Games using tangible projectile – Playing field or court game; game element or accessory... – Means for dividing field or court into compartments; element...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-06
2001-05-08
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Playing field or court game; game element or accessory...
Means for dividing field or court into compartments; element...
C473S191000, C047S033000, C015S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227989
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for permanently marking visible lines in natural turf.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many outdoors sports played on natural grass require lines by drawn to indicate boundaries and other field markings. Conventionally, such lines are marked by chalk or paint to create the line on the grass.These conventional techniques suffer from the drawback that the line markings are temporary and must be reapplied from time to time. Also, contestants may run over the lines and obliterate them during the game. Alternatively, the lines may be created by using diesel or other chemicals to kill the grass which is environmentally unacceptable.
There have been attempts to create permanent line markers such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,331 issued to Brandli, May 23, 1989. The field marker disclosed in this patent comprises a narrow strip of material which is a base to which a plurality of pegs are attached. The base is then buried in a trench so that the tops of the pegs are visible above the ground. This field marker is somewhat unstable because of the narrowness of the base and the fact that it is held in place only by a thin layer of soil over the base.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an artificial line marking system which is permanent, resists unwanted shifting or movement, is environmentally friendly and which provides a consistent level playing surface with the surrounding natural grass.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention and in general terms, the invention comprises a system for permanently marking visible lines in natural turf, said system comprising:
(a) an elongate backing sheet defining a plurality of openings; and
(b) an elongate line associated with the backing sheet, wherein said line is narrower than and aligned with the backing sheet and wherein said line provides a visible contrast with the natural turf;
wherein the backing sheet may be buried slightly beneath the surface of the natural turf such that the line is substantially level with the level of the turf and occupies a channel cut in the turf.
In another aspect of the invention and again in general terms, the invention comprises a method of marking a permanent artificial line in natural turf, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) cutting and removing a sod strip from the turf in the position intended for the line;
(b) undercutting but not removing the sod immediately adjacent to the removed sod strip;
(c) inserting a line marker-backing sheet combination of the type described above such that the backing sheet is inserted underneath the undercut sod and the line marker is positioned in the space left by the removed sod strip substantially level with the adjacent turf.
Preferably, the method comprises the further step of allowing the undercut sod to reroot itself through the plurality of openings in the backing sheet thereby securing the backing sheet to the turf.
Alternatively, if the artificial lines are to be installed in a new field installation where new sod is being laid, then the step of cutting existing sod is not necessary. The backing sheet is simply laid in position and new sod is laid over the backing sheet so as to closely abut the line marker on each side.
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Aryanpour Mitra
Bennett Jones LLP
Gerrity Stephen F.
LandOfFree
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