US5214491A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for determining the position of a football during a football game
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-05-16
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Granted: 1993-05-25
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Expires: 2011-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for determining the position of a ball on a playing field during a game, for example a football in the game of American rules football, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a guide ramp having a length corresponding to the first down distance, having sighting lasers at each end and a spotting laser that moves along the guide ramp. At the beginning of a first down series, the guide ramp is moved to and anchored at a position at which one of the sighting lasers projects a mark corresponding to the position of the ball. If a play then occurs in which the ball is advanced to a location within the first down distance, the spotting laser is moved along the guide ramp until its projected mark corresponds to the position of the ball; if a loss-of-yardage play occurs in which the ball is located outside of the first down distance, the initial sighting laser can be removed from the guide ramp and moved to the ball location, connected to the guide ramp by way of a chain. A meter may be connected to the spotting laser to measure and display the distance from either or both ends of the guide ramp (yards advanced, yards to go).
Inventors
- 👤 James D. Snowden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:29
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/06; A63B71/0605; G; G01; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for determining a location of a ball on a playing field relative to a distance required according to the rules of a game, the required distance having a starting point and an ending point, comprising: a guide ramp having a length corresponding to the required distance; movable support means for supporting said guide ramp and movable with said guide ramp along the playing field; a spotting laser movably disposed on said guide ramp so that it can travel therealong, said spotting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the position of the ball on the playing field; and a first sighting laser located at a first end of said guide ramp, for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the ending point of the required distance for a first direction of travel of the ball.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for determining a location of a ball on a playing field relative to a distance required according to the rules of a game, the required distance having a starting point and an ending point, comprising: a guide ramp having a length corresponding to the required distance; movable support means for supporting said guide ramp and movable with said guide ramp along the playing field; a spotting laser movably disposed on said guide ramp so that it can travel therealong, said spotting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the position of the ball on the playing field; and a first sighting laser located at a first end of said guide ramp, for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the ending point of the required distance for a first direction of travel of the ball.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second sighting laser located at a second end of said guide ramp, for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the starting point of the required distance for the first direction of travel of the ball.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first and second sighting lasers are each for projecting the starting point and ending point, respectively, of the required distance for a second direction of travel of the ball opposite the first direction of travel of the ball.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: anchor pins, for securing the location of said guide ramp to the playing field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a yardage meter coupled to said spotting laser, for indicating a distance from an end of said guide ramp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support means comprises: first and second uprights, connected to first and second ends of said guide ramp, for supporting said guide ramp at a height above the surface of the playing field; and means, connected to said uprights and in contact with the field, for guiding the movement of the first and second uprights along the playing field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said guiding means comprises wheels.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
227 words
A method for determining a position of a ball on a playing field during a game relative to a required distance according to the rules of the game, the game having discrete game events involving motion of the ball, and the required distance having a starting point and an ending point, comprising: projecting a mark onto the playing field at a first position of the ball, using a first sighting laser, said first sighting laser located at a first end of a guide ramp, said guide ramp having a length corresponding to the required distance and having a spotting laser located thereon which is operable to project a mark onto the playing field; after a first game event during which the position of the ball moves in a first direction to a location within the required distance, moving said spotting laser along said guide ramp until the mark projected by said spotting laser onto the playing field corresponds to the position of the ball; and after a second game event during which the position of the ball moves in a second direction to a location outside of the required distance and behind the location of the first sighting laser, removing said first sighting laser from said guide ramp and moving it until the mark projected by said first sighting laser corresponds to the position of the ball.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
227 words
A method for determining a position of a ball on a playing field during a game relative to a required distance according to the rules of the game, the game having discrete game events involving motion of the ball, and the required distance having a starting point and an ending point, comprising: projecting a mark onto the playing field at a first position of the ball, using a first sighting laser, said first sighting laser located at a first end of a guide ramp, said guide ramp having a length corresponding to the required distance and having a spotting laser located thereon which is operable to project a mark onto the playing field; after a first game event during which the position of the ball moves in a first direction to a location within the required distance, moving said spotting laser along said guide ramp until the mark projected by said spotting laser onto the playing field corresponds to the position of the ball; and after a second game event during which the position of the ball moves in a second direction to a location outside of the required distance and behind the location of the first sighting laser, removing said first sighting laser from said guide ramp and moving it until the mark projected by said first sighting laser corresponds to the position of the ball.