Scoring device

A scoring device is provided for sports events. The scoring device is comprised of a wrist band of flexible material and a securing means for securing the band snugly about wrists of different sizes. The scoring device is further comprised of a plurality of scoring characters arranged on the wrist band and at least one scoring marker. The marker has attached to at least one side an attachment means for detachably attaching the scoring marker to the wrist band in close proximity to a scoring character. When it is desired to record the score of the sports event the scoring marker is attached to the wrist band in close proximity to the appropriate scoring character.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a scoring device for sports events, and more 
particularly relates to a scoring device for use in the game of tennis. 
Scoring for the game of tennis is quite different from scoring in golf, 
baseball, bowling, football and other sporting events. In the typical 
sports event the scoring is usually additive. In the game of tennis, 
however, scoring is additive and subtractive and involves totalizing game 
scores which result from an accumulation of a given number of point 
scores. The sequence of point scoring consists of "love" (which is zero) 
"15", "30", "40", "ADD", in particular "ADD IN" (ball server's advantage) 
and ADD OUT (ball receiver's advantage), and "GAME". A "40--40" tie score 
is normally termed "DEUCE". Thus, the scoring of the game can be both 
additive or subtractive. The addition of two consecutive points past the 
40--40 score results in the winning of the game. 
The game score must also be scored. The first team to win six games is the 
winner of a set, but the team must win by two games to win the set. For 
example, if a set goes to a six-six tie in games, the set is played until 
two games more than the other side are won by one team. Additionally, it 
is not uncommon for a match to go to the winner of, for example, two out 
of three sets. 
Thus, as can be seen from the foregoing, keeping score in the game of 
tennis can be complicated, particularly for the novice tennis player. 
2. Prior Art 
While tennis scoring devices and wrist worn scoring devices are known, such 
devices generally use complicated mechanisms in which knobs or buttons are 
used to activate a series of gears which in turn operate indicators. Most 
of these mechanisms are relatively complicated to manufacture, are not 
particularly durable and, because of their complexity, may not be 
manufactured cheaply enough to be put into widespread use. 
Additionally, other type scoring devices used for other type sporting 
events are not suitable for the relatively complicated manner of scoring 
tennis. 
Several prior art scoring devices are exemplified by the following U.S. 
Pat. Nos.: 753,457; 3,635,190; 3,777,699; 3,847,110; 3,936,963; 3,986,715; 
and 4,069,954. 
Of these aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos., 3,777,699, 3,936,963 and 3,986,715 
relate to scoring devices used in the game of tennis. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The aforementioned and other disadvantages of the prior art scoring devices 
are overcome by the present invention of a scoring device for sports 
events, particularly tennis, which records both (a) the number of points 
scored by each team in a game of tennis and (b) the number of games scored 
by each team in a set of games. The scoring device comprises: 
A wrist band of flexible material; 
A securing means for securing the band snugly about wrists of different 
sizes; 
A plurality of scoring characters arranged on the wrist band; and 
At least one scoring marker, the marker having attached to at least one 
side an attachment means for detachably attaching the scoring marker to 
the wrist band in close proximity to a scoring character. 
When it is desired to record the score of the sports event the scoring 
marker is attached to the wrist band in close proximity to the appropriate 
scoring character. 
It can thus be seen that the scoring device of this invention is relatively 
simple to construct and is both inexpensive and reliable. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wrist worn 
device for recording both the number of points scored by each of two teams 
in a game of tennis and the number of games scored by each team in a set 
of games. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a scoring device which is 
capable of registering the game scores and point scores for the game of 
tennis. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a scoring device for the 
game of tennis that is small enough so that the device can be worn on the 
wrist of a player. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a scoring device for the 
game of tennis which not only is small in size, but is light in weight. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a scoring device for the 
game of tennis which is simple to operate and easy to read. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a scoring device for the 
game of tennis which is simple in structure, reliable and reasonable in 
cost to manufacture. 
Other features and objects of the invention will become apparent by 
reference to the following specification and to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings in detail, the scoring device (2) of this 
invention may be used for any sporting event scoring. It is particularly 
preferred that the scoring device (2) be used for point scoring and game 
scoring tennis. 
The device (2) is comprised of a wrist band (4) made of a material of 
sufficient flexibility to wrap around a wrist (6). The scoring device (2) 
is provided with a securing means (8) for securing the band (4) snugly 
about wrists (6) of different sizes. Preferably, the securing means (8) 
consists of cooperating areas (10 and 12) of hooked pile fabric (14) at 
opposite ends (16 and 18) of the band (4). 
It should be understood that in the present disclosure the term "hooked 
pile fabric" is used to describe, for example, both cooperating areas (10 
and 12), even though they are not made of identical material. For example, 
the "pile" of cooperating area (10) may consist of relatively rigid platic 
hooks which engage the fabric pile of cooperating area (12). This 
structure permits the user to lap the end (16) over the end (18) far 
enough to cause the wrist band (4) to fit snugly about the wrist (6). 
Suitable cooperating hook pile fabrics are commercially available under 
the trademark VELCRO. 
Although cooperating areas (10 and 12) of hooked pile fabric are preferred, 
one may use snaps, buttons, buckles, etc. as the securing means. 
A plurality of scoring characters (2) are arranged on the wrist band (4). 
Generally, the type scoring characters (20) on the wrist band (4) are 
determined by the sports event to be scored. Preferably, the scoring 
device (2) is used to score tennis. It is thus preferred that the scoring 
characters (20) are arranged and sequenced for point scoring tennis (FIG. 
1) and/or game scoring tennis (FIG. 2). Preferably, the scoring characters 
(20) are arranged for point scoring and/or game scoring for two teams. By 
the use of the term "team" it is meant to include both one and two players 
on a team. 
A preferred arrangement and sequence of scoring characters (20) for point 
scoring tennis for two teams is depicted in FIG. 1. 
A preferred arrangement and sequence of scoring characters (20) for game 
scoring tennis for two teams is depicted in FIG. 2. 
The scoring device (2) is further comprised of at least one scoring marker 
(22). The marker (22) has attached to at least one side (24) an attachment 
means (26) for detachably attaching the scoring marker (22) to the wrist 
band (4) in close proximity to the scoring character (20). By the use of 
the term "close proximity" it is meant to include placement of the marker 
(22) so that the appropriate score is indicated, which may include, for 
example, placement of the marker (22) offset from or directly upon the 
scoring character (20). 
Preferably, the scoring characters (20) for point scoring tennis for two 
teams (as depicted in FIG. 1) should have two scoring markers; whereas the 
scoring characters (20) for game scoring tennis for two teams (as depicted 
in FIG. 2) should have six scoring markers (22), i.e. two scoring markers 
(22) for each set of scoring characters (20) for game scoring a set of 
tennis. 
The attachment means (26) of the scoring marker (22) can be any commonly 
used attachment device, i.e. snaps, magnets, etc. It is particularly 
preferred, however, that the scoring characters (20) and attachment means 
(26) consist of cooperating areas (28 and 30) of hooked pile fabric, such 
as that sold under the trademark "VELCRO". This is depicted in 
cross-section in FIG. 4. 
A particularly preferred construction of the scoring device (2) is wherein 
the upper surface (32) of the wrist band (4), the lower surface (34) of 
the securing means (8) and the attachment means (26), all consist of 
cooperating hooked pile fabric. 
In use the wrist band (4) is secured about the wrist (6). If tennis is 
being scored, one team member may point score, i.e. use the scoring device 
(2) of FIG. 1 and a member from the other team may game score, i.e. use 
the scoring device (2) of FIG. 2. Optionally, both point scoring and game 
scoring may be done by one person, either using one scoring device to 
perform both functions (an embodiment of scoring characters not depicted), 
or two separate scoring devices. When it is desired to record the score, 
the scoring marker (22) is attached to the wrist band (4) in close 
proximity to the appropriate scoring character (20). Optionally, the wrist 
band (4) by its color may indicate the level of skill in playing of the 
player. The wrist band (4) may also be worn comfortably over a wrist sweat 
band. 
While several embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, 
it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed 
embodiments may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be 
considered exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of the 
invention is that defined in the following claims.