U.S. patent application number 10/808051 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-30 for hockey light.
Invention is credited to Newton, Grey.
Application Number | 20040192475 10/808051 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33098238 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040192475 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Newton, Grey |
September 30, 2004 |
Hockey light
Abstract
The hockey light of the present invention is for use in
conjunction with a televised sporting event that mimics the
lighting system generally used by hockey arenas, both professional
and amateur, to indicate a significant event during the game. The
hockey light includes a housing generally formed of two components:
an upper goal light and a base support system. The hockey light may
be activated manually or remotely. The assembly may provide a
two-way switch for switching the goal light and sound on or off.
The two-way switch provides for switching between activation of the
goal light only or simultaneous activation of the goal light and
sound system. Additionally, the assembly may be programmed to play
any audio material such as a school fight song, applause, air horn
noise or chirping, for example, that may be downloaded from a
personal computer, or may incorporate a DVD, compact disc, tape
recording or any other sound system within the base or remotely
attached to the hockey light and adjusted with a high/low volume
control.
Inventors: |
Newton, Grey; (Livonia,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOBRUSIN & THENNISCH PC
401 S OLD WOODWARD AVE
SUITE 311
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
33098238 |
Appl. No.: |
10/808051 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60457601 |
Mar 26, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/478 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/06 20130101;
A63B 71/02 20130101; A63B 2102/24 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/478 |
International
Class: |
A63B 067/00 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A hockey light assembly comprising a housing including an upper
goal light and a base support system; said base support system
further comprising: a housing for supporting a sound system and
speaker for broadcasting said sound, said sound system including an
audio message or music generator, wherein said audio message and
music generator may include preprogrammed material means for
actively broadcasting by a user from at least one of the following:
a radio, a compact disc, a tape recording, a DVD, a user, a
computer, or any other source of sound production or audio
material; volume adjustment for controlling said sound system; an
energy activation system for powering said hockey light assembly; a
switching mechanism for activating said hockey light alone, said
sound system alone, or said hockey light simultaneously with said
sound system; and an external activation device for activating said
assembly, including but not limited to a remote control sensor, a
television signal, a pager or a page network transmission.
2. The hockey light system of claim 1, said upper goal light
comprising an outer lens and an internal light system, wherein said
outer lens is formed of a translucent material and said internal
light system is a rotating beacon.
3. The hockey light system of claim 2, said outer lens further
comprising a colored hue or logo.
4. The hockey light system of claim 2, said upper goal light and
said base support system further comprising a team color
scheme.
5. The hockey light system of claim 1 and further comprising a
remote control for activating said hockey light system and nesting
for said control within said base support system.
6. A hockey light assembly comprising a housing including an upper
goal light and a base support system; said upper goal light further
comprising an outer lens and an internal light system, wherein said
outer lens is formed of a translucent material having a colored hue
and includes a visual monogram, and said internal light system is a
rotating beacon, and an external activation device for activating
said assembly, including but not limited to a remote control
sensor, a television signal, a pager or a page network
transmission.
7. The hockey light assembly of claim 6, said base support system
further comprising: a housing for supporting a sound system and
speaker for broadcasting said sound, said sound system including an
audio message or music generator, wherein said audio message and
music generator may include preprogrammed material means for
actively broadcasting by a user from at least one of the following:
a radio, a compact disc, a tape recording, a DVD, a user, a
computer, or any other source of sound production or audio
material.
8. The hockey light assembly of claim 7, said base support system
further comprising volume adjustment for controlling said sound
system.
9. The hockey light assembly of claim 8, said base support system
further comprising an energy activation system for powering said
hockey light assembly; and a switching mechanism for activating
said hockey light alone, said sound system alone, or said hockey
light simultaneously with said sound system.
10. The hockey light assembly of claim 7, said base support system
further comprising an external activation device for activating
said assembly, including but not limited to a remote control
sensor, a television signal, a pager or a page network
transmission.
11. A hockey light assembly comprising a housing including an upper
goal light and a base support system; said base support system
further comprising: a housing for supporting a sound system and
speaker for broadcasting said sound, said sound system including an
audio message or music generator, wherein said audio message and
music generator may include preprogrammed material means for
actively broadcasting by a user from at least one of the following:
a radio, a compact disc, a tape recording, a DVD, a user, a
computer, or any other source of sound production or audio
material; volume adjustment for controlling said sound system; an
energy activation system for powering said hockey light assembly;
and a switching mechanism for activating said hockey light alone,
said sound system alone, or said hockey light simultaneously with
said sound system; said upper goal light comprising an outer lens
and an internal light system, wherein said outer lens is formed of
a translucent material and said internal light system is a rotating
beacon; and an external activation device for activating said
assembly, including but not limited to a remote control sensor, a
television signal, a pager or a page network transmission.
12. The hockey light system of claim 11, said outer lens further
comprising a colored hue or logo.
13. The hockey light system of claim 11, said upper goal light and
said base support system further comprising a team color
scheme.
14. The hockey light system of claim 11 and further comprising a
remote control for activating said hockey light system and nesting
for said control within said base support system.
Description
RELATED CASES
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/457,601 filed on Mar. 26,2003, and
is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a novelty item for use
during a sporting event. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a hockey light for signaling an event, such as a goal,
during a televised hockey game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Several lighting and sound systems are available to indicate
a successful score, end of a quarter or period, or other
activities, occurrences or events during a sporting event for use
with an amateur or professional goal system. Other novelty items
are also available to signal a score, produce sound effects or
generate a message. Examples of these novelty items include the
HOCKEY MODEL GL-H5 Indoor hockey goal light by NEVCO.RTM., U.S.
