U.S. patent application number 12/098973 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-13 for portable dugout scoreboard.
Invention is credited to Rudy Ramirez.
Application Number | 20090199761 12/098973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40937781 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090199761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ramirez; Rudy |
August 13, 2009 |
PORTABLE DUGOUT SCOREBOARD
Abstract
A portable scoreboard includes self winding scrolls exposed
through windows in a front face for keeping score, and open areas
for applying team logos. The front face includes spaced apart pairs
of slots for each scoring scroll, and additional pairs of spaced
apart slots for scrolls representing a phase of a game, for
example, an inning. The scrolls are self winding on bobbins behind
the slots and pass through the slots to generally expose a single
digit for viewing. Digits are changed by simply manually sliding
the exposed portion of a scroll to expose the next digit. The
scrolls generally include digits spaced apart to display single
digits and a pair of scrolls are used to express numbers greater
than nine, but may optionally also include spaced apart double
digits. Areas are provided below the individual scores and on a
back surface to place team logos and/or advertising.
Inventors: |
Ramirez; Rudy; (Downey,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AVERILL & VARN
8244 PAINTER AVE.
WHITTIER
CA
90602
US
|
Family ID: |
40937781 |
Appl. No.: |
12/098973 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61027629 |
Feb 11, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
116/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/0672
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
116/222 |
International
Class: |
A63F 11/00 20060101
A63F011/00 |
Claims
1. A portable scoreboard comprising: a scoreboard enclosure having:
a scoreboard front face; and at least one spaced apart pair of
horizontally spaced apart first and second scoring slots in the
scoreboard front face, the slots horizontally spaced apart by a
spacing S; a continuous self winding scoring scroll cooperating
with each pair of slots and including spaced apart digits, the
scroll contiguously and serially comprising: a first self winding
portion residing behind the scoreboard front face; a first
transition portion passing through the first slot; a flattened
portion residing exposed above the scoreboard front face; a second
transition portion passing through the second slot; and a second
self winding portion residing behind the scoreboard front face.
2. The portable scoreboard of claim 1, wherein the self winding
portions are wound on inner bobbins.
3. The portable scoreboard of claim 2, wherein split outer bobbins
reside over the self winding portions.
4. The portable scoreboard of claim 1, wherein the spaced apart
digits are spaced apart single digits.
5. The portable scoreboard of claim 4, wherein the spaced apart
digits are spaced apart at least a distance to conceal an adjacent
digit when a digit is centered between one of the pairs of
horizontally spaced apart slots.
6. The portable scoreboard of claim 1, wherein the self winding
portions are free to self wind behind the front face of the
scoreboard.
7. The portable scoreboard of claim 1, wherein the at least one
spaced apart pair of scoring slots are at least two horizontally
spaced apart pairs of scoring slots.
8. The portable scoreboard of claim 7, further including an
additional pair of horizontally spaced apart phase slots and an
additional self winding phase scroll for showing a phase of a
game.
9. The portable scoreboard of claim 8, wherein the additional pair
of horizontally spaced apart phase slots are vertically spaced
apart from the scoring slots.
10. The portable scoreboard of claim 8, further including at least
one area for applying a team logo.
11. A portable scoreboard comprising: a scoreboard enclosure
having: a scoreboard front face; four horizontally spaced apart
pairs of horizontally spaced apart first and second scoring slots
in the scoreboard front face, the scoring slots of each spaced
apart pair spaced apart by a spacing S; a pair of horizontally
spaced apart first and second phase slots vertically spaced apart
from the scoring slots; continuous self winding scoring scrolls,
each scroll cooperating with one of the pairs of scoring slots and
with the pair of phase slots and including spaced apart digits, the
scrolls contiguously and serially comprising: a first self winding
portion residing behind the scoreboard front face; a first
transition portion passing through the first slot; a flattened
portion residing exposed before the scoreboard front face; a second
transition portion passing through the second slot; and a second
self winding portion residing behind the scoreboard front face; two
areas residing on the front face on each side of the phase slots
and below the scoring slots for applying team logos to the front
face.
12. A method for keeping score with a portable scoreboard, the
method comprising: positioning the scoreboard for viewing by at
least one of players and audience members; manually sliding exposed
portions of scoring scrolls horizontally to an end to show a score
of zero for teams playing in a game; observing scores made in the
game; and manually sliding the exposed portions of the score
scrolls horizontally to show a change in score when a score is
made.
13. The method of claim 12, further including: manually sliding
exposed portions of a phase scroll horizontally to indicate the
beginning of the game; observing the phase of the game; and
manually sliding exposed portions of the phase scroll horizontally
to indicate a change in the phase of the game.
Description
[0001] The present application claims the priority of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/027,629 filed Feb. 11,
2008, which application is incorporated in its entirety herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to scoreboards and in
particular to a low cost portable scoreboard suitable for hanging
in a baseball dugout.
[0003] A variety of sports are practiced thousands of times every
week in fields and gyms across the United States. These sports are
often practiced in playing areas which lack permanent scoreboards
or where the permanent scoreboards are present but not available
for general use. In such situations, teams often attempt to
improvise or to use a portable scoreboard.
[0004] Portable electronic portable scoreboards are available, for
example, the ESE310 Baseball scoreboard available from Electronic
Scoreboards costing over $2,000. While such electronic scoreboards
meet the present need, in many instances, the cost is prohibitive.
Additionally, teams often desire a personalized scoreboard with
team logos and the like, which scoreboards are positioned in the
team's rest area, for example, in a baseball dugout. The cost of
known electronic scoreboards is particularly prohibitive for such
personalized use.
[0005] Manual "flip" scoreboards are available at much lower cost
than electronic scoreboards, but cannot be used in all situations,
for example, where room is not available for flipping the numbers.
Thus a need remains for a low cost portable scoreboard which can be
used in all scenarios.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention addresses the above and other needs by
providing a portable scoreboard which includes self winding scrolls
exposed through windows in the scoreboard front face for keeping
score, and open surface areas for applying team logos. The front
face includes spaced apart pairs of slots for each scoring scroll,
and additional pairs of spaced apart slots for phase scrolls
representing a phase of a game, for example, the inning. The
scrolls are self winding on bobbins behind the slots and pass
through the slots to generally expose a single digit for viewing.
Digits are changed by simply manually sliding the exposed portion
of a scroll to expose the next digit. The scrolls generally include
digits spaced apart to display single digits and a pair of scrolls
are used to express numbers greater than nine, but may optionally
also include spaced apart double digits. Areas are provided below
the individual scores and on a back surface to place team logos
and/or advertising.
[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a portable scoreboard. The portable scoreboard includes a
scoreboard enclosure having a scoreboard face and pairs of
horizontally spaced apart first and second slots, spaced apart by a
spacing S, in the scoreboard face. Self winding scrolls are
provided for manually changing scores. The self winding scrolls
include spaced apart digits and contiguously and serially comprise
a first self winding portion residing behind the scoreboard face, a
flattened portion residing exposed before the scoreboard face, and
a second self winding portion residing behind the scoreboard face.
The digits are spaced apart farther than the spacing S so that only
one digit may be exposed at a time. There may be an additional self
winding scroll to show the phase of the game.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for using a portable scoreboard for keeping score
at a sports event. The method includes positioning the scoreboard
for viewing by at least one of players and audience members,
manually sliding exposed portions of score scrolls horizontally to
an end to show a score of zero for teams playing in a game,
observing scores made in the game, and manually sliding the exposed
portions of the score scrolls horizontally to show a change in
score when a score is made. The method may additionally include
manually sliding exposed portions of a phase scroll horizontally to
indicate the beginning of the game, observing the phase of the
game, and manually sliding exposed portions of the phase scroll
horizontally to indicate a change in the phase of the game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0009] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following more
particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the
following drawings wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1A is a front view of a portable scoreboard according
to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 1B is a rear view of the portable scoreboard according
to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 1C is a side view of the portable scoreboard according
to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of
FIG. 1C of the portable scoreboard according to the present
invention showing self winding scrolls.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a pair of the self winding scroll elements of a
scoring or phase scroll according to the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a self winding scroll
portion of a scoring or phase scroll according to the present
invention, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
[0016] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a self winding scroll
portion of a scoring or phase scroll with an inner bobbin and an
outer bobbin according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a hook according to the present invention for
hanging the portable scoreboard in a baseball dugout.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a method for keeping score according to the
present invention.
[0019] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
components throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The following description is of the best mode presently
contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is
not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the
invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with
reference to the claims.
[0021] A view of a front face 12 of a scoreboard enclosure 13 of a
portable scoreboard 10 according to the present invention is shown
in FIG. 1A, a view of a back face 24 of the scoreboard enclosure 13
of the scoreboard 10 is shown in FIG. 1B, and a side view of the
scoreboard enclosure 13 of the scoreboard 10 is shown in FIG. 1C.
The scoreboard includes two horizontally spaced apart continuous
self winding scoring scrolls 11a and a game phase scroll 11b
comprising a first self winding portion 22a residing behind the
front face 12 (see FIG. 2), an exposed flattened portion 14 exposed
in front of the front face 12 for viewing, and a second self
winding portion 22b residing behind the front face 12.
[0022] Digits (or numerals) 18 are displayed on the flattened
portion 14 to provide game scores and/or phases (for example,
innings in baseball). The digits 18 are spaced apart at least a
distance to conceal an adjacent digit 18 when a digit 18 is
centered between one of the pairs of horizontally spaced apart
slots 16a, 16b. The self winding scrolls pass through horizontally
spaced apart pairs of horizontally spaced apart first and second
vertical slots 16a and 16b in the front face 12. The front face 12
includes indicia 20 indicating the team the score is for. The back
face 24 of the portable scoreboard 10 includes two openings 26 for
hanging the portable scoreboard 10. A variety of hooks may be used
to hang the scoreboard 10 from walls, fences, etc. A preferred hook
is described in FIG. 5.
