Portable race device for displaying real-time race information

• US 9,607,443 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Harvey, Grace Harvey, Peter Randall Harvey
• Original Assignee: Andrew Harvey, Grace Harvey, Peter Randall Harvey
• Inventors: Harvey, Peter Randall, Harvey, Andrew, Harvey, Grace
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gray, Brandon
• Application Number:
  US14/186,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20140244010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 700/91, 340/573, 340/309, 340/323
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63K 3/00 Equipment or accessories for racing or riding sports training equipment for animals A01K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

The invention comprises systems and devices for calculating and displaying real-time race information to a racer during a race. A portable race device may be worn by a racer. During the race, while within range of a race gate transmission, the race device receives gate crossing times for other race participants, and may calculate and display the current positions and times for a selected race group, and the pace needed for the racer to win, and also may display the projected finish positions and times for a selected race group, and the pace needed for the racer to win.

Claims

1. A system for providing real-time race information to at least one racer in a race comprising:

a race comprising a race course, race gates, one racer with a race device, and a plurality of race participants each with a participant identification device, wherein the racer with the race device and the race participants are competing concurrently in the same race, on the same race course, crossing the same race gates;

the race device comprising a receiver, display, and processor, wherein the racer programs the race device with a race group, and wears the device during the race, and wherein the race group comprises a plurality of race participants;

the race gate comprising a race gate mat, computer, software, and transmitter, wherein each gate transmits gate information over an effective range;

the race course configuration comprising one start gate, at least one mid-course gate, and finish gate, the location of each race gate, the number of times each race gate will be visited, and the distance from the gate to the race finish, and wherein each race gate is programmed with the appropriate race course configuration for the gate;

the participant identification device worn by registered race participants, and encoded to transmit participant information to each race gate as the participant crosses each race gate;

recording, by the race gate computer, a unique participant time linked to each participant when each participant with a participant identification device crosses each race gate;

transmitting, by each race gate transmitter, gate information wherein the gate information transmitted comprises participant identification information and linked unique participant time, race course configuration, and wherein said information is transmitted over an effective range;

receiving, by the race device when the racer with the race device is within the effective range of each race gate, gate information transmitted from each gate transmitter;

processing, by the race device processor, the received information, and displaying real-time race information to the racer with the race device while the racer is on the race course and in time to affect the outcome of the race.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of racers each wears a race device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the real-time race information is comprised of the current race group leader, the projected race group leader, the racer'"'"'s position, time, time back, velocity, and pace needed to win.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the race gate transmission is continuous.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the race gate transmission is in packets.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the race gate may signify a race-segment finish.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the information transmitted by each race gate transmitter comprises race course configuration information and participant time information.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the participant identification device is connected with the race device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the participant identification device is separate from the race device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein a single race gate may be programed to function as the start gate, the mid-course gate and the finish gate.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein a single race gate may be programmed to function as a plurality of gates.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein a single race gate may be programed to function as the start and finish gate.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the race group is comprised of the race event group classification.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the race group is comprised of specifically selected race participants.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the race gate transmitter is separate from the race gate computer.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the participant information transmitted by the participant identification device comprises the participant identification number and participant race group.

17. A system for providing real-time information to a plurality of racers in a race comprising:

a race comprising a race course, race gates, one racer with a race device, and a plurality of race participants each with a participant identification device, wherein the racer with the race device and the race participants are competing concurrently in the same race, on the same race course, crossing the same race gates;

the race device worn by the racer during the race, wherein the race device comprises a receiver, display, and processor, wherein the racer programs the race device with a selected race group, and wherein the race group comprises a plurality of race participants competing on the same race course;

the participant identification device, worn by registered race participants during the race, wherein the participant identification device transmits participant identification information to each race gate as each participant crosses the gate, wherein participant identification information comprises a time that each participant crosses each race gate linked with a unique participant identifier;

each race gate comprising a race gate mat, computer, software, and antennae, wherein participant identification information is linked with a time when each participant crosses each race gate;

locating the race gate in a race course configuration comprising a start gate, at least one mid-course gate, and a finish gate;

programming each race gate with a race course configuration wherein the race course configuration comprises the distance from each gate to the finish line, and the number of times each gate will be visited;

transmitting gate information over an effective range, by each race gate transmitter, to the race device worn by the racer, wherein the gate information transmitted comprises race course configuration, participant identification information, and linked participant time;

receiving the transmitted gate information, by the race device, while the racer with the race device is in the effective range of each race gate transmitter;

calculating, by the race device when the racer with the race device comes within the effective range, real-time race information comprising the race group leaders, the racer'"'"'s position, pace, time back, and pace to win;

displaying real-time race information on the race device to the racer with the race device while the racer is still on the race course and in time to affect the outcome of the race;

updating the real-time race information displayed on the race device each time the racer with the race device crosses each race gate.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the real-time race information comprises the current race group leader, the racer'"'"'s position, pace, time back and pace to win.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the real-time race information comprises the projected race group leader, the racer'"'"'s position, pace, time back and pace to win.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein a kiosk may transmit race information comprising race course configuration, participant identification information, and race group information.