US4237372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scorekeeping device for tennis and similar games
Assignee: SPORTSONIC Inc
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Filing: 1978-06-14
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1998-06-14
Abstract
Abstract An electronic device for calculating, storing and indicating the scores and related information for a game of tennis is described. The circuit provides for the special requirements of tennis and similar games by recognizing the existence of an endgame condition such as "deuce" in tennis and registering each new score as a function of the previous score and the point most recently won. Both up-down counters and decoders using non-volatile memory, including "read-only memory" (ROM) are disclosed for the point-calculation function, and a display encoder is described which efficiently provides for the display of alphanumeric scores, including "deuce" and "advantage" conditions. The invention includes features for indicating court change requirements, elapsed time, time of day, and display emphasis when a game is won. All score calculations are subject to a clear-entry feature to rectify operating error.
Inventors
- 👤 Victoria H. Zevgolis
- 👤 Harry E. Kitchen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:41
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K23/00; H03K23/64; H03K23/66; A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A device for calculating, storing and displaying the scores for tennis and similarly-scored games, comprising: data entry means, one bidirectional counter for each player for storing score results, wherein said bidirectional counter is responsive to said data entry means and to encoder means, and wherein said bidirectional counter counts in one direction for normal scoring situations, and counts in the opposite direction for special scoring situations and for returning to the immediately prior value of said score results, encoder means responsive to said bidirectional counter and to said data entry means for providing command data to determine subsequent contents of said bidirectional counter, wherein said encoder means recognizes a condition in which a special scoring mode must be invoked, and indicator means responsive to said bidirectional counter, for indicating said score results.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A device for calculating, storing and displaying the scores for tennis and similarly-scored games, comprising: data entry means, one bidirectional counter for each player for storing score results, wherein said bidirectional counter is responsive to said data entry means and to encoder means, and wherein said bidirectional counter counts in one direction for normal scoring situations, and counts in the opposite direction for special scoring situations and for returning to the immediately prior value of said score results, encoder means responsive to said bidirectional counter and to said data entry means for providing command data to determine subsequent contents of said bidirectional counter, wherein said encoder means recognizes a condition in which a special scoring mode must be invoked, and indicator means responsive to said bidirectional counter, for indicating said score results.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The scorekeeping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said encoder means includes means responsive to said data entry means for causing said score results to be restored to their immediately prior values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The scorekeeping device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said indicator means comprises: display encoder means and seven-segment display means responsive to outputs from said display encoder means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The scorekeeping device as set forth in claim 1 including set register means responsive to said game register means and to said data entry means for tallying the scores of games won.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The scorekeeping device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said set display means includes flasher means responsive to said set register means for indicating the winning of a new game.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The scorekeeping device as set forth in claim 4, including court change indicator means responsive to said set register means for indicating a condition dependent upon the number of games played.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scorekeeping device as set forth in claim 1, including timing means and time limit indicator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The scorekeeping device as set forth in claim 1, in combination with clock means for calculating time of day, and indicator means responsive to said clock means for indicating time of day.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
63 words
A device for calculating, storing and displaying the scores of tennis and similarly-scored games, comprising: data entry means, game register means for storing score results, said game register means comprising one bidirectional counter for each player, said bidirectional counter having a capacity equal to a maximum attainable score, and said bidirectional counter being responsive to said data entry means and to encoder means,
Claim 11
Independent Claim
63 words
A device for calculating, storing and displaying the scores of tennis and similarly-scored games, comprising: data entry means, game register means for storing score results, said game register means comprising one bidirectional counter for each player, said bidirectional counter having a capacity equal to a maximum attainable score, and said bidirectional counter being responsive to said data entry means and to encoder means,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
encoder means responsive to said game register means and to said data entry means for providing command data to determine subsequent contents of said game register means, wherein said encoder means recognizes a condition in which a special scoring situation must be invoked, and wherein said encoder means comprises non-volatile memory means, and indicator means responsive to said game register means for indicating said score results.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
encoder means responsive to said game register means and to said data entry means for providing command data to determine subsequent contents of said game register means, wherein said encoder means recognizes a condition in which a special scoring situation must be invoked, and wherein said encoder means comprises non-volatile memory means, and indicator means responsive to said game register means for indicating said score results.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
165 words
A device for calculating, storing and displaying the scores of tennis and similarly-scored games, comprising: data entry means, game register means for storing score results, said game register means comprising one bidirectional counter for each player, said bidirectional counter having a capacity equal to a maximum attainable score, said bidirectional counter being responsive to said data entry means and to encoder means, and wherein said bidirectional counter comprises: logic gate means responsive to the output of said bidirectional counter and to said data entry means for deriving counter command signals, and J-K bistable latch means responsive to said counter command signals for incrementing or decrementing a binary count, encoder means responsive to said game register means and to said data entry means for providing command data to determine subsequent contents of said game register means, wherein said encoder means recognizes a condition in which a special scoring situation must be invoked, and indicator means responsive to said game register means for indicating said score results.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
165 words
A device for calculating, storing and displaying the scores of tennis and similarly-scored games, comprising: data entry means, game register means for storing score results, said game register means comprising one bidirectional counter for each player, said bidirectional counter having a capacity equal to a maximum attainable score, said bidirectional counter being responsive to said data entry means and to encoder means, and wherein said bidirectional counter comprises: logic gate means responsive to the output of said bidirectional counter and to said data entry means for deriving counter command signals, and J-K bistable latch means responsive to said counter command signals for incrementing or decrementing a binary count, encoder means responsive to said game register means and to said data entry means for providing command data to determine subsequent contents of said game register means, wherein said encoder means recognizes a condition in which a special scoring situation must be invoked, and indicator means responsive to said game register means for indicating said score results.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4119838A
Cited
US4097855A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |