System for timing and scoring aquatic sports in pools

• US 10,137,353 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everlast Climbing Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Everlast Climbing Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Stockinger, Chris, Solanyk, Eric, Jordan, Anne, Anderson, Brett, Jacobs, Craig, Schiel, Pete
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/120,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20170095722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4004 Coupling between buses
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a system including connected system nodes, the system configured to provide timing and scoring for aquatic sports in pools. The spatial location of the nodes relative to the pool and pool reference points may be retrieved from the system and representations can be created. The representations may be used to first select the desired nodes for one or several sports events and then execute those sports events with the selected nodes. Electrical connections may be made from materials that withstand aggressive pool chemicals, such as titanium, Hastelloy or Inconel.

Claims

1. A system configured to provide timing and scoring for aquatic sports in pools, the system comprising:

a plurality of nodes, each of the plurality of nodes comprising a location relative to a pool; and

at least one control device node having a display screen, the at least one control device node connected to at least one of the plurality of nodes, the at least one control device node configured to;

access spatial knowledge related to at least one of;

the location of the plurality of nodes,

a position of the pool, and

reference points of the pool;

generate and display at the display screen at least one representation of the plurality of nodes and the pool based on the spatial knowledge;

receive a selection of a plurality of the plurality of nodes to set up at least one event based on the at least one representation;

configure the selected plurality of nodes for the at least one event; and

execute the at least one event based on the configured plurality of nodes.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes are connected with a bus.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes are connected with a plurality of busses.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are connected wirelessly.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes are connected by a combination of at least one bus and at least one wireless connection.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial knowledge is redundantly available to the at least one control device node.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the spatial knowledge is redundantly available outside of the system.

8. The system according to claim 1, comprising floor plates mounted in a deck of the pool, the floor plates configured to connect the at least one control device node with the plurality of nodes.

9. The system according to claim 1, comprising at least one bulkhead, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are mounted on the at least one bulkhead.

10. The system according to claim 9, comprising at least one bulkhead plate configured to connect the portion of the plurality of nodes mounted on the at least one bulkhead with the at least one control device node.

11. The system according to claim 1, comprising electrical connections between at least one of:

the plurality of nodes, and

at least one of the plurality of nodes and the at least one control device node.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the electrical connections comprise a corrosion resistant material comprising at least one of:

titanium,

high performance alloys from the Hastelloy-Cr group, and

austenitic nickel-chromium based alloys.

13. The system according to claim 3, comprising a single connector configured to connect to each of the plurality of busses.

14. The system according to claim 3, comprising a single connector configured to connect to each of the plurality of busses and at least one of:

a power source,

a swim start system,

an internet connection, and

a computer network.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the single connector comprises connections, the connections comprising a corrosion resistant material comprising at least one of:

titanium,

high performance alloys from the Hastelloy-Cr group, and

austenitic nickel-chromium based alloys.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one node that is not selected to set up the at least one event is configured by the at least one control device node.

17. The system according to claim 1, comprising at least one moveable node connected to at least one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the at least one control device node determines spatial knowledge related to a placement of the at least one moveable node based on the accessed spatial knowledge of the location of the at least one of the plurality of nodes connected to the at least one moveable node.

18. The system according to claim 1, comprising at least one moveable node connected to at least one of the plurality of nodes comprising a placement relative to the pool, wherein the at least one moveable node comprises a placement identification mechanism configured to provide the at least one control device node with the spatial knowledge.

19. The system according to claim 1, comprising at least one moveable node having a placement identification mechanism configured to provide the at least one control device node with the spatial knowledge.