermediate middle portion, the intermediate middle portion having two substantially parallel and vertical edges that taper into a rounded point to form the below ground end; and
a visual indicator proximately located the above ground end configured to provide a proximate location of a utility line or a status of a utility service, the at least one colored layering proximate the visual indicator provided as a primary color in the shape of the geometrical shape, wherein the portion of the geometrical shape of the above ground end forming a top portion of the geometrical shape; and
inserting the below ground end of the signage into the ground proximate a location of a utility line or a status of a utility line service, such that the visual indicator proximately located the above ground end provides the location of the utility line or the status of the utility line service to an ordinary observer.