Patent Publication Number: US-6210296-B1

Title: Portable tennis scorekeeper device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to devices for keeping a score and, more particularly, is concerned with a portable tennis scorekeeper device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A score is kept in most sports and games. A large display and a referee are often employed to keep score in an organized tennis match. Large displays and referees, however, are generally not available for informal tennis matches. Players of an informal tennis match often must keep track of the score themselves. Though seemingly a simple task, keeping score can be a distraction for the players. Disagreements regarding the score may arise between the players when the memory of one or more of the players is relied upon to keep the score. A variety of devices have been developed over the years for making the process of scorekeeping less of a burden on the players of an informal tennis match and other sports and games. 
     Representative examples of prior art scorekeeping devices for various sports and games are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,143 to Van Auken et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,098 to Rubano, U.S. Pat. No. 4,357,895 to Nightingale, U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,668 to Bowen, U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,215 to Petersson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,504 to Zarley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,449 to Droz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,452 to Haddock et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,381 to Hendricks and U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,122 to Pittner. While these prior art scorekeeping devices appear to be satisfactory in use for the specific purposes for which they were designed, none of them seem to provide tennis players with an ideal solution for keeping score during informal matches. 
     Consequently, a need still exists for a scorekeeping device which provides players of informal tennis matches with a more effective means for keeping score without introducing any new problems in place of the problem of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a portable tennis scorekeeper device designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The portable tennis scorekeeper device of the present invention allows players of an informal tennis match to keep score on a scoreboard which is applied on an article of apparel worn by a player or placed within a pocket of an article of apparel worn by a player. In one embodiment, the portable tennis scorekeeper device enables players to keep track of the points won by each player in singles play or by each team in doubles play. In another embodiment, the portable tennis scorekeeper in addition enables players to keep track of the games and sets won by each player in singles play or by each team in doubles play. The portable tennis scorekeeper device is securable to a belt, a waistband or any other suitable article of clothing worn by a player. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a portable tennis scorekeeper device which comprises: (a) a portable body supportable on a tennis player and having a side; and (b) a scoreboard applied to the side of the portable body and including (i) a first portion having a plurality of numbers and letters associated with points scored in a game of a tennis match, (ii) a pair of tracks disposed on opposite sides of and in substantially parallel relation to the first portion, (iii) second and third portions each disposed on a side of one of the tracks opposite from the first portion and disposed in substantially parallel relation to the one track and having a plurality of numbers associated with points scored in a tiebreaker of the tennis match, and (iv) a pair of markers each capable of mounting to and being moved along one of a respective one of the tracks and being alignable with the numbers and letters of the first portion and the numbers of a corresponding one of the second and third portions such that the markers indicate the points scored in a game and in a tiebreaker of the tennis match by players in a singles tennis match or by teams in a doubles tennis match. 
     More particularly, each of the first, second and third portions and the tracks of the scoreboard are disposed in a substantially diagonal orientation across the side of the portable body. Each track of the scoreboard is comprised of a first fastening means. Each marker of the scoreboard has a bottom surface comprised of a second fastening means complementary to and removably mateable with the first fastening means of a respective one of the tracks of the scoreboard such that each of the markers may be detachably fastened to the respective one of the tracks in alignment with and be movable along and between the numbers and letters of the first portion and the corresponding one of the second and third portions of the scoreboard. The portable body can be a band disposable around a wrist of a tennis player and comprised of a substantially stretchable and resilient material. 
     The present invention is also directed to a portable tennis scorekeeper device which comprises: (a) a portable body supportable on a tennis player and having a side; and (b) a scoreboard applied to the side of the portable body and having a middle region and a pair of opposite side regions disposed on opposite sides of the middle region; (c) the middle region of the scoreboard including means for indicating the points scored in a game and in a tiebreaker of the tennis match by players in a singles tennis match or by teams in a doubles tennis match; (d) each of the side regions of the scoreboard including (i) a grid having a side axis, an end axis extending in a generally orthogonal relationship 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 games won in one or more sets of the tennis match disposed numerically along one of the side and end axes and a plurality of numbers associated with sets of the tennis match disposed numerically along the other of the side and end axes, and (ii) a plurality of markers each capable of mounting to and being moved along the grid and in generally orthogonal directions and positionable on one of the boxes of the grid for alignment with the numbers along the one of the side and end axes of the grid for indicating the games won in a set of the tennis match by players in a singles tennis match or by teams in a doubles tennis match and for alignment with the numbers along the other of said side and end axes of the grid for indicating the set of the tennis match. 
