GB2455884A - Tennis net height measuring device - Google Patents

Tennis net height measuring device Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2455884A
GB2455884A GB0724364A GB0724364A GB2455884A GB 2455884 A GB2455884 A GB 2455884A GB 0724364 A GB0724364 A GB 0724364A GB 0724364 A GB0724364 A GB 0724364A GB 2455884 A GB2455884 A GB 2455884A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
net
height
tennis net
electronic device
tennis
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0724364A
Other versions
GB2455884B (en
GB0724364D0 (en
Inventor
Philip John Anderson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0724364.5A priority Critical patent/GB2455884B/en
Publication of GB0724364D0 publication Critical patent/GB0724364D0/en
Publication of GB2455884A publication Critical patent/GB2455884A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2455884B publication Critical patent/GB2455884B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B61/00—Tennis nets or accessories for tennis or like games, e.g. volley-ball
    • A63B61/04—Straining or adjusting devices for nets, e.g. centre strainers, single-double adjusters, net height meters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C5/00—Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S15/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems
    • G01S15/88—Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S17/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S17/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
    • G01S17/88—Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/06—Indicating or scoring devices for games or players, or for other sports activities
    • A63B71/0619—Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
    • A63B71/0622—Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
    • A63B2071/0625—Emitting sound, noise or music
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/06—Indicating or scoring devices for games or players, or for other sports activities
    • A63B71/0619—Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
    • A63B71/0622—Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
    • A63B2071/0625—Emitting sound, noise or music
    • A63B2071/0627—Emitting sound, noise or music when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
    • A63B2102/02—Tennis
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2225/00—Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment
    • A63B2225/74—Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights

Abstract

An electronic measuring device 7 with audible and or visual indication which in use can be placed on or astride the top of a tennis net and which will indicate the height of the tennis net above the ground. Preferably the measurements are taken using ultrasound, LASER or infra red technology. Optionally the device may include a display 9 to indicate the measured height and include an audible indication. Logic means can be provided for receiving signals from sensors and control buttons 10a-d and for driving a display or sound generating device. The device can have multiple sensors and may indicate if it is incorrectly mounted on the tennis net.

Description

1 2455884
A TENNIS NET HEIGHT MEASURING DEVICE
The present invention is an electronic device capable of being placed upon and measuring the height of tennis net, particularly but not exclusively the height at the centre of the net.
The rules of tennis are set out by the International Tennis Federation and in particular the Federation has a set of regulations which apply to the height of a
tennis net which in summary are as outlined below.
The court shall be divided across the middle by a net suspended by a cord or metal cable which shall pass over or be attached to two net posts at a height of three and a half feet and the net shall be of sufficiently small mesh so that the ball cannot pass through it.
The height of the net shall be three feet at the centre where it shall be held down tightly by a strap which is usually connected to the floor. A white band shall cover the top of the net and the previously mentioned strap should also be white. There are additional regulations concerning the dimensions of the bands which are irrelevant to the present invention.
The courts are usually marked both for doubles and for singles games and for doubles matches the net posts must be three feet outside of the doubles court on each side. For singles matches similarly it is a requirement that the net posts be three feet outside of the singles court.
However it is common to use a doubles net for singles matches and this requires that the net shall be supported at a height of three and a half feet by two singles sticks the centres of which shall be three feet outside of the singles court on each side. Tolerances are not given by the International Tennis Federation the requirement being that the centre of the net be at 3 feet exactly.
However, It is quite common at many public tennis courts for the net to be improperly adjusted and it is well known that small changes in the height of the net can significantly change the difficulties encountered in keeping the ball in play. A net that is too high makes it much more difficult to clear the net without risking the ball landing out of bounds. A net which is too low will allow shots to be played at greater pace or at greater angles then would normally be the case if the net were to be at the correct height.
If a tennis net is just one inch too high it will have the same effect on a players service as shortening the service box by seven inches. Accuracy is therefore very important and most regular tennis players can detect an improperly adjusted tennis net quite quickly.
There are many examples in the art of devices for measuring the height of tennis nets. Typically there are variations on the design of the centre strap some of which incorporate a height measuring device much like a custom designed measuring tape. There are also many different examples of height sticks for placing at the centre of the net some of which are sectional for ease of transportation. It is also well known to use chain or cord based measuring devices so that they can be easily carried.
However, each of the devices so far mentioned are mechanical in nature and are not easily used, some of them require modifications to the court or the net before they can be used.
It is an object of the present invention to improve on the existing devices which are provided for measuring the height of a tennis net. The present invention provides an electronic device which can be simply placed upon the net particularly but not exclusively at the centre of the net. The device will then measure the correct distance from the top of the net to the floor and either a simple reading can be taken of the exact height of the net which is indicated by a suitable display or a warning can be sounded which conveys information about when the net is at the correct or incorrect height. Different warnings could be sounded for example, for nets which are over or under the correct height.
A means of switching off the said audible warning may be provided and in addition to, or instead of, an audible net height warning, there may be a visual indication additional to any form of display which is preferably but not exclusively issued by suitably positioned LED's.
According to a first feature of the invention there is provided an electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net which in use is placed on top of the net at the centre and which measures the height of the net by use of electronic distance sensing means.
According to a second feature of the invention there is provided an electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net in accordance with the first feature where the said distance sensing means includes ultrasound, laser, or infra red technology to measure the height of the net.
According to a third feature of the invention there is provided an electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net in accordance with any previous feature which has display for indicating the measured height of the tennis net.
According to a fourth feature of the invention there is provided an electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net in accordance with any previous feature which has an audible or visual indication of the net height.
According to a fifth feature of the invention there is provided an electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net in accordance with any previous feature which has control buttons to enable a user to control the operation of the device.
According to a sixth feature of the invention there is provided an electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net in accordance with any previous feature which has logic means for receiving signal from any sensors and control buttons and driving the display.
According to a seventh feature of the invention there is provided an electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net in accordance with any previous feature which has multiple sensors.
According to a eighth feature of the invention there is provided an electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net in accordance with any previous feature which has logic means for comparing the inputs from multiple sensors for the purpose of calculating the correct height of the tennis net.
According to a ninth feature of the invention there is provided an electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net in accordance with any previous feature which has means for detecting if the device is mounted correctly on the tennis net.
The invention will now be more particularly explained, by way of example with reference to the attached drawings in which: -Figure 1 Is a view of a tennis net showing the centre strap Figure 2 Is one example only of many different ways of presenting the invention.
Figure 3 Is a block diagram of the typical elements which could be included in the invention.
Referring now to figure 1, a typical tennis net 1, is illustrated with posts 2a and 2b and a centre strap 3. The court markings are also shown, 6 being the centre line, 5a and 5b being the singles court and 4a and 4b, being the doubles court.
Figure 2 shows a typical device 7, but is only an example of one of many different presentations, shape and sizes which may be used.
The device 7, is placed on the net so that the top of the net is seated in groove 8. Various control buttons are shown at 10 and a display is shown at 9.
Typically the buttons lOa to lOd would include on/off functions, reset, possibly an imperial to metric convert function, an operate button and a means of switching off the audible warning device.
Sensors (not shown) at the bottom of the device would measure the height. If there were 4 sensors then measurement would be taken at 1 la to lid.
However there may be any number of sensors.
Sensor technology is not specified in the specification because there are many well know technologies which can be used and these technologies are already widely used is different fields. It is not the purpose of this present invention to improve on those technologies.
Internally the invention typically contains the elements shown in Figure 3 where the control buttons 10 and the display 9 are shown connected to the Logic unit 13. Also connected to the logic unit are battery 12 and audible sounder 14. At the bottom of the illustration the transducers are shown and these may be any type depending on the technology which is to be used to perform the measuring.
Visual indication is provided by means of suitable LED's positioned so that they may be seen from the area of the net support posts. This provision is not shown on the drawings.
There are many other possible configurations and a number of illustrations could have been shown for example the device could have simply hooked on to one side of the net with a body shape similar to a pocket calculator and in that case would not have the four sensors shown in the present example.
It will therefore be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the example shown and the scope of the present invention is intended to be limited only by the claims appended to this specification.

