Multi-purpose football timing device ("Rush Ref")

• US 5,294,111 A
• Filed: 11/18/1991
• Issued: 03/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David M. Bloch
• Original Assignee: David M. Bloch
• Inventors: Bloch, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Application Number:
  US07/793,992
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 273/55 R
• US Class Current: 473/415
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0075 Means for releasably holding a ball in position prior to kicking, striking or the like golf tees A63B57/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

An easily portable, impervious to moisture, light-weight multi-purpose football timing device situated at the current line of scrimmage to (i) cradle or hold the football in an elevated position off the ground, (ii) mark the line of scrimmage, (iii) objectively notify both offensive and defensive players, by both audio and visual signals, that the delayed and adjustable time period had expired while at the same time (iv) keeping track of the current down and the (v) current score.

Claims

1. A football game timing device comprised of an upstanding frame having a top portion, a middle portion and a base support portion;

said frame being in the form of a human figure wherein said top portion is substantially in the form of a human head, said middle portion is substantially in the form of a human torso and legs and said base portion is substantially in the form of human feet;

said top portion having a curved upper surface, said curved upper surface having a radius such that a football may be cradles therein until removed by a player, said curved upper surface having a spring loaded switch means mounted therein, said switch means being operated upon a football being placed in and removed from said curved surface, said human figure having mounted therein means for producing an audible signal and means thereon for producing a visual signal, means in said human figure for activating said audible and visual signals when a football is removed from said curved upper surface;

timing means having means for controlling the interval of time between removing a ball from said curved surface and actuation of said audio and visual signals;

said time interval being a predetermined time set for college football play and a predetermined time set for professional football play, said predetermined time for professional football play being laser than said predetermined time for college football play;

circuit means connecting said audible signal means, said visual signal means, said timing means and said activating means;

means mounted on said torso for displaying the game score and the down numbers as used in regulation football games.

2. The football game timing devise as defined in claim 1,

wherein said circuit means is an electrical circuit and said activating means is at least one battery.

3. The football game timing devise as defined in claim 1, wherein said visual signal is an electric light and said audible signal is a speaker.

4. The football game timing devise as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for controlling is a three position switch, wherein a first position is off, a second position determines said predetermined time interval for college football play and a third position determines said predetermined time interval for professional football play.

5. The football game timing devise as defined in claim 1, wherein said score display means and said down display means are manually operable.