US3709188A

US3709188A - Ground marker device

Info

Publication number: US3709188A
Application number: US00111522A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Coupar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-02-01
Filing date: 1971-02-01
Publication date: 1973-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-09

Abstract

A marker device having a casing which is inserted into a hole drilled into the surface of the ground. Hinged arms are unfolded and extended through slots in the casing to secure the device against withdrawal from the hole. A suitably colored plug may be fitted into the upper end of the casing to be visible above the surface. A number of such devices placed in a row at suitably spaced intervals define a permanently marked line appearing either at or near the level of the ground surface or projecting thereabove. The device is readily converted for use as an anchoring means for a post or the like.

Description

United States Patent Coupar Jan. 9, 1973 54 GROUND MARKER DEVICE 1,907,811 5/1933 Hollos ..52/162 x Inventor: Robert B. p 444.7 Narvaez 2,588,712 3/1952 Ferris ..52/l6l Crescent, Victoria, British Columbia Canada Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozl Attorney-Fetherstonhaugh & Co. [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1971 21 App]. No.1 111,522

[57] ABSTRACT A marker device having a casing which is inserted into a hole drilled into the surface of the ground. Hinged [52] "116/114 ?g arms are unfolded and extended through slots in the 51 l t G01 d 21m) casing to secure the device against withdrawal from i "iig'i'i'gf ii' g 159 160 the hole. A suitably colored plug may be fitted into I 1 q g 1 the upper end of the casing to be visible above the surface. A number of such devices placed in a row at suitably spaced intervals define a permanently marked line appearing either at or near the level of the ground [56] References cued surface or projecting thereabove. The device is readily UNITED STATES PATENTS tctclmy tirted for use as an anchoring means for a post or e 1 e. 828,509 8/1906 Rounsburg ..52/16O 1,805,084 5/1931 Gianini ..52/l61 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures I I l l l l l l\ 52 HI I 1 1 ll 4 44 k 42 42 l l 44 v2 w 45 f 43 I5 38 2 I 1 PAIENTEDJM 9191s SHEET 1 [1F 2 luvsm'oR ROBERT B. COUPAR A1 TORNEYS INVNTOR ROBERT B. COUPAR SHEET 2 OF 2 PATENTEU JAN 9 I973 AT TORNGYT GROUND MARKER DEVICE My invention relates to an improved means for marking off areas of ground and more particularly for lining playing fields and the like.

Many playing fields in use today are marked out, usually just prior to the start of a game, by means of lines formed by laying down white lime or a similar powder-like material. Such lines are needed on baseball, football, track and soccer fields as well as on other playing areas to define boundaries, zones, etc. but, after only a short period of play, they often become barely discernible and this is confusing to the players, referees and fans alike.

I have found that this longstanding problem can be solved by providing a permanent field marker which is buried in the ground out of harms way. The device includes a white or colored plug the top of which may be about level with the surface of the ground. The plug is clearly visible from above and is made of a resilient or non-slip material such as rubber which should not harm anyone coming into contact therewith. When such devices are set into the ground in a rowand at fairly widely spaced intervals they form a line which remains permanently in place and easily seen even after extended periods of play which may take place, in the case of football for example, on a muddy field. Another embodiment of the invention has a member which projects above ground to 'serve as a boundry marker. Still another embodiment serves as a post anchoring device.

In drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a field marker device, in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of locking arms,

FIG. 4 is a similar view of a locking disc,

FIG. 5 is another perspective view showing a marker plug,

FIG. 6 is'a vertical section of another embodiment of the invention, I

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentarysection of still another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally a device for marking a surface 12 of a playing field or other such areas. To receive the device 10, the field surface 12 has a hole 14 formed therein. Preferably, hole 14 is drilled using an auger of the type employed to bore cup holes in a golf green. Such an auger will provide a hole 14 of a suitable diameter and depth and having a smooth side wall 15 and a flat bottom wall 16.

The field marker device 10 comprises a cylindrical casing having a side wall 21 and a bottom wall 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom wall 22 has at least two depending spikes 27 which are suitably spaced apart on the underside of said wall. Circumferentially spaced drain holes 28 (FIG. 2), extend completely through the bottom wall 22. The casing 20 is a snug fit in the hole 14 so as to support the side wall 15. The spikes 27 are embedded in the bottom wall 16 and this helps to hold the implanted casing 20 against rotation within the hole 14. Upper edge 30 of the casing 20 is spaced a short distance below the field surface 12 so as not to form an obstruction. Near edge 30, the casing 20 is provided with laterally projecting fins 32 which also resist rotation of the casing 20 within the hole 14. If it is found necessary to steady the casing 20 when parts to be later described are fitted therein, a suitably shaped tool (not shown) can be used to grip the fins 32 whereby to hold the casing against rotation.

Casing 20 is anchored in the hole 14 by means of a pair of arms 38, see FIGS. 1 and 3. In order to receive the arms 38, the casing 20 is provided with diametrically opposed and longitudinally extending slots 39. These slots 39, which appear on FIG. 1 only, are located just below the center of the casing 20. The anchor arms 38 are formed of metal bands only slightly thinner than the thickness of the slots 39 and overlapping ends 42 of said arms are connected by a hinge pin 43. The opposite ends of arms 38 are tapered or otherwise sharpened to form tips 44 and adjacent these tips, each arm is provided with a notch 45. The arms 38 are each provided with an opening 46 and these openings register with one another when said arms are horizontal as shown in FIG. 1. Arms 38 are entered into the casing 20 in folded position and the tips 44 are threaded through the slots 39 to allow said arms to unfold to a horizontal position. The notches 45 engage parts of the casing 20 as shown in FIG. 1 and a fairly strong downward pressure must be applied to straighten the arms which then cannot readily be pushed below this locked position. In order that the pair of arms 38 may be positively locked together in their casing 20 anchoring position, a locking pin 47, see particularly FIG. 3, is inserted through the registering openings 46. The tips 44 are embedded in the side wall 15 of the hole to prevent withdrawal or rotation of the casing 20 therein.

The field marker device 10 is provided with an annular locking disc 48, see FIGS. 1 and 4. Disc 48 has a central opening 49 and a threaded side edge 50 and is provided with circumferentially spaced openings 51 which preferably extend completely through the disc.

Casing 20 has an internal thread 52 near the upper edge 30 and the locking disc 48 is entered into the easing along this thread. Disc 48 is started on the thread 52 and an appropriately shaped tool (not shown) is inserted into the openings 51 to advance said disc to the position shown in FIG. 1.

The upper end of casing 20 is fitted with a marker plug 56 see FIGS. 1 and 5. Plug 56 is a' threaded cylindrical block of non-skid rubber which is white or brightly colored to provide a marked contrast with the green surface 12 of the playing field. The resilient plug 56 may be non-rotatably mounted within a threaded sleeve 57 and said plug is provided with circumferentially spaced openings 58 which preferably extend completely through the plug. These openings 58, of course, are intended to accept the same tool used to turn the locking disc 48. The marker plug 56 is threaded into the casing 20 and is tightened against the locking disc 48. Since disc 48 is frictionally engaged by the plug 56, said disc then acts in the same manner as a lock nut to prevent rotation of the marker plug. Plug 56 is positioned so that its top face is about level with the playing field surface 12 and is clearly visible to one side as well as from above.

When a number of the field marker devices -are implanted in a row as described, they form a line on the playing field. Preferably, the devices 10 are placed about 3 feet apart which has been found quite suitable and the number of devices required is then kept to a desirable minimum. These white or colored ground level marker plugs 56 provide sufficient contrast with the turf to be readily discernable and the rubber material used for the plugs will withstand a great deal of wear and are unlikely to cause a slip if stepped on. The soil around the device 10 may settle or heave up and this could cause the marker plug 56 to sink below, or project too far above, the playing field surface. However, it is a simple matter to remedy this by adjusting the locking disc 48 and the plug 56 vertically in the casing so that the top surface of the plug is again at the required level.

Should it ever be necessary to remove the device 10 from the ground, it is a simple matter to remove the plug 56, locking disc 48, and then the pair of arms 38. Disc 48 is rethreaded back into the casing 20 whereupon the central opening 49 provides means for entering the hooked end of a suitable tool (not shown) by which the casing can be pulled out of the hole 14.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the numeral 70 indicates generally a field marker device which has a cylindrical casing 71. This casing 71 is provided with a side wall 72 and a bottom wall 73. Extending across the underside of wall 73 is a thin rib 74 which is V-shaped in cross-section. Alternatively, spikes such as are used on the device 10 may be used in place of the rib 74. Rib 74 bites into the bottom wall 16 and helps to hold the casing 71 against rotation within the hole 14.

Casing wall '7 2 has an opposing pair of slots 80 which are disposed below center. These longitudinally extending slots 80 receive a pair of the previously described anchor arms 38 which are locked in the horizontal position by means of a locking pin 47. The notches 45 bear against the inner surface of the casing 71 to wedge the arms in a horizontal position and the sharpened tips 44 of said arms are embedded in the side wall 15 of the hole as before.

