CA2053852A1 - Sports floor with line marking - Google Patents

Sports floor with line marking

Info

Publication number
CA2053852A1
CA2053852A1 CA002053852A CA2053852A CA2053852A1 CA 2053852 A1 CA2053852 A1 CA 2053852A1 CA 002053852 A CA002053852 A CA 002053852A CA 2053852 A CA2053852 A CA 2053852A CA 2053852 A1 CA2053852 A1 CA 2053852A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
layer
floor
activation
line marking
sports floor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002053852A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jan Nijenhuis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HARMINA MULDER
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2053852A1 publication Critical patent/CA2053852A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63CSKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C19/00Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor
    • A63C19/06Apparatus for setting-out or dividing courts
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63CSKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE
    • A63C19/00Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor
    • A63C19/02Shaping of the surface of courts according to the necessities of the different games

Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a sports floor with line marking. The invention has for its object to provide a sports floor with line marking which is very simple and inexpensive, can be laid simply and offers a virtually unlimited flexibility with regard to the line marking patterns to be formed, whereby is achieved that the line marking can be adapted in a short time, whereby the sports floor is made suitable for a different sport. In order to bring about the said objects the invention provides a sports floor (1) dis-playing the feature that the line marking comprises a layer (15) with liquid crystals which can be activated by energizing means and the optical properties of which change on activation.

Description

2 0 ~ 3 8 ~ ~
~ 1 . I
X Sch/js/2Nijen International appln. PCT/NL90/00056 Encl. to our letter of June 21, 1991 NEW P~E~MB~E OF T~E D~CRIPTION

Sports floor ~ith li~ mar~ing The invention relates to a sports floor with line marking, comprising a layer with liquid crystals which ca~ be activated by heating means and the optical properties of which change on activation, a pattern of electrical heating 5 elements above which the layer for activaction is situated.
Such a sports floor is known from DE-A-26 20 037.
It is a purpose of the invention to provide a sports floor of the type mentioned above, in which there is a very high degree of compressed between the sports floor with the 10 line marking in the energized and rest conditions, respectively. Specifically, the line marking may be virtually invisible in the de-energized or rest condition.
To this end the sports floor according to the invention is characterized in that the layer for activation is opaque 15 in the rest state and has a colour that is substantially the same as the colour of the ~loor, and in activated state is transparent, and in which situated wlder the layer for activation is a coloured layert the c:olour of which contrasts with the colour of the floor.
It is noted that EP-A-0 205 261 discloses a thin film comprising~liquid crystals and being capable of undergoing ;
repeated thermally-induced transitions between opaque and transparent. The structural arrangements and specific choices proposed by the invention are not known ~rom this 25 application.
The sports floor according to the invention is ~ -preferably em~odied such that the colour lay~r has a considerable thermal conduction relative to the material of the sports floor and that the heating elements arc embedded 30 in the colour layer. This colour layer can for instance consist substantially of polyester.
~ r~ a~ ~ 5 ~ ~ O ~ ~ ~ ~ 0 4 . O

-- 20~38S2 i It is remarked that it is known to embody li~e markings painted on the ground in different colours for difPerent sports. That this can cause confusion will be evident. Tha system according to the invention does not require such a 5 variety of colours; use can simply ~e made of one colour which gives the best possible contrast with the-upper surface of the wooden top layer. In particular the line marking can be black.
A very practical embodiment is that wherein the layer 10 for activation is incorporated in a corresponding pattern of grooves in the floor. When heating elements are used they are arranged thereunder in the relevant grooves.
In a particular embodiment the floor displays the ¦
characteristic that the layer for activation consists of a ~-15 cured slurry. This slurry is commercially available in diverse compisitions and contains the liquid crystals.
The sports floor preferably has the feature that the ~loor, at least in the region of the line marking, is covered -by a transparent or opal top coat. - -In the case of a sports floor with line marking that is `-suitable for different sports, where:in selective energi~ing of the systems serving for the different sports has to be possible, intersecting of lines for energizing and lines not to be energized will often occur. According to the invention 25 a variant is applied to this end wherein the line marking displays locally an intersecting of two lines, at the position of which layer for activation is interrupted in both lines at both sides. During the production stage the layer for activation can readily be cut through or removed over a 30 short length from the relevant lines. As a result no "seepage" of the thermal effects can occur~ whereby the lines preserve their sharply defined character.
***** '~
.

