Scorekeeping racket device with audio and visual display

• US 6,012,995 A
• Filed: 04/21/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martin, Steven D.
• Original Assignee: Martin, Steven D.
• Inventors: Martin, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/837,531
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 473/459, 473/461, 473/463, 473/464, 473/71, 473/224, 473/407, 473/438, 473/446, 473/447, 473/451, 473/524, 273/371, 273/376, 463/47, 463/3, 463/4, 463/1, 364/411.1, 364/410.1, 340/323 R, 377/4, 377/5
• US Class Current: 473/459
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/063 Spoken or verbal instructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/16 Table tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/00 Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis strings therefor A63B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/08 with special construction of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 Score-keepers or score display devices

Abstract

An automated scorekeeping device for racket and paddle sports. The device includes a voice recorder that is used to announce the score before each serve of the game. The device further includes optional visual displays. Actuating devices adapted to the equipment of the particular games are provided so that the players can easily operate the scorekeeper while participating in the game. The scorekeeper can be adjusted manually to correct mistakes, and can be used in multiple modes.

Claims

1. A scorekeeping device for games comprising:

a microcontroller,

an addressable voice chip that an assembler pre-records with audible signals to track and score the games,

a user interface including controls that a user operates to input information to said device, said user interface is included in a racket used in a subject game, and

at least one score announcing means, said score announcing means announces said score by means of a voice simulator chip;

wherein

upon activation of a first score button on said user interface, said microcontroller causes an audible warning tone to be sounded before commencement of the game,

the microcontroller increments the score following each point and upon activation of a triggering means by a user, said score announcing means thereafter announces an updated score, and

said device includes means to manually override said microcontroller to correct a scoring error.

2. The scorekeeping device of claim 1 wherein:

means to visually display the score are included.

3. The scorekeeping device of claim 1 wherein:

means to remotely operate said score announcing means are included in equipment that is utilized in a subject game.

4. The scorekeeping device of claim 1 wherein:

said microcontroller includes scoring algorithms for a plurality of games.

5. The scorekeeping device of claim 1 wherein:

a user controls functions of said device by changing a spatial orientation of said racket.

6. The scorekeeping device of claim 1 wherein:

visual score displays are altered when players change sides during a game so that a score of a given player will always appear in the same position.

7. The scorekeeping device of claim 1 wherein:

adapter means are included to integrate circuitry of said device with speaker and amplifier functions of an independent stereo system.

8. A scorekeeping device for racket games comprising:

a microcontroller,

an addressable voice chip that an assembler pre-records with audible signals to track and score the games,

a user interface including controls that a user operates to input information to said device, and

at least one score announcing means, said score announcing means announces said score by means of a voice simulator chip;

wherein

upon activation of a first score button on said user interface, said microcontroller causes an audible warning tone to be sounded before commencement of the game,

the microcontroller increments the score following each point and upon activation of a triggering means by a user, and

said device includes means to manually override said microcontroller to correct a scoring error; and

wherein

said microcontroller, said voice chip, said user interface, and said score announcing means are included in rackets used in the games, and

a first racket used by a first player is in synchronized communication with a second racket used by a second player such that a score of said game is announced simultaneously in both rackets.

9. The scorekeeping device of claim 8 wherein:

a user controls functions of said device by changing a spatial orientation of a racket.

10. The scorekeeping device of claim 8 wherein:

means to visually display the score are included are included.

11. The scorekeeping device of claim 8 wherein:

adapter means are included to integrate circuitry of said device with speaker and amplifier functions of an independent stereo system.

12. A scorekeeping device for ping pong comprising:

a microcontroller,

an addressable voice chip that an assembler pre-records with audible signals to track and score games,

a scoreboard with both audible score announcing capability,

a triggering mechanism that a user operates to input information to said device, and

at least one score announcing means, said score announcing means announces said score by means of a voice simulator chip;

wherein

said triggering mechanism comprises a scoring grid attached to ends of a ping pong table, said scoring grid includes a first scoring area, a second scoring area, a first scoring correction area, a second scoring correction area, and a repeat area, said scoring grid is mounted to said ping pong table by means of a flexible backing,

said triggering mechanism further comprises a contact mechanism to activate said scoring grid, said contact mechanism comprises an electrically conductive material that is affixed to an end of a ping pong paddle, wherein

said triggering mechanism is activated to announce and track the score by a player making an electrically conductive connection between said contact mechanism and said scoring grid, such that the score of the game is incremented by a player placing his paddle in a position that causes said contact mechanism to make an electrical connection with said scoring grid,

said player contacts said first scoring area to increment a first player score, said player contacts a second scoring area to increment a second player score, said player contacts a first player decrement score to decrement said first player score, said player contacts a second player decrement score to decrement said second player score, and said player contacts said repeat area to repeat the score and to determine which player is to serve.

13. The scorekeeping device for ping pong of claim 12 wherein:

said contact mechanism is affixed to said end of said paddle.

14. The scorekeeping device for ping pong of claim 12 wherein:

said contact mechanism is embedded in a contact strip affixed to said end of said paddle.

15. The scorekeeping device for ping pong of claim 12 wherein:

a determination is made as to which player shall be server, said server then presses said first score area, said scorekeeping device announces "Begin new game, zero serving zero",

a voice used by the scorekeeping device is changed from a first voice for a first player serving to a second voice for a second player serving, said first and second voices alternate after each five points served so as to alternate with the proper server,

after each five points, said scorekeeping device announces "Rotate serve," followed by the score, the "Rotate serve" announcement precedes the score so that errors in the person serving can be avoided, and

to assure that points are input properly, said scorekeeping device emits a tone immediately preceding announcement of a point won by the server, no tone is emitted for a point won by a receiver, such that when the server wins the first point, the audio output would be "`tone`, one serving zero", and when the receiver wins the second point, the output would be "one serving one".

16. The scorekeeping device for ping pong of claim 12 wherein:

said scoring grid on the receiver'"'"'s end of said ping pong table is disabled during play so that the receiver does not inadvertently input scored points to said scorekeeping device.

17. The scorekeeping device of claim 12 wherein:

adapter means are included to integrate circuitry of said device with speaker and amplifier functions of an independent stereo system.