US2881543A - Linesman's marker pole - Google Patents

Description

p 95? RR; DE mm 2,881,543 I nmasm's MARKER Pot-.2

Filed April 29, 1 957 v IIIIH,

Rudolph R. DeRouen ATTORNEY United States Patent LINESMANS MARKER POLE Rudolph Roy De Rouen, Trinidad, Colo.

Application April 29, 1957, Serial No. 655,849

2 Claims. -(Cl. 40-125) and improved linesmans marker pole adapted to provide visual indication of the direction of play subject check thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved linemans marker pole adjustably indicative of the direction of ball play in a manner adapting the same for use at either or both ends of a standard measure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved linesmans marker pole indicative of the direction of ball play in a variety of particular constructions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and organization of elements constituting a linemans marker pole of high practicality and enhanced advantage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a linesmans marker pole characterized by a novel and improved arrangement for connecting the same with the end of a chain length conventionally utilized as a standard measure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved linesmans marker pole that'is simple and inexpensive of production from known and available materials, that is susceptible of production in a variety of specific and interchangeable embodiments indicative of the direction of ball play, that is practical andconvenient of use, and that functions to promote understanding of the play to which it is applied by spectators and 0thcials.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a typical embodiment of the invention as associated in duplicate with and to com Figure 5 is an elevation of one face of a hinged panel unit employable as a direction indicator in substitution for the analogous element of the preceding views. Figure 6 is an elevation of the opposite face of the hinged panel arrangement according to Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the hinged panel ar rangement represented by Figures 5 and 6 as adjusted in one condition of practical use.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing the hinged panel arrangement as alternatively conditioned for practical use.

Figure 9 is an elevation showing one face of a single panel employable in substitution for the direction indicators of the preceding views.

Figure 10 is an elevation of the opposite face of the single panel represented by Figure 9. Figure 11 is an elevation of an alternative mounting applicable to adjustably and detachably associate the hinged panel arrangement according to Figures 5-8, inclusive, with a marker pole.

As is well understood, an essential adjunct to regulation of play in the game of football is a standard measure engaged between terminal poles which is shifted under the direction of an oflicial along a sideline of the field of play to establish and check certain criteria pertinent to advance of the ball. The standard measure is customarily a ten yard length of chain, or equivalent non-extensible flexible material, connecting between terminal poles having sharpened portions projecting below the chain for ground penetration, and the resulting unit is extended in the direction of play from registration of its trailing end with a ball position laterally of the field to establish the gain required to be made by those advancing the ball in accordance with the rules of play. The frequent shifts of the linesmans marker unit incident to the progress of play and the frequent reversals of the direction of play as possession of the ball is exchanged between opposing teams conduce to confusion as to the direction of ball play obtaining at any and every moment, Which confusion has been known to afflict officials as well as spectators, hence an indication of the direction of play associated with the poles of the marker unit in a manner to accurately represent the direction of ball advance at all times is of noteworthy advantage, and it is to the provision of such an indicator that the instant invention is directed.

In the construction and organization of the improvement according to Figures l-4, inclusive, the numeral 15 designates a flexible chain length engaged at its ends with and spanning between marker poles 16 to complete a linesmans marker unit of generally conventional type. The chain length 15 may be of any appropriate material and particular construction and of a length suited to its purpose as a standard measure; such length customarily being exactly ten yards when the unit is to be applied to use in connection With football games. The poles 16 are straight, rigid members of convenient length either solid or tubular in form and of any material expediently adaptable to the purpose, it being entirely feasible and practical to constitute the poles 16 from sections of standard pipe or tubing of light weight. Giving effect to certain principles of the invention, ends of the chain length 15 preferably engage with links 17 swivelled on and adjacent the lower ends of the poles 16 between spacedlyparallel, annular flanges 18 extending radially and outwardly from each of the poles 16, whereby to rotatably associate each of the poles with an end of a chain length 15 in a manner obviating kinking or tangling of the chain length as a result of pole manipulation. The lower ends of the poles 16 are appropriately tapered, as at 19, to provide points for ground penetration immediatelysubjacent the flanges 18 in a disposition appropriate to stretch the chain length 15 along a ground surface wherein the points 19 are seated. Facilitating use of the unit assembly and secure engagement of the points 19 within the ground, step blocks 20 are provided on and in fixed relation with the poles 16 immediately above the flanges 18, which blocks may be utilized by a manipulator of the pole in an obvious -manner to seat the point 19 thereof in the ground with precision, security, and convenience. In connection withthe use of the marker unit assembly, it is expedient to employ on certain occasions a flag or spot indicator 21 as a guide in returning the'marker unit to a position from which it has been displaced, and hence the instant improvement includes an eye 22 fixed to and at some convenient point along each pole 16 for the detachable support of such flag 21; a snap clip or equivalent connector being provided to facilitate detachable association of the flag with one or the other of the eyes 22 included in the marker unit. As an aid to manipulation and correct orientation of the poles 16, a straight, rigid rod 23 is ,fixedto and in perpendicular relation with each of the poles 16 to extend at each end radially of the associated pole as a hand grip in appropriate elevation above the flanges 18.

