Abstract:
There is provided a pressure actuated timing device for use with activities such as games. In some embodiments, the electrical component of the invention will comprise a conventional “tap light” (or “tap-on-light”) in electronic communication with a digital or other stopwatch or electronic timer. Additionally, a game player will be equipped with a rubber ball or similar lightweight and resilient object (e.g., a bean bag, a soft plastic toy, etc.) that may be attached to the user&#39;s hand via an elastic tether. In some embodiments, the object will be to strike the tap light with a thrown object in a minimal period of time.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The instant invention generally relates to timing devices for use with an activity such as a game and, more particularly, to pressure actuated timing devices that can be utilized with children and adult games and the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There are any number of timing devices that have been marketed for use in connection with games. However, such timing devices have typically focused on timing an unrelated event (e.g., a chess clock is used to time the moves of each opponent) rather than being a specific component of the game itself. Said another way, in many games the timer is used to limit a participant&#39;s time in another activity, rather than having the time necessary to perform a task being an object of the game. 
         [0003]    Thus, if the object is to perform a particular task in a minimal time (and the winner is determined from this time) many games do not offer this option. 
         [0004]    Another problem that is frequently observed even with games or other activities that have a participant&#39;s time as a scoring factor is that, because of the nature of the timing device, a third party must actually activate/deactivate the timer. This might be for many reasons but one is that a conventional timing device such as a stopwatch can only be started and stopped by pressing a small button on the body of the device which tends to limit its usefulness as a game piece. Further, if the object is to perform a task in a minimal time and the user who is performing the task is responsible for activating/deactivating the stopwatch, there might be a tendency to delay activating the device after the start of performance in the hope that the elapsed time will be reduced. Such activity during self-timing cannot easily be detected with a conventional stopwatch which might be held in a user&#39;s hand during the performance of the assigned task. 
         [0005]    Heretofore, as is well known in the gaming arts, there has been a need for an invention to address and solve the disadvantages of prior art methods. Accordingly, it should now be recognized, as was recognized by the present inventors, that there exists, and has existed for some time, a very real need for a system and method that would address and solve the above-described problems. 
         [0006]    Before proceeding to a description of the present invention, however, it should be noted and remembered that the description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings, should not be construed as limiting the invention to the examples (or preferred embodiments) shown and described. This is so because those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be able to devise other forms of the invention within the ambit of the appended claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a pressure actuated timing device for use with activities such as games. In some embodiments, the electrical component of the invention will comprise a conventional “tap light” (or “tap-on-light) in electronic communication with a digital or other stopwatch or electronic timer. Additionally, a game player will be equipped with a rubber ball or similar lightweight and resilient object (e.g., a bean bag, a soft plastic toy, etc.) that may be attached to the user&#39;s hand via an elastic tether. In some embodiments, a tether will not be used. 
         [0008]    In one variation tapping on the tap light will make ready the stopwatch. In some embodiments, this will also activate the light within the tap light, if such is present. Next (and preferably) a second tap on the tap light will turn the light off and activate the stopwatch which will continue to accumulate time until a first tap turns the light back on and a further tape stops the timing. This particular wiring configuration might be useful where the instant invention is used to measure eye-hand coordination, with the resulting time being indicative of a user&#39;s ability to quickly tap a target. 
         [0009]    In another variation, the tap light/stopwatch might be activated by, for example, or other non-participant, at which point the stopwatch will run continuously while a user seeks to strike the light with a thrown object. In instances where the thrown object is attached to the user by a tether, the user will easily be able to recall the thrown item for a subsequent toss if the previous toss did not stop the timer. The user will continue to throw objects (either the same object that has been recalled via tether or a different object of the same kind as was thrown previously) until the light is struck and the timer has been thereby stopped. The time that registers on the timing device will be the user&#39;s score, with lower times being preferred to longer ones. 
         [0010]    In another variation, tapping the light will turn on its internal light (if present) and activate the associated timing device. The stopwatch will then continue to run until the tap light is tapped again, at which time the light will be extinguished and the timer stopped. In one preferred embodiment, this configuration could be used to measure reaction time. 
         [0011]    The foregoing has outlined in broad terms the more important features of the invention disclosed herein so that the detailed description that follows may be more clearly understood, and so that the contribution of the instant inventors to the art may be better appreciated. The instant invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various other ways not specifically enumerated herein. Additionally, the disclosure that follows is intended to apply to all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Further, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, unless the specification specifically so limits the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of how an embodiment of the instant invention might be used in practice. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the invention of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating one method of operation of the invention of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating another method of operation of the invention of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the invention of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation of the invention of the present disclosure as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a wireless embodiment of the instant invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of how an embodiment of the instant invention might be utilized in combination with a protective structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will be described hereinafter in detail, some specific embodiments of the instant invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments or algorithms so described. 
         [0022]    Turning first to  FIG. 1  wherein a preferred embodiment is illustrated, generally speaking, the instant invention  100  can be viewed as a “tap light”  110  (or “tap-on-light”) in combination with a digital stopwatch  120 . The stopwatch  120  can be any electronic timer capable of receiving start/stop signals from an outside source. As can generally be seen in this figure, in a preferred arrangement, the tap light  110  and digital stopwatch  120  will be interconnected by an electrical line  115  which conveys signals from the tap light  110  to the stopwatch  120 . Although this embodiment utilizes an electrical line  115  to connect the tap light  110  and the stopwatch  120 , a wired connection is not strictly necessary and other embodiments of the invention may utilize a wireless (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.) connection. All that is required is that the tap light  110  and the stop watch  120  be able to communicate with each other, i.e., be in electrical communication. 
         [0023]    As is customary with such tap light  110 , one surface is surmounted by a translucent plastic cover or globe  105  under which is a light source of some sort, said light often being powered by batteries that are internal thereto. The instant tap light  110  will be activated (i.e., the light will be turned on) and deactivated (i.e., the light will be turned off) by “tapping” on the plastic globe  105 . It will be appreciated that a tap light is only one embodiment of a switchable light source that may be utilized with various embodiments of the present disclosure, as other easily switchable light sources could also be utilized. 
         [0024]    Additionally, in some embodiments, the instant invention will include a soft weight  140  (e.g., a rubber ball or some similar lightweight and resilient object) that is attached to a user&#39;s hand by a tether  130 . Preferably, the tether  130  will be elastic or otherwise resilient and will produce a bungee-type effect which allows a user to throw the object  140  at the tap light  110  and have the object  140  returned to the user thereafter via the elasticity of the bungee element  130 . 
         [0025]    The tap light  110 /stopwatch  120  combination is designed in such a way that a tap on the globe  105  will be registered by the stopwatch  120  via electrical connection  115 . In some embodiments, the tap light  110  and stopwatch  120  may be in spaced apart locations connected by electrical connections  115 . In one embodiment, the instant invention will operate as follows: Tapping on the globe  105  of the tap light  110  will make ready the stopwatch  120 . In some embodiments, this will also activate the light (e.g., place it in an illuminated state). Next (and preferably) a second tap on the tap light  110  will turn the light off and activate the stopwatch  120 . Tapping again on the globe  105  will turn the light back on and make the stopwatch  120  ready for stopping. Finally, a further tap on the globe  105  will stop the timing stopwatch  120  and allow its value to be read. This particular wiring configuration might be useful where the instant invention  100  is used to measure eye-hand coordination, with the resulting time being indicative of a user&#39;s ability to quickly tap a target. 
         [0026]    In practice, the instant invention  100  will be useful in connection with the elastic tether  130  and the rubber or other object  140  in a game-type setting. By way of explanation, in one embodiment the tap-on light  110  will be manually activated by, for example, a referee or other nonparticipant. That will activate the stopwatch  120  which will run continuously while a user attempts to strike the tap light  110  with the object  140 . Because of the elastic connection  130  between the object  140  and the user, if the throw is inaccurate, the user will be able to quickly retrieve the object  140  and attempt to strike the dome  105  again. The next time the dome  105  is compressed, that will be a signal to the stopwatch  120  to stop running. The time necessary to deactivate the stopwatch  120  will be the user&#39;s score for that round, with the user having the lowest time being adjudicated the winner. 
         [0027]    In a second embodiment, tapping the tap light  110  will turn the associated light  105  on and activate the stopwatch  120 . The stopwatch  120  will continue to run until the tap light  110  is tapped again, at which time the light  105  will be extinguished. In one preferred embodiment, this configuration could be used to measure reaction time. 
         [0028]    Of course, the above hardware could be used in many other instances and in many other ways. Still, the key component of the instant invention is the combination of a tap light  110  and a stopwatch  120  which are connected by an electrical connection  115 . Note that, in some embodiments, the electrical connection  115  might be wireless (e.g., the Bluetooth or other wireless protocol) but in the preferred embodiment, the connection  115  will be an electrical line. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the invention of the present disclosure is shown. The game system  200  comprises at least one tap light  110 . The tap light  110  may contain a light bulb  204 , which may be incandescent, LED, or based on another technology. The bulb  204  may be stored below a plastic cover, dome, or globe  105  (not shown) that acts as a dispersing lens for light generated by the bulb  204 , and also controls a switch  208  that activates and deactivates the bulb  204 . To that end, the switch function is shown schematically by the single pole, single throw (SPST) switch  208 . 
         [0030]    The tap light may have its own internal power supply such as battery  206 . The battery  206  may be disposable or rechargeable and may also be user replaceable or serviceable. The light bulb  204  is electrically connected to the battery  206  via the switch  208 . In the present embodiment, the light bulb  204  connects to the battery  206  via the negative terminal. 
         [0031]    The stopwatch  120  associated with the system  200  may be mounted on a housing  210 . In the present embodiment, the housing  210  is tubular allowing it to be easily manipulable by a user, but in other embodiments it may take on other shapes. The housing  210  may be plastic or another resilient material. The housing  210  and the associated components may be spaced apart from the tap light  110 . 
         [0032]    Contained within the housing is a battery  214 . Again, the battery  214  may be disposable or rechargeable, and may also be user serviceable. Also contained within the housing, or mounted to the outside thereof, is a buzzer  224 . The buzzer  224  may be a piezoelectric device, a rotational type buzzer, or another type of buzzer. The buzzer  224  may be powered by the battery  214  in the housing  210 . Although various batteries and power supplies are described with respect to the particular embodiments disclosed, one of skill in the art will understand that other power supplies may be useful in other embodiments. For example, a DC adapter could be utilized to power the tap light  110  and/or the functionality of the stopwatch  120  and buzzer  224 . 
         [0033]    A number of user accessible controls may be provided on the housing  210  and/or the stopwatch  120 . For example, a momentary switch  222  may be configured as a switch to complete the circuit between the buzzer  224  and battery  214 . In at least some instances, the momentary switch can also provide signal to the stopwatch  120  from the battery  206  inside the tap light  110  to begin keeping time, which is important as explained below. It will be appreciated that, in the present embodiment, the switch  222  is a dual pole dual throw (DPST) switch that segregates the circuitry of the buzzer  224  from that of the stopwatch  120 , while allowing both to be controlled with a single physical switch. The switch  222  may be a spring-biased push-button switch such that the respective circuits are closed when the switch  222  is pressed, but open again when the switch  222  is released. 
         [0034]    The stopwatch  120  may be a commercially available stopwatch that provides for electronic signaling for start/stop functionality. The stopwatch  120  could also be a stopwatch without the capability for receiving a signal from an outside switch that has been properly modified by one skilled in the art to accept the same. The stopwatch  120  may also possess its own separate physical switch for start and stop but the same will be unused in various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, reset and lap buttons may be present and can be utilized with system of the present disclosure for resetting the stopwatch  120  and the like. 
         [0035]    Because it may not be desirable to have a continuous voltage signal (or current) applied to the stopwatch  120 , a diode  207  interposes the battery  206  and the stopwatch  120 , which will prevent current flow under steady state (e.g., when the switch  222  has not just been pressed) but allow an initial, temporary voltage increase to signal the stopwatch  120 . The diode  207  also provides additional important functionality with regard to the operation of the tap light switch  208  to signal the stopwatch  120  to stop keeping time. For example, when the tap light  110  is on (e.g., the switch  208  has closed the circuit between the battery  206  and the bulb  204 ), the diode  207  prevents current a voltage signal (or current) from reaching the stopwatch  120 . However, when the switch  208  is opened (e.g., by a press of the dome of the tap light  110 ) the diode  207  allows a transient voltage signal to pass that is capable of signaling the stopwatch  120  to cease keeping time. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a flow chart  300  illustrating one method of operation of the invention of the present disclosure is disclosed. In the present embodiment, utilizing a system such as that described with respect to  FIG. 1  or  2 , a timing game or exercise may be performed by two users. At step  302  a first user ensures that the tap light  110  is initially on, and the stopwatch  120  is on and set (reset) to zero to begin keeping time. At step  304 , the first user then presses the momentary switch  222 , which both sounds the buzzer  224 , and starts the stopwatch  120 . A second user (or contestant) is alerted that time has begun tolling, but watching the first user and/or hearing the buzzer  224 , and at step  306  seeks to press the tap light  110  as quickly as possible. This press on the tap light  110  turns the tap light  110  off via switch  222 , and causes a voltage signal to be provided to the stopwatch  120 , which stops the timing function. The time showing on the stopwatch  120  is now indicative of the reaction time of the second user (contestant). It will be appreciated that the time required for the voltage signal to reach the stopwatch  120 , and for the stopwatch  120  to cease accumulating time, is negligible in comparison to the reaction time of the second user (contestant). Furthermore, the exercise may be repeated, as shown by path  308  in the flowchart, but resetting the tap light  110  and stopwatch  120 , and repeating the additional steps. 
         [0037]    It should be understood that, in the present method and those described below, a press of the tap light  110  (e.g., step  306 ) is not necessarily a press by hand. For example, the tap light  110  could be located such a press with a user&#39;s foot or other body part activates (turns on or off) the tap light  110 . Similarly, as described above, other implements such as weights, balls, mallets, or tethered items may be used to turn the tap light  110  on or off. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart illustrating another method  400  of operation of the invention of the present disclosure is shown. The method  400  of  FIG. 4  does not require two users, rather the contestant functions as the only user of the system. At step  402  the user/contestant verifies that the tap light  110  is on, and that the stopwatch  120  is reset and ready to begin keeping time. At step  404  the user presses the tap light  110 . This turns off the tap light  110 , while simultaneously providing a signal to the stopwatch  120  to begin keeping time, as explained above. Then, at step  406 , the tap light  110  is pressed a second time, which turns the tap light  110  on but does not signal the stopwatch  120  to stop keeping time. Finally, at step  408 , the user presses the tap light  110  for a third time, which turns the tap light  110  off and (because it was already on) provides a signal to the stopwatch  120  to cease its timekeeping function. Because the sequence of events of steps  404 ,  406 , and  408  provide only two start/stop signals to the stopwatch  120 , the stopwatch  120  has taken measure of the elapsed time from the first press (step  404 ) to the third (step  408 ). Hence the time required to press the tap light  110  three times has been measured in the present embodiment. It will be appreciated that the tap light  110  may be reset, along with the stopwatch  120 , and the method repeated as shown by  410 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the invention of the present disclosure is shown. The system  500  is similar to the system  200  previously described. However, in this embodiment, a second tap light  505  has been included. The tap light  505  may be considered to be “in parallel” with the first tap light  110 . The tap light  505  has a bulb  504 , a battery,  506 , and a switch  508 , activated by the dome of the tap light  505 . Here again, the switch  508  is a SPST switch that selectively completes the circuit between the battery  506  and bulb  508 . The switch is connected in a signaling capacity to the stopwatch  120 . The positive terminal of the battery  506  is also connected to the stopwatch  120  through a diode  507 , which, like the diode  207  prevents signaling to the stopwatch  120  under steady state operating conditions but allows a signal to be provided to the stopwatch  120  when the tap light  505  is switched from on to off. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a flow chart  600  illustrates one method of operation of the invention of the present disclosure as shown in  FIG. 5 . At step  602 , the user ensures that both tap lights  110 ,  505  are on and the stopwatch  120  is reset and ready to begin timing. A press of the first tap light  110  at step  604  turns the tap light  110  off, and provides a signal to the stopwatch  120  that starts the stopwatch  120 . A press of the second tap light  505  at step  606  turns the second tap light  505  off and provides a signal to the stopwatch  120  that stops the stopwatch  120 . Thus, the time between the presses on the different tap lights  110 ,  505  is recorded. It will be appreciated that the tap lights  110 ,  505  may be located some distance apart, or mounted in specific orientations to provide timing of specific events or movements by the user. Furthermore, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , either tap light  110 ,  505  can be pressed first to start the stopwatch  120  and pressing the other tap light will stop the stopwatch  120 . Path  608  of the flow chart  600  illustrates that the stopwatch may be reset, and the tap lights  110 ,  505  turned back on, and the method can be repeated. 
         [0041]    Although the instant invention in some embodiments utilizes a wired connection between the tap light  110  and stopwatch  120 , a hardware interconnection is not required. More generally, these two components may be placed into communication wirelessly and events that are received in one device (e.g., a tap on the tap light  110 ) can trigger a transmitted signal of same to the other device. In this scenario, it might be expected that the tap light  110  and stopwatch  120  would be augmented by, for example, a Bluetooth transceiver. Additionally, in some embodiments each device will additionally be fitted with some sort of programmable logic device (e.g., a microprocessor, microcontroller, CPU, gate array, etc.) to monitor the associated switch(es) of that device for events such as switch presses, taps, etc. and transmit an indicium of that event to the other device. 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  contains a schematic illustration of such an embodiment  700 . In this case, the stop watch/timer  720  is able to communicate wirelessly with the tap light  710 . The various operations are the same as have been discussed previously, except that the timer  720  and the tap light  710  are each provided with some means of wireless communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, RF (radio frequency), IR (infrared), etc.) over which to communicate events and/or status. As such, when the term “wireless communication” is used herein, that term should be broadly construed to include any conventional or unconventional means of communicating wirelessly between two devices. Note that in some embodiments the communication between devices might be two way, in other embodiments it might be one way (e.g., from the tap light  710  to the timer). 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  contains an illustration of another aspect of the instant invention. In this embodiment, the tap light  805  operates with an associated wired or wireless timing device (not shown) as before, but it is situated within a structure that is designed to protect it from heavy blows. In one embodiment, the instant invention might be utilized in connection with tossing a relatively heavy object such as a basketball, football, etc. Since tap lights of the sort utilized some embodiments of the instant invention might be too fragile to stand up to blows from heavier objects, the embodiment of  FIG. 8  illustrates how such could be protected by a targeting shield  810  which might be made of Plexiglas or another transparent or translucent material. Additionally, in this embodiment a support surface  820  is provided on which to rest the tap light  805 . 
         [0044]    In one variation, the tap light  805  will be placed between targeting  810  and support  820  surfaces and further protected by one or more barriers  825  in  FIG. 8  which will serve to limit the downward motion of upper surface  810  in the event of a heavy blow thereto, the barriers being designed to limit the downward movement of the targeting shield toward the tap light  805 . Additionally, in an embodiment the upper surface  810  will be mounted on a plurality of adjustable spring-type connectors  815  which are designed to provide rebound to the upper surface  810  after a blow. 
         [0045]    Additionally, in some embodiments, the connectors  815  will be fitted with an internal screw mechanism that, together with some number of washers (not shown) will allow the connectors  815  to be made adjusted in height to vary the tension in the springs  830  and accommodate tap lights  805  of different heights. Although a coil spring  830  has been used to illustrate one means of giving the upper surface some amount of rebound after a blow, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any other structure or substance with some amount of resiliency (e.g., foam or rubber blocks, leaf springs, flat springs, v spring, etc.) could be used in the alternative. 
         [0046]    The barriers  825  and springs  830  will be configured so that the target surface  810  can descend to the point where the tap light  805  is depressed sufficiently to trigger it, but not far enough to cause it damage. Additionally, the springs  830  will operate to reduce the downward velocity of the target surface  810  to minimize the chance of a substantial impact to the tap light  805 . For purposes of the claims that follow, the terms resilient spacer will be used to describe the connectors  815  and variations thereof. 
         [0047]    Finally, in some embodiments, a target image will be inscribed on all or part of the upper surface  810  which will serve as a focusing point for participants in the event. 
         [0048]    Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the invention as defined by the claims.