Communications system for the game of football including player-carried transmitter and side lines speakers for overcoming spectator noise

• US 5,493,697 A
• Filed: 08/27/1993
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randall L. May
• Original Assignee: Randall L. May
• Inventors: May, Randall L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew I.
• Application Number:
  US08/112,345
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 455/188, 455/344, 455/351, 455/109, 455/90, 455/89, 455/88, 455/79, 455/82, 2/44, 2/45, 2/267, 2/268, 381/86, 381/75, 381/77, 381/80, 381/82, 381/61, 273/55 R, 273/247, 273/460
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1008 Earpieces of the supra-aural or circum-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1066 Constructional aspects of the interconnection between earpiece and earpiece support earpiece support for monophonic headphones H04R1/105; earpiece support for stereophonic headphones H04R5/0335
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1083 Reduction of ambient noise active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

A novel communications system for the game of football allows the quarterback to be heard by his teammates over crowd noise. The communications system comprises a plurality of loudspeakers positioned on opposite sidelines of the playing field in the approach to the goal lines at each end of the field, preferably between the 10 and 20 yard lines. The speakers are aimed or focused at ground level toward the players for selective use whenever the crowd noise is excessive as the team is approaching the goal line. A receiver and amplifier and appropriate circuits are associated with the speakers. A small microphone, transmitter and switch are carried by the quarterback, preferably on his helmet and the safety padding, i.e., shoulder pads. The quarterback may selectively operate the switch whenever the crowd noise becomes excessive to activate the transmitting and receiving equipment to his call of the plays to be transmitted from the microphone to the speakers which direct the calls along the surface to be heard by his teammates. The system is activated only for a short time, on demand by the quarterback, to allow his call of the plays to be heard by the team. The quarterback'"'"'s calls emitted by the speakers are heard mainly at the level of the playing field and do not interfere with the fans enjoyment of the game.

Claims

1. A communications system for the game of football played by teams of players on a field having a rectangular playing area marked along its length by parallel lines at selected intervals and goal lines at each end, said players wearing helmet with face mask, and shoulder pads for safety, one player of each team being responsible for initiating and calling the plays to his teammates, and wherein at various times, the noise of the crowd viewing the game is so great that the players on the team advancing the bail cannot hear the calls of their quarterback, said system comprising:

acoustical broadcast means positioned at selected points at about ground level adjacent to said playing field focused for transmission of sound along the ground at the level of the playing field to be heard primarily by the players over the crowd noise; and

wireless transmitting means adapted to be carried by said one player on his player protective gear operable to transmit his call of the plays to said broadcast means adjacent to said playing field to amplify and transmit said calls acoustically along the ground to his teammates on said playing field at a sound level overpowering the noise of the crowd, and

said acoustical broadcast means including means for inactivating transmission from said one player to said speakers after the ball is snapped and a play commenced.

2. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 1 in which:

said acoustical broadcast means transmits said calls acoustically from said one player to his teammates at a sound level of up to 10-15 decibels louder than the noise of the crowd.

3. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 1 in which:

said wireless transmitting means includes means activating it for a short selected period of time determined by said one player.

4. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 1 in which:

said acoustical broadcast means includes means for adjusting the volume and clarity of the spoken sound being broadcast and is focused for transmission of sound along the ground at the level of the playing field to be heard primarily by the players.

5. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 1 in which:

said acoustical broadcast means is positioned adjacent to opposite sidelines of the field near the each of the goal lines of the field.

6. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 5 in which:

said acoustical broadcast means is positioned adjacent to opposite sidelines of the field between about the 50 yard line and the goal line at each end of the field.

7. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 1 in which:

said acoustical broadcast means is portable and positioned adjacent to but outside opposite sidelines and movable to selected positions therealong.

8. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 1 in which;

said acoustical broadcast means comprises a wireless receiver and at least one speaker, and

said wireless transmitting means comprises a wireless transmitter and microphone carried on the person of said one player on said field.

9. A communications system for the game of football played by teams of players on a field having a rectangular playing area marked along its length by parallel lines at selected intervals and goal lines at each end, said players wearing helmet with face mask, and shoulder pads for safety, one player of each team being responsible for initiating and calling the plays to his teammates, and wherein at various times, the noise of the crowd viewing the game is so great that the players on the team advancing the ball cannot hear the calls of their quarterback, said system comprising:

broadcast speakers positioned at selected points at the ground level adjacent to said playing field,

wireless receivers connected to said speakers to transmit signals thereto,

a wireless transmitter adapted to be carried by said one player on his body,

a microphone assembly carried by said one player comprising a voice tube positioned adjacent to his mouth and connected to a microphone supported on said face mask,

said microphone being connected to said wireless transmitter to transmit his call of the plays to said wireless receiver and said broadcast speakers to amplify and transmit said calls acoustically to his teammates at a sound level overpowering the noise of the crowd.

10. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 9 in which:

said broadcast speakers further comprise the wireless receiver and at least one speaker, and

said wireless transmitter comprises the wireless transmitter and microphone carried on the helmet and shoulder pads of said one player on said field.

11. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 9 in which;

said broadcast speakers further comprise the wireless receiver and at least one speaker, and

said wireless transmitter comprise the microphone carried on the helmet adjacent the mouth and the wireless transmitter carried on the shoulder pads of said one player on said field.

12. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 9 in which:

said voice tube is a foam filled tube, and

said microphone is supported on the side of said helmet on said face mask.

13. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 9 in which:

said microphone is supported on the side of said helmet on said face mask and includes a switch for activating said transmitter for a short selected period of time determined by said one player.

14. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 9 in which:

said broadcast speakers transmit said calls acoustically from said one player on said field to his teammates on said field at a sound level up to 10-15 decibels louder than the noise of the crowd.

15. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 9 in which:

said broadcast speakers are positioned adjacent to but outside opposite sidelines of the field near the each of the goal lines of the field.

16. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 9 in which:

said broadcast speakers are positioned adjacent to but outside opposite sidelines of the field between about the 30 yard line and the goal line at each end of the field.

17. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 9 in which:

said broadcast speakers are portable and positioned adjacent to but outside opposite sidelines and movable to selected positions therealong.

18. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 9 including;

wheeled portable ground dusters of broadcast speakers, each comprising a cluster of a plurality of projection horns manifolding four mid-range speakers each and a second plurality of projection horns manifolding two high frequency speakers each,

and a command center comprising a radio receiver and mixer for tuning, amplification and volume control.

19. A communications system for the game of football played by teams of players on a field having a rectangular playing area marked along its length by parallel lines at selected intervals and goal lines at each end, said players wearing helmet with face mask, and shoulder pads for safety, one player of each team being responsible for initiating and calling the plays to his teammates, and wherein at various times, the noise of the crowd viewing the game is so great that the players on the team advancing the ball cannot hear the calls of their quarterback, said system comprising

broadcast speakers positioned at selected points at the ground level adjacent to said playing field,

wireless receivers connected to said speakers to transmit signals thereto,

a wireless transmitter adapted to be carried by said one player on his body,

a microphone adapted to be carried by said one player positioned adjacent to his mouth and connected to said wireless transmitter to transmit his call of the plays to said wireless receiver and said broadcast speakers to amplify and transmit said calls acoustically to his teammates at a sound level overpowering the noise of the crowd, and

said broadcast speakers including means for adjusting the volume and clarity of the spoken sound being broadcast and said broadcast speakers being focused for transmission of sound along the ground at the level of the playing field to be heard primarily by the players and means for inactivating transmission from said one player to said speakers after the bail is snapped and a play commenced.

20. A communications system for the game of football according to claim 19 in which:

said wireless transmitter is supported on the shoulder pads of said one player on said field.