Abstract:
The present invention is a football counting device that utilizes a microcomputer so that a proper count can be given for backyard or sandlot football games as to when the defense can rush the passer. A push-button switch will start the sequence and the microcomputer (1) controls an audio sound that counts “1 Mississippi”, “2 Mississippi” and (2) gives a visual display as to when the quarterback can be rushed. The length of time delay and the voice utilized can be selected by the players. The sequence repeats for each new down.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a counting device and, more particularly, an audio counter to determine when the defense can rush the passer during a pick-up game of football. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    One of the favorite sports in the United States is football. Throughout the season, millions of Americans either go to football games are watch the football games on television. Millions of younger people, and some not so young, engage in pick-up games of football. These pick-up games of football may be played in vacant lots, open spaces or in the backyards of the participants. 
         [0005]    Normally in these pick-up games, the participants do not have pads and helmets or other protective gear to keep from getting hurt. As a result, these pick-up games are normally “touch” or “flag” football and do not involve tackling the runner with the ball. In probably its most common form, backyard football prohibits the quarterback from running with the ball. The game becomes entirely a passing game. In those cases, the number of players, which is usually less than the eleven per side as in a normal football game, are equally divided in number and/or skill level. In its most common form as played by millions of youth in America, the two teams line up and when the football is snapped, the defensive line has to wait for a predetermined amount of time before they can rush the quarterback. This gives the receivers a chance to run their routes before the quarterback has to throw the ball. A defensive line normally counts “1 Mississippi”, “2 Mississippi”, “3 Mississippi”, etc. Each “Mississippi” is normally one second. The typical period of time prior to rushing the quarterback is five seconds, but it could be expanded or reduced depending upon the desire of the players. 
         [0006]    In this type of backyard football, disputes frequently erupt as to whether the defensive line rushed the quarterback too soon. Not everyone counts at the same speed. Hence if a slow counter provides the count the pass rush will be longer than if a fast counter provides the count. This results in frequent disputes between the two teams as to whether the pass-rush was too early. 
         [0007]    There are many variations of this type of backyard football, including who is ineligible as a receiver or can the offense run the football. Typically, there is no “punting” of the football so the offense has four downs to either score or make a first down. First downs may even be eliminated depending upon the length of the field. 
         [0008]    Applicant remembers when he was growing up and he would play backyard or sandlot football. There were always arguments about the pass rush with the offense saying “you rushed too soon” and the defense vehemently denying the allegations. As applicant has gotten older and watched his children play the same football game decades later, the same arguments still persist. The present invention is designed to reduce or eliminate those arguments. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a football counting device. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a counting device to be used in pick-up or backyard football games to determine when the passer can be rushed by the defensive line. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a timing device that gives audible sounds to let the players know when the quarterback can be rushed in a game of backyard football. 
         [0012]    The timing device has a generally flat football-shaped device with a flexible football-shaped cover there over. Under the football-shaped cover is a control circuit that includes a microcomputer powered by batteries or other suitable power source. By pressing a push-button switch, a timer is started and audible counts are given until the defensive line is told it can rush the passer. A visual signal can also be given as well as the audible signal. 
         [0013]    The microcomputer may be preprogrammed with an audible voice or may have the option so the players can record their own audible voice. The timing sequence can then be set so that the players can rush after two seconds, three seconds, four seconds, five seconds, etc., as is determined by the participants in the football game. 
         [0014]    Because the football counting device has its own internal microcomputer, commands given to the microcomputer can be done with individual switches or by a timing sequence of the single push-button switch. All that is necessary is there be an ON/OFF switch in combination with the push-button switch to start the count. 
         [0015]    In the software program for the microcomputer, a player would select the desired pre-recorded voice sequence by pushing the push-button switch and holding it down until the numeric display identifies the desired voice selection. Next, the user selects the desired count while rapidly pushing the push-button switch until the numeric display indicates the desired value which can be anywhere from 1 to 7, representing 1 to 7 seconds. 
         [0016]    Then, the player places the football counting device at the line of scrimmage. By pressing down on the top of the football-shaped cover of the football counting device, the push-button switch is activated which begins the preselected count. Simultaneously, the seconds are indicated in the numeric display and a red light turns ON until the count has been completed. When the preselected count sequence has been completed, (1) the audio sound changes to “RUSH” and (2) the red light turns to green. 
         [0017]    After a pause for a few seconds, the football counting device resets and is ready for the next sequence. 
         [0018]    If the football counting device has an optional custom voice recorder, the user gives appropriate commands through the push-button switch to get to the custom voice recording. An audio sound of “Say 1 Mississippi” will be given. At that time, the individual says “1 Mississippi” into the microphone which is recorded in the microcomputer. This is repeated until the individual has counted up to “7 Mississippi”. The recording will be completed with the audio sound of “RUSH”. Thereafter, the sequence is ended. The recordings by the individual are then used in the microprocessor to the provide the count prior to rushing the passer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the football counting device with a flexible football-like cover being exploded from a base. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   e  are left-end front side, right-end, top and bottom views, respectively of the football counting device. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a pictorial block diagram of major internal components of the football counting device. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the controls for the football counting device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a logic flow diagram of software in a microcomputer of the football counting device. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is an optional software routine for the microcomputer in a football counting device to provide a custom voice recording. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in combination, the football counting device is generally referred to with reference numeral  10 . The football counting device  10  has a flexible cover  12  that interlocks over base  14  with a flexible outer rim  16 . The base  14  has an outer retaining ring  18  (see  FIG. 1 ) to receive the flexible outer rim  16  of the flexible cover  12  there over. The flexible cover  12  is made from a flexible, resilient material such as a polyurethane foam, also sometimes called foam rubber. The flexible cover  12  may be injection-molded with its external appearance and design resembling a football, complete with imitation football laces  20 , strips  21 , and other similar football imitating décor. 
         [0026]    In one side of the flexible cover  12  is mounted an alpha-numeric display  22  that is constructed from low power light-emitting diodes. In the bottom of the base  14  is ON/OFF switch  24  that will turn ON or OFF the power sent to the control circuit  26  mounted on base  14  as pictorially shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the control circuit  26  will be very broadly explained. A microcomputer is mounted inside of computer housing  28 . Connected to the microcomputer inside of housing  28  is the ON/OFF switch  24  and a power supply such as batteries  30 . Also connected to the microcomputer and computer housing  28  is the alpha-numeric display  22  and speakers  32  and  34 . Located above the computer housing  28  and connected to the microcomputer is a push-button switch  36 . 
         [0028]    Generally, when using the football counting device  10 , the ON/OFF switch  24  is turned to the ON position and the football counting device  10  is placed at the line of scrimmage adjacent to where the football is located prior to being snapped at the start of another play. By pressing the flexible cover  12 , the push-button switch  36  is depressed, which through the microcomputer in the computer housing  28  will start the alpha-numeric display  22  so that it begins to count. Simultaneously, the speakers  32  and  34  will give an audible indication of “1 Mississippi”, “2 Mississippi”, “3 Mississippi”, up through the desired count, possibly as high as “7 Mississippi”. As the count is occurring, the alpha-numeric display  22  counts up and the back-lit portion indicates red. Once the desired count has been reached, the alpha-numeric display  22  and the back-lit portion will change to green and the count will stop. Simultaneously, the speakers  32  and  34  will give the oral command of “RUSH”. At that time, the defense can rush the quarterback. After a short time, the football counting device and the microcomputer will reset for the next play. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the operation of the microcomputer  38  as it operates the control circuit  26  (see  FIG. 3 ) is explained in more detail. The ON/OFF switch  24  will turn ON or OFF the microcomputer  38  by connecting it to the batteries  30  (see  FIG. 3 ). Once the microcomputer  38  has been turned ON, push-button switch  36  may be pushed to start the sequence. Alpha-numeric display  22  will start the count with a red backlight  40 . Simultaneously, the audio processor  42  is sending the count of “1 Mississippi”, “2 Mississippi”, “3 Mississippi”, etc., to the speakers  32  and  34 . Once the count is reached, the alpha-numeric display  22  will hold that count, the red backlight  40  will go OFF and the green backlight  44  will come ON. Simultaneously, the microcomputer  38  will send a signal to the audio processor  42  to give the command “RUSH” to speakers  32  and  34 . 