    
    
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
     FIG.  1 . is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of a portable tennis scorekeeper device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a substantially transverse sectional view of the portable tennis scorekeeper device taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the portable tennis scorekeeper device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a first embodiment of a portable tennis scorekeeper device, generally designated  10 , of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the portable tennis scorekeeper device  10  basically includes a portable body  12  and a scoreboard  14  applied to the portable body  12 . The portable body  12  can take various forms, all of which are supportable on a tennis player. Some examples are a wrist band, an article of apparel like a T-shirt, a patch attached to an article of apparel and plate having a loop for attachment to an article of apparel. The scorekeeper device  10  also can include means  16 , such as a strap, for securing the portable body  12  to the article of apparel, such as a belt or belt loop (not shown), worn by the tennis player. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, as an example, the portable body  12  is comprised of a substantially rigid material, such as plastic. The portable body  12  can have a substantially rectangular configuration with rounded corners, although other shapes are possible. As an example, the portable body  12  has a length which is greater than a width thereof which, in turn, is greater than a thickness thereof. Each of the width and the thickness of the portable body  12  is substantially uniform along the length thereof. The portable body  12  has opposite front and rear sides  12 A,  12 B and a continuous peripheral edge  12 C. The edge  12 C interconnects the front and rear sides  12 A,  12 B. The front side  12 A of the portable body  12  has the scoreboard  14  applied thereto. The opposite rear side  12 B of the portable body  12  is disposed against the article of apparel worn by the tennis player when the portable body  12  is secured thereto. The portable body  12  also may have a recess  18  in the front side  12 A. The recess  18  has a substantially rectangular configuration with rounded corners similar to the configuration of the portable body  12 . The recess  18  may be disposed centrally on the front side  12 A. As an example, the recess  18  has a length which is greater than a width thereof which, in turn, is greater than a depth thereof. The width and the depth of the recess  18  is substantially uniform along the length thereof. The length and width of the recess  18  are less than the corresponding length and width of the portable body  12 . The depth of the recess  18  is less than the thickness of the portable body  12 . The portable body  12  has a relatively small size which allows it, as an example, to be held by a hand of the tennis player and retained within the pocket of the article of apparel worn by the tennis player. 
     The scoreboard  14  has a substantially rectangular configuration with rounded corners which is similar to the configuration of each of the portable body  12  and the recess  18  of the body  12 . As an example, the scoreboard  14  has a length which is greater than a width thereof which, in turn, is greater than a thickness thereof. Each of the width and the thickness of the scoreboard  14  is substantially uniform along the length thereof. The length, the width and the thickness of the scoreboard  14  are slightly less than the corresponding length, the width and the depth of the recess  18  of the body  12  such that the scoreboard  14  may fit snugly within the recess  18  of the portable body  12  and lie substantially flush with portions of the front side  12 A of the portable body  12  which surround the recess  18  of the body  12 . The scoreboard  14  has opposite front and back sides  14 A,  14 B and a continuous peripheral edge  14 C. The peripheral edge  14 C interconnects the front and back sides  14 A,  14 B. The front side  14 A of the scoreboard  14  lies substantially flush with the portions of the front side  12 A of the portable body  12  which surround the recess  18  thereof. The back side  14 B and the peripheral edge  14 C of the scoreboard  14  lie within the recess  18  of the portable body  12 . 
     The scoreboard  14  has a middle region  20  and a pair of opposite side regions  22 , though the elements of the middle region  20  (described below) may alone comprise the scoreboard  14 . The side regions  22  are disposed on opposite sides of the middle region  20 . As an example, each of the middle region  20  and the side regions  22  is comprised of a substantially rigid material, such as plastic, which is substantially the same as the material comprising the portable body  12 . The middle region  20  has a substantially rectangular configuration. Each side region  22  has a substantially rectangular configuration with corners thereof spaced from the middle region being rounded. The side regions  22  are identical to one another. The middle region  20  preferably has an area which is greater than an area of one of the side regions  22 , but the side regions  22  combined have an area greater than the area of the middle region  20 . 
     The middle region  20  of the scoreboard  14  includes a first portion  24 , a pair of tracks  26 , second and third portions  28 ,  30  and a pair of markers  32 . Each of the first, second and third portions  24 ,  28 ,  30  and the tracks  26  are disposed in a substantially diagonal orientation on the front side  14 A of the scoreboard  14  and across the front side  12 A of the body  12 . The first portion  24  has opposite ends  24 A and defines, as an example, a length extending between the ends  24 A thereof which is greater than a width thereof. The width of the first portion  24  is substantially uniform along the length thereof but for the ends  24 A of the first portion  24  being substantially pointed. The first portion  24  has a plurality of numbers and letters associated with points scored in a game of a tennis match. The numbers and letters of the first portion  24  are “Lv, 15, 30, 40 and A,” which represent the points scored in a game. The first portion  24  also has a pair of borders  24 B. Each border  24 B extends substantially the length of the first portion  24  and is spaced from the other border  24 B a distance substantially the same as the width of the first portion  24 . The numbers and letters of the first portion  24  are disposed between and spaced from each of the borders  24 B. The border  24 B which is disposed below the numbers and letters of the first portion  24  has hash marks  24 C extending in substantially perpendicular relation to and from the border  24 B directly beneath and toward but spaced from the numbers and letters of the first portion  24 . The first portion  24  also has dots  24 D disposed between and spaced from the numbers and letters of the first line  24 . 
     The tracks  26  of the middle region  20  are disposed on opposite sides of and in substantially parallel relation to the first portion  24 . The tracks  26  are identical to one another. Each track  26  has opposite ends  26 A and defines a length extending between the ends  26 A thereof which is greater than a width thereof but less than the length of the first portion  24 . The width of each track  26  is substantially the same as the width of the first portion  24  and is substantially uniform along the length thereof but for the ends  26 A of each track  26  being angled. Each track  26  has a pair of borders  26 B. Each border  26 B extends substantially the length of the track  26  and is spaced from the other border  26 B a distance substantially the same as the width of the track  26 . The border  26 B which is disposed adjacent to the first portion  24  is spaced from the border  24 B of the first portion  24  adjacent thereto a distance less than the width of either of the first portion  24  or the track  26 . Each track  26  is comprised of a first fastening means  34 . As an example, the first fastening means  34  is one of a pair of hook or loop fastening elements which are complementary to and mateable with one another, though it need not be so limited. 
     Each of the second and third portion  28 ,  30  of the middle region  20  is disposed on a side of one of the tracks  26  opposite from the first portion  24  and disposed in substantially parallel relation to the one track  26 . The second and third portions  28 ,  30  are identical to one another. Each of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  has opposite ends  28 A,  30 A and defines, as an example, a length extending between the ends  28 A,  30 A thereof which is greater than a width thereof but less than the length of each track  26 . The width of each of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  is less than the width of each track  26  and is substantially uniform along the length thereof but for the ends  28 A,  30 A of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  being angled. Each of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  has a plurality of numbers associated with points scored in a tiebreaker of the tennis match. The numbers of each of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  are “0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7,” which represent the points scored in a tiebreaker. The numbers of each of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  are smaller in size than the numbers and letters of the first portion  24 . Each of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  also has a pair of borders  28 B,  30 B. Each border  28 B,  30 B extends substantially the length of one of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  and is spaced from the other border  28 B,  30 B a distance substantially the same as the width of the second or third portion  28 ,  30 . The borders  28 B,  30 B which are disposed adjacent to the tracks  26  are spaced from the borders  26 B of the tracks  26  adjacent thereto a distance less than the width of either of the second and third portions  28 ,  30 . The numbers of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  are disposed between and spaced from the borders  28 B,  30 B. Each of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  also has dots  28 C,  30 C disposed between and spaced from the numbers of the second and third portions  28 ,  30 . The numbers and letters, borders  24 B, hash marks  24 C and dots  24 D of the first portion  24 , the borders  26 B of the tracks  26  and the numbers, borders  28 B,  30 B and dots  28 C,  30 C of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  are applied on the front side  14 A of the scoreboard  14  by any suitable means, such as by being stamped, inscribed, printed, painted or embroidered. 
     Each marker  32  of the middle region  20  is mounted to and for undergoing movement along one of the tracks  26 . Each marker  32  has a substantially rectangular configuration, though it need not be so limited. The markers  32  are identical to one another. As an example, each marker  32  has a length which is greater than a width thereof which, in turn, is greater than a thickness thereof. The length of each marker  32  is substantially the same as the width of each track  26 . One marker  32  is alignable with the numbers and letters of the first portion  24  and the numbers of the second portion  28 . The other marker  32  is alignable with the numbers and letters of the first portion  24  and the numbers of the third portion  30 . The markers  32  are for indicating the points scored in a game and in a tiebreaker of the tennis match by players in a singles tennis match or by teams in a doubles tennis match. Each marker  32  has a bottom surface  32 A comprised of a second fastening means  36  complementary to and removably mateable with the first fastening means  34  of one of the tracks  26  such that one marker  32  may be fastened to one track  26  in alignment with and be movable along and between the numbers and letters of the first portion  24  and the numbers of the second portion  28  and such that the other marker  32  may be fastened to the other track  26  in alignment with and be movable along and between the numbers and letters of the first portion  24  and the numbers of the third portion  30 . As an example, the second fastening means  36  is the other of the hook and loop fastening elements which are complementary to and mateable with one another, though it need not be so limited. 
     The middle region  20  also includes a pair of spaces  38 . Each space  38  is disposed on a side of one of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  opposite from one of the tracks  26 . Each space  38  has a substantially triangular configuration. The spaces  38  are identical to one another. Each space  38  has an area which is less than a combined area of the first, second and third portions  24 ,  28 ,  30  and the tracks  26 . 
     Each side region  22  of the scoreboard  14  includes a grid  40  and a plurality of markers  42 . The grid  40  comprises most of the side portion  22 . The grid  40  has a side axis  44 , an end axis  46  extending in a generally orthogonal relationship to the side axis  44 , a plurality of boxes  48  extending in rows and columns generally orthogonally aligned with one another adjacent to the side and end axes  44 ,  46 , a plurality of boxes  50  along the side axis  44  and a pair of boxes  52  along the end axis  46 . Each of the boxes  48 ,  50  and  52  is delineated and has a substantially rectangular configuration. The boxes  48 ,  50  are substantially identical to one another. Each of the boxes  48 ,  50 , as an example, has a length and a width which are substantially the same. The boxes  52  are substantially identical and provided as inner and outer boxes  52 A,  52 B adjacent to one another. 
     The grid  40  of each side region  22  has a plurality of numbers associated with games won in one or more sets of the tennis match disposed numerically along the side axis  44 . Each number along the side axis  44  is disposed within a box  50 . The numbers along the side axis  44  are “0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7,” which represent the games won in one or more sets. The grid  40  of each side region  22  also has a plurality of numbers associated with sets of the tennis match disposed numerically along the end axis  46 . The numbers along the end axis  46  are disposed within the inner box  52 A and are not separated into separate boxes. The numbers along the end axis  46  are “1, 2, 3, 4 and 5,” which represent the sets. The numbers along each of the side axis  44  and the end axis  46  have substantially the same size as one another and as the numbers of the second and third portions  28 ,  30  of the middle region  20 . The grid  40  of each side region  22  also has the word, “SET,” which is disposed beyond the numbers along the end axis  46  and within the outer box  52 B. The boxes  48 ,  50  and  52 , the numbers along each of the side axis  44  and the end axis  46  and the word, “SET,” are applied on the front side  14 A of the scoreboard  14  by any suitable means, such as by being stamped, inscribed, printed, painted or embroidered. 
     Each marker  42  of each side region  22  is mounted to and for undergoing movement along the grid  40 . Each marker  42  has a substantially rectangular configuration, though it need not be so limited. The markers  42  are identical to one another. Each marker  42  has, for example, a length and width which are substantially the same and which are each greater than a thickness thereof. The length and width of each marker  42  are substantially the same as the length and width of each box  48  of the grid  40 . Each marker  42  is movable in generally orthogonal directions and positionable on one of the boxes  48  and is alignable with the numbers along the side axis  44  of the grid  40  for indicating the games won in a set of the tennis match by players in a singles tennis match or by teams in a doubles tennis match and is alignable with the numbers along the end axis  46  of the grid  40  for indicating the set of the tennis match. Each set should have its own marker  42  and the markers  42  should number three or five on each grid  40  for best of two out of three or for best of three out of five matches. 
     The boxes  48  of the grid  40  of each side region  22  are comprised of a first fastening means  54 . As an example, the first fastening means  54  is one of a pair of hook and loop fastening elements which are complementary to and mateable with one another, though it need not be so limited. Each marker  42  of each side region  22  has a bottom surface  42 A comprised of a second fastening means  56  complementary to and removably mateable with the first fastening means  54  of the boxes  48  of the grid  40  and such that each marker  42  may be fastened to the boxes  48  of the grid  40  in alignment with and be movable along the numbers along the side axis  44  of the grid  40  for indicating the games won in a set of the tennis match by players in a singles tennis match or by teams in a doubles tennis match and in alignment with and be movable along the numbers along the end axis  46  of the grid  40  for indicating the set of the tennis match. As an example, the second fastening means  56  is the other of the hook and loop fastening elements which are complementary to and mateable with one another, though it need not be so limited. 
     The scoreboard  14  also has a continuous border  58  on the front side  14 A thereof extending around a periphery of the middle region  20  and the side regions  22  thereof. The border  58  has a configuration which generally conforms to the configuration of the scoreboard  14 . The border  58  covers space having an area which is substantially less than the combined area of the middle region  20  and the side regions  22 . 
     The securing means  16  includes an elongated strap  60 . The strap  60  is comprised of a substantially flexible material, such as nylon. The strap  60  has opposite side surfaces  60 A,  60 B, opposite first and second ends  60 C,  60 D and a pair of first and second patches  62 ,  64 . As an example, the strap  60  has a length extending between the first and second ends  60 C,  60 D which is greater than a width thereof extending substantially perpendicular to the length. The strap  60  at the first end  60 C thereof is mounted to the body  12  by any suitable means and such that the side surface  60 A of the strap  60  is against the back side  12 B of the body  12 . The second end  60 D of the strap  60  is free. Each of the first and second patches  62 ,  64  has a substantially rectangular configuration. Each of the first and second patches  62 ,  64  has an area which is substantially the same as the area of the other and which is substantially less than an area of the strap  60 . As an example, each of the first and second patches  62 ,  64  is substantially square in configuration. The width of each of the first and second patches  62 ,  64  is substantially the same as the width of the strap  60 . The first patch  62  is mounted to the side surface  60 A spaced from but adjacent to the first end  60 C of the strap  60 . The first patch  62  is comprised of a first fastening means  66 . As an example, the first fastening means  66  is one of a pair of hook and loop fastening elements which are complementary to and mateable with one another, though it need not be so limited. The second patch  64  is mounted to the side surface  60 A adjacent to the second end  60 D of the strap  60 . The second patch  64  is comprised of a second fastening means  68  complementary to and removably mateable with the first fastening means  66  of the first patch  62  and such that the strap  60  may be wrapped around a portion of the article of clothing worn by the tennis player and the second patch  64  may be fastened to the first patch  62  so as to form a closed loop for retaining the strap  60  on the portion of the article of clothing worn by the tennis player. As an example, the second fastening means  68  is the other of the hook and loop fastening elements which are complementary to and mateable with one another, though it need not be so limited. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the portable tennis scorekeeper device  10  of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the portable body  12  of the device  10  is in the form of a band  70  and the scoreboard  14  is applied on the band  70 . The band  70  is adapted to be worn around a wrist W of a tennis player. The band  70  is comprised of a substantially resilient material, such as stretch terrycloth, leather or any other suitable material. The band  70  preferably is stretchible and is provided in an annular configuration. The band  70  may be of any suitable size. As an example, the band  70  has an annular length which is greater than a transverse width thereof which, in turn, is greater than a thickness thereof. The band  70  has opposite outer and inner sides  70 A,  70 B. The scoreboard  14  is applied on the outer side  70 A of the band  70 . The inner side  70 B of the band  70  faces inwardly and contacts the wrist W of the tennis player when the band  70  is disposed around the wrist W of the tennis player. The scoreboard  14  of the second embodiment has substantially the same first, second and third portions  24 ,  28  and  30 , pair of tracks  26  and pair of markers  32  as provided in the first embodiment. One difference between the first and second embodiments, besides the form of the portable body  12 , is that the first, second and third portions  24 ,  28 ,  30 , tracks  26  and markers  32  of the scoreboard  14  of the second embodiment are not slanted on the band  70 . Another difference between the first and second embodiments is that the scoreboard  14  of the second embodiment does not have the side regions  22  as provided in the first embodiment. 
     It should be understood that, instead of providing complementary hook and loop fastening elements on the tracks  26  and markers  42 , other suitable arrangements could be used which will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. For instance, the tracks  26  could be elongated threads, cords, wires and the like fixedly attached at its opposite ends to the portable body  12  and the markers  42  could be beads, rings and the like snugly fitted over the threads, cords or wires and slidably movable thereon between their opposite ends. 
     It is thought that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely preferred or exemplary embodiment thereof.