FOOTBALL FIELD AREA IDENTIFICATION MEANS

• US 3,580,573 A
• Filed: 04/22/1968
• Issued: 05/25/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James J. Fisher, Michael F. Noonan
• Original Assignee: James J. Fisher, Michael F. Noonan
• Inventors: Noonan, Michael F., Fisher, James J.
• Application Number:
  US04/723,355
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• US Class Current: 473/470
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/00 Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor golf courses A63B69/3691; water roundabouts A63G3/00; construction of surfaces of foundations E01C; roofs E04B7/00; buildings or groups of buildings for sports E04H3/10; swimming or splash baths or pools E04H4/00; coverings for baths E04H4/06

Abstract

The present application discloses a standard-sized, rectangular football playing field characterized by the fact that it is marked off by parallel, transverse lines spaced every five yards between a pair of transverse goal lines spaced 100 yards apart. Normally, these transverse lines, called yard lines, are colored white, as are the parallel, longitudinal lines which extend the full length of the playing field and define its lateral boundaries; however, in the present disclosure, certain of the transverse lines, which preferably include the goal lines, the midfield or 50-yard line and each of the six transverse yard lines nearest each of the goal lines are colored other than white to distinguish these lines, and the zones defined thereby, from other lines and zones on the field.

Claims

1. In a football playing field of the type having a generally rectangular configuration and being defined by longitudinally extending, generally parallel side lines approximately 160 feet apart and approximately 120 yards long and joined at their ends by generally parallel end lines, said field being marked by a pair of transverse goal lines generally parallel to and spaced approximately 10 yards from a respective end line and extending from side line to side line, and generally parallel, transverse yard lines spaced approximately every 5 yards from goal line to goal line and each of which extends from side line to side line;

the improvement wherein the six transverse yard lines closest to each of said goal lines, said transverse goal lines and the transverse yard line which is substantially equidistant from each goal line are colored to distinguish from the other transverse lines. CM,2Mprovement as defined in claim 1 wherein said transverse goal lines and the transverse yard line which is substantially equidistant from each goal line are colored to distinguish from the six transverse yard lines closest to each of said goal lines.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein the six transverse yard lines closest to each of said goal lines are red in color.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein said goal lines are colored yellow and the transverse yard line which is substantially equidistant from each said goal line is colored orange.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein Said field includes a hash line called the 2-yard line, located substantially 2 yards from each goal line and substantially equidistant from each side line, said goal lines being distinguished in color from said hash lines.

6. In a generally rectangular football playing field of standard dimensions which is bounded by longitudinal side lines and transverse end lines, said field having a pair of goal lines spaced selected distances from respective end lines and yard lines spaced selected distances from goal line to goal line, said goal lines and said yard lines being generally parallel to each other and to said end lines and extending from side line to side line;

the improvement which comprises identifying the areas of said field within a selected distance from each goal line by coloring with a certain color only the selected yard lines within and defining said areas to distinguish those that are of said certain color from the other differently colored transverse lines adjacent said areas, said selected yard lines comprising some but not all of said yard lines, and identifying said goal lines and a yard line which is equidistant from each goal line by coloring these lines to distinguish from the other differently colored transverse lines adjacent thereto.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein said yard lines within said areas are colored red.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein said line which is equidistant from each said goal line is spaced approximately 50 yards therefrom.

9. The improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein said areas extend approximately 30 yards from their respective goal lines.

10. The improvement as defined in claim 6 wherein said field includes a hash line located substantially two yards from each said goal line and parallel thereto, said goal lines being distinguished in color from said hash lines.