         [0030]    The microcomputer  38 , as explained in connection with  FIG. 4 , has the capability of doing additional things for the football counting device  10 . Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  in combination,  FIG. 5  shows a program sequence for the microcomputer  38 . The push-button switch  36  may be pushed in a sequential order to allow the user to select a desired prerecorded voice sequence  46 . For example, the push-button switch  36  can be held down for a long time duration of several seconds and thereafter be momentarily pushed to move through a set of desired sequences. At one of the desired sequences, the user would select the desired prerecorded voice sequence as illustrated by block  46 . The user selecting the desired prerecorded voice sequence  46  is illustrated in both  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 4 . If desired, the momentary push-button switch  36  could be used to select the prerecorded voice versus going through the computer sequence as just described. 
         [0031]    Next, the user will select the 1 through 7 “Mississippi” ascending set points  48  in the same manner the prerecorded voice sequence was selected. In other words, the push-button switch  36  is held down for a long period of time. Thereafter, by a momentarily pushing the push-button switch  36 , the microcomputer  38  is stepped through until the desired “Mississippi” count is reached. Again, the selecting of the “Mississippi” set point can be by a manual switch as pictorially illustrated in connection with  FIG. 4  or by a computer sequence as illustration in connection with  FIG. 5 . 
         [0032]    After the prerecorded voice is selected and the count is set, the user places the football counting device  10  at the line of scrimmage as represented by block  50  in  FIG. 5 . Thereafter, the user begins the sequence by pushing push-button switch  36  indicated by block  52 . The microcomputer  58  is programmed to (1) begin the audio sequence of counting up  54 , (2) incrementally increase the alpha-numeric display  56  and (3) turn ON the red backlight  58 . While the beginning of the audio sequence of counting up is representing in the logic diagram of  FIG. 5  with the numeral  54 , it occurs through the audio processor  42  and speakers  32  and  34  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Likewise, the incrementally increasing of the alpha-numeric display is indicated by logic block  56  in  FIG. 5 , but occurs in the alpha-numeric display  22  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Similarly, the turning ON of the red backlight is represented in  FIG. 5  by logic block  58 . It occurs by turning ON the red backlight  40  of the alpha-numeric display  22  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0033]    As the microcomputer  38  counts up, it increments the counter until it reaches the user set point  60  as previously described in logic step  48 . When the counter has been incremented until it reaches the user set point  60 , a signal indicates that it has “reached end of sequence count up”  62 , which turns ON the green backlight  64  and announces “RUSH”  66 . Simultaneously, with turning ON of the green backlight  64 , the red backlight will be turned OFF. The announcing of RUSH  66  as shown in  FIG. 5  occurs through the audio processor  42  and speakers  32  and  34  in  FIG. 4 . At that time, the defense is rushing the quarterback as the quarterback attempts to throw the football. 
         [0034]    Thereafter, the microcomputer  38  is programmed to pause for a certain number of seconds  68  then resets for the next down  70 . The amount of pause that occurs in step  68  can be programmed in the microcomputer  38  in the same manner as the user selects prerecorded voice sequence  46  or user selects 1 through 7 “Mississippi”  48 . For example, the user will hold down the push-button switch  36  for a predetermined length of time and thereafter sequence through steps until getting to the function that sets the length of pause as explained in connection with step  68  and then either extend or shorten the length of the pause. 
         [0035]    Also, the microcomputer  38  can either have a prerecorded voice message of “1 Mississippi”, “2 Mississippi”, “3 Mississippi”, etc., and “RUSH” or as an option the user can record his or her voice. Again, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 4  in combination, the push-button switch  36  may be held down for a predetermined length of time and thereafter stepped through until the user gets custom voice record. Then the user presses custom voice record button  72 , which is represented in the function sequence in  FIG. 6 , but requires pushing record voice  74  and using microphone  76  as shown in  FIG. 4 . While the record voice  74  and the microphone  76  are not illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , they could also be included in the base  14 . Thereafter, in the program set in the microcomputer  38 , it will control the audio processor  42  and speakers  32  and  34  so that it speaks “say 1 Mississippi” as indicated in logic step  78 . Then, the user speaks the phrase “1 Mississippi”  80 . The sequence will repeat until it reaches “7 Mississippi”  82 . After it reaches “7 Mississippi”, an end  84  will be indicated. 
         [0036]    While not illustrated in a logic flow diagram, the same can be used for recording “RUSH” in the microcomputer  38 . 
         [0037]    It should be realized that the setting of the individual functions in the microcomputer  38  may be done with sequential steps and timing as is commonly done with a clock to set date, time, alarm, or other functions. On the other hand, the various functions could be set in by manual switches.