US2869238A - Football postion indicator - Google Patents

Description

1959 J. J. STERLING FOOTBALL POSITION INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed- March 30. 1953 INVENTOR.

JOHN JOSEPH STERLING BY {W W ATTORN EYS Jan. 20, 1959 Filed March 30, 1953 J. J. STERLING FOOTBALL POSITION INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOHN JOSEPH STERLING N v BY a...

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 20, 19 59 FDOTBALL PQMTEQN INDICATOR John Joseph Sterling, Springfield, Ohio Application March 30, 1953, Serial No. 345,649

3 Claims. (Cl. 33-46) This invention relates to an alignment device and is particularly adapted for precisely and speedily determining the exact position of a football on a playing field with respect to side-line markers.

In the game of football the team which is in possession of the ball is entitled to a series of plays in which to advance the ball a specified minimum number of yards. For the purpose of determining whether the ball is advanced the required distance it is customary for linesmen to employ a length of chain which stretches along the side-line from a point opposite the initial position of the ball to a point opposite that which the ball is required to be moved in the minimum advance; if the required advance is achieved within the specified number of plays the side advancing is entitled to retain the ball for another such attempted advance.

On many occasions after a series of plays the ball will be very closely opposite the advanced end of the chain and it is difficult to determine visually from the sideline whether or not the ball has been moved the required minimum distance. It is presently the practice in such an instance for the head linesman to take up the chain, which is a yardage line measurer in the form of a linear element, at a point where it passes a lateral marking of the field, and with his assistants to carry the chain onto the field, close to the ball, whereupon the head-lineman again places the portion held in the hand against the lateral marker; an assistant then stretches the chain to the ball and if the end thereof passes the nose of the ball the required advance is achieved; if the end does not pass and the complete number of plays has been used up the ball is lost to the opposition-if there is a play or two remaining those in possession may try again and frequently in close action this results in a number of measurements of the kind escribed Within a very short period of time.

Various expedients have been suggested to overcome the time-consuming, game-delaying tedious procedure described above. Despite this the described practice has persisted as the methods suggested have produced their own inherent obstaclesan excessive amount of side-line equipment in some instances, which is not only dangerous to the players but also blocks the view of spectators; tedious and expensive alignment devices have contributed to the rejection of others.

.t is a primary object of this invention to provide a device for making the required determination as to the advance of the ball which incorporates no more visionblocking structure than a linesman himself occasions.

it is an important object of the present invention to provide a device which is inherently more accurate than the liuesman himself can be in making the manipulations with the chain as described hereinbefore.

It is a particular obiect of the invention to provide a football position indicator device capable of extreme accuracy and which requires a minimum of adjustment in its use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which is relatively inexpensive and which entails no installation cost whatever.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device which may be readily packed for transportation.

These and other allied objectives of the invention are attained by providing a football position indicator device which embodies a modified compass, a telescopic sighting member and a ring member carrying a reference point.

The compass in one form as is well known is an instrument which carries a movable needle which needle is so actuated by the magnetic field of the earth that it points in a constant direction. While for making directional readings with a compass corrections for both variation, a factor which varies with the location on the earths surface, and deviation, a factor which caries from instrument to instrument, are vital, they are of no concern to the use of the modified compass arrangement of the present invention; the only structure required is a movable element which is subject to the magnetic field of the earth. Accordingly it is to be understood that while hereinafter a needle itself is referred to specifically as movable, as in a compass, it is intended by the basic term to include any suitable compass arrangement by the terms herein employed, and the other customary accoutrements of a compass such as scale markings are employed if desired.

The modified compass and telescopic sight are preferably mounted on a tripod, the compass is fixedly positioned with respect to this support while the sight is r0- tatably mounted with respect to the same.

A reference ring member which is rotatable with respect to the tripod and sight and which is lockable with respect to the sight is mounted adjacent the compass and bears a suitable index for aligning the ring with the compass needle.

In the practice of the invention, generally speaking, prior to the start of the game, the head linesman rotates the telescopic sight into position to peer across one of the lateral lines of the field and lines the cross-hair up with the line and a distant point although the same is not absolutely necessary but is useful as a check.

The sight is then locked in position and without moving the instrument the index on the ring member is brought into coincidence with the needle of the modified compass; thereafter the ring member and sight are locked for movement together and the original lock of the sight is released. Accordingly thereafter the sight and the reference ring member may be moved together as a unit.

It will be appreciated that Within the limits of the length of a football field in the usual latitudes of play that the needle will always point in a given direction; when the sight and ring member are fixedly positioned with respect to each other as above described it is only necessary to align the index of the ring or ring member with the needle to insure that the sight may always be returned tothe position which permits it to have a line of sight extending laterally across the field, parallel with the original line and hence parallel to all the lateral markings.

