US4846467A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Race driver start signal reaction timer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-11-23
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Granted: 1989-07-11
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Expires: 2007-11-23
Abstract
Abstract An electronic drag race starting signal unit includes a housing contained circuit provided with or energizing a series of race starting lamps. The race start indicator or Christmas Tree, which may be a series of LED's, are preferably three aligned amber or yellow lamps terminating in aligned relationship with a red lamp and a green lamp interposed betwen the red lamp and the adjacent yellow lamp. A manually held pushbutton switch, when closed, simulates a vehicle transmission brake and energizes the circuit to sequentially or simultaneously energize the yellow lamps followed by the green lamp which is the start signal. A counter in the circuit visually records the time lapse between the start signal and the release (opening) of the push-button switch by the operator which, if it is received before a predetermined time, energizes the red lamp as a disqualification.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Rosson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:05
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; A63F9/0096; G; G04; G04F; G04F1/00; G04F1/005; G04G; G04G9/00; G04G9/02; G04G9/04; G07; G07C; G07C1/00; G07C1/22; A63F9/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
An electronic simulated racing vehicle brake release and driver start signal reaction timer, comprising: a housing containing an electronic circuit connected with a source of electrical energy and including; a plurality of lamps arranged in generally straight line relation and including first, second and third lamps having one color, a fourth lamp having a second color and a fifth lamp having a third color; means including a counter for sequentially energizing said lamps at predetermined times starting with said first lamp through at least the fourth lamp; push-button switch means simulating a racing vehicle transmission brake or wheel brake and enabling the sequential energizing means when said push-button switch means is closed and disabling the sequential energizing means when the push-button switch means is opened before a predetermined time lapse; and, means including a digital display unit visually recording the time lapse between energizing said third lamp and the opening of said push-button switch means during one predetermined time period so that said fourth lamp is energized with the opening of said push-button switch when opened no sooner than at the end of said time period, but where said fifth lamp is energized with the fourth lamp inhibited by said push-button switch when said switch is opened before the expiration of said time period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
An electronic simulated racing vehicle brake release and driver start signal reaction timer, comprising: a housing containing an electronic circuit connected with a source of electrical energy and including; a plurality of lamps arranged in generally straight line relation and including first, second and third lamps having one color, a fourth lamp having a second color and a fifth lamp having a third color; means including a counter for sequentially energizing said lamps at predetermined times starting with said first lamp through at least the fourth lamp; push-button switch means simulating a racing vehicle transmission brake or wheel brake and enabling the sequential energizing means when said push-button switch means is closed and disabling the sequential energizing means when the push-button switch means is opened before a predetermined time lapse; and, means including a digital display unit visually recording the time lapse between energizing said third lamp and the opening of said push-button switch means during one predetermined time period so that said fourth lamp is energized with the opening of said push-button switch when opened no sooner than at the end of said time period, but where said fifth lamp is energized with the fourth lamp inhibited by said push-button switch when said switch is opened before the expiration of said time period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The reaction timer according to claim 1 in which said sequential energizing means includes: an oscillator; a plurality of decade counters connected in cascade with said oscillator for predetermined time spacing the electrical pulses from said oscillator; a sequencer connecting the electrical pulses from said decade counters with said lamps; and, a plurality of electronic switch means interposed between the sequencer and at least said fourth and fifth lamps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The reaction timer according to claim 2 and further including: means simulating a vehicle delay response time including a vehicle timer interposed between the push-button means and the sequencer; means for adjusting the vehicle time delay to a desired value; and, a series of other electronic switch means connected with said counter/driver and responsive to selected lamp energizing electrical pulses for enabling or blocking the energizing of said fifth lamp in accordance with a predetermined time lapse following energizing of said fourth lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The reaction timer according to claim 3 and further including: mode switch means interposed between said sequencer and said lamps for enabling the sequencer to simultaneously energize the first three lamps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The reaction timer according to claim 4 and further including: electronic signal delay means including a signal inverting latch interposed between said oscillator and said sequencer for resetting the sequencer output thereby generating a random time delay between the time of closing said push-button switch means and the start of sequentially energizing said lamps.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-10 | 1993-01-09 | 1993-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-10 | 1997-01-09 | 1997-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-10 | 2001-01-09 | 2001-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |