Improvements in or relating to the construction and watering and drainage of courts for lawn tennis and like games
434,262. Agricultural drainage and irrigation. SWINHOE, C. D., Meikledale, King's Drive, Eastbourne, Sussex. Jan. 22, 1935, No. 2120. [Class 33] [See also Groups X and XV] The foundation of a lawn tennis or other playing court is divided into a plurality of trays, and each row of trays is traversed by a transverse water pipe 9 which is disposed below the playing surface of the court and has one or more outlets 10 disposed in each tray to allow water to be supplied thereto. The court is provided with a brick surround 3 which is formed with gaps 4 to permit drainage to one or more drains 5. The trays are formed by means of ridges 1 of pressed earth, and, prior to positioning the pipes 9, the whole area is coated with a bitumastic solution 2. A main water-supply pipe 6 is laid along one side of the court in connection with a supply pipe 7 which is controlled by a valve 8. Each hole in the pipes 9 is covered by a sleeve 11, and the whole of the piping 9 is embedded in a layer 14 of shingle, broken stones, &c. A cover plate 16 of metal, roofing felt, &c. is provided in the layer 14 over each hole 10 so as to assist in distributing the water emerging therefrom and to prevent the water disturbing the top dressing 17. A bed of ashes 15 is laid on the layer 14, and the top dressing 17 composed of brick dust, fine granite, &c. is then applied. A valve 12 is provided at one end of each pipe 9 to permit independent watering of any part of the court, and the opposite end of the pipe 9 is fitted with a cap 13 which may be removed to enable the pipe to be flushed. In a modification, the pipes 9 are formed of several sections connected at suitable intervals, such as at the centre of each tray, by hollow T-section members 18, Fig. 3, and the outlet from each of these members is partly closed by a plug 19. The invention is also applicable to grass courts. Specification 286,179, [Class 20 (iv)], is referred to.