System and method for projecting a visible line on an athletic field surface
First Claim
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a position sensing system operative to determine when said movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation;
a safety switch operative to disable the laser source when said movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation; and
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 A sensing arrangement is operative to determine when the movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation and a switch is operative to disable the laser source when the movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation.
33 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing a temporary visible reference line across a surface, comprising:
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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; a safety switch operative to disable the laser source when said movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation; and 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for providing a temporary visible reference line across a surface, comprising:
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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 collision detection system adapted to sense an impending collision with a rapidly approaching player; and a safety switch being responsive to the collision detection system to disable the laser source before such collision occurs. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification