Karate scoring apparatus

Claim 1

An adjustable pressure sensitive means employed to indicate valid strikes scored in a karate match between first and second contestants engaged in combat according to the martial art of karate, said pressure sensitive means comprising: first and second conductive elements with a slotted compressible insulation material located between said conductive elements, said first conductive element having projecting fingers located in said slots of said insulation material and extending part way through said slots of said insulation material, said insulation material being adjustable to compress in response to sufficient pressure being applied to said first element, and output means coupled to said first and second conductive elements for providing an output frequency, whereby upon sufficient pressure being applied to said first conductive element said insulation material compresses allowing said fingers to make electrical contact with said second conductive element such that said output frequency is provided.

Claim 11

An apparatus for scoring valid strikes in a karate match wherein first and second contestants engage in combat according to the martial art of karate, said apparatus capable of responding to a valid strike rendered by one contestant to a designated target area associated with the other contestant, said apparatus comprising: first means associated with the hands of said first and second contestants and operative to provide first distinct and different output frequencies when the hand of said contestant strikes a blow, with said output frequency of said first contestant providing a first frequency indicative of a hand strike and said second contestant providing a second frequency indicative of a hand strike, said first means including first adjustable pressure sensitive means having first and second conductive elements with a slotted compressible insulation material located between said conductive elements, said first conductive element having projecting fingers located in said slots of said insulation material and extending part way through said slots of said insulation material, said insulation material being adjustable to compress in response to sufficient pressure being applied to said first element, and output means coupled to said first and second conductive elements for providing an output frequency, whereby upon sufficient pressure being applied to said first conductive element said insulation material compresses allowing said fingers to make electrical contact with said second conductive element such that said output frequency is provided, second means including a first vest having an adjustable pressure sensitive target area coupled to a transmitter worn by said first contestant and a second vest having an adjustable pressure sensitive target area coupled to a transmitter worn by said second contestant and operative to provide distinct and different output frequencies when said target areas of said contestants are struck by a blow, said adjustable pressure sensitive target areas including second adjustable pressure sensitive means having first and second conductive elements with a slotted compressible insulation material located between said conductive elements, said first conductive element having projecting fingers located in said slots of said insulation material and extending part way through said slots of said insulation material, said insulation material being adjustable to compress in response to sufficient pressure being applied to said first element, and output means coupled to said first and second conductive elements for providing an output frequency, whereby upon sufficient pressure being applied to said first conductive element said insulation material compresses allowing said fingers to make electrical contact with said second conductive element such that said output frequency is provided, with said target area of said first contestant providing a third frequency output when struck and said target area of said second contestant providing a fourth output frequency when struck, means responsive to the presence of said first frequency and said fourth frequency outputs simultaneously to provide an output signal indicative of a valid blow struck by said first contestant and responsive to said second and third frequency outputs simultaneously to provide an output signal indicative of a valid blow struck by said second contestant whereby a valid output is provided when the hand of one contestant strikes the target area of said other contestant.

Claim 12

An apparatus for scoring valid strikes in a karate match wherein first and second contestants engage in combat according to the martial art of karate, said apparatus capable of responding to a valid strike rendered by one contestant to a designated target area associated with the other contestant, said apparatus comprising: first means associated with the hands of said first and second contestants and operative to provide first distinct and different output frequencies when the hand of said contestant strikes a blow, with said output frequency of said first contestant providing a first frequency indicative of a hand strike and said second contestant providing a second frequency indicative of a hand strike, said first means including first adjustable pressure sensitive means having first and second conductive elements with a slotted compressible insulation material located between said conductive elements, said first conductive element having projecting fingers located in said slots of said insulation material and extending part way through said slots of said insulation material, said insulation material being adjustable to compress in response to sufficient pressure being applied to said first element, and output means coupled to said first and second conductive elements for providing an output frequency, whereby upon sufficient pressure being applied to said first conductive element said insulation material compresses allowing said fingers to make electrical contact with said second conductive element such that said output frequency is provided, second means including a first vest having an adjustable pressure sensitive target area coupled to a transmitter worn by said first contestant and a second vest having an adjustable pressure sensitive target area coupled to a transmitter worn by said second contestant and operative to provide distinct and different output frequencies when said target areas of said contestants are struck by a blow, said adjustable pressure sensitive target areas including second adjustable pressure sensitive means having first and second conductive elements with a slotted compressible insulation material located between said conductive elements, said first conductive element having projecting fingers located in said slots of said insulation material and extending part way through said slots of said insulation material, said insulation material being adjustable to compress in response to sufficient pressure being applied to said first element, and output means coupled to said first and second conductive elements for providing an output frequency, whereby upon sufficient pressure being applied to said first conductive element said insulation material compresses allowing said fingers to make electrical contact with said second conductive element such that said output frequency is provided, with said target area of said first contestant providing a third frequency output when struck and said target area of said second contestant providing a fourth output frequency when struck, means responsive to the presence of said first frequency and said fourth frequency outputs simultaneously to provide an output signal indicative of a valid blow struck by said first contestant and responsive to said second and third frequency outputs simultaneously to provide an output signal indicative of a valid blow struck by said second contestant whereby a valid output is provided when the hand of one contestant strikes the target area of said other contestant.