GB2566666A

GB2566666A - Device for keeping score during a game

Info

Publication number: GB2566666A
Application number: GB1706726.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Houghton Kevin
Original assignee: Refstuff Ltd
Current assignee: Refstuff Ltd
Priority date: 2017-04-27
Filing date: 2017-04-27
Publication date: 2019-03-27
Also published as: GB201706726D0

Abstract

An electronic device 200 that can be carried by a person and used for keeping score during a game comprises: a display means for displaying information; and at least one control means 220-1 operable to adjust the displayed information; wherein the display means is arranged to display information in the form of a least two separately displayed values 210-1, 210-2, each displayed value being individually adjustable by said control means 220-1, whereby to represent the score in a game. The displayed information may represent a team or player, home team, score or which half is being played. The device may also function as a watch or stopwatch. The device is preferably worn by a referee.

Description

430

Device for keeping score during a game

The present invention relates to devices for keeping score during a game, such as a sports game. In particular, the invention relates to an electronic device having a display that is configured in particular for keeping score of a game, which device may be used by a referee, for example.

When refereeing a game, such as a football match, a referee has to assimilate and record multiple data during the course of the game, including - when a goal is scored keeping track of which team scored the goal, and the overall score. In the past, keeping score has been achieved simply by using manual means, such as writing in a notebook, or similar. However, a notebook is not always readily accessible ‘at a glance’, and in poor weather conditions, such as heavy rain or strong wind, a notebook may become damaged making it difficult to use, both to read information that has been recorded and to record further information. Other manually operated devices have been proposed for keeping score, but the functionality and adaptability offered by such devices is limited.

The present invention provides an improved device for keeping score. Aspects and embodiments of the present invention are set out in the appended claims. These and other aspects and embodiments of the invention are also described herein.

According to at least one aspect described herein, there is provided an electronic device for keeping score during a game, said device capable of being carried about a person and comprising: a display means for displaying information; and at least one control means operable to adjust the displayed information; wherein the display means is arranged to display information in the form of a least two separately displayed values, each displayed value being individually adjustable by said control means, whereby to represent the score in a game.

Preferably, each of said displayed values may be a numerical value, preferably wherein each of said values is an integer, for example wherein said displayed information is scorerelated information. The at least one control means may comprise a first control means operable to adjust a first one of said displayed values and a second control means operable to adjust a second one of said displayed values, for example when the device is in use during a game, for example wherein the first and second control means can be limited to said operations during the game.

The display means may be further arranged to display information for identifying a player or team to which each displayed value relates, preferably wherein said identifying information is associated with each of said separate displayed values capable, for example being in a common region of the display as the respective displayed value. For example, the identifying information may be at least one of: a colour, a word or a name, or an abbreviated word for a colour or an abbreviated name.

The display means may be further arranged to indicate which of the displayed values represents a team that is playing at their home venue or ground, for example by displaying an Ή”, and which of the displayed values represents the score of a team that is not playing at their home venue or ground, for example by displaying an “A”, preferably wherein the Ή” and “A” values are displayed in close proximity to, or at least such that they are clearly associated with, the relevant displayed value.

Preferably, the display means is capable of displaying any integer between 0 and 999 and/or one or more letter(s) of the alphabet. The display means may comprise a digital (or electronic) display. For example, the display means may comprise a seven-segment display. The display means may be further operable to be switched off, such that no information is displayed.

The display means may comprise a display area that may be partitioned (e.g. divided, separated) into at least two regions, preferably in which different information is displayed. For example, the display area may be partitioned into two regions, preferably of equal area, or a region (of the at least two regions) may be partitioned to provide two halves. Preferably, a first displayed value is displayed in a first half (or a region of the first half) of the display area and the second displayed value is displayed in a second half (or a region of the second half) of the display area.

The display means is further configured to display time-related information, which may be displayed in a further region of the display area. The time-related information may include both a first timer operable to count upwards (e.g. a “count-up” timer) and a second timer operable to count downwards (e.g. a “countdown” timer), preferably wherein said first and second timers may both be displayed on the display means at the same time, or alternatively wherein the display means may be switched (or “toggled”) quickly and easily between the first and second timers. Preferably, both the first and second timers are user-controllable to start or stop counting by a common control button being triggered. Preferably, a user may select a predetermined time value from a plurality of predetermined time periods, for example wherein said selection of a predetermined time period primes both the first and second timers to count upwards to and downwards from said predetermined time period, respectively.

