U.S. patent application number 13/998679 was filed with the patent office on 2015-05-28 for sporting equipment including integrated diffused indicator.
This patent application is currently assigned to Morehouse USA Creative, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Morehouse USA Creative, LLC. Invention is credited to Jimmy Chion, Chris Glastier, Timothy Morehouse, Elger Oberwelz.
Application Number | 20150148140 13/998679 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53180177 |
Filed Date | 2015-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150148140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morehouse; Timothy ; et
al. |
May 28, 2015 |
Sporting equipment including integrated diffused indicator
Abstract
A fencing weapon or piece of sporting equipment includes a
diffused indictor light visible through at least one aperture. For
the sport of fencing the diffused indictor light can signal valid
and invalid touches. Sports equipment benefits in particular from
this diffused indictor light configuration to provide instantaneous
feedback to the bearer of such equipment, their teammates and
competitors, and viewers of play involving such equipment.
Inventors: |
Morehouse; Timothy; (New
York, NY) ; Chion; Jimmy; (San Francisco, CA)
; Oberwelz; Elger; (San Francisco, CA) ; Glastier;
Chris; (San Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Morehouse USA Creative, LLC |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Morehouse USA Creative, LLC
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
53180177 |
Appl. No.: |
13/998679 |
Filed: |
November 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/47.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 59/20 20151001;
A63B 2102/22 20151001; A63B 51/02 20130101; A63B 59/00 20130101;
A63B 49/00 20130101; A63B 69/02 20130101; A63B 53/00 20130101; A63B
59/70 20151001; A63B 2225/74 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/47.1 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/02 20060101
A63B069/02 |
Claims
1. A fencing weapon comprising: a blade portion; a handle; and a
guard portion, wherein said guard portion further comprises at
least one aperture, a light diffusing portion and at least one
integrated indicator illumination device.
2. The fencing weapon of claim 1, wherein the at least one
integrated indicator illumination device further comprises at least
one indicator light.
3. The fencing weapon of claim 1, wherein the at least one
integrated indicator illumination device further comprises an array
of indicator lights.
4. The fencing weapon of claim 3, wherein said at array of
indicator lights can be programmed to output at least two of colors
of visible light.
5. The fencing weapon of claim 3, wherein said array of indicator
lights can illuminate a light diffusing portion such that a first
color is visible through a first of said at least one aperture and
a second color is visible through a second of said at least one
aperture.
6. The fencing weapon of claim 2, wherein the at least one
indicator light further comprises an input for receipt of a signal
from an electrical scoring apparatus to turn on or to turn off.
7. The fencing weapon of claim 6, wherein said electrical scoring
apparatus connects to said at least one indicator light by at least
one wire connected to said fencing weapon.
8. The fencing weapon of claim 1, wherein said light diffusing
portion further comprises a diffusive substance.
9. The fencing weapon of claim 8, wherein said plastic diffusive
substance further comprises a plastic with adequate hardness to
prevent breaking during fencing action.
10. The fencing weapon of claim 1, wherein said light diffusing
portion and at least one integrated indicator illumination device
are substantially covered by a cover.
11. The fencing weapon of claim 1, wherein said light diffusion
portion substantially encapsulates said at least one integrated
indicator illumination device.
12. The fencing weapon of claim 10, wherein said cover further
comprises at least one reflective surface for reflecting light from
said at least one integrated indicator illumination device toward
said at least one aperture.
13. The fencing weapon of claim 2, wherein said at least one
indicator light further comprises at least one light emitting
diode.
14. The fencing weapon of claim 1, wherein said at least one
aperture and said light diffusion portion further comprise a
coating material which prevents that contacting said at least one
aperture or said light diffusion portion with an opponent's weapon
or weapon tip will register a valid touch.
15. The fencing weapon of claim 1, wherein the fencing weapon
further comprises a power source for providing power to said
integrated illumination device.
16. The fencing weapon of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of
said light diffusing portion extends into said at least one
aperture.
17. The fencing weapon of claim 1, wherein said at least one
aperture is at least partially filled by a light transmitting
substance.
18. A fencing weapon guard comprising: a first layer comprising a
guard containing at least one aperture, a second layer disposed
next to said guard comprising a light diffusing portion, at least
one integrated indicator illumination device adjacent to said light
diffusion portion, and a protective layer substantially covering
said at least one integrated indicator illumination device and said
second layer, wherein said first layer, said second layer and said
protective layer further comprise an opening for insertion of a
fencing weapon blade.
