Apparatus and method for fastening lines

Abstract

An apparatus is moveable over a surface to affix a line to the surface by discharging fastening elements. Such an apparatus may be useful, for example, in laying tennis lines on a clay tennis court, alleviating the need to secure the lines to the court by hand. The apparatus comprises a frame and/or platform having one or more applicators (e.g., nail guns) to discharge fastening elements (e.g., nails). The boundary line may be stored on a reel stored on the apparatus and laid down as the apparatus moves over the surface, or may alternatively be pre-laid on the surface. The apparatus preferably discharges fastening elements proximate to both edges of the boundary line in one pass over the surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for affixing a boundary line to a surface, comprising: 
 a frame moveable over the surface; and    at least one applicator mounted to said frame, said at least one applicator adapted to discharge fastening elements to affix the boundary line to the surface.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispenser mounted to said frame for dispensing the boundary line onto the surface in a position allowing the boundary line to receive said fastening elements discharged by said at least one applicator.  
     
     
         3 . A line affixing apparatus, moveable over a surface, for affixing a boundary line to the surface, the line affixing apparatus comprising: 
 a frame;    at least one applicator adapted to discharge fastening elements; and    a dispenser mounted to said frame for dispensing the boundary line onto the surface in a position allowing the boundary line to receive said fastening elements discharged by said at least one applicator.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said applicators are nail guns and said fastening elements are nails.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein use of said apparatus results in a staggered pattern of said fastening elements.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one wheel.  
     
     
         7 . A line affixing apparatus, moveable over a surface, for affixing a boundary line to the surface, the line affixing apparatus comprising: 
 a frame; and    at least one applicator adapted to discharge fastening elements, said at least one applicator being moveably attached to said frame and being capable of discharging fastening elements to affix two sides of the boundary line to the surface in a single pass of the apparatus over the surface.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said applicators are nail guns and said fastening elements are nails.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein use of said apparatus results in a staggered pattern of said fastening elements.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  including a mechanism for moving said applicator from one side of the boundary line to the other.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7  including a mechanism for raising and lowering the applicator to facilitate discharge therefrom.  
     
     
         12 . A line affixing apparatus, moveable over a surface, for affixing a boundary line having two edges to the surface, the line affixing apparatus comprising: 
 a frame; and    a first applicator and a second applicator mounted to said frame, said first applicator being adapted to affix the first edge of the boundary line to the surface and said second applicator being adapted to affix the second edge of the boundary line to the surface.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein use of said apparatus results in a staggered pattern of said fastening elements.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said applicators are spaced apart along a line substantially perpendicular to the boundary line.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said applicators are also spaced apart in the direction of travel of the apparatus.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said two applicators are spaced apart along a line substantially perpendicular to the boundary line by approximately the boundary line width.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , in combination with a pre-laid track adapted to maintain proper positioning of said line affixing apparatus relative to a pre-positioned boundary line.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12  each application to facilitate affixment thereby.