System and method for projecting a visible line on an athletic field surface

• US 20110130228A1
• Filed: 11/27/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thought Development, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alan Amron
• Inventors: Amron, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,713,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/490
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/065 Line markings, e.g. tapes; Methods therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2019/067 Machines for marking
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/004 Reference lines, planes or sectors

Abstract

A temporary line projection system designed to be grasped by hand and moved, by a single human operator, into a desired location as, for example, along the sidelines of a football field adjacent to where a first down line is to be projected. The system comprises a movable structure that is dimensioned and arranged to be supported by and project upwardly from an athletic field surface. A laser source is supported by the movable structure and is maintained by the movable structure at an elevated location relative to the athletic field surface. This allows the laser source to direct optical energy downward upon the field while the movable structure is maintained substantially in a first orientation relative to the athletic field surface. A sensing arrangement is operative to determine when the movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation and a switch is operative to disable the laser source when the movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a temporary visible reference line across a surface, comprising:

a movable structure dimensioned and arranged to be supported by and project upwardly from an athletic field surface;

a laser source supported by the movable structure, the laser source being positionable at an elevated location relative to the athletic field surface and operative to direct optical energy at a wavelength of between 380 nm and 750 nm upon the athletic field surface while said movable structure is maintained substantially in a first orientation relative to the athletic field surface;

a position sensing system operative to determine when said movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation; and

a safety switch operative to disable the laser source when said movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one laser remotely located from and optically coupled to said laser source, wherein the laser source includes a projection module disposed within a housing securable to the movable structure.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the laser and the projection module is operative to produce a continuous output for period no greater than 0.25 seconds, to thereby produce a sequence of pulses suitable compliant with a Class 1 mode of operation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the laser source includes a single laser disposed within a housing secured to the movable structure.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said apparatus further including a cooling system for maintaining the laser at a safe operating temperature during use.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the laser source is rated at from 5 to 10 W.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including a collision detection system adapted to sense an impending collision with a rapidly approaching player, said safety switch being responsive to the collision detection system to disable to the laser source before such collision occurs.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including one of an active and a passive stabilization system.