GB2422115A

GB2422115A - Line marker

Info

Publication number: GB2422115A
Application number: GB0500862A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jacqueline Marler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-15
Filing date: 2005-01-15
Publication date: 2006-07-19
Also published as: GB0500862D0

Abstract

A line marker 4 comprises an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 20, preferably parts of a resilient base 16. The upper surface 18 is provided with a line marking part 22, preferably of artificial turf. Ground engaging projections 24 extend from the lower surface 20 and are arranged to selectively fix the line marker 4 to the ground 10. The projections 24 may be flexible, resilient or resiliently mounted. Preferably, the projections 24 are elongate, have non-pointed ends, and may be of plastics material. The arrangement of the projections 24 may be in an array and the projections 26 at the ends or edges of the base 16 may be longer or less resilient or ticker than ground engaging projections 24 away from the edge or ends of the base 16. The line marker 4 may be straight, circular or arc shaped or L-shaped. To fix the line marker 4 in position, pressure F is applied to the top surface 18 to force the projections 24 into the ground.

Description

LINE MARKER

The present invention relates to line markers - particularly but not exclusively for marking lines on grass sports pitches.

Conventionally lines on sports pitches are marked by painting onto the grass surface. Painted lines can be washed away by rain. Also, if a player comes into contact with the painted line, paint from the line can stick to the player's skin/clothes. This is undesirable.

It is known to provide line markers for marking sports pitches which permanently attach artificial lines into the ground. Such line markers have sharp metal teeth which permanently engage the ground once they are in place by becoming permanently deformed as they encounter obstacles (e. g. stones) whilst entering the ground.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a line marker comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, a line marking part being provided on the upper surface and fixing means comprising ground engaging projections being provided extending from the lower surface wherein the ground engaging projections are arranged to selectively removeably fix the line marker to the ground.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of marking a line on ground for a sports pitch comprising: providing a line marker according to the first embodiment; placing the line marker on the ground in a position where the line is desired to be marked with the lower surface facing towards the ground; and applying pressure to the upper surface of the line marker to force the ground engaging projections into the ground.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a sports pitch which has been marked out using line markers according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional end view of a line marker according to the first embodiment; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional end view of a line marker according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a plan view of a line marker according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a football pitch 2 is formed by removably fixing line markers 4, 6, 8 into the ground 10 which comprises a grass surface in this case.

A first line marker 4 comprises an elongate rectangular strip having sides 12 and ends 14. A second line marker 6 also comprises an elongate rectangular strip, which is shorter than the first 4. A third line marker 8 comprises a curved element.

Referring to Figure 2, the first line marker 4 comprises a flexible, resilient, rectangular rubber base 16 having an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 20. Extending from the upper surface 18 of the rubber base 16 is a line marking part in the form of a line marking material. In this embodiment, the upper surface is covered in artificial turf 22. The artificial turf 22 is attached to the upper surface by an adhesive. The artificial turf 22 is white so that it is easily visible when the line marker 4 is in place on the ground 10.

Extending from the lower surface 20 of the base 16 are a plurality of ground engaging projections 24. Each projection 24 is formed of a resilient flexible plastics material and has one end embedded in the base 16. The ground engaging projections 24 are provided in a regular rectangular array on the lower surface 20 of the base 16 and they cover substantially all regions of the lower surface 20. Sixteen rows of projections are provided extending across the width of the first line marker strip 4 between its sides 12. The ground engaging projections 24 which are nearest the sides 12 and ends 14 are longer than the other ground engaging projections 24. Advantageously, the line marker is thus more securely fixed into the ground.

The outermost ground engaging projections 24 are about 30mm long and the other ground engaging projections 24 are about 25mm long. The ground engaging projections 24 are flexible.

The ground engaging projections 24 also have rounded ends 26 advantageously this minimises the risk of injury to a person if they come into contact with ends of the ground engaging projections 24 e.g. during installation or removal of the line marker 4 to/from the ground 10. The flexibility of the projections 24 also minimises the risk of injury to a person who comes into contact with ends of the projections 24. The bristles 24 whilst being flexible are sufficiently stiff to stick into and engage with the ground 10.

In use, the line marker 4 is removably secured to the ground by placing it on the ground in a desired location with the projections 24 facing the ground 10 and the artificial turf 22 being visible from above. Referring to Figure 2, a pressure (indicated by arrow F) can then be exerted via the artificial turf 22 on the upper surface 18 of the line marker 4 to force the projections 24 into the ground 10. This is most conveniently done by a user stepping on the line marker 4 to force the projections 24 into the ground 10. This process is made easier due to the flexibility and resilience of the base 16. As the projections 24 enter the ground 10, the base 16 and the projections 24 flex as they interact with obstacles e. g. stones in the ground 10. The line markers 6 and 8 are similarly formed but are of a different shape and can be similarly fixed to the ground 10.

The line marker 4 can be easily removed from the ground 10 when desired by gripping the artificial turf 22 and pulling it. Since the artificial turf 22 is securely attached to the base 16, pulling the artificial turf has the effect of removing the projections 24, which are embedded in the base, from the ground 10. The resilient projections 24, which were flexed from their original form and position whilst in the ground 10 return to their original form and position when they 24 are removed from the ground 10. The resilient base 16 similarly returns to its original form.

Referring to Figure 3, in another embodiment of the invention, a line marker 30 has a flexible base 32 having upper 34 and lower 36 surfaces.

A line marking material 38 is provided on the upper surface 34.

Extending from the lower surface 36, are projections 40 which are similar to the ground engaging projections 24 of the first embodiment except that there are more longer projections 40 provided near the perimeter regions of the line marker 30. Referring to Figure 3, in cross-section, the two projections 40 which are closest to each edge of the line marker 30 are both longer than the other projections 40.

In other embodiments, different arrangements of long/short projections may be provided to enhance securing of the line marker to the ground.

Referring to Figure 1, in the first embodiment the line markers 4, 6, 8 are all formed as one piece so that one entire side of the football pitch 2 for example is formed of only one line marker 4. In other embodiments, shorter sections of line marker may be provided, e.g. for ease of carriage/transport, and these may be alignable by a user as desired. For example, a number of shorter straight line markers may be placed end to end to provide a line marker equivalent to the long first line marker 4 of the first embodiment.

Referring to Figure 4, a line marker 42 according to a further embodiment comprises an L-shaped line marker. Advantageously, this line marker is useful for marking corners of a pitch to produce exact right angles without any estimation by the user. Similarly, other required shapes may be provided e.g. curves/circular/part circular. Also in this embodiment, the ground engaging projections comprise rounded, substantially spherical safety coverings on their ends - this reduces further the risk of injury to a person coming into contact with the ends.

Instead of providing longer projections towards the perimeter regions of a line marker, in other embodiments, other means may be provided to enhance securing of the line marker at its edges. For example, thicker projections may be provided adjacent the sides of the line marker compared to the other projections. Alternatively, or additionally, projections at the perimeter regions of the line marker may comprise less flexible projections than elsewhere.

In other embodiments, the base may not be resilient - i.e. the ground engaging projections alone are resilient and the base is rigid.

Alternatively, the base may be resilient whilst the ground engaging projections are rigid.

Alternatively, neither the base nor the projections are resilient.

Various modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from its scope. Other sports pitches e.g. hockey, tennis, running tracks etc. may be marked using line markers according to this invention. Advantageously, there is no need to cover grass e.g. in schools or public parks with painted lines.

Claims

1. Line marker comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, a line marking part being provided on the upper surface and fixing means comprising ground engaging projections being provided extending from the lower surface wherein the ground engaging projections are arranged to selectively removeably fix the line marker to the ground.

2. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein at least a part of the fixing means comprises a base comprising the upper and lower surfaces.

3. A line marker according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least part of xthe fixing means is resilient.

4. A line marker according to Claim 3, wherein the ground engaging projections are resiliently mounted.

5. A line marker according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the base comprises a resilient base.

6. A line marker according to any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the ground engaging projections are resilient.

7. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging projections are flexible.

8. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging projections are elongate.

9. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging projections are made of a plastics material.

10. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging projections comprise rounded, square or other suitable nonpointed ends.

11. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the marking part comprises an artificial turf material.

12. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein some or all of the ground engaging projections near or adjacent edges of the lower surface are longer than other ground engaging projections.

13. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein some or all of the ground engaging projections near or adjacent edges of the lower surface are thicker than other ground engaging projections.

14. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein some or all of the ground engaging projections near or adjacent edges of the lower surface are less flexible than other ground engaging projections.

15. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging projections are arranged in an array e.g. circular, oval or rectangular array.

16. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging projections extend from substantially all regions of the lower surface.

17. A line marker according to any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the ground engaging projections extend from substantially only regions near or adjacent edges of the lower surface.

18. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the ground engaging projections are formed of a plastics material.

19. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the line marking part comprises a straight line.

20. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the line marking part comprises a L-shaped line.

21. A line marker according to any preceding claim, wherein the line marking part comprises a part circular or circular line.

22. A method of marking a line on ground for a sports pitch comprising: providing a line marker according to any of Claims 1 to 21; placing the line marker on the ground in a position where the line is desired to be marked with the lower surface facing towards the ground; and applying pressure to the upper surface of the line marker to force the ground engaging projections into the ground.

23. A line member or method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying claims.