Abstract:
A portable tennis scoring device having a flexible strap removably attached to a casing. The casing preferably contains a circuit chip and a battery; and the circuit chip is activated one or more of four activation switches, which cause information to be displayed (“activates”) in one or more of four separate displays. Additionally, two additional activation switches are used to either turn the unit on, turn the unit off, and/or reset one or more of the displays.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims priority based upon applicant&#39;s provisional patent application No. 60/197,696; filed Apr. 18, 2000 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     A portable device for keeping score of a tennis game and set which can be worn upon a user&#39;s wrist. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,963 of Kinglsey Chan discloses a mechanical wrist-worn tennis scoring device which contains five rotatable disks which are mechanically rotated during a tennis match to record the score. With this device, a series of buttons must be pressed, and dials must be moved, to change the display on the face of the device. 
     The device of the Chan patent is rather cumbersome and time-consuming to use, especially with a fast-paced tennis game. When one is a participant in a tennis game, it often is not feasible to suspend play for inordinate amounts of time to change the display of such device. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a wrist-worn tennis scoring device which is more efficient, more accessible, and provides more functionality than the device of the Chan patent. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with this invention, there is provided a wrist-worn tennis scoring device comprised of an adjustable, flexible strap comprised of a hook and loop fastening surface, and a casing comprising electrical circuitry, four distinct displays, and six buttons for actuating and/or changing such displays. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The tennis scoring device of this invention will be described by reference to the specification and to the enclosed drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of one preferred tennis scoring device of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the tennis scoring device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of the display assembly of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 4A,  4 B, and  4 C each is a flow chart of the preferred display scoring logic used in the device of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 a top view of one preferred tennis scoring device  10 . Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that device  10  is comprised of a strap  12 , a flexible tongue  14  attached to strap  12 , means  16  for removably attaching tongue  14  to strap  12 , and electronic display device  18 . The electronic display device  18  is comprised of displays  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 , and buttons  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38 . 
     In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the strap  12  is preferably continuous, extending from point  40  to point  41  and being removably attached to the sides  44  and  46  of display device  18  by conventional means. In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the strap  12  is disposed between a pin (not shown) removably connected to side  44  and side  44 , and thence it is disposed between a pin (not shown) removably connected to side  46  and side  46 . As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, this attachment means is commonly used to attach a watch to a watch strap. 
     The strap  12  is preferably substantially impervious to moisture. In one embodiment, the strap  12  is made from nylon fabric which, preferably, has a high tensile strength. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, and in the preferred embodiment depicted therein, it will be seen that strap  12  has, attached to the top surface  43  of one surface of one portion of such strap  12 , a segment of “VELCRO” hook and loop fastening material. In the embodiment depicted, the hook material is disposed on top surface  43 , and a corresponding loop material  45  is disposed on the top surface  47  of tongue  14 . 
     As is known to those skilled in the art, “VELCRO” is a synthetic material sold in ribbon, sheet, or piece goods form, said material having complemental parts which adhere to each other when pressed together and adapted for use as a closure fastener. It contains separable fasteners, namely hook and loop type fasteners, and components thereof. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,194,629, 6,193,885, 6,193,196, 6,193,118, 6,193,034, and the like; the entire disclosure of each of these United States patents is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification. 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, and in the preferred embodiment depicted, a separate tongue  14  is integrally connected to strap  12 . In another embodiment, not shown, the tongue  14  is a part of strap  12 , is integrally connected thereto, and is made from the same material. 
     In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the tongue  14  comprises or consists essentially of elastomeric material, such as rubber or synthetic rubber. In the embodiment depicted, although tongue  14  is flexible, it preferably is more rigid than strap  12 . 
     The portion of strap  12  which is connected to side  46  of display  18  is preferably connected to a loop  48  through which end  50  of tongue  14  may be inserted and pulled in order to tighten the assembly  10  around a user&#39;s wrist. Once the assembly  10  is so secured, the loop material  45  may be put into contact with the hook material  43  to removably secure the assembly  10  upon a user&#39;s wrist. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the assembly  10 , illustrating the pins  52  and  54  and the means by which the strap  12  is connected to such pins. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the display  18  of FIG.  1 . The display depicted in FIG. 3 operates in the manner described below. 
