HANDHELD ELECTRONIC SPORTING DEVICE

• US 20130303246A1
• Filed: 05/09/2012
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Morris, Bradley
• Original Assignee: Morris, Bradley
• Inventors: Morris, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 8,747,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/4
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing

Abstract

According to the present invention, an electronic handheld device is provided for receiving information related to a broadcasted sporting contest, and calculating a score based upon the received information. The information is entered into the electronic handheld device via a controller having plurality of buttons, each button having an associated score. The controller includes a display for displaying team information, which may include the team name and the score for each team. The controller further includes circuit board having circuitry operatively connected to the controller for processing the entered information and outputting the processed information to the controller display.

Claims

1. An electronic sporting device that is passed between participating players while watching a sporting event, the device comprising:

a controller;

said controller having a first circuit board having at least one control operable by the players to transmit a command related to the sporting event, a first microprocessor in communication with said first circuit board and operatively connected to said control and a memory for receiving and processing said command, wherein said microprocessor is configured to transmit a dataset from said memory representative of said command;

a display operatively connected to said first circuit board for displaying said transmitted dataset;

a power source operatively connected to said microprocessor and said first circuit board;

a device housing, wherein said controller, display, and power source are mounted within said device housing, wherein the display is located near an outer surface of said device housing and an opening is formed within the device housing to permit viewing of said display; and

wherein said outer surface of said device housing defines a shape that facilitates passing of the device between players and said device housing includes a cushioning material surrounding at least a portion of said controller.

2. The electronic sporting device of claim 1, wherein said outer surface of said device housing is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a leather, foam, rubber, polymer, fabric, and synthetic material.

3. The electronic sporting device of claim 1, further comprising a control panel, wherein said display and said control are located on said control panel, said control panel being received within said opening formed in said outer surface of said device housing.

4. The electronic sporting device of claim 1 further comprising a ballast positioned within said housing to balance a weight of said controller and said display.

5. The electronic sporting device of claim 1 wherein said control includes a plurality of touch sensitive controls, wherein one of said plurality of controls is a power control for powering up the electronic sporting device.

6. The electronic sporting device of claim 5, wherein one of said plurality of touch sensitive controls is a touchdown scoring control.

7. The electronic sporting device of claim 6, wherein said microprocessor processing said command corresponding to said touchdown scoring control returns a dataset value of 6.

8. The electronic sporting device of claim 5, wherein one of said plurality of touch sensitive controls is a scoring control selected from the group consisting of an extra point and a first down.

9. The electronic sporting device of claim 8, wherein said microprocessor processing said command corresponding to said scoring control returns a dataset value of 1.

10. The electronic sporting device of claim 5, wherein one of said plurality of controls is a field goal scoring control, and wherein said microprocessor processing said command corresponding to said field goal scoring control returns a dataset value of 3.

11. The electronic sporting device of claim 5, wherein one of said plurality of touch sensitive controls is a 2pt conversion scoring control, and wherein said microprocessor processing said command corresponding to said 2pt conversion scoring control returns a dataset value of 2.

12. The electronic sporting device of claim 5, wherein one of said plurality of touch sensitive controls is a scoring control selected from the group consisting of a safety and an interception.

13. The electronic sporting device of claim 12, wherein said microprocessor processing said command corresponding to said scoring control returns a dataset value of 2, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to deduct the value of said dataset value upon depressing said scoring control from said calculated score.

14. The electronic sporting device of claim 5, wherein one of said plurality of touch sensitive controls is a scoring control selected from the group consisting of a fumble, penalty and sack.

15. The electronic sporting device of claim 14, wherein said microprocessor processing said command corresponding to said scoring control returns a dataset value of 1, and wherein said microprocessor is configured to deduct the value of said dataset value upon depressing said scoring control from said calculated score.

16. The electronic sporting device of claim 1, wherein said shape is a football shape.

17. An electronic sporting device for passing between participating players while watching a sporting event comprising:

a device housing having an outer surface made from a material selected from the group consisting of a foam, rubber, polymer, fabric, leather and synthetic material, and having a void configured to frictionally receive a frame therein;

a frame selectively secured within said void of said device housing;

said frame having an upper and lower portion, and a first opening for receiving a controller therein;

a controller secured to said upper portion of said frame;

said controller having a control panel with a plurality of apertures adapted to receive a plurality of controls therebetween, a first circuit board having a plurality of controls selectively secured thereon for transmitting a command related to a sporting contest, a first microprocessor selectively secured to said first circuit board and operatively connected to said plurality of controls and a memory for receiving and processing said command, and transmitting a dataset from said memory representative of said command;

a display selectively secured to said first circuit board and adapted to display a calculated score based upon said transmitted dataset; and

a power source selectively secured within said lower portion of said frame;

said power source operatively connected to said microprocessor and said first circuit board for providing power to the electronic sporting device.

18. A method for playing a game between plural players using an electronic sporting device in conjunction with a sporting event viewed by the players, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an electronic sporting device having a controller having at least one control operable by the player during the sporting event;

(b) each player holding the sporting device for a predetermined time and selecting at least one control if a scoring event occurs in the sporting event during said predetermined time;

(c) said controller recording a point value associated with operation of said at least one control in a memory within the sporting device and calculating a score for each player;

(d) storing said score for each player in said memory and displaying said score on a display within said sporting device;

(e) tossing said electronic sporting device to another participant after said predetermined time; and

(f) repeating steps (b) through (e) until said game is concluded.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the scoring event is selected from the group consisting of a touchdown, a field goal, a two point conversion, an extra point, a first down, an interception, a safety, a penalty, a fumble and a sack.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said game is concluded at the end of said sporting contest.