Patent ID: 7827772

Claim:
A marking assembly for attachment to a vehicle for distributing a marking agent on a substantially grass-covered field to mark at least one line in at least one predetermined area thereof, the marking assembly comprising: a deck comprising a grass-cutting subassembly for mowing the grass and removing the cuttings thereof to provide freshly-mown grass in said at least one predetermined area of the field, the deck being attachable to the vehicle; at least one nozzle subassembly mounted on the vehicle and positioned downstream relative to the grass-cutting subassembly when the vehicle travels in a forward direction, said at least one nozzle subassembly comprising at least one nozzle for releasing the marking agent to mark said at least one line on said at least one predetermined area of the field; when attached to the vehicle, the deck being movable between a lowered position, in which the grass-cutting subassembly is positioned to cut grass on the field, and a raised position, in which the grass-cutting assembly is positioned to substantially avoid engagement thereof with the grass; said at least one nozzle subassembly comprising a mounting bracket for attaching said at least one nozzle to the vehicle and at least one shoe for directing the marking agent, upon its release from said at least one nozzle, to mark said at least one line; the mounting bracket additionally comprising at least one member extending between proximal and distal ends thereof, said at least one member being pivotably attached to the vehicle at the proximal end thereof; said at least one nozzle being attached to said at least one member at a first preselected distance from the proximal end; and at least one connecting element connecting said at least one member at a second preselected distance from the proximal end.