Race set

• US 20070298853A1
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Yu, Glenn, Moran, Steven, Mazzolini, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,113,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63K 3/02 Starting-appliances

Abstract

In one embodiment, a race set is described. The race set may comprise a portable race management device, comprising: a detachable lane defining element configured to be actuated; a starting indicator; a finishing indicator; and circuitry configured to receive start and/or finish signals via actuation of the detachable lane defining element, control actuation of the starting indicator upon race starting, and control actuation of the finishing indicator upon race finishing. Various alternative embodiments and alternative example race sets are also included.

Claims

1. A race set, comprising:

a portable race management device, comprising;

a detachable lane defining element configured to be actuated;

a starting indicator;

a finishing indicator; and

circuitry configured to receive start and/or finish signals via actuation of the detachable lane defining element, control actuation of the starting indicator upon race starting, and control actuation of the finishing indicator upon race finishing.

2. The race set of claim 1 where the circuitry is further configured to receive a user input selecting a race mode, the race mode including at lease a lap mode and a distance mode.

3. The race set of claim 1 where the starting indicator is display of a rotatable physical flag.

4. The race set of claim 1 where the finishing indicator is display of a rotatable physical flag, the circuitry controlling actuation of the finishing indicator based on a first to be received lane actuation signal.

5. The race set of claim 1 where the lane defining element is physically detachably coupled in the race management device without an electrical connection.

6. The race set of claim 5 where the circuitry includes a processor configured to receive user input via a plurality of buttons, and where the processor further receives an actuation signal via actuation of the detachable lane defining element, and generates output signals to release at least one of the starting and finishing indicators based on the actuation signal from the detachable lane defining element.

7. The race set of claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes a timer to measure race times.

8. The race set of claim 1 wherein rotation of the detachable lane defining element actuates the detachable lane defining element.

9. The race set of claim 1 wherein the detachable lane defining element is generally flat elongate member positioned at an angle relative to a race surface on which the race set rests.

10. A race management device for controlling and measuring starting and finishing events, comprising:

a starting indicator;

a finishing indicator;

a user interface; and

a processor configured to select a race mode based on at least one of a lap mode request and a non-lap mode request received via the user interface, and actuate the starting indicator and the finishing indictor based on the selected race mode.

11. The race management device of claim 10, where the processor is further configured to monitor a false start signal occurring before actuation of the starting indicator, and generate a false start indicator in response to the monitored false start signal.

12. The race management device of claim 11 wherein the user interface includes a display, and the processor is further configured to indicate race statistics via the display.

13. The race management device of claim 12 wherein the starting indicator and the finishing indicator include physical flags.

14. The race management device of claim 13 further comprising detachable lane defining elements configured to be actuated, where the processor generates at least one indication based on actuation of the lane defining elements.

15. A race management device, comprising:

a first detachable, elongate, and generally flat, lane defining element configured to be actuated by rotation;

a second detachable, elongate, and generally flat, lane defining element configured to be actuated by rotation, where the first and second lane defining elements are each inclined relate to a race surface on which the race management device rests;

a central unit detachably coupled between the first and second lane defining elements, the central unit having at least a physical starting flag, a physical finishing flag, a sound generating output, a user interface, and a processor, the processor configured to receive start and/or finish signals via actuation of the detachable lane defining elements, control actuation of the starting and finishing flags, and send output sound signals to the sound generating output, the processor further configured to control actuation of the finishing flags based on a selected race mode, the selected race mode including at least a lap mode and a non-lap mode.

16. The race management device of claim 15 wherein the central unit includes a rotatable tower configured to be positioned in a first, upright, postion, and a second, reclined, position.

17. The race management device of claim 16 wherein the physical starting and physical finishing flags are rotatably coupled to the tower.

18. The race management device of claim 15 wherein the lane defining elements are detachably coupled to the central unit without an electrical connection.

19. The race management device of claim 15, wherein the central unit includes a spring-loaded, rotatable, shaft coupled to the first lane defining element and a bump sensor, where actuation of the first lane defining element rotates the shaft and causes the bump sensor to generate an electrical signal.

20. The race management device of claim 19 where the user interface provides race statistics.