Patent Publication Number: US-6041934-A

Title: Portable scoring apparatus including carrying case

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a portable, light weight scoring apparatus useful in conjunction with a sporting event. More particularly, this invention relates to such an apparatus which can be hand carried and which includes a flexible housing that facilitates its use at a sporting event. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     At the present time, scoring of a sporting event is effected with a permanently positioned scoreboard or with a support such as a pole and stand or the like to support alphanumeric indicia. Such scoring systems have limited or no portability which essentially limits their use to a specific venue for sporting events. 
     It would be desirable to provide a scoring apparatus for sporting events which is portable, light weight and flexible to facilitate its transportation to a multiplicity of sporting venues for use in scoring a wide variety of sporting events. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a scoring apparatus including a carrying case formed of elements that are sufficiently flexible to permit it to be hung, fully opened on a rope support. Flexible scoring elements having one or more letters and/or numbers are secured to the interior of the carrying case such as by being sewn thereto. The scoring elements can be rotated to expose either surface of the scoring element. Since the carrying case is flexible, scoring elements can be positioned about 180 degrees from each other so that spectators positioned on opposing sides of a sporting venue can view the score on the scoring elements. 
     The carrying case having the scoring elements exposed can be hung from a thin support such as a rope of a net used in a sporting event, can be positioned on a flat surface or can be hung from a permanent substrate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the scoring apparatus of this invention when closed. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of an open scoring apparatus of this invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the scoring apparatus of this invention, when open and hung from a rope. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the scoring apparatus of this invention positioned on a horizontal surface. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the scoring apparatus of this invention when hung on a substrate. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the closed carrying case 10 of this invention is shown. The carrying case 10 is formed of a flexible material such as woven cloth formed of a natural fiber such as cotton or polymeric fibers such as polyamide, polyester or the like which permits each half section 12 and 14 of the carrying case to be pivoted at least about 180 degrees so as to permit fully opening the carrying case 10. The carrying case 10 is opened and closed by any conventional means such as a zipper 16, snaps (not shown) or the like. In addition, the carrying case 10 includes a connector arrangement comprising a connector 18 which can be secured to a strap 20. The connector 18 cooperates with a second connector (not shown) on half section 14 so that they can be joined together to form a support for the case 10. The connectors assist in maintaining the case 10 closed or maintaining it open in a manner described below. The case 10 also can be provided with a sleeve 13 through which a rigid bar, rope or the like can be threaded for the purpose of supporting the case 10 in a desired position. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the carrying case 10 is shown in an open flat position by releasing clasp 18 and opening zipper. The two half sections 12 and 14 are joined by connecting section 13. Two sets of indicia 22 and 24 such as numeric indicia are printed or the like on two sets of foldable substrates 26 and 28 which can be made of cloth, paper or the like with the number of different indicia and foldable substrates being appropriate to show scoring of a sporting event. Optional straps 30, 32, 33 and 35 can be included to retain the foldable substrates in a desired position such as when the sporting event is held in windy conditions. The straps are released when the score changes so that the substrates are positioned from a first half 12 of the carrying case 10 onto the second half 14 of the carrying case 10. The underside of the moved substrates 26 and 28 show the same score as the newly exposed substrates 26 and 28 so that both halves 12 and 14 of the carrying case 10 show the same score. Thus spectators positioned in different portions of a sporting arena can view the correct score of the sporting event. In an event such as tennis or volleyball where scores such as sets or games in addition to the game being played are also being scored, additional markers such as colored beads 36 or the like can be maintained in a position that is representative of their number. The case half 14 can optionally be provided with pockets 38, 40 and 42 to provide storage for paraphernalia such as rules or the like for use in connection with a sporting event. The clasp 18 is formed of a male member 44 and a female member 46 which can be attached or detached. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the case 10 can be hung on a rope or the like such as a tennis net or volleyball net rope. 
     Alternatively, the open case 10 can be positioned on a horizontal substrate 50 by joining the connector elements 44 and 46 between the case halves 12 and 14 in a tent-like position as shown in FIG. 4. 
     The case 10 also can be hung from a vertically positioned substrate such as a fence 52 as shown in FIG. 5. A rope or the like 54 is threaded through sleeve 13. The clamps 55 and 56 attached to the rope are attached to the vertical substrate 52.