IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING LAWN TENNIS COURTS AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Frederick Hunt, of Banbury, in the County of
Oxford, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MARKING LAWN TENNIS COURTS AND OTHER SURFACES."
Sealed the 2nd March 1877, and dated the 19th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Frederick Hunt at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1876.
THOMAS FREDERICK HUNT, of Banbury, in the County of Oxford, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING LAWN TENNIS COURTS AND OTHER
SURFACES."
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of portable
apparatus of cheap and simple construction, more especially adapted for marking
the bounds on the turf of lawn tennis courts, but applicable also for marking other
surfaces, and consists essentially of a tube or cistern of any convenient shape and
suitable capacity for holding the requisite quantity of liquid, whiting, or other fluid
or semi-fluid colouring matter employed for marking. This tube is provided with
a flattened or other conveniently shaped spout or nozzle through which the marking
material flows, the said nozzle being, by preference, disposed at an angle to the
barrel of the tube in order that it may lie horizontally when in operation upon the
turf or other surface to be marked. A small webb or keel is formed longitudinally
below the nozzle to guide the same, and prevent it slipping sideways when in
operation. A stop-cock is also provided between the nozzle and the lower end of
the tube to prevent the escape of the marking material when not required for use.
The tube or cistern is also furnished with a strainer at the upper end and with a
lid or cover having an air hole therein, also with a convenient handle for holding
the apparatus when using the same.
In using this apparatus the tube or barrel is held in one hand and drawn along
the grass by the operator walking backwards, the cock having in the meantime
been opened. On drawing the marker along the surface with the nozzle pointing
in the opposite direction a clear and well defined broad line will be at once
produced.
Although I prefer to allow the liquid marking material to flow by gravity alone

page_text: through the nozzle the apparatus may, if desired, be constructed so as to act on the
principle of a syringe, the marking material being in such case expelled by the
downward pressure of a piston or plunger.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Frederick Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
March 1877.
THOMAS FREDERICK HUNT, of Banbury, in the County of Oxford, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING LAWN TENNIS COURTS AND OTHER
SURFACES."
"
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of portable
apparatus of cheap and simple construction, more especially adapted for marking
the bounds on the turf of lawn tennis courts, the " creases of cricket fields, and
other like surfaces, and consists essentially of a tube or container of any convenient
shape and suitable capacity for holding the requisite quantity of liquid whiting or
other fluid or semi-fluid colouring matter employed for marking, such tube having
a flattened or other conveniently shaped spout or nozzle (by preference of a flattened
form) attached to the lower end thereof, through which the marking material flows
as the said nozzle is drawn along or in contact with the surface to be marked.
I prefer that the said nozzle shall be disposed at an obtuse angle to the barrel of
the tube or container in order that it may lie horizontally, or nearly so, when in
operation upon the turf or other surface. A small guiding web or keel, or two of
such webs or keels, is or are by preference fitted to or formed longitudinally below
the nozzle if found requisite, in order to guide the same in a direct course and
prevent it slipping sideways when in operation. A stop-cock or other valve is also
provided between the actual nozzle and the lower end of the tube or container in
order to prevent the escape of the marking material when not required for marking,
the said stop-cock or valve being fitted for greater convenience of opening and
closing the same whilst the apparatus is being used with a long arm, or, which is
better, with a lever arm and connecting rod or wire the upper end of which is
within easy reach of the hand of the operator. The tube or container is also
furnished with a removeable strainer at the upper end and with a vented lid or
cover, also with a convenient handle for holding the apparatus when using the
same.
In using this apparatus, the tube or container having been wholly or partially
filled with liquid marking material (such, for example, as a mixture of whiting and
water), is held in one hand by its handle and the nozzle is drawn along the grass
or other surface by the operator walking backwards, the cock or valve having been
opened. On drawing the marker along the surface with the nozzle pointing in the
opposite direction or away from the operator, a clear and well defined broad line
will be at once produced. By adding cheeks or side pieces to the said nozzle the
sharpness of the edges of the line so produced will be greatly improved.
Although I prefer to allow the liquid marking material to flow by gravity alone,
as above described, through the said nozzle, the apparatus may, if desired, be con-
structed so as to act on the principle of a syringe, the marking material being in
such case gently expelled or forced out through the nozzle by the downward
pressure of a piston or plunger inside the container.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
prooeed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a side elevation, partly in section of my
<peculiar marker in operation.