See further the original description, page 4, line 3~ ~

: .;, . ..

. ,.. ;, ~ ~ . . ` -2~3852 ~ '`'`~.~C :~ 9i 15' 33 RRNOLD ~ SIE~ 31-53-302496 P{-r/l`~L90~ i;
.., _ , . -The ~nven~ion also provides a method for provi~ing a sport~ floor with line marking, comprising ~he steps o~:
(1) providing a sport. ~loor, for ins~ance of woodl ~2) arrang~ng a pattern o~ groov~s, f or exampl~ b~ ~utting, corresponding ~o the desired line marking;
(3) laying heating elements, for instanc~ wires, in the~e grooves;
t4) covering these heatin~ elements with the colour layer, for instance a llquld, eurable polyes~er:
(5) arranging thereover the layer for activation, ~or exa~ple a ~u~able slurry: and :.,, . ' ' :.

: , " ' ~ ,'. :'.' , ', .. . . .. . .

: . .' . :
.:::: :
~' . ' -': :

: .,, ' :, . . ' -:
., . .. ~
' . . . ~:' '.
: '.:-',' :' .
;, , ': ~.,.
:,: . -: :.--: :' . , ~,;, ~ . ~ .
. .

., . .

2~38~2 !~ :~
, . ~.
. .

(6) coupling connecting means to the heating elements for connection to energizing means.
The sports floor will generally take a form such that the line marking pattern is sub-divided into segments which are coupled by means of electrical connections to a central energizing device which can for instance be controlled from a ~ --microprocessor or PC system. Via the electrically conducting connections the activation of the relevant line marking seg-ments takes place by means of such a selective energizing.
o The invention will now be elucidated with reference to ~-~ the annexed drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a sports floor according to the invention;
fig. 2 shows II-II from fig. l partly in bro)cen away perspective view and partly in cross section;
fig. 3 is a detail of a cutting device for cutting a groove;
fig. 4 is a cross section through a line according to the invention;
fig. 5 shows a partly broken away perspective view of a portion of a sports floor at the location of the crossing of two lines.
Fig. 1 shows a sports floor 1 according to the invention.
This comprises a pattern of lines that is suitable for basket-ball and volleyball. Shown with full lines is the line marking 2 for basketball, while the line marking for volleyball is shown with broken lines 3. Controlling takes place from a central control unit 4 which is coupled to the line markings 2, 3 by means of cables 5.
By means of appropriate operation of the central control -30 unit 4 either the basketball line marking 2 or the volleyball ~
line marking 3 can be made visible at choice. - -Fig. 2 shows the construction of the line marking accord-ing to the invention. Placed onto a concrete f loor 6 is a top layer 7 of wood. Grooves 8 are cut into this top layer, for instance by a cutting operation to be described below. In the bottom of these grooves 8 are laid conductor wires 9 i!

: 20~3~2 i :

which serve for through-feed of current for heating. The groove 8 is filled with a mass 10 consisting of black poly- .
ester. The smooth upper surface 11 thereof lies in the same .
plane as the smooth upper surface 12 of the wooden top layer .
7. The colour of the black polyPster contrasts with the light colour of the wood of the top layer 7. Arranged on either side of the surface 11 with a slight clearance are two bound-ing layers 13, 14. Arranged between the bounding layers 13, 14 is an layer for activation 15. This is applied as slurry, therefor~ in more or less liquid state, and then curedO Sub-- sequently applied thereover is a double top coat 16, 17 con-sisting respectively of isocyanate and a very hard and wear-resistant material that is translucent and therefore trans-parent or opal.
Without thermal activation the layer for activation 15 is opaque and has substantially the same colour as the upper surface 12. The two surfaces do not thereby contrast with one another and the line marking is invisible. When as a result of current supply through the wire 9, through heat conduction through the mass 10 of the polyester the layer for activation 15 is heated to a sufficient extent it becomes transparent and the black surface 11 thereby becomes visible through the layer for activation 15 and the top coats 16, 17, whereby the line marking becomes visible.
It is noted that the bounding strips 13, 14 serve exclu-sively for the once only arranging of the layer for activation 15 at the correct width and are subsequently removed. They are however drawn in for the sake of completeness in the clarity in the figure.
Fig. 3 shows a cylindrical cutter 18 which is carried : :
rotatably by a frame 19 and can be driven by an ~lectromotor ~ -20. The cutter is driven rotatably in the direction of an arrow 21 and moved in the transporting direction designated with the arrow 22. Due to its form the cutter 18 can arrange a groove 23 in the top layer 7.
Fig. 4 shows three identical, mutually adjoining grooves ; .. . , . :: , 21153~S2 23 in the recessed central portion whereof are laid the wires 9. The grooves 23 are further filled with the polyester mass , 10. Placed thereon is the layer for activation 15 and the whole is subsequently covered with a top coat ~S. The width of the layer for activation 15 is selected relative to the width of the grooves 23 such that the whole of it can be heated thereby to a sufficient extent.
Fig. 5 shows a crossing between two lines 26 and 27. The wires 9 of both lines are isolated from each other. The groo-ves intersect but, as the figure clearly shows, the layer foractivations 15 are completely separated from each other at the four sides of the relevant intersection, whereby an only negligible thermal influence is possible from the one activa-ted line to the other. A sharp division of both lines is hereby always ensured.
The wires 9 have to be able to provide the layer for activation with a sufficiently large temperature increase when current is fed through. Copper wire for instance is highly suitable.

*****
'.:':.~; . -.

Claims (7)

NEW CLAIMS
1. Sports floor with line marking, comprising a layer with liquid crystals which can be activated by heating means and the optical properties of which change on activation, a pattern of electrical heating elements above which the layer for activaction is situated, characterized in that the layer for activation is opaque in the rest state and has a colour that is-substantially the same as the colour of the floor, and in activated state is transparent, and in which situated under the layer for activation is a coloured layer, the colour of which contrasts with the colour of the floor.
2. Sports floor as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the colour layer has a considerable thermal conduction relative to the material of the sports floor and that the heating elements are embedded in the colour layer.
3. Sports floor as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the colour layer consists substantially of polyester.
4. Sports floor as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the layer for activation is arranged in a corresponding pattern of grooves in the floor.
5. Sports floor as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the layer for activation consists of a cured slurry.
6. Sports floor as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the floor, at least in the region of the line marking, is covered by a transparent or opal top coat.
7. Sports floor as claimed in claim 1, characterized that the line marking displays locally an intersecting of two lines, at the position of which the layer for activation is interrupted in both lines on both sides.
CA002053852A 1989-04-28 1990-04-25 Sports floor with line marking Abandoned CA2053852A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL8901088 1989-04-28
NL8901088 1989-04-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2053852A1 true CA2053852A1 (en) 1990-10-29

Family

ID=19854580

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002053852A Abandoned CA2053852A1 (en) 1989-04-28 1990-04-25 Sports floor with line marking

