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US5084695A
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Umpire's counter
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1990-07-05
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2010-07-05
Abstract
Abstract An umpire's counter is provided with a housing having a top face and a bottom face. On the side of the housing between the faces, inputs for advancing a balls display, a strikes display, an outs display and an inning display are provided. A separate button is provided for clearing at least the strikes and balls display. A strap can be provided on the back of the umpire's counter which encircles the umpire's hand of encircles two of the umpire's fingers. The strap enables the umpire to make a "safe call" without dropping the counter. An audible output is provided for indicating when at least the balls or strikes displays have been advanced. Each of the inputs are provided in recesses with covers to prevent inadvertent actuation of the displays. A time, score or alarm set display is provided and buttons are provided for advancing the home and visitors score or advancing the hours and minutes during alarm setting. The counter readily fits in an umpire's hand and provides selectively illuminatable displays which are easy to see even when the game is played under lights.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey S. Freeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:04
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An umpire's counter comprising: a housing having at least a balls display, a strikes display, an outs display and an inning display; means operatively connected to said housing for selectively incrementing each of said displays; control means responsive to the means for incrementing for changing one of the displays upon actuation of said means for incrementing; and audible means operatively connected to said control means for emitting at least a first tone when said balls display is incremented and a second tone when said strikes display is incremented, said first and second tones being different from one another whereby an operator can audibly differentiate whether the balls display or strikes display have been incremented.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An umpire's counter comprising: a housing having at least a balls display, a strikes display, an outs display and an inning display; means operatively connected to said housing for selectively incrementing each of said displays; control means responsive to the means for incrementing for changing one of the displays upon actuation of said means for incrementing; and audible means operatively connected to said control means for emitting at least a first tone when said balls display is incremented and a second tone when said strikes display is incremented, said first and second tones being different from one another whereby an operator can audibly differentiate whether the balls display or strikes display have been incremented.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a time/score display in said housing for sequentially displaying at least time and score; and means for switching said time/score display between display of time and display of team scores.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for incrementing comprises: a first input for incrementing the balls display; a second input for incrementing the strikes display; a third input for incrementing the outs display; and a fourth input for incrementing the inning display; said first, second, third and fourth inputs being located on at least one side of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth inputs are buttons located in separate recesses formed on the at least one side of the housing at a first portion thereof, the first portion of the side being engageable by the fingers of an operator's hand when the counter is being held in the hand and said umpire's counter further comprising cover means which cooperate with the recesses for aiding in prevention of inadvertent actuation of each of the inputs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 4, further comprising a clear button located in a separate recess in the at least one side of the housing, said clear button clearing at least the balls and strikes display upon actuation thereof and said cover means also cooperating with the recess for the clear button to aid in prevention of inadvertent actuation of the clear button.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 5, wherein the audible means emits a clearing tone upon actuation of the clear button, said clearing tone being different from said first and second tones.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 4, further comprising: a time/score display in said housing for sequentially displaying at least time and score; and means for switching said time/score display between display of time and display of team scores.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 7, further comprising means for clearing the display of team scores, said housing having a top face and a bottom face and said means for clearing being located on said top face of the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing has a top face and a bottom face and at least one side therebetween and said umpire's counter further comprises: a first switch on the at least one side of the housing for turning the counter on and off; a second switch for actuating the displays and for overriding the audible means on the at least one side of the housing; and a third switch for actuating the displays and the audible means on the at least one side of the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one side of the housing comprises a first portion engageable by the fingers of an operator's hand and a second portion generally being nonengageable by the fingers of the operator's hand when the counter is being held in the hand, the first portion of the side having the means for incrementing and the second portion of the side having the first switch, the second switch and the third switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 10, further comprising: a time/score display in said housing for sequentially displaying one of time, score and alarm set; means located on the top face of the housing for switching said time/score display between display of time and display of team scores and for setting an alarm to indicate a desired time; and a third switch located on the second portion of the side for turning the alarm on and off.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing has a top face and a bottom face, said counter further comprising means on the bottom face of the housing for holding the counter in a hand of an operator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 12, wherein said means for holding comprises a strap which encircles the hand of the operator and an adjustment means for adjusting the size of the strap to the operator's hand size.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 12, wherein said means for holding comprises a strap which encircles two of the fingers of the hand of the operator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for illuminating said balls display, said strikes display, said outs display and said innings display, said means for illuminating being operatively connected to said control means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, wherein the balls display, the strikes display, the outs display and the inning display are one of an LED and LCD.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
126 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is sized to be held in an operator's hand and generally has five sides, the means for incrementing comprises four buttons located on two of the sides of the housing, the button for incrementing the balls display being positioned for operation by the thumb of the user, the button for incrementing the strikes display being positioned for operation by the forefinger of the operator, the button for incrementing the outs display being positioned for operation by one of the forefinger and middle finger of the operator, and the button for incrementing the inning display being positioned for operation by the middle finger of the operator when the umpire's counter is held in the operator's hand.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, further comprising a clear button located on one of the two sides of the housing, said clear button clearing at least the balls and strikes display upon actuation thereof and said clear button being positioned for operation by the ring finger of the operator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, wherein the audible means emits a third tone when said outs display is incremented and a fourth tone when said inning display is incremented, each of said first, second, third and fourth tones being different from one another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means further determines if a predetermined number of innings has been played and whether one team is ahead by a predetermined score and thereafter provides an indication to the operator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least a time display in the housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The umpire's counter as recited in claim 21, wherein the time display further sequentially displays team scores and alarm set upon actuation of a means for switching the time display, said umpire's counter thereby having a time function, a score function and an alarm function.
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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) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |