Multifunctional basketball game monitoring unit

• US 4,904,981 A
• Filed: 01/05/1989
• Issued: 02/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Margaret A. Dyer, Mary K. Mele, Mele, Thomas C., Robert C. Dyer
• Original Assignee: Margaret A. Dyer, Mary K. Mele, Mele, Thomas C., Robert C. Dyer
• Inventors: Mele, Thomas C., Dyer, Robert C., Dyer, Margaret A., Mele, Mary K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negash, Kinfe-Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/293,703
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 340/323 R, 340/323 B, 340/665, 340/309-315, 364/411, 364/410, 377/5, 273/1.5 R, 273/1.5 A
• US Class Current: 340/323.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0071 for basketball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/28 Indicating playing time

Abstract

A multifunctional basketball monitoring unit that allows visual display and print out of a total baskets made score and the percentage of total baskets made of total baskets attempted in free throw and goal shooting either under time pressure or with no time limitation.

Claims

1. A multifunctional basketball game monitoring unit comprising:

A. an impact sensing means to detect when a basketball touches a backboard and feed a signal to an electronic circuitry means;

B. an infra-red sensing means to detect when said basketball moves through a hoop on said backboard and send a signal to said electronic circuitry means;

C. a battery with charging circuitry to power said electronic circuitry means through a power control circuit that automatically shuts off power when said multifunctional basketball game monitoring unit has not been in use for a minimum of ten minutes time;

D. a housing containing;

1. said electronic circuitry means,

2. a scoreboard display unit with power on/off switch, a time mode on/off switch, a start switch, four period lights, a player number choice switch to choose between one and two players, a player 1 and a player 2 score display and a timer display,

3. a speaker,

4. said battery with said charging circuitry,

5. means to connect said electronic circuitry means with said impact sensing means, and said infra-red sensing means so that;

(a) with said player number choice switch set to one player and said time mode switch in the ON position said electronic circuitry means acts to;

1. cause said timer display to display time remaining in each of four periods with said periods being indicated by said four period lights,

2.

2. show the cumulative score in said player 1 score display and show the shooting percentage in said player 2 score display,emit a different audible tone through said speaker when said multifunctional basketball game monitoring unit is activated and each time said basketball passes through said hoop;

each time a new high scoring percentage is reached, and each time only 10 seconds remains in a chosen time period;

(b) with said player number choice switch set to one player and said time mode switch in the OFF position said electronic circuit means acts to;

1. calculate and display the cumulative score in said player 1 score display and show cumulative shooting percentage in said player 2 score display,

2. emit said different audible tone through said speaker when said multifunctional basketball game monitoring unit is activated and each time said basketball passes through said hoop;

(c) With said player number choice set to two players and said time mode switch in the ON position and when said player 1 depresses said start button said electronic circuitry acts to;

1. emit said different audible tone through said speaker when ten seconds remain in each period and at the end of each of said periods and each time said basketball passes through said hoop,

2. cause said timer display to display time remaining in a first period and to activate first of said four period lights,

3. display said player 1'"'"'s accumulative score on said player 1 score display until one of said four periods elapses,

4. emit said different audible tone through said speaker when said player 2 depresses said start button and each time said basketball passes through said hoop,

5. cause said timer display to display time remaining in a first period and to light a first of said four period lights,

6. display said player 2'"'"'s accumulative score on said player 2 score

4. A multifunctional basketball monitoring unit as in claim 2 where said electronic circuitry means comprises a central processing unit connected with a memory unit and an input-output controller with a non-erasable program in said memory unit to cause said central processing unit to calculate, store and output signals and data, said nonerasable program allowing a first code input from said numeric keypad to access stored data for output through a video processor to a T.V. unit and to said printer and a second code input to erase stored data.

6. A multifunctional basketball game monitoring unit as in claim 4 where said electronic circuitry means is adapted to be connected with a printer and a T.V. set and numeric keypad input to enter commands and data to a central processing unit of said electronic circuitry.

3. display until said player 2'"'"'s first of said four periods elapse. 2. A multifunctional basketball game monitoring unit comprising:

A. a housing;

B. an electronic circuitry means in said housing with a printer output port, and a T.V. output port;

C. an impact sensor means mounted on a backboard to determine when a basketball impacts said backboard with said sensor means acting to send signals to said electronic circuitry means;

D. an infra-red detector means to detect when said basketball moves through a hoop on said backboard and send a signal to said electronic circuitry means;

E. a numeric keypad on said housing to input data and commands to said electronic circuitry in said housing;

F. said electronic circuitry means acting to;

1. emit different audible tones through a T.V. output port to a speaker in a T.V. each time said basketball passes through said hoop and each time a higher percentage score is made and at the end of a play period;

2. store, calculate and output to said T.V. plugged into said T.V. output port a cumulative score and a cumulative shooting percentage as play progresses;

3. store, calculate and output to a printer connected to said printer output port said cumulative score, said cumulative shooting percentage, time of day and date, and a player identification number, when said player identification number, has been entered to said electronic circuitry means through said numeric keypad.

5. A multifunctional basketball game monitoring unit comprising:

A. a housing,

B. an electronic circuitry means in said housing connected with a sensor means to determine when a basketball passes through a hoop, and with an impact sensor means to determine when said basketball impacts said hoop and when said basketball impacts the backboard, said electronic circuitry means acting to calculate, store, and display total score of baskets made and percent of baskets made of total baskets attempted.

7. A multifunctional basketball game monitoring unit as in claim 5 where said electronic circuitry generates different audible tones for baskets made and highest percentage score achieved in a play period and through a video processor outputs to said T.V. said different tones and said total score of baskets made and said percent of baskets made of total of total baskets attempted.