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0473639A1 (en)
JP (1) JPH04504672A (en)
KR (1) KR920700726A (en)
AU (1) AU631869B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2053852A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1990013340A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19738605A1 (en) * 1997-09-04 1999-03-11 Thomas Dipl Phys Harder Markers and patterns for playing fields that can be switched on and off
NO315008B1 (en) * 2001-07-18 2003-06-23 Dagfinn Andersen Excellent sports flooring for indoor multi-use halls, as well as methods for pre-marking such a floor and using an electroluminescent material
FR2836053A1 (en) 2002-02-21 2003-08-22 Kamal Hammoutene Sports hall pitch marking scheme uses Suspended Particle Device light valve layers
JP2005304805A (en) * 2004-04-22 2005-11-04 Masanobu Yoshida Line display device
NL1033826C1 (en) * 2007-05-09 2007-08-21 Paula Antonia Verstap Meggelen Indicatory lines are used in sports halls to mark out pitches and courts for benefit of players and spectators in that they show where the respective areas being and end
FR2937561B1 (en) * 2008-10-23 2010-12-31 Centre Nat Rech Scient METHOD FOR DELIMITATION OF A SPORTS OR PLAY AREA USING SPIN THERMOCHROME TRANSITION MATERIAL

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2620037A1 (en) * 1976-05-06 1977-11-24 Klaus Dieter Hoess Variable marking lines for hall floors - consist of crystals of temp. dependent colour and associated heating or cooling devices
AU542541B2 (en) * 1979-07-30 1985-02-28 George Hudson Parquetry Flooring Sales Pty. Ltd. Grooving apparatus
US4538811A (en) * 1983-03-07 1985-09-03 Wigoda Luis T Arbitration of tennis by change of colors
US4728547A (en) * 1985-06-10 1988-03-01 General Motors Corporation Liquid crystal droplets dispersed in thin films of UV-curable polymers
CA1273192A (en) * 1985-06-10 1990-08-28 Nuno A. Vaz Liquid crystal droplets dispersed in thin films of uv- curable polymers
FR2637406A1 (en) * 1988-10-04 1990-04-06 Helary Dominique Method and device for kinetic and changeable colouring

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0473639A1 (en) 1992-03-11
AU5568390A (en) 1990-11-29
WO1990013340A1 (en) 1990-11-15
KR920700726A (en) 1992-08-10
AU631869B2 (en) 1992-12-10
JPH04504672A (en) 1992-08-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2053852A1 (en) Sports floor with line marking
BR9402941A (en) Method and apparatus for marking lawns
US4274243A (en) Asphalt shingle for simulating a tiled roof
EP0522623A3 (en) Mechanically-linked side stick controllers with isolated pitch and roll control movement
DE69226904T2 (en) Garment trimming system with computerized trimming pattern alignment
DE3485365D1 (en) FAST ELECTROOPTIC LIGHT SWITCH AND ITS USE IN A DISPLAY DEVICE WITH SEQUENTIAL GRID AND FULL COLOR RENDERING.
DE69024924T2 (en) Gas control system with thrust calculated in real time depending on the gas control position
EP0646269A4 (en) Electromagnetic-wave modulating, movable electrode, capacitor elements.
DE68902974D1 (en) FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE MATERIAL WITH A MICA MATRIX OR INTERMEDIATE LAYER.
ATE31465T1 (en) FLOORING FOR STABLES.
DE69307654T2 (en) Control unit in connection with a lockable cylinder-piston unit
US2811800A (en) Method of making a translucent graphic representation
DE68911900D1 (en) NARROW-BAND FILTER WITH CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE BREAKING INDEX AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THEIR PRODUCTION.
DE69127496T2 (en) Control device with sequential function plan display for controlling a machine in reverse operation
DE69410534T2 (en) Electrically conductive roll with a base layer made of ion-conductive material
DE69502080T2 (en) Yaw control with force gradient feedback for helicopters
DE69317934D1 (en) Automatic gain control circuit with non-linear gain using a PLL circuit
EP0505661A1 (en) Slat with a changing color capability
DE2620037A1 (en) Variable marking lines for hall floors - consist of crystals of temp. dependent colour and associated heating or cooling devices
JPS5930933A (en) Color pattern cloth
JPS6233265Y2 (en)
DE3751653D1 (en) AROMATIC POLYESTER WITH GOOD HEAT RESISTANCE
NL9101901A (en) Marking film and marking system based thereon
DE59403449D1 (en) Burner control unit with a non-self-resetting temperature limit switch
KR910000493U (en) Vinyl material with three-dimensional pattern layer

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Dead