The device may further comprise an alarm operable to be triggered when the first and second timers reach a waypoint in their counting, for example wherein the waypoint is particular period of time within the predetermined time value, such as halfway, and preferably wherein the alarm is at least one of: an audible alarm and a vibration alarm.

The device may further comprise an attachment means for attaching the display means to a wrist, for example a wrist-strap that can be affixed to the device and which can be secured around the wrist. The device may be further configured to function as a digital watch, for example which can display an actual/current time and/or date upon demand. In such an example, the device may be described as a (digital) watch having a score-keeping function (e.g. capability).

Preferably, the device comprises processing means, such as a micro-processor or micro-controller for example, configured to enable the device to perform the aspects I functions described herein. The aspects I functions described herein will be readilyimplemented by a person skilled in the art of programming such processing means.

The device may further be configured to transmit information to a remote receiver, and preferably to communicate information between the device and a remote server. Accordingly, the device may further comprise a transmitter and/or data communication means.

Any apparatus feature as described herein may be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. Furthermore, as used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure.

For example, a mentioned above, the display means may be an “electronic” or “digital” display (e.g. an LCD screen), such as can typically be found on a digital wristwatch. The display may comprise a “segment” display, comprising several segments that switch on and off to give appearance of desired alpha-numeric character or symbol. The display is, preferably, a seven-segment display. The segments are usually single LEDs or liquid crystals, and such displays are well-known.

The control means may be one or more buttons provided on the device, which may triggered by being depressed, as are commonly used in a digital wrist watch to control various functions. The display means may be further configured to provide “touch-screen” functionality so as to provide one or more control means.

As used herein, the term “carried about a person” preferably connotes that the device is of a suitable size and weight that it can be carried and/or worn by a person, such as a referee during a game. As used here, the term “electronic” (device) preferably connotes (a device) having or operating with an electrical signal. For example, when information supplied to a display has an electrical signal, the display may be called an “electronic” display. An “electronic” display may also be known a “digital” display.

The invention extends to a device substantially as described herein and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures. At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a device according to a first aspect;

Figure 2 shows a device according to a second aspect;

Figure 3 shows a device according to a third aspect; and

Figure 4 shows a device according to a fourth aspect.

The present invention provides a device, more preferably an electronic device, for keeping score during a game, and in particular a sports game. For ease of description, the device described below is configured to keep score during a football (“soccer”) game (“match”). It will, of course, be understood a device according to the present invention may be configured to keep score of various other types of game, which game may be played between two teams or two individuals, including (but not limited to) football, rugby, tennis, American football, basketball, for example.

In the following description and accompanying figures, corresponding features of different aspects are, preferably, referred to using corresponding reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary device 100 for keeping score according to a first aspect. The device 100 comprises a digital display 110 (e.g. “display means”), and four control buttons (e.g. “control means”) 120-1, 120-2, 120-3, 120-4 operable to control the information that is displayed on the display 110. The device 100 also comprises a microcontroller or micro-processor (e.g. “processor means”) (not shown), which is ideally located inside the device 100 out of sight, beneath the display 110.

The display 110 is shown divided into three main regions 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, the first two of which are arranged to show score information, and the third of which shows a countdown timer (indicated by “CDOWN”). The first two regions are split into equal-sized halves, each arranged to display score information and, preferably, identifying information relating to the “Home” or “Away” teams playing the game. The current I actual time (“08.50”) is also displayed in a region 110-4 positioned at the top of the display 110.

The first region 110-1 of the display 110 shows the score (“2”) for the “Home” (“H”) team, which is wearing a shirt I uniform that is identifiable by featuring the colour black (“BLK”), for example wherein black may be the predominant colour of the shirt I uniform, and/or the uniform may contain black stripes. The second region 110-2 of the display 110 shows the score (“1”) for the “Away” (“A”) team, which is wearing a uniform that is identifiable by featuring the colour red (“RED”), similarly wherein red is the predominant colour, for example. Thus, a referee can see the scores at a glance, and readily identify each score with the appropriate team.

The device 100 may be pre-loaded with a selection of colour descriptors (e.g. in text) that can be selected by a user to represent or identify a team, where each colour may be abbreviated using three letters, such as BLK, WHT, RED, BLU, GRN, YEL, PNK, ORG, GRY, for example. The device may further be operable to sore other abbreviations, for colours or otherwise, which may then be used-selected.

The displayed information is controlled by the four control buttons 120-1...120-4, which, in this example, control the following functions:

• 120-1: “ADUST” button - adjusts a selected value, such as a colour associate with the “Home” or “Away” team, or a predetermined timer value;

• 120-2: “MODE” button - allows a user to toggle through the various different modes and/or options;

• 120-3: “START/STOP” button - for starting I stopping a timer, such as the countdown timer; and • 120-4: “RESET” button - resets selected information, such as the countdown timer or a score.

The countdown timer function may offer a plurality of user-selectable, pre-set timer values from which the timer is programmed to count down, for example 45 minutes for a football game to represent the duration of a half of the game. Although not illustrated, the device 100 may also have a count-up timer function, again which may offer a plurality of user-selectable, pre-set timer values to which the timer is programmed to count up. For example, the device 100 may be programmed with 10 pre-set timer values, for example, 5, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 minutes, which can be userselected for the countdown and/or count-up timer(s).

Although not illustrated, the device 100 may also include a stopwatch function. The device 100 may be programmed such that a user can toggle between the countdown, count-up and/or stopwatch timer functions by pressing an appropriate control button, for example to cycle through the options. The timers are, ideally, configured to 1/100th of a second.

The device 100 may comprise a housing that provides water resistance to a depth of around 50m, for example, while enabling the control buttons 120-1...120-4 to be used to operate the device and allowing the display 110 to remain visible.

The device 100 may comprise a light (e.g. illumination means) that is operable to illuminate, at least in part, the display 110, preferably upon triggering by an appropriate control button. The light may be programmed to remain illuminated for a fixed duration, such as five seconds, for example. Alternatively, or in addition, at least part of the display 110 may comprise a luminescent coating that allows the displayed information to be read in poor light conditions, for example.

Figure 2 shows an example of a device 200 according to a second aspect. The device 200, optionally, has similar functionality to the device 100 of the first example with the difference being that it does not include a function for indicate a colour shirt (e.g. uniform, kit, strip) for the “Home” or “Away” teams, displayed in first and second regions 210-1, 210-2 of the display 210.

In addition to the four control buttons 220-1 ...220-4 previously described, the device 200 further includes a “LOCK SCREEN” control button 220-5 for altering the functionality of the device 200 such that only the scores displayed for each team can be adjusted, and the countdown timer displayed in the third region 210-3 of the display 210 can be stopped/started, for example.

In more detail, during a game, the functionality of the control buttons 220-1...220-4 may be restricted, such that they cannot perform their usual function, but instead such that two of the control buttons can add to the respective score shown in the first or second region 210-1, 210-2 of the display 210. For example, the “ADJUST” button 220-1 may be operable to allow adjustment of only the score of the “Home” team in the first region 21 ΟΙ of the display 210, and the “RESET” button 220-4 may be operable only to allow adjustment of the score of the “Away” team in the second region 210-2 of the display 210. In addition, a control button 220-3 may be operable to start/stop the stopwatch and/or countdown timer. Other configurations are of course possible. The “MODE” button 120-2 may be operable to toggle between the “unlocked” and “locked” function.

Again, a count-up timer and/or a stopwatch may also be provided, which features a user may make visible on the display 210 by toggling between functions using the appropriate control button. A strap (e.g. “attachment means) 230 is shown affixed to the device 200, for securing about the wrist of a user (e.g. a wrist strap) so as to secure the device 200 thereto.

Figure 3 shows an example of a device 300 according to a third aspect. The device 300, optionally, has similar functionality to the devices of the first and second examples 100, 200, with first and second regions 310-1, 310-2 of the display 310 being configured to display score information in relation to the “Home” and “Away” scores, respectively, and control buttons 320-1 ...320-5 provided to operate various features of the device 300.