In actual practice the linesman operating the instrument will of course place the instrument down in almost the same position after each movement; the accurate alignment is then achieved by simply bringing the needle and index into coincidence by moving the latter a slight rotative amount.

When a measurement of the ball position is required, with the instrument aligned with respect to the field, the same is viewed through the sight and the position of the ball with respect to'the cross-hair determines whether the advance has been sufiicient; in making this measurement the cross-hair also must pass through the vertical plane determined by the end of the measuring chain, and for i this purpose the sight is made rotatable in a vertical plane.

.The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

' Figure l is a view partially in section of a preferred embodiment of the invention a portion of the supporting structure being broken away;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view, partially in section, of a portion of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates the position of the needle and the index of the ring when they are in coincidence;

Figure 5 is an elevational view in extended position of a support for the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an elevational view partially in section indicating a means of securing the support of Figure 5 in extended position;

Figure 7 is a view partially in section illustrating a compact arrangement of the preferred embodiment arranged for transporting;

Figure 8 is a view of a football field illustrating a characteristic position of the structure of invention with respect to the side lines, the parallel cross-stripes and a ball the advance of which is to be judged;

Figure 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 11 is a view partially in section of a modification of the structure of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an elevational view partially in section of the structure of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a detailed view of a portion of the structure of Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is a perspective view having portions cut away illustrating one form of level useful with the structure of invention.

Referring to the drawings the structure of the invention comprises, as generally indicated at 1 a support which includes tripod legs 3 suitably retained by wing nuts 5 in sockets 7 which are secured by brackets 9 and bolts 11 to the base of a casing 13. Support casing 13 is provided with a body member 15, also secured to the base, and having a shoulder 17 adjacent a cut-out portion .19. Fixedly mounted on the shoulder and closing the cut-out portion is a suitable magnetic compass body 21 having a needle 23.

The magnetic compass body 21 may if desired be provided with the usual indicia of a compass, but such is not necessary to the practice of this invention; it is only required that means responsive to the magnetic field of the earth to indicate a fixed direction such as the needle 23 be mounted in the body 15. Thus the needle itself may be the magnet or a needle may be aifixed to card carrying magnets which move the card in a direction indicated by the earths magnetic field.

A bearing 25 surrounds an outer portion of the body member and provides for the supported rotation thereabout of a ring or a centrally apertured plate 27 which is itself slotted around a portion thereof to retain wedge shaped bearings 29 (Figure 9). This wedge bearing permits movement of ring 27 with respect to an upper ring or ring member 31 to which the Wedge bearing is secured by screws as at 33. 7

Upper ring 31 is supported on ring 27 by a peripheral bearing 35 which permits relative rotation between the two rings; the wedge and peripheral bearing arrangement may be replaced, for example, by bearings supported from the casing, but the described structure affords advantages in that it retains the plates in line, supports the lower plate relatively to the upper, and most important aids compactness of the unit which is highly desirable. I

The upper ring 31 is provided with a threaded rod 37 which serves as a handle means to rotate the upper ring only; rod 37 may be passed completely through the'ring to securely engage the lower ring for rotation of the two rings as a unit (Figure 3).

The lower ring 27 is provided with teeth 39 which mesh with a gear 41 mounted on a shaft 43 journaled in the body member 15 and easing The shaft 43 is provided on the outer end thereof with a knob 45 for effecting rotation of the shaft. The shaft is itself threaded as at 47 and receives a nut 4% which locks against casing portion 51 to prevent rotation of the gear 41 and hence ring 27 also.

Secured by bolt 52 on the lower ring 27 for rotation therewith is a suitable bracket, the bifurcated upper end of which extends from an arm 54 and has journaled therebetween (Figure 2) a sighting device 55, which may suitably be an ordinary transit or telescope having cross-hairs S7 and 57 (Figure l). The arm extends through a slot in the casing 13 as shown in Figures 1. and 7 and rotates with lower ring 27 and the securing bolt 5?. in the orientation of the sighting device 55.

The sight device is vertically adjustable and may be secured in the adjusted position by wing nuts 55; as shown in Figure 2 the sight device may also be held in a rotative position with respect to support i. by tightening of wing nut 53; the body of the device is rotatable in the custommy manner by knob 59 on shaft 61 The dotted lines at the right in Figure 1 indicate, for example, a rotated position of the arm 54 which supports the transit.

The cross-hair 57 of the sight may be then accurately aligned with any cross-stripe of a football field by suitably positioning the tripod legs and rotating the crosshair into alignment. Preferably the cross-stripe and ball 77 are aligned with the central point at which the crossh-airs cross; it is then not necessary that the instrument as a whole be precisely level. If desired a leveling arrangement may be provided, and such a level (Fig. 14) may function with reference to an ordinary liquid level to align only the cross-hairs by making the same rotatable in the device 55; or a level may be provided for casing 13 or the unit as a whole.

The upper ring 31 is provided with a suitable index as shown at 65 in Figures 2 and 4 as an arrow which may be rotated into coincidence with the compass indicating means as the needle 23.

Figures 5 and 6 together illustrate a tripod leg 3 in an assembled position; the leg may have any suitable number of tubular members 67 and in the upper end of each a spring 69 urges a pin 71 into an extended position to securely receive thereon an upper member as at 67'. Any usual arrangement, such as embossings cooperating with recesses may be employed in the maintaining of the legs extended however. Further one leg may function as the retaining means for an end of the chain or other linear yardage measuring element, as shown in Figures 8 and 12 and described with particularity hereinafter.

As illustrated in Figure 7 the structure of the invention may be carried to the field in a container 73 which compactly houses the equipment including the tripod legs 3, casing 13 and sighting device 55.

In the operation of the structure described, prior to the start of the game the head linesman, for example, assembles the structure of Figure 7 and positions the unit at an edge of the field at one of the cross-stripes, that is, a goal line or the 50 yard stripe. The unit is then leveled if necessary, and wit-h each of the lock devices, rod 37 and nut 49, in the unlocked position the sight device is rotated into position to sight along the stripe as indicated hereinbefore. By moving the sight in a vertical plane while adjusting the horizontal position the sight is quickly oriented into alignment with the full length of the stripe.

Thereafter nut 49 is tightened against casing 13 to hold lower ring 27 against rotation and then upper ring 31 is rotated by means of rod 37 to bring the index or arrow .65 into alignment with .the needle. Threaded rod 37 is then screwed through the ring 31 to securely engage the lower ring 27 and thereby to lock the rings together. The unit is now ready for use in the game as will be described in connection with Figure 8.

In Figure 8 the football 77 is illustrated as having been advanced to a point between cross-stripes and it is necessary to determine whether the ball has passed a point forward of the tripod and chain end. 'It is only necessary then to note the relative position of needle 23 and index 65 and with nut 49 unlocked to move the index into coincidence with the needle 'by rotating knob 45. This adjustment compensates for the error introduced by the different positioning of the :tripod legs with respect to the field and in general with an experienced linesman will not be more than a few compass degrees.

The sight now lines directly :across the field panallel with the cross-stripes, for the needle position with respect to the field isfixed and once the sight and index rings are positioned and locked the sight will always return to its original position relative to the field if the needle and index are brought into alignment. Referring to Figure 8 it is only necessary then for the linesman to peer across the field through the sight at the ball and to determine Whether or not the ball has advanced 'the required distance.

in the preferred simplified embodiments of the invention of Figures 10 to 14, inclusive, the same principle of operation is involved. Thus as shown in Figures "10 and 12 legs 103 received in sockets 107 are secured to a body member 115 which is recessed (Figure 12) to receive a compass having a needle 123 (Figure 10). A ring or ring member 127 having a suitable index as an arrow .at 165 is rotatably supported on bearings 162 on a peripheral shoulder of body member 115 and the ring is lockable to the body member by engagement of knob 145. A lock ring 164 is secured between shoulders of ring 127 and body member 115 to retain the ring in position on the body member.

Secured by nuts 152 to the outer periphery of ring 127 are upwardly extending arms 154 which converge centrally over the compass glass and needle to define a ring which supports a bracket 153 which is provided at 170 with the head of a threaded bolt having wing nut 172 thereon. The sight device 155 is mounted on the bracket 153 for rotation in a vertical plane and knobs 159 are provided to assist rotation of the sight device in this plane. This sight device 155 may be rotated independently of the ring 127 by simply loosening wing nut 172 and turning the device by hand, relocking being effective when the desired position is reached by simply securing the wing not against the ring device by the arms 154.

It is desirable that a tripod leg form one end of the measuring chain as this arrangement avoids any increase in the usual number of linesmen; accordingly as shown in Figures 12 and 13 one of the legs 103 may be suitably grooved as at 182 to receive a flanged split collar, the opposed parts 178 and 178a of which may be bolted together as at 179. A hook 173 '(Figure 13) is secured to the chain 180 and accordingly the leg 103 carrying the chain may be positioned in the ground in the customary manner of a stake chain as shown in Figure 8 in order to effect a measurement.