     The display  18  is comprised of a circuit chip (now shown) which controls the displays described below. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, this circuit chip is designed to activate the functions described below when the activator buttons/switches are pressed by a user; and the casing also comprises a battery (not shown) adapted to power the circuit chip and the displays. 
     The case is comprised of a removable back cover which allows one, once it is removed, access to the battery compartment in order to replace the battery when it is spent. 
     The circuit chip used in the casing is preferably a fixed function chip whose functions are programmed into it to effectuate the steps described below. 
     There are six (6): Activator buttons. Activator buttons  28  and  30  advance/activate the score for each singles or doubles play. Activator buttons  32  and  34  advance/activate the games won for each singles or doubles play. Activator button  36  resets the score displays ( 20  and  22 ) to zero (0) to start a new game count or correct the recorded game score of the specific game. Activator button  38  resets the games displays ( 24  and  26 ) to zero (0) to start a new set count or correct the recorded set score for the specific set. 
     There are four (4) displays. Display  20  displays the “WE” players single or doubles individual game score. The  20  display shows consecutively the following: 0, 15, 30, 40, DU (Deuce), and AI (add-in). Display  22  displays the “THEY” players single or doubles individual game score. The  22  display shows consecutively the following: 0, 15, 30, 40, DU (Deuce), and AO (add-out). Display  24  displays the “WE” player sets score. The  24  display shows consecutively the following: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 9. Display  26  displays the “They” player sets score. The  26  display shows consecutively the following: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 9. 
     The game score is now described. The Score window(s) ( 20  and  22 ) for We or They display the following consecutive scores: 0, 15, 30, 40, DU (Deuce), and AI (add-in)- AO (add-out) Respectively. Each score is advanced by a single advance/click of the  28  score button or  30  score button respectively. If both  20  and  22  scores windows display as score of  40 , a single advance/click of either the  28  or  30  score button will advance the score to Deuce (DU) for both score windows ( 20  and  22 ). 
     If Deuce (DU) is registered in both  20  and  22  scores displays and  28  is advanced/clicked, the score in  20  and  22  will read Add-In (AI). 
     If Deuce (DU) in registered in both score displays and  30  score button is advanced/clicked the score in  20  and  22  will read Add-Out (AO). If Al is registered in both  20  and  22  score displays and the  28  score button is advanced/clicked the  20  and  22  score display will be reset to zero (0) and the  24  window will be incremented by a +1. 
     If AI is registered in both  20  and  22  score displays and the  30  score button is advanced/clicked the  20  and  22  score display will both be set to display DU (Deuce). 
     If AO is registered in both  20  and  22  score displays and the  30  score button is advanced/clicked the  20  and  22  score display will be reset to zero (0)  26  window will be incremented by a +1. 
     If AO is registered in both  20  and  22  score displays and the  28  score button is advanced/clicked the  20  and  22  score display will both be set to display DU (Deuce) To correct a score on either  20  or  22  score displays the score reset button ( 36 ) advance/click will reset both the  28  and  20  score displays to zero (0). Then advance  28  and  30  score button appropriately until the correct score is reflected in the respective  20  and  22  score window. 
     Referring again to FIG. 3, the set score features will be described below. 
     Display  24  displays the number of “WE” players single or doubles Sets won. Display  26  displays the number of “THEY” players single or doubles Sets won. The display information in the  24  and  4 B game window are: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7, 8 and 9 consecutively. Set scores are recorded and incremented by either an automatic link to the  20  and  22  Score reaching one beyond AI or AO respectively or by a single advance/click of the  32  or  34  game count activation button respectively. 
     The Set Reset button  38  is used to clear both Set score windows ( 24  and  26 ) and set them to zero (0). 
     To correct a Set count display in either  24  or  26  game tally counter windows, advance/click the game reset button ( 38 ) which will reset both Set counter windows ( 24  and  26 ) to zero (0) then advance Set count activation button  32  and  34  appropriately until the correct Set score is reflected in the respective game Set Score window. 
     The aforementioned logic is described in the flow diagrams presented in FIGS. 4A and 4B. 
     It is to be understood that the aforementioned description is illustrative only and that changes can be made in the apparatus, in the ingredients and their proportions, and in the sequence of combinations and process steps, as well as in other aspects of the invention discussed herein, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.