19. The fencing weapon guard of claim 18, wherein said fencing
weapon guard further comprises a power supply for providing power
to said at least one integrated indicator illumination device.
20. The fencing weapon guard of claim 18, wherein said at least one
aperture further comprises a series of apertures substantially
forming a pattern.
21. The fencing weapon guard of claim 18, wherein said at least one
integrated indicator illumination device is situated substantially
beneath said at least one aperture.
22. The fencing weapon guard of claim 18, wherein said at least one
integrated indicator illumination device is situated beneath at
least a portion of said metal layer.
23. (canceled)
24. A piece of sporting equipment comprising: a frame or shaft; a
handle; wherein said frame, shaft, or handle, further comprises at
least one aperture and a light diffusing portion and said piece of
sporting equipment further comprises at least one integrated
indicator illumination device which can provide illumination to
said diffusing portion.
25. The piece of sporting equipment of claim 24, wherein the
sporting equipment is a fencing weapon, a racket, a golf club, a
baseball bat, a hockey stick, or a lacrosse stick.
26. The piece of sporting equipment of claim 24, wherein the
sporting equipment is a stringed racket and said strings at least
partially comprise the light diffusing portion.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0001] The modern sport of fencing is hundreds of years old.
Historically, referees and bout directors awarded points (or
touches--where one opponent's weapon blade or tip makes contact
with the target area of the other opponent) by visually observing
two opponents and determining whether a touch occurred and whether
the fencer scoring the touch should be awarded a point based on
existing rules. The object of saber fencing, based on cavalry
fencing on horseback, is to score touches by contacting a blade or
tip of a fencer's weapon with an opponent's target area (above that
opponent's waist including his arms and head). The object of foil
fencing is to score touches by contacting the tip of a fencer's
weapon with an opponent's target area (the opponent's torso). The
object of epee fencing, based on first-blood duels, is to score
touches by contacting the tip of a fencer's weapon with an
opponent's target area (any part of the opponent's body). Each form
of modern sport of fencing is very rapid. Often actions, contacts,
and target areas are difficult to visually see. Modern fencing
weapons are so light that skilled fencers can manipulate them with
extreme speed in flurries of action. This speed renders it
difficult to determine when touches are scored. Even where several
officials are employed to judge a match, visual identification of
scoring maneuvers is difficult. Disagreement between officials
often occurs, due to the inconsistency in the quality of
perspective enjoyed by the various officials. Moreover, judgment by
visual observation is a subjective criterion, and the acuity of
vision may vary among officials, and even in the same official.
[0002] In the 1970s electronic circuits were used to aid in
awarding touches. FIG. 1 depicts the current state of the art
fencing scoring system. Each fencer X, Y holds a weapon 12, 14
which includes a blade 20 connected to a wire running down each
fencer's sleeve (not shown) and connected behind each fencer to a
reel wire 24, 26 affixed to a retractable reel 28, 30. Each fencer
X, Y wears a jacket 21, 22 which can be made of a conductive
material, a mask 30 which can be made of conductive material, and a
wire 31 connecting the mask to the jacket 21. The terminal of the
reel wire 24, 26 is also connected electrically to the fencer's
jacket 21, 22. Each reel 28, 30 is connected to an electrical
scoring apparatus 10 that has indicators Wx, Cx, Wy, Cy which
alternately illuminate to indicate a touch. If the weapon being
fenced is saber, then when fencer Y in FIG. 1 contacts fencer X
with any portion of the blade 20 of weapon 14 on a conductive area
of either jacket 22 or mask 33, a circuit connects and indicator
light Wy indicates fencer A scored a touch. A referee or director D
will use this information and his or her visualization of the
action to decide whether fender Y's touch should be awarded a
point. When fencer X in FIG. 1 contacts fencer Y with the blade 16
of saber 12 on fencer Y's conductive area of either jacket 22 or
mask 33, a circuit connects and indicator light Wx illuminates.
Often both lights Wy and Wx will illuminate and a director or
referee will need to determine to which fencer, if any, a touch
should be awarded according to the rules of saber fencing.
