Safety Contestant Progress Registration

• US 20100227659A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Claver
• Original Assignee: Bruce Claver
• Inventors: Claver, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,928,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/6
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0661 arranged on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings

Abstract

A novel system and method provides an RFID tag usable to track a participant in a contest, wherein the RFID tag is permanently embedded into or onto a racing bib, also referred to as a timing bib. The embedding of the RFID tag into the timing bib serves to deter cheating and also enhances the usefulness of the timing bibs to the contest directors, sponsors or promoters. In another embodiment of the invention, the receiving antenna is situated such that participants move past it rather than over it, improving the reliability of the system.

Claims

1. A timing bib for timing a participant in a contest, the timing bib comprising:

a bib structure having one or more layers of material; and

an RFID tag permanently associated with the bib structure so as to be nonremovable in the ordinary course of use, whereby the bib structure is adapted to be mounted to the participant so as to associate the RFID tag with the participant.

2. The timing bib according to claim 1, wherein the bib structure has a single layer of material, and the RFID tag is within the single layer.

3. The timing bib according to claim 1, wherein the bib structure has a single layer of material, and the RFID tag is affixed to the surface of the single layer.

4. The timing bib according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is printed on one or more layers of the bib structure.

5. The timing bib according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is a module affixed to one or more layers of the bib structure.

6. The timing bib according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is visible.

7. The timing bib according to claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is not visible.

8. A waypoint measurement post for measuring the passage of an object past a threshold, the waypoint measurement post comprising:

an RF antenna associated with the threshold, such that an object in proximity to the threshold is also in proximity to the antenna, and wherein the antenna is oriented so that the object does not pass over the antenna while passing the threshold; and

a race monitor associated with the RF antenna, such that passage of an RFID tag by the threshold is detected by the antenna and relayed to the race monitor.

9. The waypoint measurement post according to claim 8, wherein the RF antenna associated with the threshold comprises two separate antennae.

10. The waypoint measurement post according to claim 9, wherein the two separate antennae are vertically oriented with respect to the threshold.

11. The waypoint measurement post according to claim 10, wherein the two separate antennae are located at opposite lateral sides of the threshold.

12. The waypoint measurement post according to claim 8, wherein the RF antenna is located above the threshold.