Game timer with increased visibility

• US 20040145114A1
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dean Joseph Ippolito, Geoffrey Michael Gelman
• Original Assignee: Dean Joseph Ippolito, Geoffrey Michael Gelman
• Inventors: Gelman, Geoffrey Michael, Ippolito, Dean Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/757,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20040145114A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/148R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/1078 of the count-down type
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 10/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/00 Visual time or date indication means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/28 Indicating playing time

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention include a chess clock with a first display facing in one direction and a second display facing in an opposite direction. Each of the first and second displays may display information about a single player of a chess game. Such information may include a time remaining in the game. A chess clock of the present invention may afford spectators and chess tournament directors a view of a player'"'"'s time remaining from a wide range of vantage points. Various embodiments of the present invention include a chess clock with four displays, two displays corresponding to each of two players. The two displays corresponding to a given player may face in opposite directions. Various embodiments of the present invention include a chess clock suitable for simultaneous use in two separate chess games, or for use in a game of bughouse.

Claims

1. A device for displaying information about a game comprising:

a body;

a first display operable to display first information about a player of the game; and

a second display operable to display second information about the player of the game, the second display facing in a different direction from that of the first display,

in which the first display and the second display are attached to the body.

2. The device of claim 1 in which first information includes a time remaining for the player.

3. A device for keeping time comprising:

a chassis;

a first memory for storing a first amount of time remaining for a first player of a game, the first memory attached to the chassis;

a first display for displaying the first amount of time, the first display attached to the chassis and coupled to the first memory;

a second display for displaying the first amount of time, the second display attached to the chassis and coupled to the first memory,

in which the second display faces in a different direction from that of the first display;

a second memory storing a second amount of time remaining for a second player of the game, the second memory attached to the chassis;

a third display for displaying the second amount of time, the third display attached to the chassis and coupled to the second memory; and

a fourth display for displaying the second amount of time, the fourth display attached to the chassis and coupled to the second memory.

4. The device of claim 3, in which the second display faces in a direction opposite that of the first display.

5. The device of claim 3, in which the first display and the third display are the same display.

6. The device of claim 3, in which the first display is different from the second display.

7. The device of claim 3, in which the first memory and the second memory are the same memory.

8. The device of claim 3, in which the first memory is a semiconductor memory.

9. The device of claim 3, in which the first memory comprises a gear.

10. The device of claim 3, in which the first display is at least one of:

(a) a liquid crystal display;

(b) a dot matrix display;

(c) a diode display;

(d) a light emitting diode display;

(e) an organic light emitting diode display;

(f) a cathode ray tube;

(e) a projection display;

(f) a mechanical display; and

(g) a mechanical clock face.

11. The device of claim 3 further including:

a signal generator for generating a timing signal, the signal generator coupled to the first memory and to the second memory;

a first button for signaling a first play in the game, the first button attached to the chassis and coupled to the first memory and to the second memory; and

a second button for signaling a second play in the game, the second button attached to the chassis and coupled to the first memory and to the second memory,

in which;

the first memory is operative to reduce the first amount of time remaining upon receipt of signals from the second button;

the first memory is operative to stop reducing the first amount of time remaining upon receipt of signals from the first button;

the second memory is operative to reduce the second amount of time remaining upon the receipt of signals from the first button; and

the second memory is operative to stop reducing the second amount of time remaining upon receipt of signals from the second button.

12. The device of claim 3, further including a processor, the processor attached to the chassis and operative to:

direct the first memory to reduce the first amount of time remaining;

direct the second memory to reduce the second amount of time remaining;

direct the first memory to stop reducing the first amount of time remaining;

direct the second memory to stop reducing the second amount of time remaining;

direct the first display to display the first amount of time; and

direct the second display to display the first amount of time.

13. The device of claim 3, further including a microphone for receiving voice inputs, in which the microphone is electrically coupled to the first memory.

14. A device comprising:

a means for tracking a first time;

a means for tracking a second time;

a first display means for displaying the first time in a first direction;

a second display means for displaying the first time in a second direction; and

an initiation means for initiating the reduction of the first time and halting the reduction of the second time.

15. The device of claim 14 in which the first display means is at least one of:

(a) a liquid crystal display;

(b) a dot matrix display;

(c) a diode display;

(d) a light emitting diode display;

(e) an organic light emitting diode display;

(f) a cathode ray tube;

(e) a projection display;

(f) a mechanical display;

(g) a mechanical clock;

(h) a mirror;

(i) a reflective surface;

(j) a convex mirror;

(k) a concave mirror;

(l) a series of mirrors; and

(m) a transparent panel with opaque indicia.

16. A device comprising:

a body;

a memory, the memory including four memory locations,

in which each of the four memory locations stores a time remaining for a different one of four players; and

four buttons, each of which, when pressed, halts the reduction of a first one of the times remaining stored in a first one of the four memory locations, and initiates the reduction of a second one of the times remaining stored in a second one of the four memory locations,

in which the memory and each of the four buttons are attached to the body.

17. The device of claim 16, further including four displays, in which each display is operable to display one of the times remaining, and in which each display is attached to the body.

18. The device of claim 17, in which a first of the four displays is attached to a first face of the body and a second of the four displays is attached to a second face of the body, in which the first face is different from the second face.

19. The device of claim 16, further including:

a first display operable to display a first and second of the times remaining; and

a second display operable to display a third and fourth of the times remaining,

in which the first display and the second display are attached to the body.