As ,a significant feature of the invention, each of the poles 16 is furnished with a direction indicator adjustably associated with and supported by the upper end of the pole, and in the organization according to Figures 1-4, inclusive, said indicator is represented as an arrow, or pointer, 24 pivotally related with the upper end of the associated pole for adjustment through a vertical are about an axis perpendicular to that of the pole and expediently perpendicular to the disposition of the rod 23. Manifestly, the pointer 24 may be operatively associated with its pole 16 in various ways effective to realize the purposes of the invention, a practical and preferred mount for said pointer being represented as including a generallyacircular fitting 25 formed with a radial, internallythreaded socket for removable and replaceable coaction with the upper end of a pole 16 and with an axial, interiorly-threaded bore coactable with a bolt 26 engaged through a hole centrally of the pointer 24 to loosely clamp the pointer against one face of the fitting 25 and for rotation about the bolt 26 at one side of and in a plane-parallel to the axis of the associated pole 16. In applying the pointer 24 to its intended use as an indicator of the direction of play obtaining at any given time, it is requisite that means he provided for latching said pointer in operative and inoperative indicating positions, for which purpose a-spring-biased detent 27 is operatively housed-in the fitting 25 for engagement with the face of-the pointer 24 closing against said fitting and holes or sockets 28 are formed in the pointer for separate coaction with said detent and in an expedient arrangement such as to yieldably retain the pointer in its various positions of operative adjustment, which include dispositions perpendicular to the associated pole 16 and hence parallel to the rod 23 'with the pointer directed in either of the two opposite directions, and a disposition of the pointer parallelto the axis of the pole 16, as at the right in Figure 1, wherein it provides no indication ofthe direction of play.

Constructed" and organized substantially as shown and described, the marker unit assembly typified by Figures l-4, inclusive, is utilized with an attendant at each pole 16 under the direction of an official to regulate and determine football play in a customary manner. Supplementing the usual functions of the unit assembly as facilitated and enhanced by the swivelled connection of the chain length ends to the poles, the steps 20, eyes 22, and rods 23, the pointers 24 as adjusted by the attendants visually evidence the direction of ball play at all times to spectators, officials, and players. Given an established direction of ball play, the pointer 24 at the pole 16 leading in such direction is swung on its pivot to manifest the-projected course of the play, as at the left in Figure 1, andis automatically yieldably latched in such adjustment by engagement of the detent 27 in an appropriate one of the holes or sockets 28, and the pole is rotated, if necessary to align the rod 23 parallel to such direction with consequent proper orientation of the pointer. The pointer 24 on the pole 16 at the end of the marker unit assembly trailing the direction of play may be adjusted to simulate and to parallel the disposition of the pointer on the complementary pole, or the pointer on the pole trailing the direction of play may be adjusted to parallel the axis of the associated pole, as at the right in Figure l, and hence to a position of null direction indication so far as the play is concerned. Manifestly, any reversal of or change in the direction of play requires but a simple and corresponding adjustment of the pointers 24 about their pivotal mounting axes to establish a correct and continuing visual indication of the direction of play then obtaining.

Alternative to the pointer 24 and associated mounting just described, the arrangements according to Figures 5-11, inclusive, function for display of distinctive insignia as well as for indication of the direction of play in operative association-With'the poles 16 of the marker unit assembly constituted as above set forth. In competitive football play, the opposing teams frequently are identified by significant colors and insignia, either or both, rivalry is intense, and designation of the direction of play in terms of the indicia peculiar to the team in possession of the ball is opportune and desirable, and the constructions hereinafterdescribed facilitate such partisan display as "an incident of play direction indication.

Figures 5-8, inclusive, represent a typical hinged panel arrangement employable in attachment to upper ends of theypoles 16 as a direction indicator in substitution for the' fitting"25 and associated pointer 24 of the arrangement first described. The hinged panel arrangement is developed a as pair of like, complementary panels 28 and 28', of any appropriate thin, stiff, and substantially rigidmaterial, hingedly conjoined along corresponding long margins, as at 29, to ,fold together in either direction of their relative articulation. Coplanar faces of the panels 28 and 28' on one side of the hinged assembly similarly display a direction indicator, illustrated as a pointer 30, which may be a representation of the colors or insigne of a football team, school, or the like, arranged for identical disposition on the opposite sides of the panel assembly when the latter is folded to expose such faces, as in Figure 7, and the coplanar faces of the said panels on the other side of the hinged assembly may be blank or may depict a contrasting sign or symbol, such as'the annulus 31, indicative of the end of the marker unit assembly trailing in the direction of ball play, for exposure on both faces of the panel assembly when the latter is folded together, as in Figure 8, to conceal the faces bearing the representation typified by the pointer 30. The hinged panel assembly shown and described is conditioned for selective mounting on the poles 16 of a marker unit assembly through the provision of an internally-threaded socket 32 fixed centrally to and projecting laterally from a free long side of one of the constituent panels, such as the panel 28 of the illustrated embodiment, for coaction with the threaded upper end of each pole 16, whereby to secure the panel assembly to the pole with the hinge axis 29 perpendicular thereto and desirably coplanar with the rod 23 of the associated pole. As so constructed and arranged, the hinged panel organization is available through simple manipulation of the free panel element about the hinge axis to condition either unit as that leading in the direction of ball play when the pointer, colors, or insigne faces thereof are exposed and to correspondingly condition the other of the said organizations comprised in a marker unit assembly asthat trailing in the direction of ball play when the pointer, colors, or insigne faces thereof are concealed.

