Kickball information delivery system

• US 6,117,031 A
• Filed: 12/02/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Gutman, Hilary L., Steck, David M., Hendricks, Edward S., Malinauskas, Adam D. A., Goodell, Robert J., Bristol, Jeremy W., Foley, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapman, Jeanette
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US09/203,917
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 473/415-422, 473/451, 473/468, 473/353, 473/570, 473/598-601, 273/440, 273/DIG. 27, 434/255
• US Class Current: 473/570
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0027 visually handicapped
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 67/002 Games using balls, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/27 Blind and color blind

Abstract

The kickball information delivery system employs a ball having an internally disposed device for emitting a first sound location signal, a base transmitter unit for emitting a second sound location signal as well as a signal and an information unit to be mounted on a person for emitting a third pulsed sound signal to indicate the location of the person. In addition, the information unit is able to receive the signal and to use the reception of the signal to change the pulse frequency of the third sound signal to indicate alignment with the signal, for example to permit running from home plate to first base.

Claims

1. A ball apparatus in combination comprising

a ball having an internally disposed device for emitting a sound signal to provide means for locating said ball;

a base transmitter unit having a first electronic circuit for emitting a sound location signal, wherein said base sound signal provides means for orientation, and a second electronic circuit for emitting a second signal from said base transmitter unit; and

an information unit to be mounted on a person, said information unit having an electronic circuit for emitting a pulsed sound signal for all players in a game to hear and including means for changing the pulse frequency of said pulse sound signal in response to receiving said second signal from said base transmitter unit.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ball is made of foam material.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said device in said ball includes an electronic circuit for emitting said sound signal.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said device is disposed centrally within said ball and which further comprises a pair of symmetrically disposed tubes within said ball, each said tube extending from said device towards an exterior surface of said ball for transmitting said sound signal from said device to said exterior surface of said ball.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said electronic circuit includes a timer chip for emitting a consistent repeated sound signal of predetermined pitch and frequency, a resistance, a switch for selectively connecting said resistance to said timer chip to change the pitch of said sound signal, and a spring connected to said switch to close said switch to connect said resistance to said timer chip in response to a rapid acceleration of said ball.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a switch within said ball for activating and de-activating said device.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said location signal of said base transmitter unit is a pulsing tone.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second electronic circuit of said base transmitter unit includes a light emitting diode for emitting said second signal in said path.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second signal is an infrared light beam.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base transmitter unit includes a dome-shaped shell housing said first and second electronic circuits of said unit.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10 which further comprises a mat surrounding and overlying said base transmitter unit having a centrally disposed opening for projection of said shell therethrough.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electronic circuit of said information unit includes an oscillator for generating a tone signal.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said means of said information unit includes a receiver for receiving said signal from said base transmitting unit and emitting a demodulated signal in response thereto to said oscillator to change the pulse frequency of said tone signal.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said information unit includes an amplifier connected to said oscillator to amplify said tone from said oscillator and a speaker connected to said amplifier to emit said amplified tone.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second electronic circuit of said base transmitter unit includes a light emitting diode for emitting an infrared signal and wherein said means of said information unit includes a receiver for receiving said signal beam from said base and emitting a demodulated signal in response thereto to said oscillator to change the pulse frequency of said tone signal.

16. A ball apparatus in combination comprising

a base transmitter unit having a first electronic circuit for emitting a sound location signal wherein said base sound signal provides means for orientation and a second electronic circuit for emitting a second signal from said base transmitter unit;

and

an information unit to be mounted on a person, said information unit having an electronic circuit for emitting a pulsed tone signal for all players in a game to hear and including means for changing the frequency of said tone signal in response to reception of said second signal from said base transmitter unit.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein said location signal of said base transmitter unit is a pulsing tone.

18. The combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein said second electronic circuit of said base transmitter unit includes a light emitting diode for emitting said signal.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said second signal is an infrared light.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said first electronic circuit of said information unit includes an oscillator for generating a tone signal.

21. The combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means of said information unit includes a receiver for receiving said signal from said base transmitting unit and emitting a demodulated signal in response thereto to said oscillator to change the pulse frequency of said tone signal.

22. The combination as set forth in claim 21 wherein said information unit includes an amplifier connected to said oscillator to amplify said tone from said oscillator and a speaker connected to said amplifier to emit said amplified tone.

23. The combination as set forth in claim 16 wherein said second electronic circuit of said base transmitter unit includes a light emitting diode for emitting an infrared signal beam in said path and wherein said means of said information unit includes a receiver for receiving said signal beam from said base transmitting unit and emitting a demodulated signal in response thereto to said oscillator to change the pulse frequency of said tone signal.