[0003] Foil fencing includes a similar configuration to the saber
configuration of FIG. 1, except each fencer X, Y hold a foil and
jackets 21, 22 have a conductive target area comprising the
fencer's torso. A valid touch signal in foil includes the breaking
of a first circuit and completing a second. A foil has a movable
contact on its tip, which is depressed whenever the tip 16 touches
an object, breaking the first electrical circuit. Each contestant
wears a vest-like garment which covers the valid target portion of
his body. The vest has a conductive surface, and is connected in a
second circuit between the electrical scoring apparatus 10 and the
opponent's foil. The movable contact on each foil is itself
conductive. When the movable contact of one fencer's foil touches
the opponent's conductive vest, the second electrical circuit is
completed, and the first circuit is broken, producing a valid touch
signal (thus illuminating respective indicator Wx or Wy). An
invalid touch in foil is indicated merely by the breaking of the
first circuit (thus illuminating respective indicator Cx, Cy),
since in an invalid touch, the foil fails to contact the opponent's
vest.
[0004] Epee fencing includes a similar configuration to the saber
configuration of FIG. 1, except each fencer X, Y hold an epee and
wear a jacket 21, 22 that need not include a conductive area. A
touch signal in epee constitutes simply the making of one circuit.
The movable contact in the epee touch sensor assembly completes the
circuit on depression in the course of a touch. Errant touches on
the piste 35 or on the opponent's weapon body are not scored.
Accordingly, if a fencer's epee tip touches the piste 35, or his
opponent's weapon, the electrical scoring apparatus 10 disables the
scoring indicators, preventing the registration of a touch in
response to such errant touches. The movable contact on the epee
tip is conductive as in the case of the foil. It is connected to a
portion of the electrical scoring apparatus 10 which, if grounded,
prevents actuation of the valid touch indicators. The piste 35 is
grounded, as is the body of each weapon 12, 14, so that errant
touches on the weapon body or the piste 35 are not counted as
scores.
[0005] A problem associated with the state of the art fencing
system is that electrical scoring apparatuses are often difficult
to see for fencers and referees who must rapidly turn their
attention from the fencing action to observe indicator lights on
the apparatus. They can be confusing to spectators who have to
associate one color light with each fencer and often are unsure
which light represents which fencer. One way to combat this to
include indicator lights in a fencer's mask. When a touch is
scored, lights or LED arrays situated in a fencers mask illuminate
based on control signals from electrical scoring apparatus 10.
Control signals can be sent wirelessly or via a wired connection.
Illuminating masks are helpful in that they allow easy viewing when
touches are scored by fencers, referees, and observers. However,
they are often costly and may require after market electronics and
batteries in order to function properly. Also, each fencer is only
able to see the mask of the other which indicates a touch scored.
They are unable to see the indicator contained in their own mask or
may not have a mask that contains indicators. Thus they may have to
look to an external scoring apparatus 10 to determine whether they
also scored a touch which requires altering a field of view away
from the fencing action.
[0006] Alternatively an external device situated either on the
fencers' garments or connected to a socket on the underside of a
fencer's weapon guard may emit a signal indicator such as a light
or sound. These devices are often less costly, however, they are of
limited use in that they can easily be misheard and do not offer a
convenient vantage for fencers, referees, and observers.
[0007] Further, many other sports could benefit from equipment
having indicator feedback where presently the equipment for
engaging in the play of the sport has none. Some examples of such
equipment that include no indicator component include tennis
rackets, golf clubs, baseball bats, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks,
etc.
[0008] The invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by
providing a pattern of apertures in a piece of sporting equipment,
for example a fencing weapon. The fencing weapon has a guard
through which light emits from a diffusive substance that is
illuminated by an indicator light or an array of lights. Such a
light or array of lights which illuminate the diffusive substance
visibly makes clear indication of which fencer made contact and can
easily be observed in the course of action during a fencing
match.
[0009] The invention achieves this in a first aspect by a fencing
weapon which includes a blade portion; a handle; and a guard
portion having an integrated indicator device.
[0010] In one embodiment the integrated indicator device further
can be an indicator light and in another embodiment it can be an
array of indicator lights.
[0011] In one embodiment, the indicator light receives a signal
from an electrical scoring apparatus and in other embodiments the
electrical scoring apparatus is contained within the fencing weapon
itself or is located remotely from the fencing weapon.
[0012] Indicator lights can be light emitting diodes and can be
recessed below an outer surface of said guard portion to prevent
that contacting it with an opponent's weapon or weapon tip will
register a valid touch.