Pat. No. 5,064,195 to McMahan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,094 to
Quinn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,880 to Booth et al., and U.S. Pat. No.
5,816,947 to Kavitch. Another novelty item related to hockey is HE
SCORES by POOF.RTM., a hand held hockey related goal light for fans
to show their team spirit. Additionally, systems have been
developed to aid the television viewer in spotting the movement of
a hockey puck on the ice and a visual score indicator. These
systems are described in U. S. Pat. No. 5,947,846 to Craig and U.S.
Pat. No. 6,154,250 to Honey et al.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is a novelty hockey light for use in
conjunction with a televised sporting event that mimics the
lighting system generally used by hockey arenas, both professional
and amateur, to indicate a significant event during the game.
[0005] Specifically, the hockey light includes a housing generally
formed of two components: an upper goal light and a base support
system. The base is preferably round and supports the generally
round goal light above it. The base includes a housing for
supporting at least one speaker, volume adjustment, audio message
or music generator, light activation system and energy means such
as a battery for activating the goal light and other amenities.
Additionally, the base may include an infrared receptor for remote
activation of the device.
[0006] The goal light is preferably a rounded cone shaped lens
formed of a translucent material having a reddish hue. Other
colors, such as a school color scheme, may also be provided. The
interior light is preferably a rotating beacon.
[0007] The hockey light may be activated manually or remotely. The
assembly may provide a two-way switch for switching the goal light
and sound on or off. The two-way switch provides for switching
between activation of the goal light only or simultaneous
activation of the goal light and sound system. Additionally, the
assembly may be programmed to play any audio material such as a
school fight song, applause, air horn noise or chirping, for
example, that may be downloaded from a personal computer, or may
incorporate a DVD, compact disc, tape recording or any other sound
system within the base or remotely attached to the hockey light and
adjusted with a high/low volume control.
[0008] The hockey light may be battery powered or may include an
AC/DC adapter for plugging into a wall unit. Alternatively, other
means for activating the assembly may be employed including
activation via an inaudible television audio signal, a pager or
page network transmission, for example. Additionally, a clip, or
other means may be included on the base to seat or hold the remote
control unit when not in use. The remote control may also be
equipped with a lanyard to enable a user to place the control and
his/her neck for example to prevent misplacing the control.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a preferred embodiment of
the present invention including a cut-away of the lens to show an
interior bulb and support base having manual components including
an on-off switch, a volume control, a speaker, light activation
switch and an AC/DC adapter with plug.
[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of a preferred embodiment of
the present invention including a remote control with storage clip,
a remote speaker and an AC/DC adapter with plug.
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of a preferred embodiment
of the present invention including a receptacle for batteries.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a hockey light 10 of the
present invention is there shown and includes a housing 12
generally formed of two components: an upper goal light 14 and a
base support system 16. The base 16 is preferably round and
supports the generally round goal light 14 above it. The base 16
includes a housing 18 for supporting at least one speaker 20,
volume adjustment 22, audio message or music generator 24, light
activation system 26 and energy means 28 such as a battery 30 (see
FIG. 3) for activating the goal light 14 and other amenities.
Additionally, the base 16 may include an infrared receptor for
remote activation of the device by a remote control unit 32.
[0013] The goal light 14 is preferably a rounded cone shaped lens
formed of a translucent material having a reddish hue. Other
colors, such as a school color scheme, may also be provided and
incorporated in both the goal light 14 and base 16. Additionally,
logos or other advertisements may be provided on the light and base
or the outer profile of the hockey light 10 may be formed to
reflect the shape of certain goods or logos. The interior light 34
is preferably a rotating beacon.
[0014] The hockey light 10 may be activated manually or remotely.
The assembly 10 may provide a two-way switch 22, 24, 26 for
switching the goal light and sound on or off. The two-way switch
provides for switching between activation of the goal light only or
simultaneous activation of the goal light and sound system.
Additionally, the assembly may be programmed to play any audio
material such as a school fight song, applause, air horn noise or
chirping, for example, that may be downloaded from a personal
computer, or may incorporate a DVD, compact disc, tape recording or
any other sound system within the base or remotely attached to the
hockey light and adjusted with a high/low volume control.
[0015] The hockey light 10 may be battery powered 30 or may include
an AC/DC adapter 28 for plugging into a wall unit. Alternatively,
other means for activating the assembly may be employed including
activation via an inaudible television audio signal, a pager or
page network transmission, for example. Additionally, a clip 36, or
other means may be included on the base 18 to seat or hold the
remote control unit 32 when not in use. The remote control 32 may
also be equipped with a lanyard to enable a user to place the
control 32 around his/her neck for example to prevent misplacing
the control.
[0016] The hockey light 10 is preferably used in conjunction with a
televised sporting event that mimics the lighting system generally
used by hockey arenas, both professional and amateur, to indicate a
significant event during the game. The present invention may be
used manually or remotely to trigger a light and/or sound to
commemorate an event such as the end of a period or a goal scored
during a hockey game. The hockey light 10 assembly may incorporate
school or team colors and logos. Additionally, the hockey light 10
may be equipped to receive and play any sounds, recordings, songs
or messages from a person, computer, or any sound device 38.
[0017] It should be understood that various alternatives to the
embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in
practicing the invention. Thus, it is intended that the following
claims define the scope of the invention and that the methods and
apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be
covered thereby. The disclosures of all articles and references,
including patent applications and publications, are incorporated
herein by reference for all purposes.
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