US1576888A - Tarpaulin for recreation fields - Google Patents

Description

March 16 1926.

J. H. WOODWARD TARPAULIN FOR RECREATION FIELDS Filed Nov. 25,

l. R f.

Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. WOODWARD, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE `J'. H. AND F. A. SELLS COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TARPAULIN FOR RECREATION FIELDS.

Application 'filed November 25, 1925.

To all whom z' 'may concern.' v

Be it known that I, JOHN H. VVOODWARD, a citizen of the United Sta-tes, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tarpaulins for Recreation Fields, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved tarpaulin or water proof covering for recreation fields, and has for its primary object the provision of an improved readily laid and easily removed structure for protecting an athletic or playing iield from rain, snow and moisture to the end of maintaining said field in a dry and serviceable condition suitable for the activities taking place thereon.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a covering of a water proof material especially designed for the covering of a foot ball and base ball field which is capable of covering such a field when the latter is not in use so as to provide protection from the elements. In the past it has been the simple custom to protect such a field by a large area of a water proof material. Considerable difficulty has been encountered in placing such large one-piece structures in an operative position upon the field and in controlling their removal. The present invention aims `to overcome these disadvantages by the employment of a tarpaulin consisting of a plurality of complemental relatively small sections, which are secured together along their meeting edges by means of a frame, the said frame serving to maintain the meeting edges in an elevated condition preventing' the seepage of rain and moisture between the joints 0f the said edges, and allowing the water to readily run off the covering without seeping lthrough and moistening the protected ground beneath the tarpaulin. t

Another object of the invention resides 1n marking the various sections of the tarpaulin so that a system is supplied permitting ofthe convenient laying and positioning of the tarpaulin sections in their proper interrelated order upon the frame of the device and in a manner devoid of confusion or mistake.A

With these and other objects in view, as.

invention consists in the novel features of serial No. 71,344.

construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of the improved tarpaulin comprising the present invention,

.Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Inaccordance with the present invention my improved tarpaulin is designated in its entirety by the numeral l. In order to render the same practical and capable of being easily handled, particularly when the tarpaulin is used in connection with the covermg of large areas such as foot ball fields, the said tarpaulin is formed to comprise a plurality of individual and separable sections which are designated by the numeral 2. Each of these sections is formed from a water proof material such for example as canvas or a rubberized fabric. Canvas, however, is preferred in that it possesses the capability of being rolled and stored without cracking or breaking and with ordinary care is capable of imparting satisfactory service for a number of years. These sec` tions are laid transversely across the playing field and each section is of a length equal to substantially o-ne-half the width of the field, and in width the sections are substantially lifteen feet. These proportions have been found to be desirable in that they permit of the convenient manual handling of the tarpaulin, in that one or two men may place the sections in proper order upon or remove the same from the ground surface to be protected. As shown in Figure l the sections are placed in successive order over the entire playing field, alternate sections being arranged so that their bounding edges are in superposed or overlapping relation with respect to the meeting edges of the intervening sections.

To facilitate the laying and positioning of said sections the playing field has arranged thereon a frame 3, which in this instance consists of a plurality of frame units t laid end to end and extending longitudinally along the center of the field. From these longitudinal units the frame is formed to comprise a plurality of transversely cxtending units 5, which also comprise sections, formed from any desired material, and adapted to be placed end to end in aligned order preferably upon the yfive yard lino` indications, provided upon the average foot ball field. It will be understood that the units comprising the frame may loe of Wood, metal or any other desired material, the same resting flatly upon the ground sur- `face and may or may not have their adjoining ends interlocked.

'The frameunits have their upper surface provided at regularly spaced intervals with a plurality of upstanding pins or posts 6, which are adapted to be recelved Within eyelets 7 provided in the marginal edges of the sections 2. By this construction it will be seen that the sections are capable of being readily applied and held in place upon `the playing field and the frame by first placing the frame in the proper manner described upon the playing field, andasecond, inserting the eyelet 7 over the pins or posts 6, provided rigidly on the frame, so as tohold the sections against displacement and in se-y cured and properly distributed order. The eyelets litloosely upon the pins or posts of the frame so that no dii'hculty is encountered in registering the pins with the eyelets and in quickly laying or removing the tarpaulin sections. -It Will be observed that the marginal edgesof the tarpanlin sections are arranged in overlapping order, and that by the provision of the frame units these overlapping edges areelevated above the ground surface, so that the same ivillpresent a conveXed formation to provide for the natural shedding of Water or moisture to the end of preventing the seepage of moisture through the overlapping edges as would be the case were the sections arranged flatly on the ground.` Also, most playing fields of this kind are provided ivith a natural crown, a condition which enables rain or moisture to readily flow from the tarpaulin toward the unprotected edges of the playing field.

To facilitate 'the positioning of the frame and tarpaulin sections in proper order, each of the frame units e and 5 bears distinguishing` and guiding indicia. For example, the units 5 may be marked R 1, R 1, R 1b, etc., indicating that these units are placed end to end on the right side of the playing field on, for example, the first five yard line of the field. The units to the left are marked L 1, L l, L 1b, etc., indicating that these units are placed on the five yard line to the left of the longitudinal frame units 4. The oenter units may be marked C l, C 2, C3, and so on, indicating their proper order, throughout the length of the field. It Will be understood that for convenience in handling these units may be each substantially y the left side of the field to cover the area betiveen, the center of the field and the zero and live yard to the left of the field and, similarly, the section at the right of the field is marked R 1, to denote the corresponding position of the tarpaulin on the' right of the field. These sections may then be provided with numbers ranging from 1 to 2,0 so that the entire field will be covered. It Will-be understood that by this system in imperfections which may exist inthe difierent units and sections are taken care of, so that the proper fitting between the frame and tarpaulin sections for each localized area of the field is assured. Of course, if it were possible to secure prices, gauges and standards in manufacturing the different sections would then be rendered independent of position and capable of being interchanged at Will. Such a high standard of ccuracy is, however, diilicult to attain in practice and therefore the units have been marked as designated.

In view of the foregoing it Will be seen that the present invention provides a practical and complete Water proof covering for athletic fields, enabling such fields to be maintained, when not in use, free from the effects of the elements, and to overcome the natural handicaps imposed thereby when the field is unprotected. Ordinarily, following each game on the field the frame 3 is laid in its proper position and the tarpaulin sections may be arranged in rolled order on the sides of the field or other positions of storage. In the event ofthreatening Weather theA tarpaulin sections are applied to the field as indicated and serve thereby to provide for the eflicient protection of the field.

What is claimed is:

1. A tarpaulin covering for athletic elds, comprising a frame consisting of central units extending longitudinally through approximately the center of the field, and a plurality of spaced transversely extending units arranged on said field and disposed at right angles substantially to the center units, and a plurality of tarpaulin sections having the meeting edges thereof disposed on said frame sections, said edges being arranged in overlapping relationship.

2. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields, comprising a frame arranged on the playing surface of said field and consisting of a central unit, extending longitudinally of said field and a plurality of spaced transversely extending units arranged to extend substantially at right angles to the center units, a plurality of individual and separable tarpaulin sections having the meeting edges thereof overlapped and arranged in registration with 'said frame units, and attaching devices carried by said frame units and arranged to be received Within openings provided in the marginal port-ions of said tarpaulin sections.

3. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields, comprising a frame including a pluralityof central units arranged on said field and arranged end to end longitudinally of the length of lsaid field, a plurality of transversely extending units, arranged end to end, spaced longitudinally and extending substantially at right angles to said center units, and a plurality of tarpaulin sections having the marginal edges thereof arranged in overlapped relation and resting on said frame units so that the overlapped meeting edges of said tarpaulin sections are disposed in planes higher than the portions of said sections lying between said frame units.

4. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields comprising a frame consisting of a plurality of separable units, said units being adapted to be arranged on said field to extend end for end down the length of said field in approximately the center thereof and to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced, parallel transversely extending units arranged in end to end order and extending at right angles to said center units, a plurality of rigid upstanding attaching devices carried by said units, and a plurality of in- Y.

dividual and separable tarpaulin sections having the meeting edges thereof arranged in overlapping order and provided With eyelets adapted for the reception of said attaching devices.

5. A tarpaulin covering for athletic fields comprising a frame adapted to be arranged on a playing field and formed to embody a central unit arranged to extend longitudinally of the field in approximately the center thereof and a plurality of spaced transversely extending units arranged in parallel order and adapted to occupy positions on the playing field substantially at right angles to said centrally placed units, anda plurality of tarpaulin sections having the' adjoining edges thereof detachably connected with said frame units,'said frame units and tarpaulin sections bearing position disclosing indicia.-

In testimony .whereof I aflix my signai l i 1 i ture. i

JOHN HQWooDWARD.

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