Racket Carried Scoring Device

The present invention is directed to the provision of a scoring device for tennis especially designed to be mounted directly upon the tennis racket, the device being of negligible size and weight so that it presents no interference with the normal use of the racket and yet is readily available for observation. In keeping with the objectives of small size and negligible weight, the device is of extremely simple construction while providing readily visible scoring indications which are set by an easily performed manual operation.

The device includes a pair of pad members which are fixedly mounted on opposite sides of the racket handle somewhat above the grip, as by an adhesive bond. Each pad is formed typically with four parallel notches or grooves which extend in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the racket. Scoring indicia are displayed adjacent each of the notches. The indicating element takes the form of a resilient elastic band stretched around the racket handle and carrying a pair of bead-like members adapted to be seated in the notches or grooves in the pads. In use, the beads are displaced into the desired grooves on opposite sides of the handle to indicate respectively the score of the player and that of his opponent. One of the indicating beads or one of the pads may differ in color from the other to identify which of the two bead-pad sets represents the opponents score.

Other features and objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following specification and to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a tennis racket carrying a scoring device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail side view of a portion of the racket handle with the scoring device in place; and

FIG. 3 is a detail cross sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

The scoring device of the present invention includes a pair of like seating members designated generally 10 and 10' which include a somewhat flexible sheet-like base portion 12 and a rigid pad 14 bonded to or integrally formed with base 12. Pad 14 is formed with a plurality of parallel grooves or recesses 16 which, when the pad 10 is mounted upon the racket handle, extend in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the racket handle. Scoring indicia -- 0, 15, 30 and 40 -- are applied to base 12 adjacent each of the grooves 16, as best seen in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, four grooves 16 are employed, however, an additional groove 16 may optionally be included to indicate "advantage".

The indicator unit of the scoring device includes a resilient endless elastic band 18 dimensioned to be at least slightly stretched when the band encircles the handle. A pair of beads 20, 20' are mounted upon band 18, at diametrically opposed positions. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the grooves 16 are of semi-cylindrical configuration, while the beads 20, 20' are of cylindrical shape dimensioned to be snugly seated in grooves 16. Band 18 has sufficient stretchability so that, as best seen in FIG. 3, when the bead 20' is seated in one of the recesses 16 of pad 10', the opposed bead 20 can be seated in any of the grooves 16 of pad 10, the band 18 resiliently retaining the beads in the grooves in which they have been placed.

Preferably the two beads 20 and 20' are of different color so that one bead is identified as the indicating bead for the player's score, while the other bead is readily identifiable as indicating the opponent's score. Alternatively, the two pads 10 and 10' may be made of different colors or have appropriate indicia applied to them to differentiate between the player's score and that of his opponent.

Operation of the scoring device is believed apparent in that the bead 20, if used to indicate the player's score, is shifted from one groove 16 to the next when the player wins a point, while the other bead 20' is similarly shifted one step when the opponent wins a point. Shifting of the beads from one notch to the next may be simply accomplished by using the thumb to roll the bead from one notch to the next.

While one embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiment may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.