Patent Grant
RE43002
The present invention relates to a scoring system for use in sports activities. In particular, the present invention pertains to a net scoring system that can be used to accurately maintain the score of a sports contest, can be easily transported with a game net and can be used in a variety of sports activities at a variety of locations.
A portable game net is a usefull piece of sporting equipment to own. Because sports enthusiasts can use game nets for a variety of sports activities, such as volleyball and badminton, game nets have become increasingly popular in recent years. Players may hang game nets between two fixed vertical structures, such as poles or trees, at varying heights above the ground, depending on the sports activity being played. As such, game nets are useful in backyards, over swimming pools, or any variety of playing surfaces where sports activities are played.
In playing sporting events using a game net, even the most casual player often desires to keep score of the contest. In many instances, this is achieved by each player simply keeping track of the score in his or her head. Because this method of scoring does not include a visual representation of the current score, however, it often leads to inaccurate scoring and requires each player to continually remember the current score and state it aloud so that all participants are informed. Scoreboards are often used at high school, college or professional sporting events, but are often too large, complex and stationary to be used in the variety of sporting venues where game nets are used by recreational players. Therefore, what is needed is a simple scoring system that a player can easily transport with a game net and use in a variety of sports activities at various game-playing locations.
The prior art has attempted to provide scoring systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,122 to Pittner discloses a personal tennis score keeper. U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,113 to Hierath discloses a tennis score keeper and display device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,913 to Mower et al. discloses an indoor/outdoor portable basketball scoreboard and U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,748 to Pettis teaches a portable scoring device. The designs of many of these devices are complex and require the players to transport equipment in addition to the game net. In addition, many of these scoring devices are not useful in physical locations where sporting activities using game nets are often played. Accordingly, there remains a need for a simple scoring system that a player can easily transport with a game net and use in a variety of sports activities at various game-playing locations.
The present invention answers the need for such a scoring system. The design of the present invention enables players to easily and accurately maintain the score of a sporting contest. In addition, because the present invention includes a game net, it can be conveniently transported without requiring additional equipment. Moreover, the present invention can be used in a variety of sports activities and at various game-playing locations.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple means for accurately keeping score of the number of points won during a sports activity that includes a game net.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple means for accurately keeping score of the number of games won during a sports activity that includes a game net.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an easily visible indication of the score of a sports activity that includes a game net.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a team with a visible indication of their score and their opponent's score in a sports activity that includes a game net.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for keeping score that can be easily transported with a game net.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a net scoring system that can be used in a variety of sports activities.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a net scoring system that can be used at a variety of game playing locations.
The present invention is directed to a net scoring system. The net scoring system has a game net which is of a generally rectangular shape and has a periphery defined by a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposing side edges. The game net also has a front face and a back face. The net scoring system also includes at least one indicating device for displaying a game score that is connected to the game net. The indicating device may be located on at least one of the top edge, the bottom edge, and the opposing side edges. Furthermore, the indicating device may be located on at least one of the front face and the back face of the game net.
In accordance with the present invention, the net scoring system may have a reinforcing tape that is attached to the top edge, the bottom edge, and the opposing side edges of the game net. Moreover, at least one indicating device having a plurality of scoring symbols may be located on the reinforcing tape. Furthermore, at least one indicating device may have a symbol indicating assembly for emphasizing one of the plurality of scoring symbols to represent a score.
In accordance with the present invention, the symbol indicating assembly may have a planar surface having portions defining a void through which one of the plurality of scoring symbols may be made visible. Furthermore, the symbol indicating assembly may have a fastening device that extends from the planar surface for slidably attaching the symbol indicating assembly to the reinforcing tape.
The present invention is also directed to a net scoring system having a plurality of scoring symbols located on both the front face and the back face of the game net, such that the symbol indicating assembly is capable of emphasizing the same symbol on both the front face and the back face of the game net.
In accordance with the present invention, the symbol indicating assembly may include a first planar surface having portions defining a void through which one of the plurality of scoring symbols located on the front face of the game net may be made visible. The symbol indicating assembly may include a second planar surface having portions defining a void through which one of the plurality of scoring symbols located on the back face of the game net may be made visible. The first planar surface is connected to the second planar surface such that the symbol indicating assembly is slidably attached to the reinforcing tape.
The indicating device according to the present invention may include an LCD display. The LCD display includes a processing device for adding a point to the current score and a processing device for resetting the current score to zero.
In accordance with the present invention, at least one indicating device may include a plate having a flat planar surface. The flat planar surface is formed to include at least one slot. A plurality of scoring symbols are located on the plate. At least one symbol indicating assembly is slidably attached to the plate through the slot. The plate according to the present invention may be fixedly attached to the reinforcing tape.
The present invention is also directed to a method of indicating the score of a sporting contest. The steps of the method may include providing a game net that includes at least one scoring symbol located on the game net, and at least one symbol indicating assembly connected to the game net. The steps of the method may also include selectively sliding at least one symbol indicating assembly over at least one scoring symbol to indicate the current score.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein by reference, and which constitute apart of the specification, illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
The present invention will now be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:
Reference will now be made in detail to a game net 10 and at least one indicating device 20 of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in
It is contemplated that the game net 10 may include reinforcing rods 15 which are inserted through a longitudinal opening within the reinforcing tape 110. The game net 10 can be extended between two fixed structures, such as poles or trees (not shown), and secured to them using an appropriate hanging means 16, such as, for example, a nylon cord. It is also contemplated that the game net 10 may include a locking assembly 17 for further securing the game net 10 to the fixed structures.
It is further contemplated that the present invention may be hung at various heights above the ground to be used for a wide variety of sports activities, including but not limited to, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and various swimming pool games. It is also contemplated that the present invention may be used in a wide variety of locations, including but not limited to, backyards, beaches, parks, gymnasiums and over swimming pools.
In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
The indicating device 20 also includes symbol indicating assembly 30 used to represent the current score 201 of one of the teams. The symbol indicating assembly 30 is slidably attached to reinforcing tape 110. In one embodiment, as shown in
In another embodiment of the present invention, two indicating means 20 are positioned on both the front face 101 and the back face 102 of the game net 10, such that on each face, one indicating means 20 is located closer to one of the side edges 13 and the other indicating means 20 is located closer to the other of the side edges 13. In this manner, on each face of the game net 10, one indicating means 20 is for representing that team's score and one indicating means 20 is used to represent their opponent's score. Furthermore, a plurality of scoring symbols 21 are positioned on both the front face 101 and the back face 102 of the game net 10, such that each symbol indicating assembly 30 is capable of emphasizing the same one of the plurality of scoring symbols 21 on both the front face 101 and the back face 102 of the game net 10. Thus, when one team adjusts its score on one side of game net 10, their opponent on the other side of game net 10 sees the score adjusted as well. This enables each team to easily, accurately, and visually determine both their score and their opponent's score at all times. It is contemplated that the plurality of scoring symbols 21 could be printed such that the score for the two different teams are printed in different colors to further facilitate the determination of each team's score.
In this embodiment, as shown in
It is contemplated by the present invention that at least one indicating device 20 may be used for indicating the number of games won by a team. In this manner, additional scoring symbols 21 may be added to represent the score in games. Also, at least one additional symbol indicating assembly 30 may be added to represent the current number of games won by a team.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the indicating device 20 includes a flat plate 40, as shown in
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the indicating device 20 include an LCD display 50, as shown in
Although this invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention as set forth herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5025748 | Pettis | Jun 1991 | A |
| 5329874 | Posey | Jul 1994 | A |
| 5348309 | Queiros | Sep 1994 | A |
| 5385113 | Hierath | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5733210 | Yiu | Mar 1998 | A |
| 5894261 | Green | Apr 1999 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09414701 | Oct 1999 | US |
| Child | 10832228 | US |
