A rolling-unrolling device for a protective cover for covering a surface to be protected is presented. The device is self-propelling and includes a braking system for blocking the rotation of at least one drive wheel of the carriages and causing the cover to be automatically tensioned during the rolling up thereof on the roller tube. This braking system includes a movable pawl integral with each of the carriages, and a ratchet wheel integral with the drive wheel of each of the carriages, such that, in the direction of rotation corresponding to the unrolling of the cover, the pawl is not engaged with the ratchet wheel and the braking system is in the passive position, and in the opposite direction of rotation corresponding to the rolling up of the cover, the pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel and the braking system is in the active position.

A method for handling insulating materials used for storing snow, wherein the insulating materials covering a heap of snow stored through the summer are taken off the heap of snow before the snow in the heap of snow is transferred to a selected use. In the method, the insulating materials used for covering the heap of snow stored through the summer are transferred to such another use, in which the insulating materials have at least one function other than mere storage of the insulating materials.

A cover assembly may include a housing and an elongated cover. The housing defines a chamber therein. The chamber is disposable in the ground adjacent to a side of the sand area of the jump pit. The elongated cover has a first end, a second end, and spaced-apart sides extending from the first end to the second end. The elongated cover is storable in a compacted configuration in the chamber of the housing below the surface of the ground, and the elongated cover is removable from the chamber and extendable in an uncompacted configuration over the sand area of the jump pit to conceal the sand area.

A cover assembly may include a housing and an elongated cover. The housing defines a chamber therein. The chamber is disposable in the ground adjacent to a side of the sand area of the jump pit. The elongated cover has a first end, a second end, and spaced-apart sides extending from the first end to the second end. The elongated cover is storable in a compacted configuration in the chamber of the housing below the surface of the ground, and the elongated cover is removable from the chamber and extendable in an uncompacted configuration over the sand area of the jump pit to conceal the sand area.

Novel and advantageous portable pitching lanes for softball are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pitching lane for softball is disclosed comprising a foundation layer, a surface layer, and a pitching rubber. The portable pitching lane is movable from place to place when not in use, but does not move when in use.

Novel and advantageous portable pitching lanes for softball are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pitching lane for softball is disclosed comprising a foundation layer, a surface layer, and a pitching rubber. The portable pitching lane is movable from place to place when not in use, but does not move when in use.

A field cover system to selectively cover, and uncover, a sports field or similar is described. The field cover system comprising a flexible resilient planar material to extend and cover the sports field, and to retract and uncover the sports field, a plurality of elongate support members, moveable to extend between a retracted position and an extended position, and one or more tensile members configured to, in use, support and/or attach to the cover and attach to the plurality of elongate support members. In the retracted position the plurality of elongate support members is located substantially below a surface level of the sports field, and in the extended position and with the tensile members attached to or supporting the cover, the elongate support members elevate the flexible resilient planar material above the sports field.

A field cover system to selectively cover, and uncover, a sports field or similar is described. The field cover system comprising a flexible resilient planar material to extend and cover the sports field, and to retract and uncover the sports field, a plurality of elongate support members, moveable to extend between a retracted position and an extended position, and one or more tensile members configured to, in use, support and/or attach to the cover and attach to the plurality of elongate support members. In the retracted position the plurality of elongate support members is located substantially below a surface level of the sports field, and in the extended position and with the tensile members attached to or supporting the cover, the elongate support members elevate the flexible resilient planar material above the sports field.

Sheet of insulating plates comprising successively placed lamellae of insulating plates attached to each other at their edge side which is cross directional in relation to the longitudinal direction of the sheet of insulating plates, alternately at the upper corners and lower corners of the cross directional edge sides, whereby thus formed uniform sheet of insulating plates comprising several lamellae of insulating plates can be folded into accordion-like folded stack of lamellae of insulating plates and unfolded again into a uniform sheet of insulating plates, which sheet of insulating plates has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface of the sheet of insulating plates comprises a surface layer which is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sheet of insulating plates alternately attached to and detached from the lamellae of the insulating plates in groups of two successive lamellae of insulating plates.

Sheet of insulating plates comprising successively placed lamellae of insulating plates attached to each other at their edge side which is cross directional in relation to the longitudinal direction of the sheet of insulating plates, alternately at the upper corners and lower corners of the cross directional edge sides, whereby thus formed uniform sheet of insulating plates comprising several lamellae of insulating plates can be folded into accordion-like folded stack of lamellae of insulating plates and unfolded again into a uniform sheet of insulating plates, which sheet of insulating plates has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface of the sheet of insulating plates comprises a surface layer which is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the sheet of insulating plates alternately attached to and detached from the lamellae of the insulating plates in groups of two successive lamellae of insulating plates.