GRIP CONE
A grip cone for marking a playing surface. The grip cone includes a head, the head configured to serve as a marker on a playing surface. The grip cone also includes an attachment, the attachment is fastened to the head and configured to secure the head to the playing surface.
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This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/011,980 filed on Jun. 13, 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSports cones are commonly used to mark playing areas or otherwise conduct drills. In particular, disc cones are easily stackable and can be distributed and moved easily. However, disc cones suffer from a number of drawbacks. For example, disc cones are easily knocked out of place. That is, because they are not anchored in any way they may be moved even with minimal contact or blown easily in the wind.
Further, disc cones are easily deformed. In particular, they tend to be very thin. Therefore, when they are hit by a player to equipment they deform or are damaged by the contact. Part of why the damage occurs is because the disc cone is easily moved by any contact, as noted above. This contact with players or equipment is almost certain to occur give sufficient time. Therefore, disc cones have a short life span and need to be replaced quite often.
Moreover, disc cones may be a hazard. In particular, as players hit the disc cone it often moves making it a trip hazard. Further, once the disc cone is moved because of the contact it must be placed back in its initial position requiring time and effort by either a coach or player.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a marker that can be placed on a playing surface and anchored in position, preventing movement of the marker. Further, there is a need in the art for the marker to survive contact and which does not act as a hazard on the playing surface.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTSThis Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
One example embodiment includes a grip cone for marking a playing surface. The grip cone includes a head, the head configured to serve as a marker on a playing surface. The grip cone also includes an attachment, the attachment is fastened to the head and configured to secure the head to the playing surface.
Another example embodiment includes a grip cone for marking a playing surface. The grip cone includes a head, the head configured to serve as a marker on a playing surface. The grip cone also includes a spike, the spike is fastened to the head, extends vertically from the head and is configured to secure the head to the playing surface.
Another example embodiment includes a grip cone for marking a playing surface. The grip cone includes a head, the head configured to serve as a marker on a playing surface. The grip cone also includes one or more windows within the head. The grip cone further includes a spike, the spike is fastened to the head, extends vertically from the head and is configured to secure the head to the playing surface. The grip cone additionally includes a series of flutes aligned longitudinally along the exterior of the spike. The grip cone moreover includes a series of grooves aligned longitudinally along the interior of the spike, where the number of grooves is equal to the number of flutes and is configured to mate with the flutes of another grip cone.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made to the figures wherein like structures will be provided with like reference designations. It is understood that the figures are diagrammatic and schematic representations of some embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.
The grip cone 200 includes a suction cup 202 mounted to the bottom of the head 102. The suction cup 202, also sometimes known as a sucker, is an object that uses negative fluid pressure of air or water to adhere to nonporous surfaces and in the process creates a partial vacuum. The working face of the suction cup 202 has a curved surface. When the center of the suction cup 202 is pressed against a flat, non-porous surface, the volume of the space between the suction cup 202 and the flat surface is reduced, which causes the fluid between the suction cup 202 and the surface to be expelled past the rim of the circular suction cup 202. When the force is removed the elastic substance of which the suction cup 202 is made tends to resume its original, curved shape. Because most of the fluid has already been forced out of the inside of the suction cup 202, the cavity which tends to develop between the suction cup 202 and the flat surface has little to no fluid in it, and therefore lacks pressure. The pressure difference between the atmosphere on the outside of the suction cup 202, and the low-pressure cavity on the inside of the suction cup 202, is what keeps the suction cup 202 adhered to the surface. The length of time for which the suction effect can be maintained depends mainly on how long it takes for fluid to leak back into the cavity between the suction cup 202 and the surface, equalizing the pressure with the surrounding atmosphere. This depends on the porosity and flatness of the surface and the rim of the suction cup 202.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Claims
1. A grip cone for marking a playing surface, the grip cone comprising:
- a head, the head configured to serve as a marker on a playing surface; and
- an attachment, the attachment is: fastened to the head; and configured to secure the head to the playing surface.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the head is circular.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the diameter of the head is between 145 mm and 225 mm.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the diameter of the head is approximately 185 mm.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the head is between 45 mm and 65 tall.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the head is approximately 55 mm tall.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment includes a suction cup fastened to the head.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the head includes one or more cavities configured to receive a cover.
9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a cover attached to the head.
10. A grip cone for marking a playing surface, the grip cone comprising:
- a head, the head configured to serve as a marker on a playing surface; and
- a spike, the spike: is fastened to the head; extends vertically from the head; and is configured to secure the head to the playing surface.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the spike is conical.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the diameter of the spike where it is fastened to the head is between 55 mm and 75 mm.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the diameter of the spike where it is fastened to the head is approximately 65 mm.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the spike is between 105 mm and 165 mm long.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the spike is approximately 135 mm long.
16. A grip cone for marking a playing surface, the grip cone comprising:
- a head, the head configured to serve as a marker on a playing surface;
- one or more windows within the head;
- a spike, the spike: is fastened to the head; extends vertically from the head; and is configured to secure the head to the playing surface;
- a series of flutes aligned longitudinally along the exterior of the spike; and
- a series of grooves aligned longitudinally along the interior of the spike, wherein: the number of grooves is equal to the number of flutes; and is configured to mate with the flutes of another grip cone.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the grip cone includes at attachment inserted into the interior of the spike.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the attachment includes a flag.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the attachment includes a post.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein the attachment includes a light.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 12, 2015
Publication Date: Dec 15, 2016
Applicant: FIBER FIX USA, LLC (Orem, UT)
Inventors: Reed Quinn (Orem, UT), Chris Quinn (Orem, UT), Bryson Smith (Orem, UT)
Application Number: 14/738,150