Patent Application
20250205582
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to timing timed rodeo events. There are three categories of rodeo events: timed events, rough stock events, and speed events. The present invention is a timing system for timed events, such as roping events that begin on the roping side of the arena including breakaway roping, steer wrestling, calf roping, and other timed events. The present invention is not intended for timing rough stock events such as bull riding, bareback riding, or saddle bronc riding or speed event such as barrel racing or pole bending.
The present disclosure relates generally to events in which participants ride horses and engage in timed activities in a rodeo environment, with or without additional animal or environmental obstacles and challenges, where the timing is used to determine the winner and subsequent placing for the event.
Most rodeo timed events rely on manual timing with a stopwatch for timing purposes. This includes Breakaway roping, steer wrestling, and tie down roping, and other competitive subsets of this sport. As the sport gets more competitive, the limitations of manual timing threatens the event integrity.
The standard method of timing for these events is one or more people with stopwatches observing flags and other signals to start and stop timing for each event. The judges' distance from the riders and signals is great, with visual obstructions that compound the ability to provide accurate timing, and human reaction time and prejudice are inherent risks to the integrity of these events. It is not uncommon for many participants to log identical times due to the lack of precision with manual timing. No system today provides a robust technology-driven solution to this problem.
Thus, there is a need for an improved system using wireless sensors that process events and timing faster than a human's reflexes. Applicant's applied for systems and method for timing rodeo events removes the human error and limitations of manual timing and is not bound by proximity to the participants.
The present invention is a system and method for timing rodeo events comprising a saddle sensor, a gate sensor, a base station, user computer devices, and a wireless network connecting the components.
In one embodiment, the gate sensor device monitors a gate rope for release. During this time the sensor device communicates wirelessly with a saddle sensor device to establish accurate timing metrics. Upon detecting the rope release of the gate, the gate sensor device starts a high accuracy timer, and in one embodiment communicates this to a saddle sensor device. The saddle sensor device monitors the presence of a rope attached to the saddle sensor device. When the presence is lost, the saddle sensor device calculates the time delta and stores it internally. In various embodiments the timing information is communicated wirelessly to another device for processing, display and record keeping.
The present invention is an improvement over other attempts to use technology to time rodeo events because the present invention incorporates the Hallettsville barrier (rope barrier used to start rodeo events). There have been attempts to use “electric eye” timers with rodeo events (using lasers to trigger time start/stop stamps). Rodeo competitors prefer Hallettsville barriers because electric eye systems make it difficult to see how close you are to the barrier. With Hallettsville rope barriers, the contestant can see the barrier get pulled in front of the horse. This gives the contestant (along with everyone watching) a visual indication of the start and makes it easier for the contestant (and everyone watching) to have a better idea of the start time.
The structure of components of the rodeo timing system are described with reference to
Referring to
The magnet 38 has a first end 39 and a second end 40. An aperture 41 extends through the magnet 38 proximate the second end 40. The first end of the magnet 38 is flared and forms a snap/friction fit with the rope sensor cavity 37 of the enclosure 38. The rope sensor cavity 37 comprises a magnetic sensor to detect the presence or absence of the magnet 38.
The saddle sensor enclosure 32 is connected to a strap 42. Ideally, the strap 42 has a sizing mechanism 43 that allows the size of the strap 42 to be adjusted. The strap 42 attaches the saddle sensor 31 to a saddle horn 44.
A cord 45 is threaded through the aperture 41 of the magnetic rope presence sensor 38. A first end of the cord 45 comprises a stopper 46. The stopper 46 is larger than the aperture 41, and, therefore prevents the first end of the cord 45 from being pulled through the aperture 41.
The second end of the cord 45 is connected to the rodeo contestant's rope 47. Any suitable means for connection can be used to connect the cord 45 to the rope 47.
Referring to
The arm 62 comprises a raised groove 64. A cord 65 fits under the groove 64 between the enclosure 57 and the arm 62. A stopper 66 is on one end of the cord 65. The stopper 66 is larger than the grove 64, and, thereof, prevents the cord 65 from moving through the grove 64 (absent sufficient pressure). The other end of the cord 65 is attached to a rodeo contestant's rope 67.
Referring to
The arm 72 comprises a raised groove 74. A cord 75 fits under the groove 74 between the enclosure 69 and the arm 72. A stopper 76 is on one end of the cord 75. The stopper is 76 is larger than the grove 74, and, thereof, prevents the cord 75 from moving through the grove 74 (absent sufficient pressure). The other end of the cord 65 is attached to a rodeo contestant's rope 77.
The operation of the saddle sensors 31, 48, 50, 56, and 68 is described with references to
In embodiment 3148, the saddle sensor comprises a sensor cavity 37 and a magnetic sensing pin 3849. The magnetic sensing pin 3849 is connected to the contestants rope 48 via a cord 45. When the contestant's rope is pulled taut by the calf, the magnetic sensing pin 3849 is pulled out of the sensor cavity 37. The PCBA 33, in conjunction with either a magnetic or electrical sensing device, creates a time stamp for the exact time the sensing pin 3849 was removed from the sensor cavity 37.
In saddle sensor embodiments 59 and 68, cords 6575 are attached to the contestant's rope 6777. The cords 6575 are connected to the saddle sensors 5956 by arms 7262. One end of the arms 7279 comprise magnetic or electric elements and the receiving elements of the saddle sensor 6171 comprise magnetic or electric sensing elements. When the calf pulls the contestant's rope 6777 taut, the cord 6575 is also pulled taut. The force on the cord via the rope and the calf causes the magnetic or electronic elements of the arm to detach from the sensor enclosure. This causes a triggering event such as the connection of disconnection of a magnetic or electrical connection. The PCBA creates a time stamp recording the time of the triggering event.
Referring to
A pulley 86 with a position encoder is connected to the pully attachment 83. The gate attachment 84 is attached to an opening gate frame 87 for a rodeo event. The gate rope 88 is run through the pully 86 with position encoder. Movement of the pully 86 creates a time stamp.
Referring to
The operation of the gate sensors is described with reference to
The gate sensors 7889 comprise sensor technology that creates a time stamp identifying the exact moment in time the gate rope is released.
Gate sensor 78 comprises a pully with an encoder 86. The pully 86 and the PCBA 79 create a time stamp of the exact moment the gate rope begins moving through the pully 86.
Gate sensor 89 comprises a gauged housing 95 that detects pressure or strain. The gauged housing 95 and the PCBA 92 create a time stamp of the exact movement the gauged housing 95 detects strain.
In other embodiments the gate sensor may utilize hall sensor technology to trigger the start of a timing event. A magnet hanging from a chain on the gate will attract itself to a metal plate on the sensor. The start of event releases a spring-loaded rope on a pulley, breaking the connection and starting the timer.
In other embodiments, the gate sensor will utilize an accelerometer to trigger the start of timing event. A G-threshold will be programmed in, and once exceeded during the spring-release will start the timer.
In at least one embodiment the gate sensor will utilize a strain gauge to measure tension on the pulley for the gate rope. When the tension is relaxed the timing event will start.
The operation of the system is described with reference to
In one embodiment, the components communicate wirelessly. Any two or more saddle sensors, once powered up and brought within range of a gate sensor, will begin to communicate and synchronize their timing interfaces with the gate sensor. The gate sensor is the master of the timing operations, and establishes a baseline for the wireless saddle sensors. A series of communication packets containing timestamps are rapidly sent back and forth between the saddle sensor(s) and gate sensor, allowing them to calibrate out any timing delay inherent to the wireless channel and/or hardware operation.
The applied for system and method provide for timing synchronization and total event calculation in an accurate and automated process. According to at least one embodiment, every saddle sensor will have a unique ID allowing a single gate sensor to handle timing for all participants in the sporting event. More specifically, the single gate sensor can recognize, and distinguish between, the unique IDs of the multiple saddle sensors.
Gate and Saddle sensor communicate over a robust Sub-Ghz RF channel with improved timing, accuracy and reliability. Timing synchronization is performed over this channel at the start of every event.
Gate and Saddle sensors communicate to a Base Station using the same Sub-Ghz channel to guarantee timing event delivery.
Optional 2.4 Ghz communication via Bluetooth or WiFi may take place between sensors and phone or computer devices. 2.4 Ghz has a shorter range is and less reliable, particularly at crowded events. So, this is not involved in critical processes of the system.
Still other embodiments take the form of multi-technology systems to begin the timing process that may be homogeneous or heterogeneous with respect to device type. For example, some embodiments may utilize a hall sensor and an accelerometer to improve the accuracy and filter out false triggers.
The gate sensor becomes “armed” when it detects the presence of a magnetic clip, or when the strain gauge indicates the rope is pulled taut, depending on the embodiment of gate sensor used. Other embodiments could be manually armed.
Saddle sensors become “armed” when the user attaches the magnetic strap clip or depresses and holds a button for five seconds. The device may blink rapidly to indicate it is ready, via a light included on the sensor.
An “armed” gate sensor will search for “armed” saddle sensors and begin wirelessly exchanging accurate timing information to synchronize their clocks to within +/−25 ms of accuracy.
An abrupt acceleration reading will log a timestamp on the gate sensor. If this is accompanied by a reduction in measured strain within 1 second, the timestamp is recorded in the Gate sensor. In other embodiments, the gate sensor may function differently, but the basic principle is the same. The gate sensor is connected to a gate rope, via a pulley, and movement of the gate rope will trigger the gate sensor to record a start time.
More specifically, in timed rodeo events, such as breakaway roping, the livestock is held in a closed chute. The competitor is on horseback, in an area next to the chute referred to as the box. A gate rope stretches across the box. A tether is connected at one end to the livestock, and on the other end to the gate rope. When the animal is released from the chute, the tether will pull on the gate rope, causing the gate rope to release. The competitor can now release from the box. If the competitor contacts the gate rope prior to the animal, via the tether, releasing the gate rope, then the competitor is assessed a time penalty. For example, in breakaway roping, if competitor contacts the gate rope prior to the animal releasing the gate rope via the tether, then the competitor is assessed a ten second penalty.
One novel improvement over existing technology represented by the present invention is the ability for the gate sensor to create a start time stamp based on either the animal, via the tether, releasing the gate rope, or the rider releasing the gate rope by prematurely leaving the box. The gate sensor disclosed herein are configured so that either action, the livestock or the rider, whichever occurs first, will trigger the sensor and create a time stamp. This is important because even if the rider is being assessed a ten second penalty, an accurate start time is needed so that the final score (time elapsed plus ten second penalty) can be determined. This is important for accurately placing the event, and for determining winners in head-to-head matchups.
When an “armed’ saddle sensor detects a sustained acceleration accompanied by the loss of magnetic hall-sensor information (or other sensors such as loss of electric connect), caused by the contestant's rope triggering the saddle sensor, the saddle sensor will log a timestamp and report it back to the gate sensor.
The gate sensor will compare both timestamps and calculate the elapsed time for the rodeo event. This timestamp and both sensor IDs will be transmitted back to a Base Station for computation.
Optionally, the Gate sensor will transmit this timing information to a phone, multiple phones, or other types of computing device for immediate display, and/or transmission to the cloud.
When an event concludes, the gate sensor will be “disarmed,” and the process can be repeated for the next rider in the event.
In at least one embodiment, attaching the saddle sensor magnet will prime it for operation, and force all other saddle sensors into a quiet mode to reduce wireless traffic until the conclusion of the event.
Some embodiments of the system may feature multiple or redundant methods of wireless communication, modulations, bandwidths, transmit powers and frequencies. Such redundancy offers flexibility in a noisy environment, for example when many cell phones are present in the stadium, or when distances between gate and rider extend beyond good signal range. In some embodiments this would include named communication protocols such as Bluetooth and WiFi. In others this would include proprietary communication protocols operation at 2.4 GHz, 900 Mhz and other frequencies and utilizing OFDM, OQPSK, GFSK and other modulation characteristics with variable transmit powers and bit rates.
In at least one embodiment the timing information will be wirelessly transmitted to a PC, phone or base station that is connected to the Cloud for additional processing, scoring and display.
Those skilled in the art understand that additional electronic, computer, and/or wireless equipment may be utilized in the set up and operation of the invention disclosed herein.
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/613,392, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63613392 | Dec 2023 | US |