The display 310 is further divided into third and fourth regions 310-3, 310-4 arranged to display both a count-up timer “C UP” in the third region 310-3 and a countdown time “C

DOWN” in the fourth region 310-4, at the same time. A strap 330 is also provided for securing the device to the wrist of a user.

Figure 4 shows a device 400 for keeping score according to a fourth example. The device 400, optionally, has the same functionality as the devices 100, 200, 300, with first and second regions 410-1, 410-2 of the display 410 being configured to display score information in relation to the “Home” and “Away” scores, respectively. A third region 4103 is provided for a timer function (e.g. countdown and/or count-up and/or stopwatch).

Furthermore, with this device 400, the team associated with each score may be identified by indicating the team colours using coloured lights 440-1, 440-2, for example light emitting diodes (LEDs). Preferably, LEDs may be used which can be controlled operable to display more than one different colour, for example white, red, blue, green, yellow, etc. The configuration of the control buttons 420-1...420-4 is also different in this example, with buttons 420-3, 420-4 being operable to change the colour displayed by the “Home” and “Away” lights 440-1, 440-2, respectively, and buttons 420-3, 420-4 being operable to change the scores of the “Home” and “Away” teams, respectively.

Further control buttons 420-6...420-8 are provided on the device 400 to provide the functionality of a “start” button 420-6, a “stop” button 420-7, and a “reset” button 420-8, in relation to the stopwatch and/or countdown timer(s).

The device may further comprise an alarm, preferably an audible and/or vibration alarm that triggers when the stopwatch timer reaches a predetermined time, such as half-time in a football game (e.g. 45 minutes). The alarm may additionally and/or alternatively trigger when the countdown timer reaches 0 minutes when counting down from 45 minutes, for example.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Any feature in a particular aspect described herein may be provided independently and/or applied to other aspects, in any appropriate combination. It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects described herein can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

Claims

1. An electronic device for keeping score during a game, said device capable of being carried about a person and comprising:

a display means for displaying information; and at least one control means operable to adjust the displayed information;

wherein the display means is arranged to display information in the form of a least two separately displayed values, each displayed value being individually adjustable by said control means, whereby to represent the score in a game.

2. The device of Claim 1, wherein each of said displayed values is a numerical value, preferably wherein each of said values is an integer, for example wherein said displayed information is score-related information.

3. The device of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one control means comprises a first control means operable to adjust a first one of said displayed values and a second control means operable to adjust a second one of said displayed values.

4. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the display means is further arranged to display information for identifying a player or team to which each displayed value relates, preferably wherein said identifying information is associated with each of said separate displayed values capable, for example being in a common region of the display as the respective displayed value.

5. The device of Claim 4, wherein the identifying information is at least one of: a colour, a word or a name, for example an abbreviated word for a colour or an abbreviated name.

6. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the display means is further arranged to indicate which of the displayed values represents a team or player that is playing at their home venue.

7. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the display means is capable of displaying any integer between 0 and 999 and/or one or more letters of the alphabet, for example wherein the display means is a digital display.

8. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the display means comprises a display area partitioned into at least two regions, preferably in which different information is displayed, for example two halves in which a first displayed value is displayed in a first half of the display area and the second displayed value is

5 displayed in a second half of the display area.

9. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein said display means is further configured to display time-related information.

10 10. The device of Claim 9, wherein said time-related information includes both a first timer operable to count upwards and a second timer operable to count downwards, preferably wherein said first and second timers are both displayed on the display means at the same time.

15

11. The device of Claim 10, wherein both the first and second timers are usercontrollable to start or stop counting by a common control means being triggered.

12. The device of Claim 11, wherein a user may select a predetermined time value from a plurality of predetermined time periods, and wherein said selection of a

20 predetermined time period primes both the first and second timers to count upwards to and downwards from said predetermined time period, respectively.

13. The device of any of Claims 10 to 12, further comprising an alarm operable to be triggered when the first and second timers reach a waypoint in their counting, for

25 example wherein the waypoint is particular period of time within the predetermined time value, such as halfway, and preferably wherein the alarm is at least one of: an audible alarm and a vibration alarm.

14. The device of any of the preceding claims, further comprising an attachment means

30 for attaching the display means to a wrist.

15. The device of any of the preceding claims, further configured to function as a digital watch.