US3645370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for raising and lowering a tennis court net
Assignee: TENNIS UNLIMITED Inc
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Filing: 1969-12-05
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1989-12-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for raising and lowering the net of a tennis court which is incorporated in the post supporting the net. The apparatus includes a hydraulically operable ram and cylinder device, the ram of which is connected to the cord of the net so that the net is raised when the ram is extended. The ram is extended by a manually operable pump. A valve biassed to the open position is located so that fluid pumped from a reservoir into the cylinder is returned to the reservoir through the valve. The valve is closed to trap fluid in the cylinder to enable the ram to be extended by insertion of appropriate coin in a coinoperable mechanism. Operation of the coin-operable mechanism starts a timing device which is operative to open the valve at a predetermined time, usually one hour, after the valve has been closed. When the valve is opened the ram retracts under the weight of the net and/or the effect of a spring to cause the net to be lowered.
Inventors
- 👤 John Rodwell
- 👤 Harry Marsden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:33
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B61/00; A63B61/02; A63B2061/025; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
Control apparatus for moving a sports barrier such as a tennis net, or the like, in different directions, which apparatus comprises valve means; a coin-actuated mechanism operably connected to said valve means to shut said valve means; a fluid reservoir; a pump; means flowably connecting said reservoir and said pump, said pump being operable for producing fluid pressure; means flowably connecting said pump to said valve means for supplying fluid pressure thereto; a fluid pressure ram in a ram cylinder actuated by said fluid pressure, said ram being operably connected with said barrier, said ram being movable in a predetermined direction to move said barrier in one direction; a timing device; means connecting said timing device to said valve means, said timing device being operable to open said valve means at a predetermined time after said valve means have been shut, said open valve means being adapted to bleed said cylinder of said fluid pressure thereby to cause said ram to move in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, which opposite directional movement of said ram causes said barrier to move in a direction opposite said one direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
Control apparatus for moving a sports barrier such as a tennis net, or the like, in different directions, which apparatus comprises valve means; a coin-actuated mechanism operably connected to said valve means to shut said valve means; a fluid reservoir; a pump; means flowably connecting said reservoir and said pump, said pump being operable for producing fluid pressure; means flowably connecting said pump to said valve means for supplying fluid pressure thereto; a fluid pressure ram in a ram cylinder actuated by said fluid pressure, said ram being operably connected with said barrier, said ram being movable in a predetermined direction to move said barrier in one direction; a timing device; means connecting said timing device to said valve means, said timing device being operable to open said valve means at a predetermined time after said valve means have been shut, said open valve means being adapted to bleed said cylinder of said fluid pressure thereby to cause said ram to move in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, which opposite directional movement of said ram causes said barrier to move in a direction opposite said one direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
Control means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said barrier includes a supporting rope element secured to said ram such that movement of said ram in said predetermined direction draws upon said rope to move said barrier in one direction and movement of said ram in the opposite direction moves said rope to cause said barrier to move in the opposite direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Control means as claimed in claim 1 in which the movement of the ram in said predetermined direction is movement in a direction to extend the ram.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
Control means as claimed in claim 3 in which the timing device includes a disc rotatable by a motor at a predetermined rate, the disc having means thereon engageable by a pivotable lever to constrain the disc from movement, insertion of a coin enabling the lever to be moved to a second position to permit the disc to be rotated, the lever reengaging the said means after a predetermined degree of rotation of the disc, the lever being operatively connected to said valve means so as to maintain the valve closed when the lever is in said second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
Control means as claimed in claim 4 in which the means comprises at least one notch formed in the periphery of the disc, the notch being engageable by the lever so that the lever when in the second position is in contact with the peripheral surface of the disc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
Control means as claimed in claim 5 in which the or each notch may have associated therewith an associated element of magnetic material, a magnet having positioned so that when the notch is engaged by the lever the associated element lies within the magnetic field of the magnet, the arrangement being such that when the lever is moved out of the notCh by operation of the coin-operated mechanism the effect of the magnet causes the disc to rotate so that the lever then abuts the peripheral surface of the disc adjacent to the notch thereby to maintain the lever in the second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Control means as claimed in claim 6 in which the motor comprises a spring motor controlled by an escapement mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
Control means as claimed in claim 6 in which the motor comprises an electric motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Control means as claimed in claim 8 in which insertion of a coin in the coin-operated mechanism actuates a switch to supply electric current to drive the timing device, the timing device, when so driven, causing a current to be applied to means for closing the valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Control means as claimed in claim 9 in which the means for closing the valve is a solenoid, energization of which causes closure of the valve against a resilient bias.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Control means as claimed in claim 4 in which the motor is engageable with the disc through a peg which projects into an annular slot formed in the disc.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which a further valve is provided, the further valve being normally biassed to the closed position and being openable manually to allow fluid to flow from the ram cylinder to the reservoir.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Control means as claimed in claim 1 including a pressure relief valve by which the pressure generated by said pump is limited to a predetermined value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
Control means as claimed in claim 1 in which the coin-operated mechanism includes means for preventing coins falling to an operative position while the said valve is closed by operation of the coin-operated mechanism.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Control means as claimed in claim 1 in which the ram is adapted to raise and lower the net of a tennis court.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
Control means as claimed in claim 13 in which the control means is incorporated in a tennis post adapted to support a net of a tennis court.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |