Swim lap counter/timer

• US 20050243651A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brad Balley
• Original Assignee: Brad Balley
• Inventors: Balley, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/12 Arrangements in swimming pools for teaching swimming or for training
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 10/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electric means

Abstract

The swim lap counter comprises a top section and a bottom section. In one aspect of the invention, the bottom section is suspended from the top section and comprises a pressure sensitive panel and a submersible digital display. The submersible digital display is disposed proximate the bottom edge of the bottom section.

Claims

1. A swim lap counter comprising:

a top section;

a bottom section suspended from the top section, the bottom section comprising a pressure sensitive panel and a submersible digital display, said submersible digital display being disposed proximate a bottom edge of said bottom section.

2. The swim lap counter of claim 1, wherein said top section and said bottom section are formed of flexible mats.

3. The swim lap counter of claim 2 wherein said flexible mats comprise vinyl.

4. The swim lap counter of claim 1 wherein said top section includes a first part of a connector at a bottom edge and said bottom section includes a second part of said connector at a top edge, said first part and said second part being connectible together.

5. The swim lap counter of claim 4 wherein said connector is a zipper.

6. The swim lap counter of claim 4 wherein a predetermined number of spacer sections having cooperating connector parts are connected in series between said top section and said bottom section using said first and said second parts of said connector.

7. The swim lap counter of claim 6 wherein said connector is a zipper connection and said spacer sections include zipper connections at top and bottom edges thereof such that they may be connected in series between the top section and the bottom section.

8. The swim lap counter of claim 1 wherein said first pressure sensitive panel is a finish panel positioned near a top edge of said bottom section, said bottom section further comprising a second pressure sensitive panel sized and positioned below said first pressure sensitive panel for contact with the feet of a swimmer upon executing a flip-turn.

9. The swim lap counter of claim 1 further comprising a control unit in electronic communication with said digital display and said pressure sensitive panel;

said control unit including an electronic display and at least one input button.

10. The swim lap counter of claim 9 wherein said top section includes a recess for removably retaining said control unit.

11. The swim lap counter of claim 9 wherein said electronic communication is a wireless electronic communication.

12. The swim lap counter of claim 9 further comprising a timer mechanism, said digital display and said electronic display including a timer display.

13. The swim lap counter of claim 9 wherein said control unit includes additional communication capability and is programmed to electronically communicate with other swim lap counters to start and declare the winner of a multi-lap swimming race.

14. The swim lap counter of claim 9 wherein said control unit stores lap time data and includes a communication port and programming for passing said lap time data to a general purpose computer.

15. The swim lap counter of claim 1 wherein said top section and said bottom section are formed of flexible material and each comprise at least one transversely extending support rod to provide lateral rigidity, said adjustable support system comprising a sleeve extending down left and right edges of each said section and a longitudinal support rod passing through each sleeve with adjacent longitudinal support rods being connected to one another by a locking elbow joint.

16. A swim lap counter comprising:

a top section;

a bottom section suspended from the top section and comprising a pressure sensitive panel; and

a control unit in wireless electronic communication with said pressure sensitive panel.

17. The swim lap counter of claim 16 wherein said top section includes a recess for removably retaining said control unit.

18. The swim lap counter of claim 16, said bottom section further comprising a digital display, said control unit also being in wireless electronic communication with said digital display.

19. A swim lap counter comprising:

a top section having a first part of a connector at a bottom edge thereof;

a bottom section comprising a pressure sensitive panel for detecting an arrival of a swimmer thereat, said bottom section further comprising a second part of said connector at a top edge thereof, said second part of said connector being connectible to said first part of said connector such that said top section and said bottom section are connected directly to each other by said connector; and

at least one spacer section having connector parts along a top and bottom edge, said spacer section being connectible between said top section and said bottom section such that said top section is connected to said bottom connection indirectly via said at least one spacer section.

20. The swim lap counter of claim 19 wherein said connector is a zipper connection and said spacer sections include zipper connections at top and bottom edges thereof such that they may be connected in series between the top section and the bottom section.