IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING OUT LAWN-TENNIS COURTS, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE ALSO TO PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Rowland Westby Ralph, of Honnington Grange, near
Newport, in the County of Salop, and William Scott Underhill, of Newport.
aforesaid, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING
OUT LAWN-TENNIS COURTS, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE ALSO TO
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Rowland Westby Ralph
& William Scott Underhill at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 7th March 1882.
ROWLAND WESTBY RALPH, of Honnington Grange near Newport in the County
of Salop, and WIlliam Scott UndERHILL, of Newport aforesaid, "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING OUT LAWN TENNIS COURTS, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS
BEING APPLICABLE ALSO TO APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR OTHER PURPOSES TURNIP
DRESSING FOR EXAMPLE,"
The object of this invention is to obtain an apparatus for marking out lawn
tennis courts, by the employment of which dry marking material, such as slaked
lime or ground chalk, may be used.
A lawn tennis marker constructed according to this invention consists of (1) a
frame, (2) a double roller with cross-pins or lifters, (3) a cannister or chamber for
holding the marking material, having a perforated trough along the bottom thereof,
and a lifter arm projecting therefrom, and (4) a handle and chain.
The frame consists of two plain sides running lengthways of the apparatus,
joined together at the back with a plain end the bottom of which stands somewhat
above the bottom of the sides, and joined together at the front by means of an end
jawed to receive the double roller aforesaid. A flange projects outwardly at the
bottom of each side giving a broad bearing upon which the framing lies upon the
turf or other surface.
The double-roller is carried within the jaw of the frame upon a pin passing
through the sides of the said jaw, and the said roller rolls upon the turf or other

page_text: surface as the apparatus is pushed along. Cross-pins or lifters pass at intervals
between the two discs of the double roller and give motion to an arm projecting
from the cannister in the manner hereinafter explained.
The cannister or chamber for holding the marking material is preferably
cylindrical in shape. It is provided with a bung or lid at the back end for
charging the material, and with a flat bottomed trough opening out from it along the
bottom. The trough is perforated along the bottom for distributing the marking
material. The cannister is placed on the frame with its axis horizontal and
lengthways of the apparatus and with the trough fitting down easily between the
sides of the frame. An arm is fixed to the front end of the cannister and projects
forwards between the two discs of the double roller. As the roller revolves the
cross-pins or lifters act in succession to lift the arm and consequently the front end
of the cannister, and as each cross pin passes out of contact with the arm the latter
drops and with it the front end of the cannister which thus shakes out the marking
material through the perforations in the bottom of the trough on to the turf or
other surface.
The handle has a forked end for attachment to the pin passing through the jaw
at the front of the frame, and when the apparatus is being used the handle inclines
backwards, and is pushed from behind the apparatus by the person using it. The
chain connects the back end of the frame with a part of the handle rod so that by
raising the handle the frame may be raised from off the turf or other surface and if
desired the whole apparatus be raised clear of the ground.
A similar apparatus may be employed also for dressing turnips to prevent the
ravages of the "Fly," and for other purposes where it may be desired to distribute
dry material in lines or bands.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Rowland Westby Ralph & William Scott Underhill in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 6th September 1882.
ROWLAND WESTBY RALPH of Honnington Grange near Newport in the County
of Salop and WILLIAM SCOTT UNDERHILL of Newport aforesaid "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING OUT LAWN TENNIS COURTS SUCH IMPROVEMENTS
BEING APPLICABLE ALSO TO APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR OTHER PURPOSES, TURNIP
DRESSING FOR EXAMPLE
"
The object of this invention is to construct an apparatus for marking out
lawn tennis courts, by the employment of which dry marking material, such as
slaked lime or ground chalk, may be used.
A lawn tennis marker constructed according to this invention consists of (1) a
frame, (2) a double roller with cross-pins or lifters, (3) a cannister or chamber for
holding the marking material, having along the bottom thereof a rectangular
chamber fitted with a perforated plate which plate may be at the top or bottom of
the said chamber and may be either soldered fast or may be a slide removable at
will so as to be changed for different sized perforations, and having a lifter arm
projecting from the cannister, and (4) a handle and chain.
The frame consists of two plain sides running lengthways of the apparatus,
joined together at the back with a plain end the bottom of which stands somewhat
above the bottom of the sides, and joined together at the front by means of an end
jawed to receive the double roller aforesaid. A flange projects outwardly at the
bottom of each side giving a broad bearing upon which the framing lies upon the
turf or other surface.
The double roller is carried within the jaw of the frame upon a pin passing
through the sides of the said jaw, and the said roller rolls upon the turf or other
surface as the apparatus is pushed along. Cross-pins or lifters pass at intervals
between the two sides of the double roller and give motion to an arm projecting
from the cannister in the manner hereinafter explained.
The cannister or chamber for holding the marking material is preferably
cylindrical in shape. It is provided with a bung or lid at the back end for charging
the marking material, and with a flat-bottomed trough opening out from it along
the bottom. The trough is provided with a perforated plate, either along the
bottom or at any convenient height therefrom, for distributing the marking
material, and such plate may be soldered to the trough or chamber or may be
removable so as to be interchangeable with other plates having different perforations.
The cannister is placed on the frame with its axis horizontal and lengthways of the
apparatus and with the trough fitting down easily between the sides of the frame.
To the back end of the cannister or trough is soldered a cross-pin with projecting
ends which are within slots near the back of the framing and thus keep the
cannister in position endways. An arm is fixed to the front end of the cannister
and projects forwards between the two sides of the double roller. As the roller
revolves its cross-pins or lifters act in succession to lift the arm and consequently
the front end of the cannister, and as each cross-pin passes out of contact with the
arm the latter drops and with it the front end of the cannister, by which means
the cannister shakes out marking material through the perforations in the trough
on to the turf or other surface. A single roller only may be employed if desired,
with lifter pins projecting from the sides, in conjunction with a forked lifter arm
from the cannister.
The handle has a forked end for attachment to the pin passing through the jaw at

page_text: the front of the frame, and when the apparatus is being used the handle inclines
backwards and is pushed from behind the apparatus by the person using it. The
chain connects the back end of the frame with a part of the handle rod so that by
raising the handle the frame may be raised, if at any time required, from off the
turf or other surface and the apparatus pushed along with the roller only in
contact with the ground. If desired the whole apparatus may be raised clear of
the ground by means of the handle.
If the apparatus is to be wheeled away after the marking has been accomplished
the cannister should be propped up clear of the lifters or should be removed from
the frame.
Having thus stated the nature of our said improvements in apparatus for marking
out lawn tennis courts we will now proceed more particularly to describe and
ascertain the manner of performing the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a lawn tennis marker constructed according
to this invention, and figure 2 is a plan of the same with the cylindrical part of
the cannister removed for the sake of clearly shewing the parts underneath.
Figure 3 is a cross section taken on line xx of figure 1, and figure 4 is an outline
side elevation drawn to a reduced scale and shewing the handle at full length and
the chain connection between the frame and the handle. The same letters of
reference occuring upon any two or more of the views indicate corresponding parts.
A A is the framing cast preferably in one piece. a a are plain sides of the
framing joined together at the back by the end b the bottom of which is somewhat
above the ground. The sides a a are joined at the front by the end c which has
two parts d d projecting at right angles therefrom and forming a jaw. e e (shewn
by dotted lines only in figure 1) are outward flanges at the bottom of each side a a
and give a broad bearing upon the turf or other surface. The framing is rounded
at the lower front end, as shewn, to enable it to travel forwards easily. B B is a
double roller, the two sides or discs of which are held together by the boss f
preferably cast solid therewith. The double roller runs upon a pin g carried in
bosses hat the ends of the jaw d d. jj etc. are cross-pins carried by the double
roller being cast preferably solid therewith. C is a cannister or chamber for
holding the marking material. k is a hinged lid for giving access to the cannister.
The lid is hinged at k¹ and is provided with an ordinary hinged fastening at kl.
is a trough along the bottom of the cannister, and the bottom of the trough is
perforated as shewn by figure 2. Perforated zinc sheet may be conveniently
employed for the bottom of the trough. The perforated plate may be made to
slide so as to be interchangeable with differently perforated plates, if desired. The
trough may be dispensed with, if desired, and either a soldered or sliding perforated
plate placed at the bottom of the chamber C. The trough lies easily between the
two sides a a of the framing as shewn. r is a cross-pin soldered or otherwise fixed
to the back end of the trough and has projecting ends which are loosely within
slots formed down in the sides a a as shewn. m is a lifter arm fixed to the
cannister and may be covered if desired with leather or similar material to reduce
noise in working. The arm m, and consequently the cannister also, are lifted in
succession by the cross-pins jj etc. into the position shewn by dotted lines figure 1.
The top end m' of the lifter arm serves to support the handle when not in use and
prevents it from indenting the cannister as it is lowered down thereon. D is the
handle rod, and n n a forked end by which the handle rod is connected to the
outer ends of the pin g. o is a snug on the back of the framing and carries a
loop p from which a chain q passes up to a loop on the handle rod as shewn
(figure 4). Figure 4a shews a plan of the handle and upper end of the handle rod.
The apparatus is pushed forwards with the roller in front, and as the cannister
falls as each cross-pinj passes in turn out of contact with the lifter arm m a certain
amount of the marking material is shaken out through the perforations in the
trough on to the turf or other surface to be marked. The cannister lies upon
the top of the framing when not tilted up by the lifters, and the projecting ends
l

page_text: of the cross-pin r keep the back end of the cannister in position endways when
the cannister is tilted upon its back end as shewn by dotted lines.
Apparatus similar to that described and illustrated is applicable also for other
purposes where it may be desired to distribute dry material in lines or bands, for
instance, dressing turnips to prevent ravages of the "Fly."
Having now stated the nature of our said invention and particularly described
and ascertained the manner of performing the same, we declare that we do not
limit ourselves to the precise details described and shewn, but what we claim as
our invention and desire to secure by the hereinbefore in-part-recited letters
patent, is :-
1st The hereinbefore described improvements in apparatus for marking out lawn
tennis courts, such improvements being applicable also to apparatus employed for
other purposes in which it is desired to distribute dry material in lines or bands
(for turnip dressing for example), according to which dry material is shaken out
through the perforated bottom of a chamber, into which the same has been charged,
upon the turf or other surface upon which such material is to be deposited,
substantially as herein described and illustrated by the drawings.
2nd The lawn tennis marker employed for marking with dry material,
constructed and operating substantially as herein described and shewn by the
drawings.
In Witness whereof I, the said William Scott Underhill for myself and on
behalf of the said Rowland Westby Ralph have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
W. S. UNDERHILL. (L.S.)