The alternative direction indicator arrangement according to'Figure 11 utilizes the hinged panel unit last above described, less the socket 32, and distinguishes only in the provision of a convenient mounting attachment adapting the associated pole 16 for convenient use with diverse such units. As shown in Figure 11, a rectangular yoke frame 33 fixed in any expedient manner to the upper end of a pole 16 includes upwardly-directed arms 33 spaced apart to receive the hinged panel unit therebetween, and eyes formed in the free terminals of said arms are adapted to receive the projecting ends of a pintle 29 characterizing the hinge 29 and thereby mount the panel unit with its hinge axis perpendicular to the associated pole for alternative display of the panel unit faces as above set forth.

In a simplified embodiment, the direction indicator according to Figures 9 and 10 is appropriate to display the play direction indication correctly to view on but one side of the marker unit assembly wherewith it is utilized. As shown, a single panel 34, identical with or analogous to the panel 28 previously described, is provided with the pointer 30, or corresponding leading indication, on one face and with the annulus 31, or corresponding trailing indication, on its other face, and is arranged for attachment to a pole 16 by means of the socket 32 projecting centrally and laterally from one long margin thereof. With a single panel 34 mounted on each of the poles 16 of the marker unit assembly in coplanar relation with the rod 23 of the associated pole, a half-turn rotation of the poles in their respective links 17 suflices to reverse the indications of the panels 34 and may be availed of to establish such correlation of the panel indications as correctly reflects the direction of play to viewers at but one side of the marker unit assembly.

Since changes, variations, nad modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. A marker pole employa'ble in duplicate as the manipulable terminals of a linesmans chain, comprising a straight, rigid pole member pointed for ground penetration at one end and formed with a cylindrical portion at the inward end of such point, complementary, circular flanges fixedly outstanding in spaced, parallel relation radially from said circular portion to dispose the outermost thereof for limitation of ground penetration by the adjacent point, a chain connector link embracingly swivelled to said cylindrical portion between said flanges and extending radially and outwardly therebeyond, a head attached to the unpointed end of said pole member, a bore centrally of said head perpendicularly intersecting the projected axis of the associated pole member, a headed pin secured in said bore to project at one end beyond said head, a pointer revolubly balanced on the projecting end of said pin between said head and the headed end of the pin, a central web on said pointer overlying said head, angularly-spaced holes marginally of said web opening to the adjacent face of said head, a socket in said head spacedly paralleling said bore disposed for registration at its open end with any selected one of the holes in said web, and a spring-biased detent in said socket resiliently coactable with the holes of said web to yieldably retain the pointer in any position of adjustment about its mounting pin corresponding with the arrangement of the web holes.

2. A marker pole employable in duplicate as the manipulable terminals of a linesmans chain, comprising a straight, rigid pole member pointed for ground penetration at one end and formed with a cylindrical portion at the inward end of such point, complementary, circular flanges fixedly outstanding in spaced, parallel relation radially from said circular portion to dispose the outermost thereof for limitation of ground penetration by the adjacent point, a chain connector link embracingly swivelled to said cylindrical portion between said flanges and extending radially and outwardly therebeyond, a head attached to the unpointed end of said pole member, a bore centrally of said head perpendicularly intersecting the projected axis of the associated pole member, a headed pin secured in said bore to project at one end beyond said head, a pointer revolubly balanced on the projecting end of said pin between said head and the headed end of the pin, a central web on said pointer overlying said head, angularly-spaced holes marginally of said web opening to the adjacent face of said head, a socket in said head spacedly paralleling said bore disposed for registration at its open end with any selected one of the holes in said web, a spring-biased detent in said socket resiliently coactable with the holes of said web to yieldably retain the pointer in any position of adjustment about its mounting pin corresponding with the arrangement of the web holes, and a rigid rod fixed diametrically of said pole member parallel to the plane of pointer revolution and projecting at each end beyond said member as a means for and determinant of pole member revolution about its axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,410,414 Sheets Mar. 21, 1922 1,497,958 Swinford June 17, 1924 2,022,160 Sorensen et a1 Nov. 26, 1935 2,060,165 Borleske Nov. 10, 1936 2,064,745 Harrie Dec. 15, 1936 2,479,157 Fritts Aug. 16, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,436 France June 27, 1906 363,887 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1931

Images