[0023] Opens areas 17 on the front face 12, and open area 19 on the
back face 24, are provided for stickers, decals, painting, marking,
or any form of visual representation. A preferred use of the
scoreboard 10 is for individual use by a team, for example, hanging
in a baseball dugout. Teams may apply stickers or logos with a team
name, in the open areas 17. Such stickers are available from
Wincraft in Winona, Minn. and from Giant Sticker in Hygiene, Colo.
Additionally, the areas 17 and 19 may be used for advertising, and
due to the very low cost of the scoreboard 10 according to the
present invention, manufacturers and retailers may place their
logos and/or contact information on the scoreboard 10 and give the
scoreboard 10 to teams, for example, to little league teams. There
are approximately 250,000 active little league teams and as many as
ten million baseball and softball teams competing in the United
States presenting a huge market for sporting goods. A low cost
product which allows a manufacturer or retailer to gain exposure to
this market is of tremendous value, and the portable scoreboard 10
according to the present invention provides exactly that
exposure.
[0024] Self winding scrolls 11a and 11b are made by first forming a
flat sheet, and then tightly winding the flat sheet around a
mandrel. The flat sheet has a structural memory, and when the sheet
is removed from the mandrel, the sheet self winds. Mylar.RTM.
polyester film is an example of a material which provides the
desired structural properties, but materials with similar
properties may also be used. Such self winding sheets are available
from Vulcan Spring in Telford, Pa.
[0025] A rear view of the self winding portions 22a and 22b of a
general self winding scroll 11 is shown in FIG. 3 and a
cross-sectional view of the self winding portions 22a and 22b taken
along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4A. The self winding
portion 22a and 22b reside behind the spaced apart slots 16a and
16b. Transition portions 15a and 15b of the self winding scroll 11
pass through the front face 12 and connect the first self winding
portions 22a and 22b to the exposed flattened portion 14. Each pair
of slots 16a, 16b are spaced apart by a spacing S which is
preferably approximately 2.25 inches and the slots 16a, 16b have a
width W which is preferably approximately 0.125 inches. No winding
means is required because of the self winding tendency of the
scroll 11.
[0026] A top view of an embodiment of the present invention with a
tube (or inner bobbin) 28 inside the self winding portion 22b and a
split tube (or outer bobbin) 30 resides over the self winding
portion 22a is shown in FIG. 4B. The outer bobbin 30 and inner
bobbin 28 tend to help the self winding portion 22b consistently
self wind.
[0027] A variety of hooks may be used to hang the scoreboard 10
from walls, fences, etc. A preferred hook 32 is shown in FIG. 5.
The hook 32 has a large end 32a with a mouth width W1, a small end
32b with a mouth width W2, and an overall height H. The width W1 is
preferably approximately 0.8 inches, the width W2 is preferably
approximately 0.25 inches and the height H is preferably
approximately three inches. The small end 32b is suitable for
carrying the scoreboard 10 by inserting into the openings 26 (see
FIG. 1B) and the large end 32a is suitable for engaging a dugout
fence. While the hook 32 is preferred, a variety of other methods
may be exercised to hang the scoreboard 10 or the scoreboard 10 may
rest on a shelf or table, and any scoreboard 10 having scrolls as
described herein for displaying scores is intended to come within
the scope of the present invention.
[0028] The portable scoreboard 10 preferably is made from ABS
plastic and a preferred size is approximately 18 inches wide,
approximately 14 inches high, and approximately 1.25 inches deep.
The indicia 20 may be silk screened, may be a sticker, may be a
decal, may be stenciled on, or created by any appropriate method.
The self winding scrolls are preferably approximately five inches
by approximately 30 inches when laid flat, preferably approximately
0.003 inches thick and preferably made of Mylar.RTM. polyester
film. The slots 16a and 16b are preferably die cut in the front
face 12.
[0029] A method for keeping score according to the present
invention is described in FIG. 6. The method includes positioning
the scoreboard for viewing by at least one of players and audience
members at step 100, manually sliding exposed portions of score
scrolls horizontally to an end to show a score of zero for teams
playing in a game at step 102, observing scores made in the game at
step 104, and manually sliding the exposed portions of the score
scrolls horizontally to show a change in score when a score is made
at step 106. The method may additionally include manually sliding
exposed portions of a phase scroll horizontally to indicate the
beginning of the game at step 108, observing the phase of the game
at step 110, and manually sliding exposed portions of the phase
scroll horizontally to indicate a change in the phase of the game
at step 112. The Step 100 preferably comprises positioning the
scoreboard inside a baseball dugout for viewing by a baseball
team.
[0030] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous
modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled
in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set
forth in the claims.
* * * * *