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 8, further comprising: after a third game event during which the position of the ball advances to a first down location beyond the required distance, moving said guide ramp until the mark projected by said first sighting laser corresponds to said first down location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising: projecting a mark onto the playing field with a second sighting laser located at a second of said guide ramp, to project an indication of the end of the required distance onto the playing field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the game is American rules football; and further comprising: after a game event in which possession of the ball changes from one team to another, moving said guide ramp until the mark projected by said second sighting laser corresponds to the position of the ball.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising: displaying the position of the spotting laser relative to one of the first and second ends of said guide ramp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising: after said step of moving the guide ramp, anchoring said guide ramp to the playing field.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
216 words
An apparatus for determining a location of a ball on a playing field relative to a distance required according to the rules of a game, the required distance having a starting point and an ending point, comprising: a guide ramp having a length corresponding to the required distance; support means for supporting said guide ramp so that the guide ramp can be moved along the playing field; a spotting laser movably disposed on said guide ramp so that it can travel therealong, said spotting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the position of the ball on the playing field; a first sighting laser located at a first end of said guide ramp, for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the ending point of the required distance for a first direction of travel of the ball; and a second sighting laser located at a second end of said guide ramp, for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the starting point of the required distance for the first direction of travel of the ball and first and second bulls eyes, located near said first and second sighting lasers, for providing a visual indication to the playing field of the position of said first and second sighting lasers.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
216 words
An apparatus for determining a location of a ball on a playing field relative to a distance required according to the rules of a game, the required distance having a starting point and an ending point, comprising: a guide ramp having a length corresponding to the required distance; support means for supporting said guide ramp so that the guide ramp can be moved along the playing field; a spotting laser movably disposed on said guide ramp so that it can travel therealong, said spotting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the position of the ball on the playing field; a first sighting laser located at a first end of said guide ramp, for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the ending point of the required distance for a first direction of travel of the ball; and a second sighting laser located at a second end of said guide ramp, for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the starting point of the required distance for the first direction of travel of the ball and first and second bulls eyes, located near said first and second sighting lasers, for providing a visual indication to the playing field of the position of said first and second sighting lasers.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
285 words
An apparatus for determining a location of a ball on a playing field relative to a distance required according to the rules of a game, the required distance having a starting point and an ending point, comprising: a guide ramp having a length corresponding to the required distance; support means for supporting said guide ramp so that the guide ramp can be moved along the playing field; a spotting laser movably disposed on said guide ramp so that it can travel therealong, said spotting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the position of the ball on the playing field; first and second sighting lasers located at first and second ends of said guide ramp, respectively, said first sighting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the ending point of the required distance for a first direction of travel of the ball, said second sighting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the starting point of the required distance for the first direction of travel of the ball, said first and second sighting lasers for projecting the starting point and ending point, respectively, of the required distance for a second direction of travel of the ball opposite the first direction of travel of the ball; and a chain extendable from said guide ramp to a location beyond the first and second ends of said guide ramp; wherein each of said first and second sighting lasers are connected to said chain and may be removed from the ends of said guide ramp, and are for projecting a mark on the playing field corresponding to the position of the ball outside of the required distance.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
285 words
An apparatus for determining a location of a ball on a playing field relative to a distance required according to the rules of a game, the required distance having a starting point and an ending point, comprising: a guide ramp having a length corresponding to the required distance; support means for supporting said guide ramp so that the guide ramp can be moved along the playing field; a spotting laser movably disposed on said guide ramp so that it can travel therealong, said spotting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the position of the ball on the playing field; first and second sighting lasers located at first and second ends of said guide ramp, respectively, said first sighting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the ending point of the required distance for a first direction of travel of the ball, said second sighting laser for projecting a mark onto the playing field corresponding to the starting point of the required distance for the first direction of travel of the ball, said first and second sighting lasers for projecting the starting point and ending point, respectively, of the required distance for a second direction of travel of the ball opposite the first direction of travel of the ball; and a chain extendable from said guide ramp to a location beyond the first and second ends of said guide ramp; wherein each of said first and second sighting lasers are connected to said chain and may be removed from the ends of said guide ramp, and are for projecting a mark on the playing field corresponding to the position of the ball outside of the required distance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3741662A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-24 | 1996-11-23 | 1997-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-24 | 2000-11-23 | 2001-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-24 | 2004-11-23 | 2005-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |