SPORTING TIMER

• US 20150192902A1
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Singleton
• Original Assignee: William Singleton
• Inventors: Singleton, William
• Granted Patent: US 9,442,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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;

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

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a digital display communicating a timer countdown.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the digital display is located on a pole.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pole comprises a sideline marker utilized in American football.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the digital display is located on a referee jersey.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the digital display is located on a hockey goal post.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a colored light configured to illuminate in accordance with a precondition.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the precondition comprises a particular time left on a game clock.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the precondition comprises a particular time left on an expiring play clock.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the precondition comprises a game piece satisfying a particular location condition.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the output device is located upon a pole.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pole comprises a sideline marker utilized in American football.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pole further comprises a camera device.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the output device comprises a halo light device located upon posts of a hockey goal.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the output device comprises a halo light device and a timer display device located upon an official score keepers booth located proximate to a hockey rink.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a vibrating device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the vibrating device is located within a ball.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output device is located within a helmet.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the helmet comprises a camera device.

20. 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.