Improvements in Lawn Tennis Court Markers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 30th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn Tennis Court Markers.
I WILLIAM JAMES BOWLING, of 43 Parker's Terrace, Canterbury, in the
County of Kent, Lawn Tennis Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my
said.invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
apparatus for marking out lawn tennis and others courts.
My invention consists of a tank, preferably made in the form of a short cylinder,
the ends being vertical. The upper part of the cylinder is provided with two
openings, one for the insertion of the mixture, and the other for the delivery of the
same in the act of marking out. This tank is fitted with a handle, whereby it may
be propelled over the ground. The tank may be made to slide over the ground, or
it may be mounted on one or more wheel or wheels.
The handle is likewise used to partially rotate the tank upon its centre.
The opening forming the outlet for the mixture, consists of a horizontal slot, and
its angular position is controlled by the handle, whereby it can be lowered so as to
allow the mixture to exude, or raised so as to cease delivering.
The mixture may be caused to flow from the outlet on to the outer surface of the
cylinder, falling from thence to the ground, or it may be caused to flew on to a
wheel, the circumference of which conveys it to the ground as it rotates.
In some modifications of my invention mounted on one or more wheel or wheels,
I form the tank rectangular and mount it on pivots, so that it may be tilted by a
pivoted handle and connecting rods, or ratchet wheel or otherwise, and thus caused
to deliver the mixture upon one of the wheels of the apparatus, from the surface of
which it is delivered to and caused to mark the court, as required.
Other forms of tanks may be used, and sieves may be applied to the apparatus
to screen the material.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lawn Tennis Court Markers.
I WILLIAM JAMES BOWLING of 43 Parker's Terrace Canterbury in the County
of Kent, Lawn Tennis Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
apparatus for marking out lawn tennis and other courts.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, showing one form of my invention
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same (partly in section).
Fig. 3 is an elevation of another form of my invention and
Fig. is an elevation showing the same in action.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is a short cylindrical tank. is a forked handle,
pivoted at c. dd are studs, which govern the position of the tank when in use.
e is
a hole, having a stopper, for the insertion of the mixture. g. is a perforated screw
JJ

page_text: plug, consisting of a perforated cylindrical stem, for screening the material, with a
cover, having a single slot or perforation through which the mixture exudes,
when held in the position shewn in Fig. 2. A small air hole is also formed in the
tank, to admit air as the mixture is consumed.
The opening and plug ef may be dispensed with, if preferred, the mixture being
inserted in the opening afforded by the removal of the plug g.
is a curved projection or shoe attached to the cylinder. This shoe is usually
made narrower than the tank to suit the width of the line to be marked, the width
being varied as required for wide or narrow lines.
When the tank pushed forward it partially revolves upon the pivots c, and
rests upon the shoe h, the whiting then flows through the hole at on to the
lawn, the shoe spreading the whiting to the required width.
The flow may
be instantly checked by drawing the handle backwards, when the tank revolves to
the position shewn in Fig. 1.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a is a rectangular tank, mounted upon three wheels,
m being a front central wheel, and n being one of the hind wheels: The tank is
pivoted at to the frame k. The studs dd serve to limit the extreme positions
of the tank. The forked handle 6 is provided with slots, the handle pivoting
upon the stud c¹.
e is the opening for inserting the whiting mixture, and the
stopper. g is the perforated screw plug, having a slot or hole at g'.
In the position shewn in Fig. 3, the tank is upright, and the handle is retained
in an upright position, or nearly so, by its falling down to the position shewn by
dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which position the slotted end rests against the stud ¹
attached to the frame k.
In Fig. 4 the position of the tank when marking out, is shown, the handle being
free to pivot upon the stud el. The whiting falls upon the central wheel m, and is
thereby evenly spread to the required width upon the lawn.
Other forms of tanks may be used, and sieves of various kinds may be used to
screen the material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
:
1. A lawn tennis court marker, consisting of a tank a to carry the mixture,
having a delivery opening or spout g', a pivoted handle b, and studs d d for
governing the position of the opening relatively to the ground to be marked,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In combination with a lawn tennis marker, constructed, fitted and operating
as last aforesaid, the application and use of the projecting shoe h, for spreading and
laying the whiting evenly and governing the width of the mark, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
3. The improved lawn tennis marker consisting of the combination of 2. tank ",
of rectangular or other suitable form, pivoted to a frame mounted on wheels or
rollers, a pivoted handle 6 for governing the position of the opening or spout gl
relatively to the ground to be marked, and studs d and d¹, severally operating
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 of the
drawings.
4. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of Improvements in lawn tennis
court markers, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
Dated 20th Annil 1901
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.