[0013] In one embodiment, the fencing weapon includes a power
source for providing power to the integrated indicator device. In
another embodiment, the fencing weapon comprises a counter for
outputting a count of indicator signals and a memory for storing
the count. The integrated indicator device can include a display
for displaying the count. The fencing weapon can also include a
wireless communication device for receiving at least one indicator
signal from at least one other device.
FIGURES
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a prior art fencing system;
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts a first view of a fencing weapon according to
the invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 depicts a second view in the plane of line A-A from
FIG. 2 of a foil or epee according to the invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 depicts an alternate configuration of the foil or
epee in FIG. 3 according to the invention;
[0018] FIG. 5 depicts a second view in the plane of line A-A from
FIG. 2 of a saber according to the invention;
[0019] FIG. 6 depicts a tennis racket according to the
invention;
[0020] FIG. 7 depicts a golf club according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] FIG. 2 depicts a fencing weapon from the view of the weapon
blade extending out of the plane of FIG. 2 toward the observer. In
the present example, FIG. 2 depicts a weapon 12. Weapon 12 includes
a blade 16, a handle (not shown), and a guard 46. Blade 16 is
conductive, frequently made of steel or any other metal or metal
alloy known to one of skill in the art. Blade 16 can also be made
from plastic or foam or any other substance, especially when
configured for use as practice weapons, or as toys. Guard 46 is
made of an opaque substance such as metal or plastic or any other
substance known in the art. Guard 46 contains a pattern of
individual apertures 47. Apertures 47 allow visible light to pass
through guard such that emitted light beneath the apertures 47 will
be visible to one observing guard 46 from its front surface (i.e.,
the portion of guard 46 on the same side as blade 16).
[0022] Guard 46 can be electrically grounded or otherwise
undetectable when contacted by an opponent's weapon. Apertures 47
can be small enough to prevent false connections from being
detected by an opponent's weapon tip or blade. Additionally,
apertures 47 can be filled wholly or in part with a substance that
will be sense-invisible to an opponent's weapon but still allow
transmission of visible light. An example of such a substance is
wire mesh. Guard 46 can contain a single aperture 47 or any number
of apertures 47. Apertures 47 can be configured in any pattern, for
example, in a pattern which optimizes visibility transmitted light
while maintaining the sense-invisibility of guard 46 to an
opponent's weapon. Additionally apertures 47 can be configured in a
pattern unique to a particular fencer to further allow for
personalization and to prevent confusion between weapons. Apertures
47 can extend to the edge of guard 46 and partial apertures such as
aperture 48 can also extend to the edge of guard 46.
[0023] FIG. 3 depicts a foil or epee 12 along plane A-A in FIG. 2.
Foil or epee 12 contains blade portion 20 and tip portion 16 which,
when depressed on an opponent's target area causes a signal to be
sent to at least one indicator light 55. Guard 46 is held in place
between blade 20 and handle 61 by affixing mechanism 60. Affixing
mechanism 60 can be, for example, a screw terminal of blade portion
20 which screws into a socket within handle 61. When indicator
light 55 illuminates it produces light which diffusion layer 51
diffuses such that it is visible through at least aperture 47.
Diffusion layer 51 can also be configured to diffuse light from
indicator light 55 through multiple apertures, i.e., 47 and 49.
Diffusion layer 51 can be composed of, for example, a translucent
plastic material or any other material known in the art which
allows for diffusion or other transmission of visible light.
Alternatively indicator lights 55, 56, and 57 are individually
addressable different colored light emitting diodes (LEDs) and can
be configured in an array to deliver a variety of colors of visible
light when activated. Further, a second array of LEDs 58 can also
be individually addressed such that when activated, a first color
can be produced by the array of indicator lights 55, 56, 57 and a
second color can be produced by array 58. Diffusion layer 51 can
also be configured or composed of materials which allow array 58 to
deliver a first color of visible light to aperture 49 and indicator
lights 55, 56, 57 can deliver a second color of visible light to
aperture 47 and/or 48.
[0024] Indicator control mechanism 62 connects to indicator lights
55, 56, 57 and array 58 by an electrical/signaling connection 63.
Indicator control mechanism 62 can include a power source for
providing power over electrical/signaling connection 63.
Alternatively indicator control mechanism 62 can be powered by
connector 64 connected to wire 65 which draws power and/or receives
signal information from a source external to foil or epee 12. When
indicator control mechanism 62 either generates a signal or relays
a signal from connector 64, it provides power to at least one of
indicator lights 55, 56, 57 and array 58. Indicator control
mechanism 62 can also provide a signal containing control
information which directs at least one of indicator lights 55, 56,
57, and array 58 to emit light, at a particular brightness, color,
frequency, and illumination time. Alternatively indicator lights
55, 56, 57 can be situated within an LED package (not shown), such
as a semiconductor package with a control driver and color
programming included.
[0025] Indicator lights 55, 56, 57, array 58, diffusion layer 51,
and indicator control mechanism 62 components are protected from
damage by covered 53. Cover 53 can be formed of a pad made from a
material which is substantially malleable to protect the
aforementioned components. Alternatively, cover 53 can be formed
from a packaging material which substantially encapsulates the
aforementioned components or completely envelops them, such as a
hard plastic material so that indicator lights 55, 56, 57, array
58, diffusion layer 51, indicator control mechanism 62 and
diffusion layer 51 form a single package. Further, diffusion layer
can include a reflective surface disposed oppose guard 46 which
aids in reflecting light from at least one indicator lights 55, 56,
57 and array 58 toward at least one of apertures 47, 48, and 49.
FIG. 4 depicts a configuration of foil or epee 12 as in FIG. 3,
except that raised portion 71 of diffusion layer 51 extends at
least partially into aperture 49 to allow guard 46, aperture 49 and
raised portion 71 of diffusion layer 51 to have a substantially
planar surface. This may further be useful to prevent ridges from
apertures from causing damage to an opponent's weapon or for
causing contacts to fail to ground properly on guard 46. It may
further allow better visibility of diffused light emitted beyond
guard 46. Alternatively, raised portion 71 may be composed of a
different material than diffusion layer 51. The material may be
selected to permits the transmittance of at least some visible
light from diffusion layer 51 and at least partially fill aperture
49 to, for example, better protect diffusion layer 51 from impact,
allow conductance across guard 46 for grounding purposes, or to
magnify or enhance diffused light from diffusion layer 51.
[0026] FIG. 5 depicts a saber 12 along plane A-A in FIG. 2. Saber
12 contains blade portion 20 which, when contacting on an
opponent's target area causes a signal to be sent to at least one
indicator light 55. Guard 46 includes a parabolic extension portion
which protects a fencer's hand along the distance of handle 61.
Guard 46 in a saber configuration of FIG. 5 can include an aperture
81 at a location along the extension portion and diffusion layer 51
can extend such that light from array 58 or indicator lights 55,
56, 57 may be visible through aperture 81.
[0027] The examples in FIGS. 2-5 can be applied to other sporting
equipment as well, including, for example tennis rackets, baseball
bats, hockey sticks, golf clubs, etc. Such a piece of sporting
equipment will have the same at least one aperture, light diffusing
portion, and integrated illumination device as in the guard 46 in
FIG. 3 and can contain an array composed of multiple apertures in a
portion as depicted in FIG. 2. Such lights can provide integrated
indicator light feedback to a competitor, an opponent, a teammate,
or a spectator to allow for better scoring, training, game play,
visibility, and appreciation of the sport. FIG. 6 depicts a tennis
racket 600 with a handle 601, a racket frame 602, and strings 603.
Racket frame 602 includes apertures 49 with diffusion portions 51
for diffusing illumination from an integrated indicator
illumination device (not shown) which can be, for example,
contained within racket frame 602 or handle 601. Alternatively,
strings 603 can be diffusion portions 51 such that integrated
indicator illumination device can cause strings 603 to diffuse and
light so that strings 603 provide indication of an event such as
topspin, swing speed, ball contact with a particular portion of
racket 600, etc. The invention of FIG. 6 an also apply to squash
rackets, racketball rackets, table tennis paddles, badminton
rackets, etc.
[0028] FIG. 7 depicts a golf club 700 having a handle portion 701,
a shaft 702, and a club head 703 for striking a golf ball (i.e.,
effectuating portion). Shaft 702 can contain apertures 49
containing diffusion portions 51 such that integrated indicator
illumination device (not shown) provides indication of an event
such as topspin, swing speed, ball contact with a particular
portion of club head 703, etc. The invention of FIG. 7 can also
apply to hockey sticks, baseball bats and other sporting equipment
used for striking a target.
[0029] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *