Throw-measuring football
US5779576A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 20, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63B2220/833
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The invention discloses an amusement projectile characterized in a first embodiment by a football shape which is thrown by a user and which comprises electronics therein to measure and display the distance traveled by the thrown ball to the point of impact with the ground or to another user. Using an accelerometer in cooperation with a microprocessing board disposed within the ball, the distance traveled is determined by measuring the initial velocity and the time recorded during the flight of the ball based upon changes in the acceleration of the ball, and an inset liquid crystal display screen mounted on the football is used to display the distance as well as time of flight and a nondimensional thrust value. A toggle button is used to alternately display the "flight characteristics," which are distinguished by the position of a decimal in the three digit display. The toggle button also serves as an activation button which is depressed immediately prior to throwing and remains depressed until release of the ball, and which starts the timer and the accelerometer measurements upon its release. From these two measurements and data stored in a read only memory chip, the microprocessin…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.