Patent Grant
12029964
None.
This invention relates to a special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole, horseshoes, table tennis, and others. The technical field is specifically related to a kind of portable LED ball match score display, belongs to technical field of sports instruments. The invention relates generally to outdoor games and accessories, and to a scorekeeping device for a corn hole contest or game.
More particularly this relates to a portable, compact score indicator. The present invention relates to a portable scoreboard and structure, and more particularly, to a portable scoreboard and structure that can display the results of the game made in the indoor and outdoor by a simple switch or push-button operation and one that is convenient to carry. The present invention relates to scoring devices and more particularly to a portable, compact, retractable scoring device which may be expeditiously set-up at a sporting event.
None.
None.
As far as known, there are no special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole or the like. It is believed that this product is unique in its design and technologies.
For many outdoor events, a game employing beanbags and plywood goals has become very popular. The game is usually played at events where beverages are served, and it is often challenging to simply put down a drink without spilling it to take one's turn tossing beanbags. The score of the game may also become confused. Currently numerous outdoor sporting activities are conducted without the benefit of a scoreboard. Such outdoor sporting activities are often conducted at sporting sites where because of various reasons (such as expenses, vandalism, theft, etc.) it is generally unfeasible to install permanent on-site scoreboard(s).
Certain other sporting events have been historically conducted without scoreboards. This may be illustrated by horseshoeing, volleyball, shuffle-boarding, and the recent surge of corn hole contests. These are typically played at a public park or similar accessible sites under circumstances wherein such scoring devices cannot be adequately protected against theft, vandalism, etc. Consequently, such sporting participants and players are forced to mentally keep track of the scores and announce the score to each participant upon commencement of each series of throws. Also, these participants also tend to travel considerable distances to meets attended by other players who likewise have traveled considerable distances to the meet. Under such circumstances, it becomes most difficult to make available a mechanical or manually visible means (other than mental) for displaying the meet scores. It is generally unfeasible to provide at these sites a scoreboard which may be effectively used by the players, yet will afford adequate protection against theft, vandalism, etc. Considering this background, it would be beneficial to have an inexpensive, reliable, portable, and easily operated scoring system for these games and contests.
Although cornhole is extremely popular, the game has only been in existence for 15-20 years. It has considerable room to continue growing and this is a great time to get in on the game's rising appeal. It has quickly developed into a professional sport with national television contracts with ESPN, CBS and other television networks, and there are thousands of local tournaments held for casual players around the country throughout the year. Still, despite millions of passionate players, there are no convenient, easy-to-see scoreboards on the market! Remembering the score after each “inning” can be challenging for professional and recreational players alike. A special 21-point electronic score device for games could be a revolutionizing solution.
The improvement and problem solved as to a special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole include the world's first portable, easy-to-see electronic scoreboard designed specifically for the popular backyard game of cornhole. It is an easy-to-see electronic scoreboard made of durable materials in a compact configuration with a fold-in base for easy storage, portability, and easy set-up. The scoreboard can be used for any game played to twenty-one (21) but will be marketed specifically to cornhole players. It can be used on open ground, a solid floor or pavement, making it good for indoor and outdoor play and contests.
As far as known, there are no special 21-point electronic score devices for games such as Corn Hole or the like. It is believed that this product is unique in its design and technologies. A novelty search revealed:
As can be observed, none of the prior art has anticipated or caused one skilled in the art of scoring devices or systems to see this invention by Klotz et al. as obvious to a person skilled in the ordinary art of the industry. The special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole called Scorebox21 provides an answer to the world's first portable, easy-to-see electronic scoreboard designed specifically for the popular backyard game of cornhole.
This special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole is the world's first portable, easy-to-see electronic scoreboard designed specifically for the popular backyard game of cornhole. It is made of durable materials like hard plastic with a fold-in base and includes 42 LEDs (21 on each side) stacked in the traditional score tower style that allows it to be used any time of day or night. It stands approximately fifty (50) inches high in a preferred embodiment when in use and then can fold down to approximately thirty-six (36) inches for easy storage and portability. It comes with a handle on one side for convenient carrying, a drink holder at the back or alternatively on each side and a compartment on top to hold a phone in place for the purpose of video recording competitive games. In addition, the scoreboard can be used for any game played to 21 but will be marketed specifically to cornhole players. The target audience for special 21-point electronic score device called Scorebox21 is men ages 18-49, but it is believed that there will also be considerable interest from women and children looking for a unique, practical gift for their cornhole-playing husbands, fathers, boyfriends, etc.
The preferred embodiment of a special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole is: A special 21-point electronic score device 30 for corn hole games made of durable materials and comprised of: (a) a top section 80 which supports a scoring board 40 with a series of lights 60 and a series of push-buttons 50, said top section having a compartment 90 which contains a set of batteries 100 to power and energize the lights when the push-buttons are operated and said top section having a handle 70 to carry the device 30; (b) the top section 80 further comprised of a top horizontal member 82T, a bottom horizontal member 82B; a pair of vertical members 84 consisting of a left member 84L and right member 84R; a fixedly secure means 86 for connecting top 82T, bottom 82B, left 84L, and right 84R members to configure the top section 80 as a rectangular support of the scoring board 40; (c) the scoring board 40 further comprised of a means 43 to connect designed scoring board 40 to top section 80, an advertising area 41, an outer surface 45OS, and an inner surface 45IS and said “42” lights 60 configured as numbers 42A alongside for team/individual A and as numbers 42B alongside for each team/individual B, and a means 43 to connect designed scoring board 40 to top section 80; (d) a leg/support section 120 further comprised of a pair of vertical and generally upward legs 121 (left and right 121L and 121R), a recess 122 in leg section/support structure 120 to accept configuration 134 at end of angle brace 133, and a reinforced webbing 125 interior to the legs 121L and 121R as strengthening; (e) a means 132 to pivotally secure the top section 80 to the leg/support section 120 which consists of an aperture/recess 87 at lower end of members 84R, L to accept a pivot/pin/hinge 128; (f) a stabilizing base 130 with an angle brace 133 to fixedly connect and end configuration 134 of said angle brace 133 of the stabilizing base 130 to the leg/support section 120 at a recess 122; (g) a means 135 to pivotally connect the stabilizing base 130 to the leg section/support structure 120 wherein the top section 80, leg/support section 120, and stabilizing base 130 when interconnected provide the special 21-point electronic score device 30 which when set-up provides LED lighting that allows the score to be seen from far away and in low light or at night and when folded-up is compact and portable and wherein the 21-point electronic score device 30 can be used with at least one type of game. The newly concepted and developed special 21-point electronic score device can be manufactured at low volumes by very simple means and in high volume production by more complex and controlled systems.
There are several objects and advantages of the special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole. There are currently no known electrical, electronic, or mechanical scoring devices that are effective at providing the objects of this invention.
The special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole has various advantages and benefits:
Finally, other advantages and additional features of the present the special 21-point electronic score device will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the full description of the device. For one skilled in the art of portable scoring devices for indoor and outdoor use, it is readily apparent and understood that the features shown in the examples with this product are readily adapted to other types of electric/electronic scoring systems and devices.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole that is preferred. The drawings together with the summary description given above and a detailed description given below explain the principles of the special 21-point electronic score device. It is understood, however, that the special device is not limited to only the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
The following list refers to the drawings:
This invention relates to a special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole, horseshoes, table tennis, and others. The technical field is specifically related to a kind of portable LED ball match score display, belongs to technical field of sports instruments. The invention relates generally to outdoor games and accessories, and to a scorekeeping device for a corn hole contest or game. More particularly this relates to a portable, compact score indicator. The present invention relates to a portable scoreboard and structure, and more particularly, to a portable scoreboard and structure that can display the results of the game made in the indoor and outdoor by a simple switch or push-button operation and one that is convenient to carry. The present invention relates to scoring devices and more particularly to a portable, compact, retractable scoring device which may be expeditiously set-up at a sporting event.
The advantages for the special 21-point electronic score device 30 for games such as Corn Hole are listed above in the introduction. Succinctly the benefits are that the device:
The preferred embodiment of the special 21-point electronic score device 30 for games such as Corn is: A special 21-point electronic score device 30 for corn hole games made of durable materials and comprised of: (a) a top section 80 which supports a scoring board 40 with a series of lights 60 and a series of push-buttons 50, said top section having a compartment 90 which contains a set of batteries 100 to power and energize the lights when the push-buttons are operated and said top section having a handle 70 to carry the device 30; (b) the top section 80 further comprised of a top horizontal member 82T, a bottom horizontal member 82B; a pair of vertical members 84 consisting of a left member 84L and right member 84R; a fixedly secure means 86 for connecting top 82T, bottom 82B, left 84L, and right 84R members to configure the top section 80 as a rectangular support of the scoring board 40; (c) the scoring board 40 further comprised of a means 43 to connect designed scoring board 40 to top section 80, an advertising area 41, an outer surface 45OS, and an inner surface 45IS and said “42” lights 60 configured as numbers 42A alongside for team/individual A and as numbers 42B alongside for each team/individual B, and a means 43 to connect designed scoring board 40 to top section 80; (d) a leg/support section 120 further comprised of a pair of vertical and generally upward legs 121 (left and right 121L and 121R), a recess 122 in leg section/support structure 120 to accept configuration 134 at end of angle brace 133, and a reinforced webbing 125 interior to the legs 121L and 121R as strengthening; (e) a means 132 to pivotally secure the top section 80 to the leg/support section 120 which consists of an aperture/recess 87 at lower end of members 84R, L to accept a pivot/pin/hinge 128; (f) a stabilizing base 130 with an angle brace 133 to fixedly connect and end configuration 134 of said angle brace 133 of the stabilizing base 130 to the leg/support section 120 at a recess 122; (g) a means 135 to pivotally connect the stabilizing base 130 to the leg section/support structure 120 wherein the top section 80, leg/support section 120, and stabilizing base 130 when interconnected provide the special 21-point electronic score device 30 which when set-up provides LED lighting that allows the score to be seen from far away and in low light or at night and when folded-up is compact and portable and wherein the 21-point electronic score device 30 can be used with at least one type of game.
There is shown in
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the special 21-point electronic score device 30 for games such as Corn Hole that is preferred. The drawings together with the summary description given above and a detailed description given below describe and explain the principles of the special 21-point electronic score device 30 for games such as Corn Hole. It is understood, however, that the special device 30 is not limited to only the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. Other examples of scoring displays and systems are still understood by one skilled in the art of such scoring devices to be within the scope and spirit shown here.
The anticipated durable materials for the special 21-point electronic score device 30 include metals, polymers, and composite materials. Polymers can include reinforced plastics and polymers such as fairly high durometer, urethane, polyurethane, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET or PETG), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), Acrylonitrile Styrene (ASA); Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Plastic; polycarbonate-Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PC-ABS); polylactic acid (PLA); Polyamide (PA-nylon), and Glass Filled Polyamide (reinforced nylons). The metals can be cast or sheet structures of aluminum, steel, and steel alloys. The composite materials can be various pressed fibers, cardboards, and reinforced plastic/paper and likely needs waterproof coatings for outdoor use.
The details mentioned here are exemplary and not limiting. Other specific components and manners specific to describing a special 21-point electronic score device for games such as Corn Hole may be added as a person having ordinary skill in the field of scoring devices and portable score displays for outdoor games and accessories, and to a scorekeeping device.
The special 21-point electronic score device 30 for games such as Corn Hole has been described in the above embodiment. The manner of how the device operates is described below. One notes well that the description above and the operation described here must be taken together to fully illustrate the concept. The preferred embodiment of the special 21-point electronic score device for corn hole is: A special 21-point electronic score device 30 for corn hole games made of durable materials and comprised of: (a) a top section 80 which supports a scoring board 40 with a series of lights 60 and a series of push-buttons 50, said top section having a compartment 90 which contains a set of batteries 100 to power and energize the lights when the push-buttons are operated and said top section having a handle 70 to carry the device 30; (b) the top section 80 further comprised of a top horizontal member 82T, a bottom horizontal member 82B; a pair of vertical members 84 consisting of a left member 84L and right member 84R; a fixedly secure means 86 for connecting top 82T, bottom 82B, left 84L, and right 84R members to configure the top section 80 as a rectangular support of the scoring board 40; (c) the scoring board 40 further comprised of a means 43 to connect designed scoring board 40 to top section 80, an advertising area 41, an outer surface 45OS, and an inner surface 45IS and said “42” lights 60 configured as numbers 42A alongside for team/individual A and as numbers 42B alongside for each team/individual B, and a means 43 to connect designed scoring board 40 to top section 80; (d) a leg/support section 120 further comprised of a pair of vertical and generally upward legs 121 (left and right 121L and 121R), a recess 122 in leg section/support structure 120 to accept configuration 134 at end of angle brace 133, and a reinforced webbing 125 interior to the legs 121L and 121R as strengthening; (e) a means 132 to pivotally secure the top section 80 to the leg/support section 120 which consists of an aperture/recess 87 at lower end of members 84R, L to accept a pivot/pin/hinge 128; (f) a stabilizing base 130 with an angle brace 133 to fixedly connect and end configuration 134 of said angle brace 133 of the stabilizing base 130 to the leg/support section 120 at a recess 122; (g) a means 135 to pivotally connect the stabilizing base 130 to the leg section/support structure 120 wherein the top section 80, leg/support section 120, and stabilizing base 130 when interconnected provide the special 21-point electronic score device 30 which when set-up provides LED lighting that allows the score to be seen from far away and in low light or at night and when folded-up is compact and portable and wherein the 21-point electronic score device 30 can be used with at least one type of game.
The special 21-point electronic score device 30 is operated by carrying the electronic score device 30 to the corn hole field 190 as a compact unit. The device 30 is carried by the handle 70. Then the three main sections are “opened”. The top section 80 used to support designed scoring board 40 is rotated/pivoted from the leg/support section 120 by a pivot/pin/hinge(s) 128 (which pivotally secures and connects through aperture/recess 87 at junction of top section 80 and leg/support section 120). The stabilizing base 130 is rotated away from the leg/support section 120 at a pin and aperture 132 to pivotally connect stabilizing base 130 to leg section/support structure 120. The angle brace 133 is pivotally connected to the stabilizing base 130 to angle brace 133 by a pin and aperture 135. At the opposite end of the pivot 135 on the angle brace member 133 is removably connectable with end configuration 134 of the brace 133 which is placed into the recess 122 of the leg section/support structure 120. Once the three sections 80, 120, and 130 are rotated and connected, the device is essentially standing vertically and perpendicular to the horizontal plane—ground G or pavement surface if outside and floor F if inside. Now the electronics can be energized by placing the batteries in place and testing the lights by using the push-button/toggles 50 to check the operation. If desired, the device may use the recharging unit 106.
Many uses are anticipated for the special 21-point electronic score device 30 for games. Some examples, and not limitations, of the anticipated games are shown in the following Table.
With this description it is to be understood that the special 21-point electronic score device 30 for games such as Corn Hole is not to be limited to only the disclosed embodiment of product. The features of the device 30 are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the description.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, this is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which these inventions belong. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present inventions, the preferred methods and materials are now described above in the foregoing paragraphs.
Other embodiments of the invention are possible. Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventions. Various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the disclosed embodiments described above.
The terms recited in the claims should be given their ordinary and customary meaning as determined by reference to relevant entries (e.g., definition of “plane” as a carpenter's tool would not be relevant to the use of the term “plane” when used to refer to an airplane, etc.) in dictionaries (e.g., widely used general reference dictionaries and/or relevant technical dictionaries), commonly understood meanings by those in the art, etc., with the understanding that the broadest meaning imparted by any one or combination of these sources should be given to the claim terms (e.g., two or more relevant dictionary entries should be combined to provide the broadest meaning of the combination of entries, etc.) subject only to the following exceptions: (a) if a term is used herein in a manner more expansive than its ordinary and customary meaning, the term should be given its ordinary and customary meaning plus the additional expansive meaning, or (b) if a term has been explicitly defined to have a different meaning by reciting the term followed by the phrase “as used herein shall mean” or similar language (e.g., “herein this term means,” “as defined herein,” “for the purposes of this disclosure [the term] shall mean,” etc.). References to specific examples, use of “i.e.,” use of the word “invention,” etc., are not meant to invoke exception (b) or otherwise restrict the scope of the recited claim terms. Other than situations where exception (b) applies, nothing contained herein should be considered a disclaimer or disavowal of claim scope. Accordingly, the subject matter recited in the claims is not coextensive with and should not be interpreted to be coextensive with any embodiment, feature, or combination of features shown herein. This is true even if only a single embodiment of the feature or combination of features is illustrated and described herein. Thus, the appended claims should be read to be given their broadest interpretation in view of the prior art and the ordinary meaning of the claim terms.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed considering the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.
The present invention contemplates modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art. While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only selected embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes, modifications. and equivalents that come within the spirit of the disclosures described heretofore and or/defined by the following claims are desired to be protected.
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