Figure 14 illustrates a structure for aligning the crosshairs in the horizontal and vertical planes; thus the sight device 155 may be threaded as at 176 to receive the casing 175 which houses the cross-hairs. Secured to the member by a suitable bolt 177 is a liquid level 174; rotation of the casing 175 to position the bubble of the liquid level centrally rotates the cross-hairs to a leveled position.

Referring now specifically to the operation of the structure of Figures 10 and 12, which is substantially identical to the operation of the structure of Figure 11, the tripod, before the beginning of the game, is positioned with the leg carrying the end of the chain 180 at the edge of a cross stripe of the field; with knob unloosened ring 127 is rotated to align index 165 with the needle 123. Knob 145 is then tightened against ring 127 to restrain further movement of the ring; with wing nut 172 unloosened the sight device is then rotated into coincidence with the field stripe and the vertical cross-hair is aligned directly across the stripe. Any leveling of the instrument, should such be necessary, takes place at this time with the aid of the liquid level or any other suitable leveling arrangement. Wing nut 172 is then tightened to lock the sight device 155 in position; it will be noted that sight device 155 is now locked with respect to ring 127 and will remain so locked when the instrument is moved about the field.

Accordingly the structure is ready for use in a game, and as the structure is moved along the side lines in the course of the game-the leg carrying the chain may be positioned at slightly different angles with respect to the field, and accordingly the sight which is now fixed positively with respect to the leg will not view directly across the field; the needle however always assumes a constant position relative to the field and it is only necessary to align the sight device with the needle and this is accomplished with the knob 1 .5 unloosened by rotating ring 127 until the index coincides with the needle 123. Sight device 155 will then be positioned to view directly across the field.

The structure of Figure 11 is similar to that of Figure 12 and accordingly corresponding parts have the same numerals but are primed. Referring to the figure the body member 115' is provided at 166 with a pivot which supports needle 123' for free rotation thereof. The outer ring 127' is provided with a depending inturned flange 164 which engages the shoulder of the body member 1.15 to retain the ring and the body member together; also in this instance the index marking 165 is provided on an inner annular portion of ring 127' and accordingly is in the horizontal plane of the needle beneath the glass which houses the compass.

The operation of this structure is substantially identical with that of Figure 12.

It is to be noted that with the arrangements described no entry onto the field or handling of the yardage chain is necessary. No cumbersome equipment which hinders the view of spectators is needed and the operation is considerably speeded, making for a more active and less time consuming game.

The various components of the structure of invention such as the casing, rings, gears, are preferably of a metal which is non-magnetic; if the metal is of a magnetic material the amount of such material during any game must remain constant and should be arranged uniformly about the compass. However the casing may preferably be of plastic and the movable components of a resin impregnated fiber as such assists in attaining a. sturdy non-magnetic structure of light weight; when rings 27, 31 are of impregnated fiber wedge bearings 29 may suitably be of aluminum as this maintains the Weight low as well as yielding a low coetlicier of friction between the parts.

it will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may all within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a football yardage measurer in the form of a linear element with means for determining the position of a football relative to the yardage measurer, said means being secured to one end of the yardage measurer and including a sighting device and magnetic means responsive to the magnetic field of the earth to indicate a fixed direction, the sighting device being mounted for rotation relative to said magnetic means and to be oriented relative to said magnetic means to extend perpendicularly tosaid yardage measurer.

2. In a football game linemans measuring apparatus, a yardage measurer in the form of a linear element and a football position indicator secured to one end of the yardage measurer, the indicator comprising supporting leg members to a lower end of one of which said yardage measurer is secured, a body member secured to the upper end of the leg members, a ring member rotatably secured on the body member for horizontal movement, said ring member having an index thereon, a sighting device supported by the ring member, horizontally movable independently of the ring member and adapted to extend at right angles to the yardage measurer when the latter is extended from said one of said leg members, a needle, responsive to the magnetic field of the earth to indicate a fixed direction, pivotally supported for movement and surrounded by the ring member, the ring member being rotatable for aligning the needle with the index of the ring member, and means to lock the ring member and urer, said means being secured to one end of the yardage measurer and including a sighting device, magnetic means responsive to the magnetic field of the earth to indicate a fixed direction and index means, the sighting device being mounted for rotation relative to said magnetic means and to be oriented relative to said magnetic means to extend perpendicularly to said yardage measurer, and the index means being also mounted for rotation relative to said magnetic means and oriented to be aligned with the magnetic means, and means to lock the index means and sighting device together for horizontal rotation as a unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 519 McCann Dec. 20, 1837 293,667 Nixon Feb. 19, 1884 303,928 Glover Aug. 19, 1884 339,818 Buford Nov. 17, 1885 453,158 Paoli May 26, 1891 1,180,283 Chalkey et al. Apr. 25, 1916 2,171,755 Langsner Sept. 5, 1939

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