U.S. patent application number 10/154055 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-12 for game ball with clock.
Invention is credited to Boettcher, William C., Doherty, Thomas M., Oister, Michael J., Wisener, Christopher S..
Application Number | 20030109339 10/154055 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26685917 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030109339 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oister, Michael J. ; et
al. |
June 12, 2003 |
Game ball with clock
Abstract
The present invention includes ball having integrated timers for
measuring or counting at least one time period
Inventors: |
Oister, Michael J.;
(Superior, CO) ; Wisener, Christopher S.;
(Westminster, CO) ; Boettcher, William C.;
(Denver, CO) ; Doherty, Thomas M.; (Denver,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Brian Kinnear
Holland & Hart
Suite 3200
555 17th Street
Denver
CO
80201
US
|
Family ID: |
26685917 |
Appl. No.: |
10/154055 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10154055 |
May 23, 2002 |
|
|
|
10014297 |
Dec 11, 2001 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/570 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2243/007 20130101;
A63B 2243/0037 20130101; A63B 43/00 20130101; A63B 2071/0625
20130101; A63B 2071/063 20130101; A63B 71/06 20130101; A63B
2041/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/570 |
International
Class: |
A63B 043/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a ball; at least one timer integrated
with the ball for measuring at least one time period; at least one
randomizer that provides to the at least one timer the at least one
time period to be counted; at least one sound generator integrated
with the ball, and the at least one sound generator for producing
at least one sound based on the at least one time period.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the least one
randomizer provides time periods between a predetermined minimum
time period and a predetermined maximum time period.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one
randomizer provides time periods bases on a predetermined
pattern.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: at least one
actuator; and the at least one actuator initializes the at least
one timer to begin counting the at least one time period provided
by the at least one randomizer.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one
actuator comprises a motion detector.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the motion detector
detects a snap motion to start the timer.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the snap motion
comprises a movement of the ball and a stopping of the
movement.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the movement of the
ball includes a rapid movement of the ball and the stopping of the
movement includes hitting the ball with a palm of a user
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ball has a
hitting surface for the palm indicated on at least one tip of the
ball.
10. A method of using a ball having an integrated timer, comprising
the steps of: providing a ball having at least one integrated
timer; actuating the at least one integrated timer; counting at
least one time period; and indicating the completion of the
counting step.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the actuating step
comprises resetting the at least one integrated timer.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the resetting step
comprises depressing a push button.
13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the resetting step
comprises: moving of the ball; and stopping of the ball, wherein
the movement and stopping of the ball actuates resets and actuates
the at least one integrated timer.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the moving and
stopping steps comprise a single motion of a user moving the ball
with one hand and stopping the ball by hitting the palm of another
hand.
15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the movement is rapid
and the stopping is abrupt.
16. An apparatus, comprising a ball; at least one timer integrated
with the ball for measuring at least one time period; at least one
striking surface on the ball; and at least one sound generator
integrated with the ball, wherein striking the at least one
striking surface on the ball actuates the at least one integrated
timer to being measuring the at least one time period.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the at least one
timer includes uses at least one randomizer to determine the at
least one time period to be measured.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of
the at least one randomizer is integrated into the at least one
timer.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation in part to and claims
priority from co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/014,297, filed Dec. 11, 2001, entitled "GAME BALL WITH
CLOCK."
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to game balls and, more
particularly, recreational sport balls having clocks or timers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In many sports activities, timing or counts can be
important. For example, in a professional basketball game,
officials have a shot clock that provides a specific amount of time
for the offensive team to take a shot. In recreational basketball
games, often times participants wish to simulate the shot clock.
Similarly, in recreational football games, often a "pass rusher"
counts off a number of seconds prior to rushing the passer to
simulate the time a professional quarterback would have to stand
in, for example, the pocket prior to throwing a pass.
[0004] In some case, such as the basketball shot clock, timers can
be used off the court. Alternatively, the basketball hoop can be
modified to incorporate a timer that resets after each basket.
However, even simple timers require equipment to be attached to the
basket or carried from court to court. This is difficult as
conventional timers are relatively non-portable. Thus, it would be
desirous to provide a ball with a clock or timer to perform these
and other functions of timers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages
of the invention will be apparent from the following more
particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Further, the
advantages and purpose of the invention will be realized and
attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly
pointed out in the appended claims.
[0006] To attain the advantages and in accordance with the purpose
of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, balls
having a timer integrated into the ball are provided. The balls
also have a sound generator. The timer is capable of measuring at
least one time period and the sound generator can provide a sound
indicating the end of the at least one time period.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the present invention, and together with the description, serve to
explain the principles thereof. Like items in the drawings are
referred to using the same numerical reference.
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a game ball having a timer in accordance with a
possible embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows another game ball having a timer in accordance
with a possible embodiment of the present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a possible control panel 30 in accordance with
the present invention;
[0011] FIGS. 4A and 4B show possible cross-sectional views of
control panel 30;
[0012] FIG. 5 shows another possible control panel 50 in accordance
with the present invention; and
[0013] FIGS. 6A and 6B show possible cross-sectional views of
control panel 50.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Some embodiments of the present invention are described with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a
basketball 10 having a timer 12, a control panel 14, and a sound
generator 16. Not specifically shown, basketball 10 would also have
a power source, which could be any conventional power source, such
as, for example, conventional double A or triple A batteries.
Basketball 10 can be any type of basketball, such as, for example,
a NBA regulation basketball, other conventional basketballs, or
other basketballs, such as a foam ball (like a NERF.RTM. ball),
synthetic leather balls, plastic balls, etc. Timer 12 could be a
conventional clock circuit, a microprocessor, a microchip, or other
type of device capable of measuring time or counts. Control panel
14 could be simply a reset device for the timer to reset the timer
for the next period. However, control panel 14, which will be
explained in more detail below, is not necessary. Sound generator
16 could be a microprocessor, microchip, or other device capable of
generating sound. Generally, sound generator 16 would have a
speaker (not specifically shown) associated with it that could be
mounted on the control panel 14 or elsewhere on the ball. Further,
sound generator could be more complex, such as a voice synthesizer,
or less complex, such as a buzzer. Also, while timer 12 and sound
generator 16 are shown separately for convenience, they could be
combined into a single unit. Similarly, FIG. 2 shows a football 20
having a timer 22, a control panel 24, and a sound generator 26.
While the present invention is shown incorporated into a basketball
and football, one of ordinary skill in the art on reading the
disclosure would understand that other balls could be used.
[0015] Further, while FIGS. 1 and 2 show the timer, sound
generator, and/or control panel on one side of the game ball, it is
possible to arrange the pieces along a geometric axis of the ball
for proper weight and balance of the ball. In other words, the
speaker and timer may be on one side of the ball, the power source
(not shown) close to the center, and the access port (also not
shown) to the power source on the opposite side of the speaker.
Further, it is better to place the equipment as close to the
geometric center of the ball as possible, again for weight and
balance. To the extent the timer, sound generator, and/or control
panel cause weight and balance issues with the ball, those issues
can be corrected with a sufficient counter balance.
[0016] In operation, a player would reset the timer 12, which will
be further explained in conjunction with the control panel
description below, at the start of the desired count period. The
timer 12 would begin counting, in this case, seconds until the shot
clock period expires. At the end of the time period, the timer
would send a signal to sound generator 16 that would generate a
sound, such as a buzzer, indicating the end of the period. In more
complex arrangements, the timer 12 could send a signal to sound
generator 16 that causes sound generator 16 to make audible all or
some portion of the countdown period, i.e., sound generator 16
could produce a 10, 9, 8, . . . countdown to the end of the period.
The count down could be a voice synthesis countdown or simply
clicks that start at the 10 second point (or some other point such
as 5 second). Moreover, the countdown could be a combination of
clicks or voice synthesis, such as a verbal 10, 9, 8 . . . and a
buzzer at zero.
[0017] For a "pass rush" application in football, it may be
desirable to provide a random feature to the timer 22 to simulate,
for example, a blitz. In other words, the timer 22 may be capable
of counting several periods, and each actuation of the counting,
which will be explained in more detail below, causes timer 22 to
randomly select various time periods. To provide the random
feature, a randomize could be integrated into timer 22 or provided
separately (not shown in the drawings). In one example, the timer
22 may be able to selectively count between a 5 second normal rush
period, a 3 second speed rush, and a 1 second blitz rush. Other
time periods, of course, could be possible. Thus, on each actuation
of the timer 22, the actual period prior to rushing would be
unknown, which would further simulate an actual football game.
Also, as one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize on
reading the disclosure, the random feature of timer 22 could be a
pure randomizer or, alternatively, it could be based some
predetermined pattern.
[0018] After the count period, if the game ball has a control
panel, the player can reset the timer 12 to being the next period.
