Abstract:
An electronic wearable scorekeeping device for use with a racquet/court-related sport. The device includes a body capable of being attached to a sport participant, such as by a wristband, strap or, suspending lanyard worn by the user. The body includes a display face and a maximum of five individually depressible buttons, these related to at least one of a selected game type, player score, play/display mode, advantage/UFE, and time mode.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/704,839 filed Aug. 2, 2005 for a “Wearable Electronic Scorekeeping Device”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention is a wrist-wearable scorekeeping device, such as worn by a participant in racquet court games such as tennis, racquetball, and table tennis, and which includes a total of five settable buttons for navigating through mode/menus, displays and score entry functions.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     The prior art is well documented with examples of tennis and other portable type scorekeeping devices for assisting a player in keeping a correct score during game play. A first example from the prior art is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,548, to Bowman, and which teaches a flexible strap removably attached to a casing, the casing in turn incorporating a circuit chip and a battery. The circuit chip is activated by one or more of four activation switches, these causing information (activities) to be displayed in one or more of four separate displays. Additionally, two additional activation switches are used to either turn the unit on/off and/or to reset one or more of the displays.  
         [0006]     Another example of a personal tennis score keeper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,122, to Pittner, and which teaches a strip of sheet material having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface bearing squares arranged in a linear array and forming three columns. A first column bears indicia indicating the number of games won by a player, another indicates the number of games won by an opposing player, and the remaining bearing indicia for indicating a score of each player during a game. A plurality of score markers are slidably secured to the strip in a juxtaposed slidable relation with respect to a column for marking a score.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,777,699, issued to Pfleger, teaches a scoring device for tennis which accumulates and indicates the scoring for the game which is divided into and known as point score and game score. Scoring in tennis requires both an additive mode of operation for accumulating point score as well as game score, and a subtractive mode for point scoring under certain tie score conditions. The scoring device therefore comprises an input member and a totalize register for sequentially adding the point score until sufficient points have been accumulated to win the game. In advancing the point score register into the game winning indication the game totalizing register automatically advances to the next indication. The point score register is capable of the additive and the subtractive movements by selective movement of the input member. U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,098, issued to Rubano, teaches a tennis score keeper incorporating a small sized device for keeping score of a tennis match and which can be conveniently carried around on either a player&#39;s wrist or mounted on a racket. The device includes a frame on which is imprinted a row of point scores and a row of game scores along which arrows for each player are slidable.  
         [0008]     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,296, issued to Gabriel, teaches a portable tennis scorekeeper device with a body attachable to an article of apparel or insertable within a pocket thereof worn by a tennis player and including a scoreboard applied to a side of the portable body. The scoreboard includes a middle region and a pair of opposite side regions. The middle region includes a first portion having a plurality of numbers and letters associated with points scored in a game of a tennis match. A pair of tracks extend along opposite sides of the first portion, second and third portions each being disposed on a side of one of the tracks opposite from the first portion and having a plurality of numbers associated with points scored in a tiebreaker of the tennis match. A pair of markers are each mounted to and for undergoing movement along one of the tracks and are alignable with the numbers and letters of the first, second and third portions.  
         [0009]     The side regions of the scorecard are each disposed on a side of one of the scorecard and third portions opposite from the tracks. Each side region includes a grid formed by a side axis, an end axis extending generally orthogonally to the side axis, a plurality of boxes arranged in rows and columns and aligned with one another adjacent to the side and end axes, a plurality of numbers associated with the games won in one or more sets of the tennis match being disposed numerically along the side axis and a plurality of numbers associated with sets of the match disposed numerically along the end axis. A plurality of markers are each mounted to and movable along the grid in generally orthogonal directions and positionable on one of the boxes of the grid and alignable with the numbers along each of the side and end axes of the grid.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention discloses an electronic wearable scorekeeping device which is an improvement over prior art designs in that it provides a five button arrangement for game play and display functions. The device is further adaptable to a number of different racquet type sports and, in one preferred tennis variant, includes features such as scorekeeping, identifying game and set tally, as well as unforced errors.  
         [0011]     A timekeeping mode is also employed and provides the ability to convert the wearable device between scorekeeping and watch functions. Additional features enable the present device to convert to scorekeeping in other related racquet sports, including badminton, racquetball, table tennis and the like.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an electronic scorekeeping device according to the present invention for use with tennis and in particular showing the arrangement of the five pushbutton arrangement for switching between play, time, display modes;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a succeeding illustration of the electronic scorekeeping device and showing the display mode indicated;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a tabular illustration of a series of variable names and associated purpose/functions for the scorekeeping device according to the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a first flow schematic illustration of an initial play mode associated with the scorekeeping device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a succeeding tally score flow illustration associated with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flow schematic of a next game protocol;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flow schematic of a next set game play protocol;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a flow schematic of a normal score tally according to the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a flow schematic of a protocol associated with a tiebreaker scoring situation;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a flow schematic of a display score mode according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a clear score schematic according to the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a further succeeding display mode schematic; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is a final schematic illustration of the electronic scorekeeping device according to the present invention and which provides a selectable mode for different racquet sports including racquetball, badminton, etc. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a wrist-wearable electronic scorekeeping device is illustrated at  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As indicated previously, the scorekeeping device is typically worn by a participant of a court-related sport, and the device  10  represents a first embodiment directed to the game of tennis, it being understood that the wearable electronic scorekeeping device is equally applicable to other racquet sports such as racquetball, badminton, table tennis and the like.  
         [0027]     In a preferred variant, the device  10  is worn upon a user&#39;s wrist (not shown). A strap or optional belt clip (also not shown) may also be provided for the wearability of the device, such as upon some secure location of the user, and such as again the belt or wrist.  
         [0028]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the tennis scorekeeping device  10  includes a durable body exhibiting an LCD display face  12  and upon which are noted a series of indicia indications (such as in LCD format display) for indicating game play features associated with the present design. It is also understood that other means of illuminating display, such as including LED, phosphorescent or the like may also incorporated into the design.  
         [0029]     A series of pushbuttons are illustrated (in one non-limiting variant as illustrated) at various locations around a side periphery of the body and include first player score toggle (or A button)  14  (exhibited along one side of the device), and corresponding to second player toggle (or B button)  16  exhibited along an opposite side. Each of these toggle buttons are considered “universal” buttons and will allow the wearer to scroll through scores in one direction only to simplify. Each of these buttons further include a slip-resistant surface and enable the participant/player to toggle (up or through) to display a current score.  
         [0030]     A third display mode pushbutton is illustrated at  18  (see along lower right-hand side of the body), along with a fourth button  20  (lower left-hand side) is provided for viewing previously scored games and/or sets and matches. In play mode, fourth button  20  is provided for inputting unforced errors and clearing individual scores. Finally, a time mode button, see at  22  along right-hand side is provided for providing associated timer functions to the present design, such contemplated to include alternating between watch (i.e. timekeeping) and scoring functions through the pressing of a single button.  
         [0031]     As will be subsequently described, the two main modes for scorekeeping are play mode and display mode. In play mode, a player can indicate which team (or individual player) has earned a point, and such as by depressing either button  14  or  16  once. Additionally, the user can increase entry of unforced errors (see again button  20 ) and can further clear an individual score (hold down button  20  for one second) or can clear all scores (hold button  20  for three or more seconds). Pressing button  18  will take the player to the display mode.  
         [0032]     In the display mode, see illustration  24  in  FIG. 2 , a user can navigate through current matches (whether or not completed), and to select fourth button to view individual games or sets. In this mode, first button  14  increments which game/set to display, whereas second button  16  decreases which game/set is being displayed. Third button  18  reverts to play mode (back to a previous game) and fifth button  22  to time mode, as previously described. In the illustration  24  of  FIG. 2 , the device is illustrated in display mode according to the game of tennis (see indication  26  for “T”), game 2 (at  28 ) set 2 (at  30 ) and with a score of 30-50 (at  32 ), thus indicating a win by the “B” team with no unforced errors (at  34  for designation “UFE”). In contrast, the play mode of  FIG. 1  is referenced, see on display face  12  at  36 , as indicated by tennis mode (again at  26 ), game 4 (at  28 ′), set 1 (at  30 ′), score (30-15), indicating a lead by team/player “A” and with one unforced error (at  34 ′).  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a tabular illustration is shown at  38  of a series of variable names and associated purpose/functions for the scorekeeping device according to the present invention. The purpose of  FIG. 3  is to illustrate, in tabular form, a sequential listing of variables utilized to maintain scores and flags of functions as will be described in more detail with reference to the following flowchart illustrations.  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates a first flow schematic illustration of an initial play mode  40  associated with the scorekeeping device of  FIG. 1 . According to the flow sequence illustrated, a user presses button  1  (see again at  14  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and which commences by the user pressing either button (at  42 ) or button  2  (at  44 ) to determine the awarding of a point, to player A at  46  or to player B at  48 .  
         [0035]     Progressing to step  50 , a tally score indication queries whether either party/team has successfully achieved a score of 100. If no, game play continues along step  52 . If yes, and in the instance of an A score of 100 (as in step  56 ), a further instruct is made to increase a number of A games (at  58 ). If no, a further step  60  instructs to increase B game. At step  62 , a next game is selected and succeeding step  64  queries if the match is completed. If so, match score  66  is indicated at  66  and the protocol returns to display mode at  68 .  
         [0036]     If the query to pressing button  2  (at  16 ) is no (referencing back to step  44 ) succeeding step  70  queries whether to depress button  3  (see again also  18  in  FIG. 1 ). If yes, display mode is illustrated at  72 . If no, a query whether to depress button  5  (at  22 ) is given at  74 . If yes, the display proceeds to time mode  76  and, if no, to querying whether to depress button  4  (at  20 ) at step  78 .  
         [0037]     If the answer to query  78  is yes, a further query asks whether to depress button  4  ( 20 ) for one section (at  80  and thereby to clear a given player/team score). If yes, a further query asks whether to hold button  4  for three plus seconds (at step  82 ). If no (at  84 ) all scores (A, B and UFE) are at 0 (at step  84 ) and, if yes, all scores are cleared at step  86 . If the answer to query  80  is no, step  88  instructs an increase of A error (again unforced error or UFE as referenced at  34  in  FIG. 1 ) to eventual score display  90 . Finally, and if the answer to query  78  is no (at  92 ), the protocol returns to initial play mode  40 .  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 5  is a succeeding tally score flow illustration associated with the present invention, and in particular its ability to adapt to multiple game type variants, is shown at  94  and includes a first query, at  96 , as to whether the game selection is tennis. If yes, at  98 , a tiebreaker query is made and, if yes, a tiebreaker score is indicated at  100 . If no, a normal tennis score is indicated at  102 . Irrespective of selection  100  or  102 , a display tennis score is referenced at  104  and the protocol ends at  106 . If the query to  96  is no, a further query is posited at  108  as to the selection of another type of game, e.g. racquetball, with a remaining tally protocol being repeated as to steps  98 - 106 .  
         [0039]     As is now shown in  FIG. 6 , is a flow schematic of a next game protocol indicated at  110  queries, at step  112 , whether tennis is the selected game and, if yes, at step  114  instructs to record game statistics. At step  116 , A player score is queried (e.g. as shown as 100) and, if yes, at step  118  the scores are zeroed out. At succeeding step  120 , a number of A games (e.g.  7 ) is queried and, if yes, an increase of A sets is indicated at  122 ., succeeding which is the device issuing an audible sound (e.g. beep and which is understood to be incorporated into its hardware design) succeeding which a next set indication is shown at  126  and end step  128 .  
         [0040]     If the answer to query  120  is no, query  130  posits whether a given A and B game situation (e.g. Agame=6 AND Bgame&lt;=4) exists. If yes, the protocol proceeds to step  122  previously described and, if no, a further query is posited whether both A and B games equal a given number (at  132  and shown as 6 games apiece). If yes, a tiebreaker indication is shown at  134  and, following a beep-beep audible alarm (see further at  136 ), the protocol proceeds to end step  138 .  
         [0041]     If the query to  116  is no, step  140  instructs both A and B scores to zero out, following which, at step  142 , a query is made as to whether B team/player is referenced to have played a certain number of games (e.g. such as 7 and corresponding to Agame=7 query in step  120 ). If yes, a number of team B sets (Bset) is increased at  144 . If no, query  146  reciprocates that shown at  130  and queries whether Bgame=6 AND Agame&lt;=4). If yes, Bset is increased again at  144  and, if no, the protocol proceeds to step  132  previously described.  
         [0042]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flow schematic of a next set game play protocol, at  148 , and proceeds to a record set stats instruct at  150 . Succeeding steps include an instruct to zero out both A and B games to zero (at  152 ) and to subsequently query, at step  154 , if both an Aset or a Bset equals a specified number (e.g. 2). If yes, match completed indication is given at  156  and, if no (at  158 ), query  154  proceeds directly to beep indication  160  and end protocol step  162 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 8  is a flow schematic of a normal score  164  tally according to the present invention, such as again for tennis play, and queries at  166  if a point is to be awarded to player A. If yes, at  168 , an Ascore=0 is queried. If yes, an Ascore may be increased, such as to equal 15 (at  170 ). If no to  168 , a further query asks if Ascore is already at 15 (at  172 ). If yes, Ascore is queried at 30 (at  174 ) and, if no, Ascore is queried whether at 30 (at  176 ). If yes, at  178 , Ascore is advanced to 40 and, if no, a combined A and B score of 40 apiece is queried, at  180 , whether as being 40 apiece. If yes, Ascore is advanced to 50 (at  182 ) and, if no, queried further at  184  whether an Ascore=40 and a Bscore=50. If yes to  184 , Bscore is advanced to 40 and, if no, Ascore to 100 (at  188 ).  
         [0044]     The protocol of steps  168 - 188  is repeated in reciprocal as shown in  FIG. 8  for query  190  as to whether Bscore=0 (this reciprocating previously described query  168 ). Succeeding query steps  192 - 210  are referenced in downwardly progressing fashion along the left side column of the flowchart of  FIG. 8  and correspond with each of previously described steps  170 - 188 . The protocol of  FIG. 8  concludes with end step  212 , progressing from either described step  188  or  210 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 9  is a flow schematic of a protocol associated with a tiebreaker scoring situation  214  and queries, at  216 , whether to increase Ascore (at  218 ). If no, at step  220 , a query is made whether to advance an Ascore, such as to &gt;=7 AND Ascore-Bscore&gt;=2). If yes, at  222 , Ascore is advanced to 100.  
         [0046]     Steps  224 ,  226  and  228  correspond reciprocally to steps  218 ,  220  and  222 , as to increasing Bscore, and if yes to either query  220  or  226 , either the A or B score is advanced to 100 and end step  230  referenced. If no to either  220  or  226 , the protocol proceeds directly to end step  230 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 10  is a display score flow schematic  232  and queries, at  234 , whether A and B score both equal 40. If yes, at step  236 , “deuce” indication is made and, if no, a query is made at  238  whether Ascore=40 and Bscore=50. If yes “Adou” indication is made at  240  and, if no, further query  242  asks is Ascore=50 and Bscore=40. If yes, at  244  “Adin” is indicated and, if no, Ascore=100 is further queried at  246 . If yes, at  248 , “Awin” (A team wins) is indicated at  248  and, if no, Bscore=100 is queried at  250 . If yes, Bwin (B team wins) is indicated at  252 .  
         [0048]     If no to query  250  (or if yes to any preceding indications  236 ,  240 ,  244 ,  248  and  252 ), further Ascore:Bscore (e.g. the present team scores where either team has some point total under 100, or any other preset total point amount constituting a win) is referenced at  254 . Following that, an unforced errors (UFE) indication is given at  256  and proceeds to end protocol step  258 .  
         [0049]      FIG. 11  is a clear score schematic according to the present invention and references, at  260 , an all scores cleared indication. At  262 , a further query is made if the protocol application is for tennis and, if yes, a succeeding series of indications are provided, at  264 , as to A/B score, game, set, error and match start particulars. At  266 , a clear game stat array command is given and, at  268  the protocol ends. If the query to  262  is no, a further query ( 270 ) requests if the application is for another type of game, e.g. racquetball, and then proceeds to repeat the protocol steps associated with that game and as previously described at  262 - 268 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 12  is a further succeeding display mode schematic at  272  (see also again  FIG. 2 ) and progresses to mode=display commend  274  and, subsequently, to game=declared query  276 . If no, game=1 set=1 indication is made at  278  and, if yes, query  280  posits whether button  3  (at  18 ) is depressed. If yes, select mode is referenced at  282  and, if no, query  284  asks as to whether button  1  is depressed. If yes, which=game indication is made at  286  and proceeds, if yes, to increasing a game or maximum game number at  288 . If the query to  286  is no, query  287  asks the set number being played (Which=set) and if yes, command  289  increments a set maximum whereas, and if no, protocol command advances to query  290  (also achieved by answering no to query  284 ) which posits whether button  2  is to be depressed. If yes, which=game query is referenced at  292  and, if yes, view=set indication is provided at  294 . If no to query  292 , which=set query is posited at  298  and, if yes, view=match indication is made at  296  and, if no, view=game indication at  300 .  
