Patent US5120157A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5120157A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tennis court irrigation
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-02-21
•
Granted: 1992-06-09
•
Expires: 2010-02-21
Abstract
Abstract An underground system for supplying water to and removing water from an athletic facility having a surface which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness. The system includes an array of pipes which are positioned within rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms. Water is supplied to and removed from the array of pipes by a water control system at ambient pressures. The system may be installed into existing athletic facilities without excessive damage or disruption to their surfaces.
Inventors
- 👤 George K. Todd, Sr.
- 👤 George K. Todd, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:23
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01C; E01C13/00; E01C13/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
An underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court which surface comprises a material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness comprising: a pair of rectangularly cross sectional trenches having substantially level bottoms, and pair of trenches being parallel to one another; a plurality of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms, said trenches being relatively equally spaced apart from and aligned parallel to one another and extending at opposite ends thereof between said pair of trenches; a pipe located within and on said bottoms of each of said trenches for supplying moisture to and removing moisture from said trenches, wherein each of said pipes are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another; a sublayer of material through which moisture may pass by capillary action located in said each of said trenches, above said means for supplying and removing moisture; a surface layer of said material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness located on said sublayer; and a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressures, water to and from said means for supplying and removing moisture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
An underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court which surface comprises a material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness comprising: a pair of rectangularly cross sectional trenches having substantially level bottoms, and pair of trenches being parallel to one another; a plurality of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms, said trenches being relatively equally spaced apart from and aligned parallel to one another and extending at opposite ends thereof between said pair of trenches; a pipe located within and on said bottoms of each of said trenches for supplying moisture to and removing moisture from said trenches, wherein each of said pipes are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another; a sublayer of material through which moisture may pass by capillary action located in said each of said trenches, above said means for supplying and removing moisture; a surface layer of said material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness located on said sublayer; and a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressures, water to and from said means for supplying and removing moisture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
An underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 1, wherein said pipes comprise perforated pipes, and the cross sectional width of each of said trenches is substantially equal to the outside diameter of said respective pipe located therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 1, wherein said sublayer comprises compacted earth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
An underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface to a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 1, wherein said water control system further comprises a control device which maintains the level of water in said reservoir at a predetermined height when said apparatus is being utilized to supply moisture to the athletic facility.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 4, wherein said water supply system further comprises a timer to control fluid communication to said water supply pipe.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court which comprises: digging a pair of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms in said surface of said hard, natural surfaced tennis court, said pair of trenches being parallel to one another; digging a plurality of rectangularly cross sectional trenches having substantially level bottoms in said surface of said hard, natural surfaced tennis court, and trenches being relatively equally spaced apart from and aligned parallel to one another and extending at opposite ends thereof between said pair of trenches; positioning a pipe on said bottoms of each of said trenches for supplying and removing moisture to and from said trenches, wherein all of said pipes are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another; filling in said trenches with a sublayer of a material through which moisture may pass by capillary action above said means for supplying and removing moisture; covering each of said trenches with a surface layer of said material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness; and connecting said pipes to a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressures, water from said pipes.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court which comprises: digging a pair of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms in said surface of said hard, natural surfaced tennis court, said pair of trenches being parallel to one another; digging a plurality of rectangularly cross sectional trenches having substantially level bottoms in said surface of said hard, natural surfaced tennis court, and trenches being relatively equally spaced apart from and aligned parallel to one another and extending at opposite ends thereof between said pair of trenches; positioning a pipe on said bottoms of each of said trenches for supplying and removing moisture to and from said trenches, wherein all of said pipes are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another; filling in said trenches with a sublayer of a material through which moisture may pass by capillary action above said means for supplying and removing moisture; covering each of said trenches with a surface layer of said material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness; and connecting said pipes to a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressures, water from said pipes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 6, wherein said bottoms of each of said trenches is essentially leveled prior to positioning said pipes therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 6, wherein the cross sectional width of each of said parallel trenches is about 4 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 6, wherein said pipes comprise perforated pipes and the cross sectional width of each of said trenches is substantially equal to the outside diameter or said respective pipe located therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 8, wherein said sublayer comprises compacted earth.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 6, wherein said water control system further comprises a control device which maintains the level of water in said reservoir at a predetermined height when said apparatus is being utilized to supply moisture to the hard, natural surfaced tennis court.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court according to claim 11, wherein said water supply system further comprises a timer to control fluid communication to said water supply pipe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
275 words
An underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court which surface comprises a material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness comprising: a pair of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms, said pair of trenches being parallel to one another; a plurality of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms, said trenches being relatively equally spaced apart from and aligned parallel to one another and extending at opposite ends thereof between said pair of trenches; a pipe located within and on said bottoms of each of said trenches for supplying moisture to and removing moisture from said trenches, wherein each of said pipes are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another; a sublayer of material through which moisture may pass by capillary action located in said each of said trenches, above said means for supplying and removing moisture; a surface layer of said material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness located on said sublayer; and a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressures, water to and from said means for supplying and removing moisture, said water control system being positioned below ground level and comprising a reservoir including a water supply pipe, a water outlet pipe which is in fluid communication with one of said pairs of trenches, and a drain pipe, said water outlet pipe extending horizontally into said reservoir and said drain pipe including an outlet opening which is positioned within said reservoir below the upper most portion of said water outlet pipe and above the horizontal axis of said water outlet pipe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
275 words
An underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court which surface comprises a material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness comprising: a pair of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms, said pair of trenches being parallel to one another; a plurality of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms, said trenches being relatively equally spaced apart from and aligned parallel to one another and extending at opposite ends thereof between said pair of trenches; a pipe located within and on said bottoms of each of said trenches for supplying moisture to and removing moisture from said trenches, wherein each of said pipes are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another; a sublayer of material through which moisture may pass by capillary action located in said each of said trenches, above said means for supplying and removing moisture; a surface layer of said material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness located on said sublayer; and a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressures, water to and from said means for supplying and removing moisture, said water control system being positioned below ground level and comprising a reservoir including a water supply pipe, a water outlet pipe which is in fluid communication with one of said pairs of trenches, and a drain pipe, said water outlet pipe extending horizontally into said reservoir and said drain pipe including an outlet opening which is positioned within said reservoir below the upper most portion of said water outlet pipe and above the horizontal axis of said water outlet pipe.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
285 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court which comprises: digging a pair of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms in said surface of said hard, natural surfaced tennis court, said pair of trenches being parallel to one another; digging a plurality of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms in said surface of said hard, natural surfaced tennis court, said trenches being relatively equally spaced apart from and aligned parallel to one another and extending at opposite ends thereof between said pair of trenches; positioning a pipe on said bottoms of each of said trenches for supplying and removing moisture to and from said trenches, wherein all of said pipes are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another; filling in said trenches with a sublayer of a material through which moisture may pass by capillary action above said means for supplying and removing moisture; covering each of said trenches with a surface layer of said material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness; and connecting said pipes to a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressure, water from said pipes, said water control system being positioned below ground level and comprising a reservoir including a water supply pipe, a water outlet pipe which is in fluid communication with one of said pairs of trenches, and a drain pipe, said water outlet pipe extending horizontally into said reservoir and said drain pipe including an outlet opening which is positioned within said reservoir below the upper most portion of said water outlet pipe and above the horizontal axis of said water outlet pipe.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
285 words
A method for installing an underground system for supplying and removing moisture to and from a surface of a hard, natural surfaced tennis court which comprises: digging a pair of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms in said surface of said hard, natural surfaced tennis court, said pair of trenches being parallel to one another; digging a plurality of rectangularly cross sectioned trenches having substantially level bottoms in said surface of said hard, natural surfaced tennis court, said trenches being relatively equally spaced apart from and aligned parallel to one another and extending at opposite ends thereof between said pair of trenches; positioning a pipe on said bottoms of each of said trenches for supplying and removing moisture to and from said trenches, wherein all of said pipes are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another; filling in said trenches with a sublayer of a material through which moisture may pass by capillary action above said means for supplying and removing moisture; covering each of said trenches with a surface layer of said material which is susceptible to excessive moisture and dryness; and connecting said pipes to a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressure, water from said pipes, said water control system being positioned below ground level and comprising a reservoir including a water supply pipe, a water outlet pipe which is in fluid communication with one of said pairs of trenches, and a drain pipe, said water outlet pipe extending horizontally into said reservoir and said drain pipe including an outlet opening which is positioned within said reservoir below the upper most portion of said water outlet pipe and above the horizontal axis of said water outlet pipe.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
147 words
In an underground system for supplying water to and removing water from a hard, natural surfaced tennis court by means of an arrangement of distribution pipes positioned underground, the improvement comprising insuring that all the pipes in the system are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another and providing a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressures, water from said arrangement of distribution pipes, said water control system being positioned below ground level and comprising a reservoir including a water supply pipe, a water outlet pipe which is in fluid communication with said arrangement of distribution pipes, and a drain pipe, said water outlet pipe extending horizontally into said reservoir and said drain pipe including an outlet opening which is positioned within said reservoir below the upper most portion of said water outlet pipe and above the horizontal axis of said water outlet pipe.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
147 words
In an underground system for supplying water to and removing water from a hard, natural surfaced tennis court by means of an arrangement of distribution pipes positioned underground, the improvement comprising insuring that all the pipes in the system are horizontally coplanar with respect to one another and providing a water control system for supplying and removing, under ambient pressures, water from said arrangement of distribution pipes, said water control system being positioned below ground level and comprising a reservoir including a water supply pipe, a water outlet pipe which is in fluid communication with said arrangement of distribution pipes, and a drain pipe, said water outlet pipe extending horizontally into said reservoir and said drain pipe including an outlet opening which is positioned within said reservoir below the upper most portion of said water outlet pipe and above the horizontal axis of said water outlet pipe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1665104A
Cited
US2067356A
Cited
DE1910641A1
Cited
US3908385A
Cited
US4188154A
Cited
US4462184A
Cited
US4576511A
Cited
SU1377328A1
Cited
US4832526A
Cited
US4948294A
Cited
US4881846A
Cited
US4923329A
Cited
US5059064A
Cited
US4913596A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-09 | 1995-12-09 | 1996-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-09 | 1999-12-09 | 2000-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-09 | 2003-12-09 | 2004-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |