Sporting timer

• US 9,442,464 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Singleton
• Original Assignee: William Singleton
• Inventors: Singleton, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W
• Application Number:
  US14/591,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20150192902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/11, 368/107, 368/110
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/00 Balls with special arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R

Abstract

An apparatus including a mobile timer unit for use in a sporting event is disclosed. The mobile timer unit includes a timer unit controller in communication with a remote master timer controller and an output device in communication with the timer unit controller. The mobile timer unit is operated wirelessly upon a moving object within the context of game play of the sporting event.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a mobile timer unit for use in a sporting event, the apparatus comprising:

the mobile timer unit comprising

a timer unit controller in communication with a remote master timer controller; and

an output device in communication with the timer unit controller, the output device comprising a digital display communicating a timer countdown;

wherein the mobile timer unit is operated wirelessly upon a moving object within context of game play of the sporting event; and

wherein the digital display is located on a hockey goal post.

2. An apparatus comprising a mobile timer unit for use in a sporting event, the apparatus comprising:

the mobile timer unit comprising

a timer unit controller in communication with a remote master timer controller; and

an output device in communication with the timer unit controller;

wherein the mobile timer unit is operated wirelessly upon a moving object within context of game play of the sporting event

wherein the output device comprises a colored light configured to illuminate in accordance with a precondition comprising a game piece satisfying a particular location condition.

3. An apparatus comprising a mobile timer unit for use in a sporting event, the apparatus comprising:

the mobile timer unit comprising

a timer unit controller in communication with a remote master timer controller; and

an output device in communication with the timer unit controller, the output device comprising a colored light configured to illuminate in accordance with a precondition;

wherein the mobile timer unit is operated wirelessly upon a moving object within context of game play of the sporting event

wherein the output device is located upon a pole comprising;

a sideline marker utilized in American football; and

a camera device.

4. An apparatus comprising a mobile timer unit for use in a sporting event, the apparatus comprising:

the mobile timer unit comprising

a timer unit controller in communication with a remote master timer controller; and

an output device in communication with the timer unit controller, the output device comprising a halo light device comprising a colored light configured to illuminate in accordance with a precondition;

wherein the mobile timer unit is located on and operated wirelessly upon a moving object within context of game play of the sporting event, the moving object comprising posts of a hockey goal.

5. An apparatus comprising a mobile timer unit for use in a sporting event, the apparatus comprising:

the mobile timer unit comprising

a timer unit controller in communication with a remote master timer controller; and

an output device in communication with the timer unit controller, the output device comprising a vibrating device;

wherein the mobile timer unit is located and operated wirelessly within a moving object comprising a ball within context of game play of the sporting event.

6. An apparatus comprising a mobile timer unit for use in a sporting event, the apparatus comprising:

the mobile timer unit comprising

a timer unit controller in communication with a remote master timer controller; and

an output device in communication with the timer unit controller;

wherein the mobile timer unit is located and operated wirelessly within a moving object comprising a helmet within context of game play of the sporting event.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the helmet comprises a camera device.

8. An system comprising a plurality of mobile timer units for use in a sporting event, the apparatus comprising:

the mobile timer units each located upon one of a plurality of sideline markers used in American football comprising;

a controller in communication with a remote master timer controller;

a display unit configured to display a countdown timer; and

a halo light configured to illuminate a circular pattern around the display unit; and

an enhanced television display controller providing coordinated enhanced graphics coordinated to operation of the mobile timer units to viewers of a telecast of the sporting event.