Claims (8)

1. An electronic device for measuring the height of a tennis net which is adapted to receive the top of a tennis net so that in use the said device can be placed on or astride the top of a tennis net and which device includes means by which measurements can be taken which indicate the height of the top of the said tennis net above the ground.
2. An electronic device according to claim 1 in which the said means by which measurements are taken includes ultrasound, laser or infra red technology.
3. An electronic device according to any previous claim in which a display is included for indicating at least the measured height of the said tennis net.
4. An electronic device according to any previous claim which includes an audible indication.
5. An electronic device according to any previous claim which includes control buttons which in use enable a user to control the operation of S... * SS * *
*.* the said device. * S
6. An electronic device according to any previous claim which includes logic S.....
*. 20 means for receiving signals from sensors and control buttons and for 5:::': driving a display and any sound generating device.
7. An electronic device according to any previous claim which has multiple sensors
8. An electronic device according to any previous claim which has means for indicating if the device is not mounted correctly on the tennis net.
GB0724364.5A 2007-12-14 2007-12-14 A tennis net height measuring device Expired - Fee Related GB2455884B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0724364.5A GB2455884B (en) 2007-12-14 2007-12-14 A tennis net height measuring device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0724364.5A GB2455884B (en) 2007-12-14 2007-12-14 A tennis net height measuring device

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0724364D0 GB0724364D0 (en) 2008-01-23
GB2455884A true GB2455884A (en) 2009-07-01
GB2455884B GB2455884B (en) 2012-01-18

Family

ID=39016545

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0724364.5A Expired - Fee Related GB2455884B (en) 2007-12-14 2007-12-14 A tennis net height measuring device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2455884B (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4205840A (en) * 1978-09-14 1980-06-03 Blevins Charles G Net height measuring systems
GB2090410A (en) * 1980-12-30 1982-07-07 Star Products Ltd Measuring distance
US4509749A (en) * 1979-12-10 1985-04-09 Robinson Philip I Tennis net tie down and height measurement device
US5815251A (en) * 1993-05-15 1998-09-29 Leica Geosystems Ag Device for distance measurement

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4205840A (en) * 1978-09-14 1980-06-03 Blevins Charles G Net height measuring systems
US4509749A (en) * 1979-12-10 1985-04-09 Robinson Philip I Tennis net tie down and height measurement device
GB2090410A (en) * 1980-12-30 1982-07-07 Star Products Ltd Measuring distance
US5815251A (en) * 1993-05-15 1998-09-29 Leica Geosystems Ag Device for distance measurement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2455884B (en) 2012-01-18
GB0724364D0 (en) 2008-01-23

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Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20120418