US3818892A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an athletic playing surface
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-20
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1993-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A system is provided for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an athletic playing surface such as a tennis court, basketball court, or the like. The system includes a porous playing surface mounted above a plenum chamber. A heating unit or furnace is associated with the chamber to introduce hot gases in the chamber under pressure sufficient to cause them to pass up through the porous surface. These hot gases then serve to melt the snow and dry the surface. The openings in the porous surface should be large enough to permit up-flow of the gases and drainage of the melted snow, but small enough so as to not adversely affect play on the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 H Kohorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:13
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01C; E01C11/00; E01C11/24; E01C11/26; E01C13/00; E01C13/02; F; F24; F24F; F24F3/00; F24F3/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an outdoor athletic playing surface, said system being suitable for year long use such as an outdoor tennis court, basketball court or the like, and comprising: a foundation which defines a plenum chamber, a supporting structure associated with said foundation, said supporting structure being sufficiently porous to permit hot gases to flow up therethrough and water to flow down therethrough, a water permeable platform means mounted on and supported by said supporting structure, said platform means being sufficiently porous to permit hot gases to flow up therethrough and to permit water to flow down therethrough, said platform means having an upwardly-facing surface which defines said playing surface, said platform means further enclosing said plenum chamber, and means associated with said plenum chamber for generating hot gases under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure whereby, hot gases are introduced in said plenum chamber and forced, under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, up through said supporting structure and said platform means to melt snow and ice on said playing surface, whereby said melted snow or ice is drained down through said platform means and said supporting structure into said plenum chamber, and whereby said playing surface is dried by additional hot gases forced upward through said platform means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an outdoor athletic playing surface, said system being suitable for year long use such as an outdoor tennis court, basketball court or the like, and comprising: a foundation which defines a plenum chamber, a supporting structure associated with said foundation, said supporting structure being sufficiently porous to permit hot gases to flow up therethrough and water to flow down therethrough, a water permeable platform means mounted on and supported by said supporting structure, said platform means being sufficiently porous to permit hot gases to flow up therethrough and to permit water to flow down therethrough, said platform means having an upwardly-facing surface which defines said playing surface, said platform means further enclosing said plenum chamber, and means associated with said plenum chamber for generating hot gases under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure whereby, hot gases are introduced in said plenum chamber and forced, under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, up through said supporting structure and said platform means to melt snow and ice on said playing surface, whereby said melted snow or ice is drained down through said platform means and said supporting structure into said plenum chamber, and whereby said playing surface is dried by additional hot gases forced upward through said platform means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
The system for removing snow and ice from said for subsequently drying an outdoor athletic playing surface such as a tennis court, basketball court, or the like as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water permeable platform means comprises: a subsurface platform including a series of elongated members mounted side-by-side in spaced relation on said supporting structure, the spaces between said elongated members being sufficiently large to permit hot gases to flow up therethrough and to permit the flow of water down therethrough yet, being sufficiently small to prevent inefficient heat loss through inefficient loss of the hot gases and sufficiently small to provide substantially uniform continuous support for said playing surface, and a water permeable hydrophobic web, carried on top of said subsurface platform, and being sufficiently porous to permit the flow of hot gases up therethrough and to permit the flow of water down therethrough, said web forming a continuous, resilient playing surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
The system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an outdoor athletic playing surface such as a basketball court, tennis court, or the like as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said elongated members which form said subsurface platform has an upwardly facing support surface for carrying said water permeable web; and wherein each of said members is provided with a series of grooves on said support surface to reduce the area of contact between said web and said supporting surface to aid distribution of the hot gases to the web, to collect water to thereby facilitate water drainage from said playing surface, and to facilitate drying of said playing surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
168 words
The system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an outdoor athletic playing surface such as a tennis court, basketball court or the like as claimed in claim 1 wherein said water permeable platform means comprises: a subsurface platform including a series of elongated members mounted side-by-side on said supporting structure, each of said elongated members having a plurality of holes disposed therein to provide fluid communication between said plenum chamber and said playing surface, said holes being of sufficient number and size to permit hot gases to flow up therethrough and to permit the flow of water down therethrough while preventing inefficient heat loss through inefficient loss of hot gases and while providing substantially uniform, continuous support for said playing surface, and a water permeable hydrophobic web, carried on top of said subsurface platform and being sufficiently porous to permit the flow of hot gases up therethrough and to permit the flow of water down therethrough, said web forming a continuous resilient playing surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
The system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an outdoor athletic playing surface such as a tennic court, basketball court or the like as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said elongated members which form said subsurface platform has an upwardly-facing support surface for carrying said resilient, water permeable web; and wherein each of said members is provided with a series of grooves on said support surface to reduce the area of contact between said web and said supporting surface to aid distribution of the hot gases to the resilient web, to collect water to thereby facilitate water drainage from said playing surface, and to facilitate drying for said playing surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an outdoor athletic playing surface such as a tennis court, basketball court or the like as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: means for distributing the hot gases generated by said generating means uniformly throughout said plenum chamber to uniformly force the hot gases up through said supporting structure and said platform means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an outdoor athletic playing surface such as a tennis court, basketball court, or the like as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: automatic control means for monitoring the amount of snow falling on said playing surface, for starting said hot gas generating means when a predetermined quantity of snow or rain has fallen on said surface and for stopping said hot gas generating means when the snow has been melted and the playing surface is dry.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying a surface for use as an outdoor pLaying court and including: a horizontal playing platform comprising a porous surface having openings therein large enough to permit hot gases to flow upwardly therethrough and to permit water to pass downwardly therethrough, but small enough to prevent use of said surface for athletic play; means for supporting said platform, an enclosed, hot gas retaining chamber positioned below said platform and substantially coextensive therewith said platform defining the upper surface of said chamber; and a source of heated gases associated with said chamber and capable of supplying heated gases at greater than atmospheric pressure whereby hot gases are generated in said chamber and are forced up through said platform to melt snow and ice on said surface, whereby said melted snow is drained down through said platform into said chamber, and whereby said surface is dried by additional hot gases forced upward through said platform.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying a surface for use as an outdoor pLaying court and including: a horizontal playing platform comprising a porous surface having openings therein large enough to permit hot gases to flow upwardly therethrough and to permit water to pass downwardly therethrough, but small enough to prevent use of said surface for athletic play; means for supporting said platform, an enclosed, hot gas retaining chamber positioned below said platform and substantially coextensive therewith said platform defining the upper surface of said chamber; and a source of heated gases associated with said chamber and capable of supplying heated gases at greater than atmospheric pressure whereby hot gases are generated in said chamber and are forced up through said platform to melt snow and ice on said surface, whereby said melted snow is drained down through said platform into said chamber, and whereby said surface is dried by additional hot gases forced upward through said platform.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying a surface for use as an outdoor playing court as claimed in claim 8 wherein said system further includes: an open duct network, mounted in said chamber, for distributing heated gases originating from said heated gas source throughout said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying a surface for use as an outdoor playing court as claimed in claim 8 wherein said system further includes: a closed duct network, mounted in said chamber, in which heated gases are confined and circulated to radiantly heat the air confined within said chamber, said heated air being forced up through said platform to melt snow and ice on said surface and to subsequently dry said surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an outdoor surface wherein said system comprises: a foundation which defines a plenum chamber, a supporting structure associated with said foundation for supporting said surface, the improvement in said system including, a water permeable platform means mounted on and supported by said supporting structure, and forming said surface, said platform means being sufficiently porous to permit hot gases to flow up therethrough and to permit water to flow down herethrough, said platform means having an upwardly-facing surface which defines said surface, said platform means further enclosing said plenum chamber, and means associated with said plenum chamber for generating hot gases under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure for forcing hot gases up through said water permeable platform means, and for subsequently draining water down through said platform means to remove snow and ice from and to subsequently dry said surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a system for removing snow and ice from and for subsequently drying an outdoor surface wherein said system comprises: a foundation which defines a plenum chamber, a supporting structure associated with said foundation for supporting said surface, the improvement in said system including, a water permeable platform means mounted on and supported by said supporting structure, and forming said surface, said platform means being sufficiently porous to permit hot gases to flow up therethrough and to permit water to flow down herethrough, said platform means having an upwardly-facing surface which defines said surface, said platform means further enclosing said plenum chamber, and means associated with said plenum chamber for generating hot gases under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure for forcing hot gases up through said water permeable platform means, and for subsequently draining water down through said platform means to remove snow and ice from and to subsequently dry said surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |