Remote timekeeping device and system for controlling sports clock

[0002] The present invention relates to a portable timekeeping device which can start, stop, maintain and otherwise control a remote timer adapted to maintain an official time and optionally, at least one other time. The present invention also relates to a timekeeping system comprising one or more portable timekeeping devices each of which is capable of controlling a remote timer adapted to maintain an official time and optionally, at least one other time. More particularly, the portable timekeeping device and system is designed primarily for use with sporting events, particularly, but not limited to, hockey, football and basketball.

[0003] Many sport games played today are timed events in which competing teams attempt to obtain the most points during a specified period, referred to as the official time. The official time, maintained on a timekeeping board and/or a game clock, often is stopped and re-started due to several factors, including called time-outs and called penalties. The stopping and re-starting of the official time leads to time keeping inaccuracies in the official time, the most notable of which is loss of “game time”. Loss of game time results from the time delay between when a time-out or penalty is called, usually by an individual officiating the game, and the actual stopping of the official time on a game clock. The loss of game time can be a significant factor in the outcome of the game.

[0004] A typical National Hockey League (NHL) game can be used to illustrate loss of “game time”. The official time of play for an NHL game is sixty (60) minutes. However, on average, the game is played only for about fifty-seven (57) minutes. The three (3) minute difference between the official time and the actual time of play is the loss of “game time”. This three-minute loss of game time primarily is due to the fact that there is a time delay from the moment when the individual officiating the game signals to the game clock timekeeper that the official time should be stopped and the time when the game clock actually is stopped. There are several causes contributing to this time delay, including (1) the time required for the officiating individual to bring his arm to his face, whistle to his mouth and then exert a breath to blow the whistle signaling that the game clock should be stopped, (2) the time required for the sound of the signal to travel from the whistle and across the sporting venue to the official timekeeper, (3) the reaction time of the official timekeeper to receive the signal and physically stop the game clock and (4) the time from when the hockey puck is dropped onto the ice to resume play and when the game clock is re-started.

[0005] Attempts have been made in the prior art to provide an official with means to automatically control a timer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,389 to Shimbo, issued Jan. 10, 1995 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,368 to Stalp, issued Jun. 12, 1973, disclose timekeeping systems in which a start signal is triggered by a start pistol which emits an audible signal and simultaneously starts a clock connected thereto by a transmission cable. An inherent disadvantage of these systems is the use of cable, rather than wireless communication. As described, such a system could not be utilized in a sporting event in which the one or more officials are situated on the area of play. In addition, these systems only provides means to start a clock, not for stopping a clock.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,354 to Costabile, issued Mar. 8, 1994, discloses a remotely actuable sports timing system that automatically responds to a whistle blown by a sports official to generate a radio signal which provides an instantaneous switching signal to actuate a game clock. Specifically, each individual officiating a game carries an actuating system including a whistle to be gripped between the teeth, a microphone in close proximity of the whistle and connected to a radio transmitter which is clipped to the official's belt or clothing. In practice, when the individual blows the whistle, the emitted sound therefrom is amplified by the microphone and causes a first radio control signal to be sent from the radio transmitter to a radio receiver which receives the first radio control signal and generates a remote switching signal in response to the radio control signal. The remote switching signal is connected to a controller having switching means to actuate the game clock. The radio transmitter also may be provided with one or more push buttons, each of which can generate a second radio control signal oscillating at a different frequency than the first radio control signal, the second radio control signal also being sent to the radio receiver and converted to a remote switching signal for actuating a timer.

[0007] The system provided by Costabile has several drawbacks. First, the requirement that each official carry three items, namely the whistle, microphone and radio transmitter, is cumbersome and creates an unnecessary burden on each official. Second, the system is overly complicated and confusing in that two separate and distinct radio signals can be generated and transmitted at different frequencies by the radio transmitter depending on the action of the official; each signal requiring a different action by the radio receiver. Third, the official's unit does not display the official time or any other game time.

[0008] Despite the attempts of the prior art, a need still exists for a timekeeping device and system comprising a portable timekeeping device which can remotely start, stop, maintain and otherwise control a remote timer, such as a game clock, which maintains an official time and optionally at least one other time, by emitting a wireless signal to the remote timer. Such a timekeeping device should include an easy-to-activate triggering device which actuates the wireless signal. Such a timekeeping device also should be utilized in place of a conventional whistle typically used by individuals officiating a game and should be capable of emitting an audible signal when the triggering device is activated. Such a device also should be designed to be comfortably worn by an individual and should not distract the the individual from his officiating duties. Such a timekeeping device and system also should be provided with a two-way communication such that the official time and any other times being displayed on the game clock are also displayed on the portable timekeeping device. Moreover, such a timekeeping device and system should function such that loss of game time is greatly reduced. In addition, such a timekeeping device and system should be capable of being configured easily for use in a variety of sporting events.

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a timekeeping device and system which reduces or eliminates the loss of “game time” typically experienced during a conventional sporting event.

[0010] It also is an object of the present invention to provide a timekeeping device and system comprising one or more portable timekeeping devices, each of which being capable of starting, stopping, maintaining and otherwise controlling a remote timer adapted to maintain an official time and optionally, at least one other time, by emitting a wireless signal.

[0011] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a timekeeping device and system comprising one or more portable timekeeping devices, each having an easy-to-use triggering device for actuating a wireless signal.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a timekeeping device and system comprising a portable timekeeping device which is not cumbersome and which can be worn comfortably.

[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a timekeeping device and system having two way communication between a remote timer and each portable timekeeping device.

[0014] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a timekeeping device and system in which the official time and any other times displayed on a remote timer are also displayed on each portable timekeeping device being utilized.

[0015] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a timekeeping device and system which is capable of being configured easily for use in a variety of sporting events.

[0016] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part of the description and claims which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0017] The present invention will be better understood with reference to the appended drawing sheets, wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the portable timekeeping device of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the portable timekeeping device of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a first timekeeping system using the portable timekeeping device of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the portable timekeeping device of the present invention which is in two-way communication with a remote timer.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a second timekeeping system using multiple portable timekeeping devices in a sports arena.

[0023] The present invention relates to a portable timekeeping device which can start, stop, maintain and otherwise control a remote timer which is adapted to maintain an official time or an official time and at least one other time, such as a timekeeping board and/or game clock used in a sporting event. The instant invention also relates to a timekeeping system comprising one or more such portable timekeeping devices and a remote timer adapted to maintain an official time or an official time and at least one other time. In particular, the timekeeping system of the present invention is designed for use with sporting events, including for example, hockey, football and basketball. However, it is to be understood that the inventive timekeeping device and timekeeping system of the present invention can be used in any other application in which it is desired to control a timer from a remote location.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portable timekeeping device 1 is shown comprising a portable housing 10 having a top surface 11 and a bottom surface 12, a wireless transmitter 14 disposed within the portable housing 10 and a triggering member 15 disposed within the portable housing for actuating a wireless signal S1 from the wireless transmitter 14. The triggering member 15 can be connected to the wireless transmitter 14 by any suitable means, including for example, a simple wire cable connection 16. Any type of triggering member which can be accessed quickly and easily by an individual for actuating the wireless signal S1 can be utilized in the present invention, including for example, a push button 15adisposed within the housing, such as a thumb button, which actuates the wireless signal when depressed or a compressible bar 15bwhich actuates the wireless signal when the bar is squeezed. Preferably, the triggering member 15 of the present invention includes both a push button 15aand a compressible bar 15b, such that depressing both the push button and squeezing the compressible bar is required to actuate the wireless signal.

[0025] The portable housing can be configured in any manner which facilitates handling by an individual. Preferably, the portable housing is adapted to be worn by an individual, suitable examples of which include a hand glove, a wrist watch and a clip-on device, such as a belt clip-on device. More preferably, the portable housing is in the form of a glove. Most preferably, the portable housing is in the form of an open-fingered glove having a pouch 2 stitched to the top surface 11, the pouch having an opening slot 3 for receiving a wireless transmitter box which houses the transmitter 14. Velcro means 5 can be used to detachable secure the opening slot 3 to the pouch 2. When the portable housing is in the form of an open fingered glove, the push button triggering member 15ais disposed within the glove such that the push button can be depressed by an individual's thumb, and the compressible bar triggering member 15bis disposed on the bottom surface 12 such that the bar can be squeezed when the individual closes his fingers towards his palm, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0026] The portable housing 10 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as glove 10), may comprise additional elements to facilitate an individual's ability to officiate a game. For example, an electronic siren/speaker 17 can be disposed within the top surface 11 of the glove for emitting an audible signal when the wireless signal is actuated from the transmitter 14 by the triggering member 15. In addition, an actual whistle member 18 can be mounted within the glove which can be used in conjunction with electronic siren/speaker or can be used by the official when the triggering member 15 fails to actuate a wireless signal for transmission. The whistle member 18 may also include an inner diaphragm 19 such that when the whistle is blown, air enters the diaphragm chamber which actuates the wireless signal in the same manner as the triggering member 15

[0027] Upon activation of the triggering member 15, the portable timekeeping device 10 of the present invention actuates and sends a wireless signal S1 from the wireless transmitter 14 to a remote timer 20, as shown in FIG. 3. The remote timer, such as a typical timekeeping board and/or game clock, is adapted to maintain an official time T1 and at least one other time. The wireless signal S1 sent by the portable timekeeping device, stops the official time being maintained on the remoter timer 20. The remote timer 20 comprises a wireless receiver 21 which is adapted to receive the wireless signal S1. The wireless receiver 21 is in electronic communication with the remote timer such that the official time T1 is stopped upon receiving the wireless signal. The wireless receiver may be in direct electronic communication with the remote timer or may be in electronic communication with the remote timer through an electronic control element 22 which is configured to stop the official time T1. The control element 22 can be a simple switching device housed within the remoter timer.

[0028] In operation, an individual officiating a sporting game can stop the official time on the remote timer 20 (e.g. timekeeping board and/or game clock) simply by activating the triggering member on the portable timekeeping device. The activation of the triggering member 15, either by depressing the push button 15a, squeezing the compressible bar 15bor a combination thereof depending on the configuration of the triggering member, actuates a wireless signal S1 from the wireless transmitter 14. The signal S1 immediately is transmitted to the wireless receiver 21. Upon receipt of the wireless signal S1, the official time being maintained on the remote timer 20 is stopped. At the same time, activation of the triggering member 15 causes an audible signal to be emitted from the electronic siren/speaker 17, thereby announcing that the individual officiating the game has caused the official time to be stopped. In this manner, loss of game time is eliminated since the official time is stopped as soon as the individual activates the triggering member 15. In the event of an unlikely electronic trigger failure, the individual can blow the actual whistle 18 to indicate that the official time should be stopped.

[0029] The portable timekeeping device of the present invention also can be configured for two-way wireless communication with a remote timer. Referring to FIG. 4, the portable timekeeping device 1 further comprises a wireless receiver 31, a short, flexible antenna 32 disposed within the portable housing 10 and one or more display windows 33 disposed within the top surface 11 of the portable housing. The one or more display windows 33 preferably are LCD or LED windows and are designed to correspond to the official time T1 and at least one other time maintained on a remote timer (e.g. game clock). Thus, the display windows 33 can include an official time T1 display window 33a, and a plurality of other windows, including for example, a time-out display window 33b, a reset time display window 33c, at least one penalty time display window 33dand an alternate timer 33eas shown in FIG. 4. However, it is to be understood that number of display windows and the types of time being displayed thereby are not dependent solely upon the time(s) being maintained by a remote timer. Rather the number and type of display windows can be designed for various configurations and to accommodate different sporting events.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, in order to provide two-way communication between the portable timekeeping device and the remote timer, the remote timer 20 is provided with a wireless transmitter 25 and antenna 26 and continuously transmits a wireless signal S2 which is received by the wireless receiver 31 disposed within the portable housing 10 of each of the portable timekeeping devices 1. In this manner, the timekeeping system of the present invention synchronizes the official time T1 being maintained by the remote timer (as well as any other times being maintained by the remote timer) with the official time being displayed in display window 33a. Thus, the time displayed in the official time display window 33ais the actual official time T1 being maintained by the remote timer 20. When an individual using the portable timekeeping device activates the triggering member 15, thereby actuating the wireless signal S1 to stop the official time T1 on the remote timer 20, the official time displayed in display window 33aalso is stopped.

[0031] FIG. 5 also shows the timekeeping system of the present invention comprising a plurality of portable timekeeping devices 1, a remote timer 20 in the form of a timekeeping board which also is in time with the arena clocks 41 on the scoreboards by conventional hard wire. In addition, the center arena clock 40 can be fitted with small electronic whistle sirens that can emit audible signals precisely when the audible signal from the portable timekeeping device is emitted.

[0032] While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, and that many obvious modifications and variations can be made, and that such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.