Alternatively, the timer could simply being the next period after
the end of the previous period without need for a reset. If the
timer 12 did not get reset, but rather started counting the next
period at the end of the pervious period, the entire control panel
could be eliminated if desired. Instead of a manual reset on a
control panel, a reset device could be mounted in, for example, the
basketball hoop that would automatically reset the timer 12 when
the basketball comes within a predetermined distance of the reset
device. Alternatively, a remote control style device could be used
to reset the timer 12. Also, the timer 12 could be voice activated
by commands such as, for example, start, stop, shot, etc. to start,
stop, or even pause the timer period. If voice actuation is
employed, it may be desirous to use a microphone, which could be
mounted on the control panel or elsewhere.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a possible control panel 30 for timer or clock.
As explained above, the features of control panel 30 are not
necessary for the present invention. Generally, control panel 30
may have a reset 34 and a count period select 36. Control panel 30
may also have a display 32. If a display is used, the display could
receive a signal from the time to display the current time, the
time period select length (i.e., 24 second shot clock, 5 second
rush count, etc.) Also, depending on the application, the display
may be configured to count up or down with the timer.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the reset 34 and count period
select 36 could either be raised or depressed. In order to inhibit
inadvertent resets and/or count period selections, a protective
cover could be implemented (not shown) to cover the reset 34 and
count period select 36. In this case, actuating reset 34 would
reset the timer 12 to the beginning of the count period. Similarly,
actuating count period select 36 would cycle through the available
choices in the count period. For example, the count period could be
originally set for 24 seconds, but include options for count
periods of 30, 32, and 15 seconds (notice the period length is
arbitrary and a matter of design or customer choice). Actuating
count period select 36 could cycle the count period between the
various choices. In other words, the first time count period select
36 is actuated, the count period would change from 24 seconds to 30
seconds, the second time to 32 seconds, the third time to 15
seconds and the fourth time back to 24 seconds, etc. A display 32
would facilitate the selection by displaying the count period
length on the display each time the count period select 36 is
actuated.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows another possible control panel 50. Control
panel 50 has a display 52, a reset 54, and a count period select
56. In this case, reset 54 and count period select 56 have more of
a slide actuation than a press actuation. One advantage of the
slide actuation is that the count period select 56 could have
predefined spots on the slide to select time periods instead of
cycling through time periods. In other words, count period select
56 could have 5 predefined positions for time period, such as, a
first position for 15 seconds, a second position for 24 seconds,
etc. As one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize on reading
the disclosure, resets 34 and 54 and count period selects 36 and 56
could be any style of actuator. Moreover, resets and count period
selects could be the same or different types of actuators.
[0022] The above reset and count period select controls are
described in relation to simply single action style actuators or
switches with multiple presets. It would be possible to incorporate
a keyboard into the control panels. The keyboard could be a
conventional alpha, numeric or alphanumeric keyboard.
[0023] As one of skill in the art would recognize on reading this
disclosure, while the timers 12 and 22, and sound generators 16 and
26 are shown mounted internal to the balls 10 and 20, they could be
mounted on the surface of the balls. Moreover, the timers and sound
generators could be incorporated into the control panel.
Alternatively, the control panels 14 and 24 could be removed and
the timers 12 and 22, and sound generators 16 and 26 could mounted
on the surface or internal to the balls 10 and 20.
[0024] If a control panel is not used, timers 12 and 22 and sound
generators 16 and 26 could be preset to particular counts periods
and sounds or preset to random count periods and sounds, etc.
Alternatively, a receiver (not shown) could be incorporated into
the balls to receive control signals from a remote control device.
The remote control device would operate similar to the control
panels 30 and 50 discussed above. The timers and sound generators
could also respond to proximity signals (such as a reset for the
shot clock when the shot is close to the basket), or motion
detectors (such as the pass rush counting beginning on the snap
motion). In other words, many types of control schemes are possible
using the present invention, but only a few illustrative examples
are given.
[0025] For actuation of the timer, one particular embodiment of the
invention includes a target area or strike surface, not shown.
Using football 20 as an example, a player using the football 20
would snap the football 20 into his palm, hitting the target or
strike surface. The snap and abrupt stop would cause timer 22 to
begin counting a timer period. The time period counted could be
preset to, for example, a 5 mississippi count so that each
actuation produces a 5 mississippi time period, a random
mississippi count so that each actuation produces a random
mississippi count between predetermined counts (i.e., a random 0 to
10 mississippi count), or a cycling mississippi count so that the
mississippi count depends on what point in the cycle the user
actuates the timer.
[0026] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to some embodiment thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes
in the form and details may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *