Patent Publication Number: US-7218216-B1

Title: Referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS 
   None. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention is for a referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Self-contained timing devices which are worn by a sports official and which generate a tactile signal upon expiration of a predetermined time period in a sports event are known; however, all such known devices are independent of the official timepiece incorporated for determining the end of such time period and thus frequently lead to time discrepancies due to system inaccuracies. The present invention relates to a device for aiding a sports official, such as a referee, to determine with greatly increased certainty whether or not a particular action occurred before the time clock reached zero. For example, in basketball oftentimes a player is attempting to make a last second shot and the referee must determine if the shot was made prior to the time clock hitting zero. Aside from the difficulty of trying to watch both the athletes and the time clock at the same time, sometimes the crowd is so loud that the buzzer or horn cannot be heard. As a result, the referee may make an incorrect call. The invention solves the problem by providing a referee with a portable, battery operated, radio controlled and linked vibrator device which is synchronized with and linked to the official time clock and which imparts a tactual (vibratory) signal to the referee upon the time clock reaching zero. 
   Thus, even though the referee may fail to hear the buzzer or horn, he will know from the tactual signal when the time expired and, therefore, will be able to make the proper call. The device is similar to a paging device in size and operation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The general purpose of the present invention is a referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system. 
   According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system, the major components thereof consisting of a portable, battery operated, radio controlled and linked vibrator device, herein called the sensory receiver, and a controller which transmits time information to the sensory receiver. The sensory receiver can be worn at any suitable location on the body of the referee, an example being on the wrist. The controller includes a display and clock which interfaces with a scoreboard via a control circuit and also includes controlling circuitry and a transmitter for transmitting essential clock generated time information or, optionally, other information, to the sensory receiver. Upon the time clock reaching zero, the controller transmits a signal to the sensory receiver. The sensory receiver receives the transmitted information from the controller and activates a vibrator and/or optional auditory sensory alerting device(s) to alert the referee that the time period has ended. The sensory receiver can also include control switches and one or more LED displays which can display time or other such desired information, if desired. 
   One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system including a controller and a sensory receiver. 
   Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system wherein a wireless signal is synchronized with and sent from a controller to a sensory receiver to alert a referee that a time period has ended. 
   Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system by which the referee is alerted by tactual stimulation that a time period has ended. 
   Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system incorporates a sensory receiver which overcomes crowd and other noise or visual interference. 
   A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system wherein a vibratory, an auditory or both an vibratory and an auditory sensory alert may be used to sense the end of a time period. 
   Having thus briefly described embodiments, as well as significant aspects and features, of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein: 
     The single FIGURE illustrates a referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system, the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The single drawing FIGURE illustrates a plan view of the referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system  10 , the present invention, the major components of which include a sensory receiver  12  and a controller  14 . The controller  14  includes a clock  16 , which may be digital, having an alpha-numeric digital light emitting diode (LED) or other suitable time display  18 , which is inputted to a control circuit  20 . The control circuit  20  senses the time period ending and other time information with reference to the clock  16  and/or display  18  and incorporates a transmitter  22  to transmit a digital or other signal to the sensory receiver  12 . Optionally, the control circuit  20  can send timing information to an external scoreboard  24  if desired. A row of control switches  26  provides for simultaneous control of the clock  16  and time display  18  such as, but not limited to, starting, stopping and resetting of the clock  16  and time display  18 . An optional alpha-numeric digital light emitting diode (LED) or other suitable score display  28  and optional row of control switches  30  is provided to send scoring information to the scoreboard  24  or sensory receiver  12  via the control circuit  20  and transmitter  22  as required. 
   The sensory receiver  12  includes a radio receiver  32  for receiving signals from the transmitter  22  of the controller  14 . The sensory receiver  12  and the components contained therein are powered by one or more batteries  34 . Sensory stimulating devices include a vibrator  36  and an optionally included piezoelectric horn  38  which are activated upon receiving by the radio receiver  32  an appropriate signal from the controller  14 . Sensory stimulation can be provided in several ways. The vibrator  36  is the primary stimulatory provider which can be utilized as the sole source of stimulation. Optionally, the piezoelectric horn  38  can be used in concert with and to supplement the vibrator  36  or can be utilized by itself. A row of control switches  40  can be used to select the desired stimulatory devices. The control switches  40  can also be used to control other functions of the sensory receiver such as strength of the vibrator  36  or piezoelectric horn  38 . The settings of the control switches  40  can also be annunciated by characters or icons  42  found in the lower region of a display window  44  which can contain LED or other suitable alpha-numeric readouts. One or more rows  46  of time or scoring or other desirable information can be included in the upper region of the display window  44 . 
   Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof. 
   PARTS LIST 
   
       
         10  referee&#39;s wireless horn indicator system 
         12  sensory receiver 
         14  controller 
         16  clock 
         18  time display 
         20  control circuit 
         22  transmitter 
         24  scoreboard 
         26  switches 
         28  score display 
         30  control switches 
         32  radio receiver 
         34  battery 
         36  vibrator 
         38  piezoelectric horn 
         40  control switches 
         42  characters or icons 
         44  display window 
         46  rows