The casing-71 may be anchored by a second pair of anchor arms 38 which are projected through diametrically opposed slots 84 formed in the casing wall 72- above the slots 80 and circumferentially spaced therefrom. Thus, the two pairs of arms 38 extend across the casing 71 at right angles to one another and provide a particularly firm anchor for the device.

Casing 71 has an upper edge 86 and, alongside this edge, there are laterally projecting fins 87. These diametrically opposed fins 87 bite into the side wall 15 of the hole to assist in holding the casing 71 against rotation.

The modified field marker device 70 is shown fitted with an above ground marker plug 90. As shown in FIG. 6, the appropriately colored marker plug 90 is a cylindrical block of plastic, metal, wood or rubber which may be several feet long. Near the lower end of the plug 90, there is formed a circular flange 93. Casing 71 has an internal thread 95 to receive a locking disc 48. The plug 90 sits on this disc 48 with the lower end of the plug projecting into the opening 49 and the flange 93 engaging the top surface of said disc. Another locking disc 48 is slipped over the upper end of plug and is advanced along threads 95 to clamp the flange 93 between the two discs and thus firmly hold the plug 90 in position.

The device 70 can be used, for example, to mark the out-of-bounds area of a golf course. Also, a device 70 will serve equally as well to permanently locate property lines. The elongated marker plug 90 projects some distance above the surface of the ground and thus forms an obstruction but, in any location where this is found undesirable, a short plug 56'can readily be sub-* stituted for the relatively long plug 90.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the numeral 101' indicates a device used as an anchor for post 102 or the like. The device 101 is constructed substantially in the same manner as the device 70 although, desirably, it is provided with a casing 104 having larger and more numerous fins 105 so as to be even more firmly held against rotational movement. Anchor arms 38 secure the casing 104 within the hole 14 as before but the locking discs 48 shown in FIG. 6 are not required for the FIG. 8 installation. Casing 104 hasan internal thread 107 near the upper end thereof to receive a threaded base plug 108 having a centrally disposed eye 110. A pin 112 is used to secure the eye to forked end 114 of a brace 115. The diagonally disposed brace 115 is suitably secured as at 116 to a post 1 18 which projects above the playing field 12. This post 118 may be one of the goal posts for example or it can be a sign post or the like which is required to be erected near a playing field or elsewhere.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent I have provided a ground marker device which is suitable for use in marking a variety of areas. By using marker plugs of different colors, interesting designs can be formed on football fields behind the goal line and the devices can be arranged in the form of lettering to spell out team names and the like. Since some playing fields are used for more than one sport and generally it is necessary to change the field markings to suit a particular sport, the ground level marker plug 56 may be white or brightly colored at one end and colored green at the opposite end. Thus, if the need be, a line or part of a line defined by the white or colored ends of the plugs 56 could be obliterated by inverting some of the plugs in their casings so that the green ends would blend in with the green turf.

-I claim:

1. A ground marker device comprising a casing insertable into a hole formed in the surface of the ground, said casing having an internally threaded upper end and diametrically opposed slots intermediate the length thereof, a pair of anchor arms hingedly connected together at one end and having sharpened tips at their opposite ends, said anchor arms extending across the casing with the tips thereof projecting through the slots and being embedded in a side wall of the hole, a locking disc threadedly received within the upper end of the casing, and a marker plug threadedly fitted into the upper end of the casing to frictionally engage and be releasably held against rotation by the locking disc.

2. A ground marker device as claimed in claim 1, in which said anchor arms each have a notch adjacent the tip thereof, said notches engaging casing parts whereby resistance is offered to movement of the anchor arms below a casing anchoring position.

3. A ground marker device as claimed in claim 1, and

including a locking pin for securing the pair of arms in extended position.

4. A ground marker device as claimed in claim 1, in which said marker plug has a laterally projecting flange near the lower 'end thereof, said locking ,disc having a central opening to receive the lower end of the marker plug, and a second similar locking disc threadedlyfitted into the upper end of the casing to encircle the marker

Claims

3. A ground marker device as claimed in claim 1, and including a locking pin for securing the pair of arms in extended position.

4. A ground marker device as claimed in claim 1, in which said marker plug has a laterally projecting flange near the lower end thereof, said locking disc having a central opening to receive the lower end of the marker plug, and a second similar locking disc threadedly fitted into the upper end of the casing to encircle the marker plug and clamp the laterally projecting flange against the first mentioned locking disc.

5. A ground marker device as claimed in claim 3, in which said pair of anchor arms having overlapping ends provided with registering openings, and said locking pin is projected through the registering openings to lock the pair of arms in extended position.