US1940606A - Athletic field line marker - Google Patents

Description

H. J. RYAN 1,940,606

ATHLETIC FiELD LINE MARKER Filed March 22, 1933 INVENTOR Ham. 6 RYAN OLMMQWLQSL Patented Dec. l9 1933 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 1,940,606 ATHLETIC FIELD LINE MARKER Herl J. RyanQLos Angeles, Calif. Application March 22, 1933. Serial No. 662.035

' 2 Claims. (01. 275-2 This invention relates to improvementsin devices of the character set'forth in Patent No. 1,882,340 granted to myself, Oct. '11; 1932.

'An object of this'invention' is to provide. a novel .I and more satisfactory machine for marking off athletic fields of various kinds, for example, the lanes on racing tracks, the boundarylines of tennis courts, for marking of parking lots and football fields, etc. I r r .10 I Another object of the .invention is to provide a machine of the character-referred to which will be easily operated and which will discharge upon the surface desired, a continuous and measured amount of dry. lime or other marking ma- .15 terial of finely powdered state even when placed in the machine in a damp or lumpy condition.

Other objects,.advantages and features of the invention may. appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and 120 the appended claims.

Thelaccompanying drawing illustrates the invention. a l

Figure 1 is aside elevation of the device in position as in use for marking a field.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental vertical sectionstaken on line :c2-x2 Fig. 6 showing the operating parts in the same position as in Fig. 1 with the feed rotor illustrated in full.

Fig. 3 is. a'view analogousto Fig. 1 showing the device in the resting position when not in use with the operating parts-in closed position and locked. i

r Fig. 4 is a fragmentaltopplan view .of zthe handle and operating levorand eccentrio disc.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan detail view of vthe eccentric disc. I i

Fig. 6 is a fragment-a1 vertical section taken on line :c6a:6 Fig. 2. p i

Fig. '7 is a fragmental side elevational detail view showing the handle brackets and method of fixing them to the handle. A fragment of the foot and guideis also shown.

. Fig. 8 isa plandetail .view of the foot and guide.. 1 Fig; 9 is anenlarged detail 'view of the feed rotor showing the slots therein and wedge shaped arms.

Fig. -is a fragmental front elevational View showing the guide, rests fixed to the .mixing .50 chamber viewed in the direction indicated by the line m10-x1() Fig.

Referring to the, drawing there is an oblong containing hopper 1 having no bottom resting on and fastened to a mixingchamber 2 provided 55 with a concave front 3.

The mixing chamber 2 has a partially circular bottom .4 whichhas a slot-like opening 5 extending the full Width of the. mixing chamben- The sides 6 of the mixing chamber 2 carry bearings 7 in which revolves the shaft 8 to which is fase 5o; tened the feed rotor 9; I

. Slipped over the shaft and fastened to the handle 10 by the bolt 11 are the handle brackets 12 and 13 that prevent excessive shock to the mixing chamber and tend to hold the. axle in 6 alignment, Wheels 14 and 15v are mounted on shaft 8 and are spaced from the side 6 by means of. tube spacers 16 and the thrust is taken by the washers17. Wheels 14 and 15 "are held on the shaft 8 by pins 13 and have a conventional ratchet 7 mechanismfwhich allows them to rotate freely on the shaft in a backward direction, but forces the shaft 8 to turn in the bearings 7 when they are revolved in a forward direction.

At the upper end of the handle 10 is aslot l9 in which rooksan operating lever 20 pivoted on V the'bolt, 21. which is provided with a nut 22 that holdsthe handle grips 23 to the handle. Loosely fastened to the lower arm of the lever 20 is the 7 operating rod 24 which slides in an eyebolt guide 25 that in turn partially holds the hopper l to the handle 10. The lower end of the operating rod 24 is fastened to the shut-off plate 26 by a single machine screw 27 in such a manner that a side'wise motion is allowed but not a vertical motion. 3

-The shut-off plate 26 is held up against the bottom 4 by the retaining, strips 28 and 29 and slides between guide strips 30 and 3 1 in such a close it to any degree desired. Fastened to the retaining strips 28 and 29 is the flexible cup or wind-break 32 which 'isopen at the bottom and .on the rear side.

An oscillating foot and guide 33'v of V shaped construction near its'front with parallel sides and prongs 34 loosely mounted in the brackets 12 and 13"acts as-a' guide'or sight as shown in Fig. 1 and as a foot as shown in Fig. 3.

This combination foot and guide pivots in holes in the handle brackets 12 and 13 by means of its .tened'tothe sides 6 of the mixing chamber. This construction permits a portion of the weight of' the marker, when itis stood upright as. shown -in Fig. 3 to be transmitted to the guide r sts 45. The two wheels 14 and 15 then act in conjunction with the foot and guide 33 as a tripod with the center of gravity of the machine being at a point between the vertical center of the axle 8 and the V shaped point of the part 33. machine cannot tip forward as it is restrained by the part 33'through the guide rests 45 which are fastened to the sides 6. The center of gravity of the machine prevents the machine from tipping the opposite wayor backward unless force is used to overcome this, such as the operator pulling backward on the handle and holding his foot against the wheel. This would then throw the center of gravity to the other side of the axle and allow the machine to tip. When this is done and the machine is positioned as shown in .Fig. 2 the foot and guide 33 is then acted upon by gravity and consequently pivots upon its prongs 34 in the holes in the handle brackets 12 and 13 and drops down until the lower ends of the guide rests 45 restrain its fall. The length of these guide rests 45 are made such that the V shaped point of the part 33 rests just high enough to clear ordinary stones and obstructions on the ground when the machine is held in'the' highest probable operating position. The V shaped point of the part 33 is then in line with the operators eyes and the guide line to be followed and can be used as a sight strip in a manner similar to that used when sighting a rifle at a target.

