Method and system for controlling auto races

• US 10,035,060 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Swyers
• Original Assignee: John Swyers
• Inventors: Swyers, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davison, Laura L
• Application Number:
  US13/495,438
• Time in Patent Office: 2,239 Days
• Field of Search: 463 6, 463 40, 463 43, 463 58, 463 30, 463 31, 463 32, 463 59, 463 60, 273246, 273286, 273242, 273243, 273248, 273249, 273445, 273440, 273236, 273277, 700 91- 93, 364436, 364464, 340907, 340908
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00082 Racing games racing games characterised by figures moved by action of the player A63F9/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63K 1/00 Race-courses; Race-tracks
• CPC Class Codes: A63K 3/00 Equipment or accessories for racing or riding sports training equipment for animals A01K15/02

Abstract

A method of conducting a racing competition among a plurality of race cars including conducting qualifying trials among the plurality race cars, arranging the race cars in qualifying order arrangement for the start of the race, altering at least one of time, distance or speed parameters of one or more of the plurality of race cars during the race, and determining the winner and order of race finish at the completion of the race based on the parameters.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a racing competition among a plurality of race cars which are driven on a race track, each race car being driven by a respective race car driver, said method comprising the steps of:

providing the race track in a form of a closed track, and upon which the plurality of race cars are driven;

providing a start/finish line on the race track;

providing a pit area disposed adjacent to the race track where the race cars are each periodically serviced and including individual pit stalls each for the service of a respective race car;

providing the pit area with an entry lane for the race cars for entry to the pit area from the track and an exit lane for the race cars for exit from the pit area to the track;

providing the individual pit stalls as a series of successive pit stalls arranged in a single linearly arranged row at the pit area;

conducting qualifying trials on the race track among the plurality of race cars so as to identify faster race cars and a slowest race car;

during the qualifying trials establishing a delay period, using timing equipment, for each faster race car based on a time difference, that is measured by the timing equipment, between when a respective faster race car passes over the start/finish line during the qualifying trial for the faster race car and the time that the slowest race car passes over the start/finish line during the qualifying trial for the slowest race car;

conducting a race on the race track among the plurality of race cars, the step of conducting the race including;

arranging the race cars in an initial order for the start of the race;

starting the race;

providing detectors to monitor a position of each race car during the race;

counting the number of race cars that each race car passes during a predetermined number of laps of the race, using the detectors, and increasing the delay period for each race car that passes a predetermined number of race cars during the predetermined number of laps;

the race cars periodically stopping for service at the pit area;

providing a plurality of separate signaling devices, a single one of the plurality of separate signaling devices being located at each respective pit stall in the pit area;

applying the delay period in the pit area so as to delay at least one of the faster cars in their exit from the pit area;

the step of applying the delay period including transferring the delay period of a faster race car to the signaling device associated with the pit stall of the faster car;

wherein each race car is serviced during a respective service period while at its pit stall;

wherein the delay period is applied as one of before and after the service period;

wherein the step of transferring the delay period includes providing the signaling device as a light display to inform each respective driver at the respective pit stall;

wherein the step of providing the signaling device as a light display includes operating the light display to provide a first observable illuminated state of the light display that has a duration that is equal to the duration of the delay period and during which time the respective race car cannot be serviced and, after the termination of the first observable illuminated state of the light display, operating the light display to provide a second observable illuminated state represented by a change in color of the observable illuminated state and during which time the respective race car is allowed to leave its pit stall;

determining a winner and order of race finish at a completion of the race based on the order of crossing the start/finish line.

2. The racing method of claim 1 wherein the pit area delay period follows a service period of the race car at the pit area.

3. The racing method of claim 1 wherein the pit area delay period precedes a service period of the race car at the pit area.

4. The racing method of claim 1 wherein the first illuminated state is “

red”

.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the increase in the delay period is a fixed amount.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the increase in the delay period is a function of the number of race cars that are passed within the predetermined number of laps.