Abstract:
A score keeping apparatus configured to keep score on a racquet. The score keeping apparatus contains multiple embodiments wherein the score keeping apparatus is configured to keep score on a racquet, such as a tennis or racquetball racquet.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Keeping score during a personal game of tennis or racquetball is often challenging. Although some have tried to create an apparatus for keeping score, many go unused in sports such as tennis or racquetball because they are often inconvenient and/or cumbersome. Games requiring movement around a court do not lend well to a player keeping a score keeping apparatus in their pocket or near the court that has to be constantly updated. Today, many players still find themselves committing the score to memory only to forget the score several plays later. 
         [0002]    In order to overcome these limitations, a versatile, convenient and compact score keeping apparatus is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This specification discloses a score keeping apparatus comprised of several objects comprised of stiff material configured to rest and move about the strings of a racquet. Also disclosed are various modules that can be utilized with a score keeping apparatus. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a score keeping apparatus. 
           [0005]      FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C illustrate several scoring examples utilizing one embodiment of the score keeping apparatus. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C illustrate front, side and cross-sectional views of an object depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a score keeping apparatus. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C illustrate several scoring examples utilizing another embodiment of the score keeping apparatus. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of a score keeping apparatus. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C illustrate several scoring examples utilizing another embodiment of the score keeping apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    This disclosure can be understood in the context of the following examples. However, what follows is merely an example and is not intended to define the scope of this patent, which is defined by the claims. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a score keeping apparatus  100  comprised of a racquet with several objects attached to the strings of the racquet. Score keeping apparatus  100  contains objects  110  attached to the strings  120  of the racquet  130 .  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C illustrate the score keeping apparatus  100  displaying various scores.  FIG. 1  illustrates objects  110  attached to the strings  120  which are moveable about the length of the string to which said object is attached.  FIG. 2A  illustrates a tennis score of LOVE-15 on the score keeping apparatus  100  by positioning the first and seventh objects up their respective strings and positioning the remaining objects down on their respective strings.  FIG. 2B  illustrates a tennis score of 30-30 on the score keeping apparatus  100  by positioning the third and sixth objects up their respective strings and positioning the remaining objects down on their respective strings.  FIG. 2C  illustrates a tennis score of 40-LOVE on the score keeping apparatus  100  by positioning the fourth and eighth objects up their respective strings and positioning the remaining objects down on their respective strings. The numeric markings on the objects  110  in the figures are for illustration purposes only. Score keeping apparatus  100  is comprised of objects  110  made of stiff material, including, but not limited to plastic, rubber, and combinations or composites of each. Objects  110  each contain an opening  115  along its outer edge from the top to the bottom of object  110  which continues inward to the center of object  110 , as depicted in  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  FIG. 3C  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an opening  125  in object  110  containing alternating arches along each side of the planar surface. Another embodiment of score keeping apparatus  100  is to vary the number of objects  110  so that an individual can use the score keeping apparatus  100  to track number of games won and lost, a scoring system commonly used by younger aged tennis players. Another embodiment of score keeping apparatus  100  is to include additional objects  110  to track tie-break in a tennis game, possibly requiring multiple objects about the same string. 
         [0013]    The opening configuration shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  are merely illustrative of two embodiments. However, other embodiments may utilize openings of various size and may include various opening configurations within object  110 . For example, opening  125  may have one arch or several non-arch obtrusions along each side of the planar surface. 
         [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the score keeping apparatus. Score keeping apparatus  200  contains score  210  with scoring areas  235  and pointers  220  attached to the strings  120  of the racquet  130 .  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C illustrate the score keeping apparatus  200  displaying various scores.  FIG. 4  illustrates score  210  with scoring areas  235  and pointers  220  attached to the strings  120  which pointers  220  are moveable about the length of the string to which said object is attached.  FIG. 5A  illustrates a tennis score of LOVE-15 on the score keeping apparatus  200  by positioning one pointer to LOVE of the scoring area  235  of score  210  and positioning the remaining pointer to 15 of the scoring area  235  of score  210 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates a tennis score of 30-30 on the score keeping apparatus  200  by positioning one pointer to 30 of the scoring area  235  of score  210  and positioning the remaining pointer to 30 of the scoring area  235  of score  210 .  FIG. 5C  illustrates a tennis score of 40-LOVE on the score keeping apparatus  200  by positioning one pointer to 40 of the scoring area  235  of score  210  and positioning the remaining pointer to LOVE of the scoring area  235  of score  210 . The markings on the scoring area  235  of score  210  in the figures is only example of how scores can be marked on the scoring area  235  of score  210  and is not intended to be the only way scores can be indicated on the scoring area  235  of score  210 . Score keeping apparatus  200  is comprised of a score  210  containing scoring areas  235  and pointers  220  each made of stiff material, including, but not limited to plastic, rubber, and combinations or composites of each. Pointers  220  each contain an opening  215  along its outer edge from the top to the bottom of pointer  220  which continues inward to the center of pointer  220 , as depicted in  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 6B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an opening  215  in pointers  220  containing alternating arches along each side of the planar surface. Pointers  220  may also contain a symbol, such as an arrow, a dash, or other marking to indicate its position relative to score  210 . 
         [0015]    The configuration of score  210  shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 A,  5 B and  5 C are merely illustrative of one embodiment. However, other embodiments may utilize various sizes and may include various configurations. For example, score  210  may be one continuous body with markings to indicate each scoring area  235 . Another embodiment of score  210  are separate scoring areas resting next to each other all along the same string  120  of racquet  130 . Another embodiment of score  210  is to vary the number of scoring areas  235  so that an individual can use scoring areas  235  to track number of games won and lost, a scoring system commonly used by younger aged tennis players. 
         [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the score keeping apparatus by modifying the embodiment of  FIG. 5  to include all elements of the score keeping apparatus on one body.  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C illustrate the score keeping apparatus  300  displaying various scores.  FIG. 6  illustrates score  310  with pointers  320  attached to the score  310  moveable about the length of score  310 .  FIG. 7A  illustrates a tennis score of LOVE-15 on the score keeping apparatus  300  by positioning one pointer to LOVE of score  310  and positioning the remaining pointer to 15 of score  310 .  FIG. 7B  illustrates a tennis score of 30-30 on the score keeping apparatus  300  by positioning one pointer to 30 of score  310  and positioning the remaining pointer to 30 of score  310 .  FIG. 7B  illustrates a tennis score of 40-LOVE on the score keeping apparatus  300  by positioning one pointer to 40 of score  310  and positioning the remaining pointer to LOVE of score  310 . The markings on score  310  in the figures is only example of how scores can be marked on score  310  and is not intended to be the only way scores can be indicated on score  310 . 
         [0017]    Material for each embodiment of the score keeping apparatus is comprised mainly of a stiff material, including, but not limited to plastic, rubber, and combinations or composites of each. 
         [0018]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.