Tennis pal

• US 6,634,548 B1
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Bowman
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Bowman
• Inventors: Bowman, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US09/813,725
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 235/1.B, 377/5, 700/91, 700/92, 473/553, 473/62, 216/0, 216/11, 216/2, 216/14
• US Class Current: 235/1.00B
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0663 worn on the wrist, e.g. wrist bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

A portable tennis scoring device having a flexible strap removably attached to a casing. The casing preferably contains a circuit chip and a battery; and the circuit chip is activated one or more of four activation switches, which cause information to be displayed (“activates”) in one or more of four separate displays. Additionally, two additional activation switches are used to either turn the unit on, turn the unit off, and/or reset one or more of the displays.

Claims

1. A portable tennis scoring device comprising a flexible strap removably attached to a casing with a top surface and a bottom surface, means for attaching said flexible strap to said casing, means for removably attaching said casing to the wrist of a person, and display means disposed on said top surface of said casing, wherein:

(a) said flexible strap is comprised of a top surface, and a first separable fabric fastener material is disposed on said top surface of said flexible strap,

(b) said means for removably attaching said casing to the wrist of a person comprises a second separable fabric fastener material adapted to removably engage with said first separable fabric fastener material,

(c) said casing is comprised of an electronic device comprising a first activation switch, a second activation switch, a third activation switch, a fourth activation switch, a fifth activation switch, and a sixth activation switch, wherein;

1. said first activation switch activates a first display, said second activation switch activates a second display, said third activation switch activates a third display, and said fourth activation switch activates a fourth display,

2. said fifth activation switch resets said first display and said second display to a zero value,

3. said sixth activation switch resets said third display and said fourth display to a zero value,

4. said fifth activation switch turns power on to said electronic device, and

5. when both of said fifth and sixth activation switches are pressed simultaneously, the power to said electronic device is turned off.

2. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 1, wherein said strap is connected to a flexible tongue.

3. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 2, wherein said flexible tongue is comprised of a top surface and a bottom surface.

4. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 3, wherein said second separable fabric fastener material is disposed on said top surface of said tongue.

5. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 4, wherein said tongue is comprised of elastomeric material.

6. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 5, wherein said strap is comprised of a proximal end and a distal end.

7. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 6, wherein said tongue is connected to said distal end of said strap.

8. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 7, wherein a loop is connected to said proximal end of said strap.

9. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for removably attaching said flexible strap to said casing is comprised of a first pin and a second pin, each of which is removably attached to said casing.

10. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 9, wherein said device is comprised of a battery.

11. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 10, wherein said casing is comprised of a removable back cover.

12. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a first value in said third display, wherein said first value is selected from the group consisting of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

13. The portable tennis scoring device as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for displaying a second value in said fourth display, wherein said second value is selected from the group consisting of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

14. The portal tennis scoring device as recited in claim 13, further comprising means that, when said first activation switch is pressed, said means causes a third value shown in said first display to change from said third value to a fourth value, wherein said third value and said fourth value are selected from the group consisting of 0, 15, 30, 40, DU, AO, and AI.

15. The portal tennis scoring device as recited in claim 14, further comprising means that, when said second activation switch is pressed, said means causes a fifth value shown in said second display to change from said fifth value to a sixth value, wherein said fifth value and said sixth value are selected from the group consisting of 0, 15, 30, 40, DU, AO, and AI.