'On the upper side of the handle 19 just forward from theupper arm of the operating lever 20 is an eccentric disc 35 mounted to revolve on the bolt 36 and having a washer 37 and lock washer 37a between the disc and handle 10 and a wing nut 38 above the disc to lock the disc when rotated to different positions.

The hole 35a in the disc 35 is drilled 01f center so that as the disc is revolved the point at the circumference of the disc nearest to and in line with the operating lever is of variable distance from the center on which'the disc rotates. This distance varies to an amount equal to thedifference of thelong and short radii of the disc. In consequence the distance between the edge of the disc and the center of the operating lever can be varied by rotating the disc on its axis bolt 36 and locking-it in any position desired. The forward throw of the operating lever is then increased or decreased according to the setting of the disc and the opening of slot 5 thus increased or decreased to produce the desired flow of material. Numbers may be stamped on the upper side of the disc around the outside edge at regular intervals so that the operator may accurately set the disc at the desired position.

- The feed rotor 9 consists of a central web having openings 38 in it and a central hub 39 which is fixed to the shaft 8 by a screw 39a and around the periphery and equally spaced are arms 40 having sharp wedged shape edges 41 which extend the full length of the arms. a I

The sharp edges 41 will not permit lime or marking material to collect between the 'arms and the circular bottom of the mixing chamber.

These wedge shaped'edges not only carry the material around to the slot like opening but also have a tendency to force a small amount of material downward as it passes the slot opening.

Hopper l is preferably provided with a cover 42 which slides on the top as at 43 and may be operated by graspingthe end 44 to open or close the top of the hopper.

In operation a quantity of dry, lumpy or damp lime or other marking material is placed in the The hopper l and drops down into the mixing chamber surrounding the rotor 9. The sight guide and rest 33 is then aligned with the desired mark or string" and the operator sets the eccentric disc 35 for the desired amount of opening of slot 5. The operator then pushes the lever 20 forward against the disc 35 and propels the machine forward to form the line mark. As the wheels 14 and 15 turn forward the ratchets-work and cause shaft 8 to turn in bearings 6 and revolves the feed rotor 9. Whenthe rotor 9 revolves the wedge shaped arms 40 crush the lumps and cause the mixing chamber to be filled with powdery lime or other marking material. Then the succeeding wedge shape arms coming around will keep a measured amount of lime forced through the slot-like opening. This will fall on the surface being worked and will be protected from being scattered by the wind-break 32.

When the operator has reached the limit of the line he pulls the lever 20 'backward'so that the lower arm buttsagainst the bolt '36'and causes the opening 5 to be closed. As he pulls the machine backward the-wheels 14 and 15 will rotate freely .on the shaft 8 and thus allow the rotor 9 to remain stationary and consequently prevent undue packing of the lime .or'material in the mixing chamber when'pulling the machine considerable distance to the field to be marked.

The shut-off strip 26 provides a means 'for regulating the'amount of marking material to be discharged so that the operator can mark out a thin or a heavy line ashe desires. By manipulating the operating rod 24 and the shut-off plate 26 the operator opens or closes theslot 5 as desired.

The wind-break 32 is made of flexible material the objects or projections which may protrude I upward from the surface to be marked will not impede the forward motion'of the marker or in- 115 jure themachine in any way and in'addition the downward dropping marking material will .be

protected from the scattering action of the wind.

Attention is directed 'to the fact that with my invention it is possible to quickly and easily mark scribed or illustrated in the drawing, but is of the scope set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1; A device of the character set forth comprising an oblong hopper and a mixing chamber having a concave front; a feed rotor revolvably mounted in said chamber and provided with a plurality of arms equally spaced having sharp wedged shape edges on their outer sides that ,ex-. tend the full length of the arms and semi-circular. spaces between said arms; a revolvable shaft carriedby the chamber and upon which said feed rotor is mounted; wheels mounted on said shaft; a handlefixed to the hopper and provided at its upper end with a slot in which rocks an operating lever on a pivot; handle brackets slipped over said shaft and being fastened to said handle; tube spacers mounted-on said shaft and interposed betweensaid brackets and wheels; guide rests fixed to the sides of said mixing chamber; an'oscillating foot and guide having a V shaped construction near its front provided with parallel 1151? sides and having prongs loosely mounted in said brackets andsaid foot and guide slides within said guide rests to form at one time a guide and at another a foot rest.

2.-A device for discharging a continuous and unwavering line of marking material comprising an oblong bottomless hopper resting on and fastened to a mixing chamber having a concave front; a feed rotor in said chamber provided with a plurality of arms equally spaced having sharp wedge shape edges on their outer sides that extend the full length of said arms and large semicircular spaces between said arms; a revolvable shaft carried by the chamber and upon which said feed rotor is mounted; wheels mounted on .said shaft; a handle fixed to said hopper and provided at its upper end with a slot in which rocks an operating lever on a pivot; a. bolt in said handle just forward from the upper arm of said lever; an eccentric disc mounted to revolve on said bolt and a washer and lock washer between the disc and handle and a winged nut above the disc to lock the disc when rotated to different positions; retaining strips; guide strips; said chamber having a slot-like opening in its bottom extending the full width of said chamber; a shut-

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