         [0051]     Either of steps  296  and  300 , as well as a negative answer to query  290 , progress to a query at to pressing button  4 , at  302 . If yes, which=game query is made at  304  and, if yes again, which=set indication is made at  306 . If no to  304 , which=set query is posited at  308  and, if yes to that, which=match indication is made at  310  and, if no to  308 , which=game indication at  312 . If no to query  302 , further query  314  asks if button  5  is to be depressed. If yes, “to: time mode” indication is provided at  316  and, if no, view=game query is asked at  318 . If yes, “game# information” is provided at  320 . If no to  318 , view=set query is provided at  322 . Finally, a yes answer to query  322  progresses to a “set# info” indication at  324  or, if no to  322 , to a “match info” indication  326 , from any of  320 ,  324 , or  326  commands, the display mode  272  repeats.  
         [0052]      FIG. 13  is a final schematic illustration of the electronic scorekeeping device, at  328 , according to the present invention and which provides a selectable mode for different racquet sports including racquetball, badminton, and the like. In particular, mode=select indication is made at  330  and progresses to select command  332 . A further query, at  334 , asks whether type=declared and, if no, can reference type=tennis at  336  or, alternatively and if yes to  334 , query  338  asks if button  3  is to be pressed. If yes, the protocol proceeds to play mode  340  and, if no, query  342  asks (posits) if button  4  is to be pressed. If yes again, a type of game play selection is made and may include selected tennis ( 344 ), racquetball  346  or badminton  348 .  
         [0053]     If yes to any of  344 ,  346 , or  348 , a further selected one of “type=racquet” ( 350 ), “type=badmit” ( 352 ) or “type=tennis” ( 354 ) commands is given. If no to all, “type=tennis” ( 356 ) is selected as the default and proceeds to query  358  as to whether button  2  is to be pressed. If yes to that query, display  360  indicates a potential selection of a given level of game play, e.g., recreational, competition, tournament, etc., and, if no to  358 , further query  362  asks if button  5  is to be pressed. If yes to  362 , “time mode” indication is made at  364  and, if no, at  366  the protocol returns to display mode  328 .  
         [0054]     The electronic scorekeeping device, according to any preferred variant, includes a power supply in the form of a watch battery and which is similar to that used with other conventional types of electronics, cameras, watches, etc. In a preferred application, the device  10  is universally applicable to all court-related sports and, potentially, other recreational sports. Additional features include built-in illumination, in the event of operating the watch in semi-darkness or other limited light conditions (see again lighted display face  12  and  32  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively), a scratch-resistant display surface (e.g. sapphire crystal), audible signaling (e.g. a beep or chime sound to indicate match/set), as well as colorful designs and stylish arrangements to enhance the attractiveness of the device.  
         [0055]     It is also envisioned that a single electronic wearable device can be programmed to operate according to all of the game play variants. Such a device can also be adapted to include other participant related games, beyond those described, and by which it is desirable to incorporate an electronic type device with processor capabilities for inputting scoring and other relevant parameters associated with game play (volleyball, handball, wallyball, etc.).  
         [0056]     The previously described scoring protocol illustrations are relevant to the various embodiments of the present invention and which establish the manner in which the electronic device is manipulated according to a given game play variant. The protocol information is submitted as being exemplary only of one manner in which the electronic scorekeeping device is utilized and is not interpreted as limiting as to the manner in which the device may be configured or operated. It is also envisioned that the wearable scorekeeping device can be adapted to operate with other, non-racquet related sports including such as volleyball, or any other player/team participant sport related game or event.  
         [0057]     Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.