IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING THE GROUND FOR LAWN TENNIS AND OTHER ⚫ GAMES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Henry Ayres, of 111, Aldersgate Street,
London, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR MARKING THE GROUND FOR LAWN TENNIS AND OTHER
⚫ GAMES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Henry Ayres at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1881.
FREDERICK HENRY AYRES, of 111, Aldersgate Street, London, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING THE GROUND FOR
LAWN TENNIS AND OTHER GAMES."
This Invention relates to the apparatus in which a mixture of water and whiting
or similar compound is used to mark the lawn or grass plot when playing the game
of lawn tennis, croquet, and other games.
In this apparatus I have a small tin vessel or other tank holding the liquid
mixture. It is supported on three wheels like a perambulator, the axle of the two
wheels passing over the tank, and in the tank on this axle is a wheel which I call
the elevator, the elevator being mounted on its periphery with brushes or on its
sides with cups, or the edge is made with two edges projecting so as to give the
outer diameter of the wheel the section of a trough; on or in this trough.is a small
shoot which carries the liquid brought up by the elevator, and down which the
liquid runs to the third supporting wheel running on the grass. As the liquid
runs down the shoot it falls on the upper edge of this wheel, and as it revolves it
distributes it on and marks the lawn.
The machine runs on three wheels, the fourth wheel or elevator running in the
tank; according to the quantity in the tank or the velocity of the apparatus moving
will be the quantity of material distributed. Pins may be put in the side of the
elevator to act as stirrers for the liquid if required.
The shoot may be either fixed or hinged or made to be out of action, so that in
bringing the apparatus to the place to be used no mark will be made on the
lawn.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Henry Ayres in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
August 1881.
FREDERICK HENRY AYRES, of 111, Aldersgate Street, London, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING THE GROUND FOR
LAWN TENNIS AND OTHER GAMES."
This Invention relates to the apparatus in which a mixture of water and whiting
or similar compound is used to mark the lawn or grass plot when playing the game
of lawn tennis, croquet, and other games.
In this apparatus I have a small tin vessel or other tank holding the liquid
mixture. It is supported on three wheels like a perambulator, the axle of the two
wheels passing over the tank or through it, and in the tank on this axle is a wheel
which I call the elevator, the elevator being mounted on its periphery with brushes
or on its sides with cups, or the edge is made with two edges projecting so as to
give the outer circumference of the wheel the section of a trough, or the wheel may
be made plain. On or in this trough is a small shoot which carries the liquid
brought up by the elevator and down which the liquid runs to the third supporting
wheel running on the grass. As the liquid runs down the shoot it falls on the
upper edge of this wheel, and as it revolves it distributes it on and marks the
lawn.
The machine runs on three wheels, the fourth wheel or elevator running in the
tank. According to the quantity in the tank or the velocity of the apparatus moving
will be the quantity of material distributed. Pins may be put in the side of the
elevator to act as stirrers for the liquid if required.
The shoot may be either fixed or hinged or made to be out of action, so that
in bringing the apparatus to the place to be used no mark will be made on the
lawn.
In the Drawings,--
Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2 an elevation of the machine. a, the elevator
wheel; b, b, c, the bearing wheels of the tank; d, e, the handles; f, pitch chain driving
from a pulley on one of the bearing wheels a pulley on the axle of the elevator
wheel; 9, 9, 92, separate parts of the trough articulated together. The tank being
charged with the whiting liquid or other color and the machine driven on, the
clevator wheel brings up the color, and the trough carries it as it is thrown from
the edge of the wheel on to the bearing wheel c, which then marks the lawn.
When the marking is not required the trough portion g is turned over just in time
to let the mark be made as far as desired, and then the color ceases to flow on to
the ground.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
The combination with a tank for holding color of a wheel driving an elevator
wheel either by a pitch chain or gearing and a trough' either whole or jointed to
convey the color to the ground either direct or over a distributing wheel,
substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Henry Ayres, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty one.
F. H. AYRES. (L.S.)