page_text: Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation of the nozzle of the marker
detached, showing the application thereto of side pieces or cheeks extended forward
and downwards to form also two guiding webs or keels; Figure 3 is a corresponding
plan of the same; Figure 4 is a front elevation corresponding to Figure 2; and
Figure 5 is a front elevation of a nozzle, with cheeks or side pieces and a single
central guiding web or keel.
A is the container made of tin plate, sheet zinc, or other suitable material; B is
the handle for holding the same when in use. In the upper end of this container
there is fitted loosely the strainer C, resting upon internal studs or projections in
the container, through which strainer the liquid marking material is strained when
filling the container, thereby preventing the entrance of hard lumps or grit which
would be liable to choke the nozzle; Ď is the lid or cover of the container having
an air vent a made therein to afford free access for air and permit of the flow of the
marking material through the nozzle by gravitation alone. To the lower end of
the container, which is by preference of the form of a hollow inverted truncated
cone, I braze, solder, or otherwise secure the hollow nozzle piece E, which contains
a regulating plug or stop-cock F, and opens directly into the flattened nozzle G.
This nozzle is for the convenience of use disposed at an obtuse angle to the centre
line of the container, so that the latter may assume an inclined position (as shown
in Figure 1) whilst the under side of the nozzle rests upon and is being drawn
along the turf or surface to be marked in the direction of the arrow, it being
necessary that the whiting should gently flow on to the turf immediately it leaves
the nozzle; H is an extended arm attached to the head of the regulating plug and
reaching up to within a convenient distance of the hand of the operator, so that he
can the more readily turn the plug of the cock and thereby control the flow of the
marking material whilst the apparatus is in actual use. The dotted arc and radius
in Figure 1 show the path of the said arm in opening and closing the cock. The
arrangement which I have found however to answer bost in practice, for the
purpose of facilitating the opening and closing of the cock, is that shown in side
elevation at Figure 6, wherein H represents a lever arm secured to the plug of the
cock, and I a rod or wire jointed at its lower end to the said arm and passing at
or near its upper end through a guide eye d secured to the side of the container.
An eye c is formed on the upper extremity of the said rod or wire for the entrance
of the finger of the operator, who by simply pulling or pushing the said rod can
readily open or close the cock, as required; b, b, are two raised cheeks or side pieces
attached to and extending about two inches beyond the nozzle for preventing any
tendency which the marking material may have to spread laterally as it issues from
the mouth of the nozzle, and hence a sharper and better defined line is obtained ;*
such cheeks serve also as guides on tipping the apparatus slightly forward.
10
A longitudinal web or guiding keel c, projecting about / of an inch from the
under side of the nozzle and situate in the centre thereof, as shown in Figure 5,
may be employed for the bettor guiding of the marker and keeping it in its proper
course when in use. This keel may, however, be dispensed with, but I prefer to
employ two guiding keels or webs c, c, formed by extending downwards about 1/16
of an inch below the under side of the nozzle the two side cheeks b, b, as shown
clearly in Figure 4.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to ine by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,--
First. The application and use of a marking nozzle specially arranged and con-
structed for being drawn along the turf or surface to be marked and attached to
the bottom of a container for holding the marking material for marking the bounds
on lawn tennis courts," the "creases on cricket fields, and other like surfaces, as
herein-before described and illustrated by my Drawings.
"

page_text: Secondly. The construction and use of a marking nozzle, provided or not on the
under side with one or more guiding keels or webs, and having raised and extended
side pieces or cheeks, as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Thirdly. The combination of the said peculiar marking nozzle with a stop-cock
or valve and container, as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourthly. The combination of the said peculiar marking nozzle with a stop-cock
or valve, a container, and a strainer, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Frederick Hunt, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
THOMAS FREDERICK HUNT. (L.S.)