FR2667510A1 - Device intended for taking part in a novel individual or team sports game - Google Patents

Abstract

Device and its variants, intended for capturing, memorising and automatically displaying data relating to certain phases of a novel sports game including, principally, an emitter (3) housed usually within a ball (1) and a receiver (6) carried by the player. When the distance (4) separating a player located at B. from his ball (1) located at A. is equal to or smaller than that fixed by the rule of the game, the receiver (6) captures and records at (7) the signal (5) diffused by the emitter (3) in a code individual to it. An optional receiver (8), located at C, at a distance greater than (4), permits the repetition of the same recording at (10), under the code (9) individual to each emitter.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device and accessories intended for the exercise of a new sports game which can be practiced individually or in a team and which particularly associates a ball with technologies such as electronics in particular.

 The device which is the subject of the invention is intended for counting and recording certain phases of the game and especially the time during which each player is in the immediate vicinity or in contact with his ball, this counting intervening in the determination of his score .

 The game using the device and accessories that are the subject of the invention is preferably played on fairly large terrain, chosen or arranged to offer a varied configuration combining all or part of the following topographic and physical components: flat and uneven parts, meadow, wood, sandy, marshy areas, etc., body of water, natural or artificial obstacles such as rock gardens, mounds, ditches, etc.

 The game consists, for each player (or team) to drive a ball belonging to him from one point to another on this field using, according to general or particular conventions, feet and / or hands, this in one minimum time and manual shoots and / or throws.

 The distance between the starting and ending points can be from a few hundred to a few thousand meters. The point of arrival can be materialized by two masts or stakes representing a door whose crossing by the balloon ends each course.

 According to general or party-specific conventions, players may or may not be free to take an itinerary of their choice to lead their ball from the starting point to the finishing point. Imposed or not, this route is determined according to a strategy itself dictated by the configuration of the terrain, the distance to be covered, the climatic conditions, the physical form of the player (s), etc.

 The game can also be played on facilities such as ashes, football fields, rugby, cricket, golf, etc.

 The route to be taken may be marked; include an agreed number of laps, etc ...

 The winner of the game is the player (or team) having achieved the time at the end of the course, the highest by difference or the lowest by addition: 10 of that used to lead his ball from the starting point to the point d 'arrival, 20 during which he will be in contact with or in the immediate vicinity of his balloon. This second time, counted and recorded by the device that is the subject of the invention, can be assigned a weighting coefficient corresponding to the class of each player or team.

 The device which is the subject of the invention can also express directly in points, according to an agreed equivalence, the duration of the recorded game phases. The score of each player (or team) is then expressed by the sum or the difference: 1 "of his journey time expressed in seconds or any other unit of time, 20 of the number of points deducted and recorded by the device.

 According to one of its variants, the device object of the invention can also count and record the number of shots and / or manual throws caused by the movement of the ball, in order to take it into account in determining the score. each player (or team).

 To allow the counting and recording of the time spent by each player in contact or within the fixed proximity limits of his ball - or the number of points corresponding to this time - ball and player (s) are respectively equipped with parts of the device object of the invention.

 On the one hand, the balloon is equipped with a wave emitter which can be advantageously but not restrictively radioelectric, most often installed inside its envelope, in conaitions sheltering it from any aggression which could harm to its normal operation and more particularly to shocks, humidity, etc ...

 On the other hand and in addition, each player called to drive this ball carries the second part of the device-object of the invention, consisting of a receiver of signals from the transmitter fitted to his ball.

 Each receiver has the function of automatically receiving and recording, within determined proximity limits, the signals coming from the only transmitter with which it is associated. Several receivers, carried in particular by members of the same team, can on the other hand receive and record the signals coming from the same transmitter.

 Each receiver can be provided with means for displaying the recognition code of the transmitter of which it is the complement, the proximity time - translated or not into points - with the balloon equipped with this transmitter, and the number of shots and / or manual throws caused by the movement of said ball.

 A visual and / or audible signal may accompany the triggering and / or interruption of the transmission and / or reception of the signals.

 The ball can be mainly round or oval in shape and preferably bright in color, to facilitate its identification and recovery during the game, in particular in the wild.

 The advantages and characteristics of the invention appear from the following description, which refers to the accompanying drawings.

 For a good understanding of the game and the device which are the subject of the invention, fig. 1 is a block diagram of A. the balloon with its envelope (1) within which, substantially at its center of gravity, is coated in a heavy material and any light (2), the transmitter (3).

 When the distance (4) separating the player located at B.

of its balloon located at A. is equal to or less than an agreed measurement and according to which the elements of the device are adjusted, the signal (5) emitted by the transmitter (3) is automatically picked up by the receiver (6) fitted the player located at B.

 Conversely, the reception or emission of the signal (5) is automatically interrupted when the distance (4) separating the player at B. from his ball at A. becomes greater than the agreed measurement.

 A code, specific to each transmitter (3), allows its identification by the receiver (6) which cannot record a signal emanating from another transmitter. Several receivers (6) can however receive the signal from the same transmitter, provided that they have been previously adjusted accordingly.

 The recording by the receiver (6) is materialized using diodes, liquid crystals or any other display method, digital or otherwise, on a screen or in a window (7) in order to allow the player to follow permanently its own score.

 The capture in B. by the receiver (6) and the display to which it gives rise on the screen (7), can optionally be repeated in C., at any distance from A.

and of B., either from the transmitter (3), or from a repetition of its signals by the receiver (6) having in this case an additional function of transmitter.

 The secondary receiver (8) located in C. then displays in (10), under the code appearing in (9), specific to each transmitter (3), the score of the corresponding player (or team), thus making it possible to remotely follow the progress of a game for all the players (or teams) playing it.

 Various methods can be used to install the transmitter, preferably substantially at the center of gravity of the balloon. Figures 2 to 7 show, by way of example and without limitation, 4 different installation modes.

 As shown in section, fig. 2, a variant of the invention consists in coating the transmitter (3) in a volume of plastic or rubberized foam (12), shaped in order to be associated with an inflatable tube (13) disposed around its periphery, between its external face (14) and the interior of the envelope (1) of the balloon. The pressurization of the din (13) thus has the effect, in addition to allowing the ball to rebound, to wedge by compressing the volume of foam (12) at the same time as the transmitter (3) housed therein, substantially at the center of gravity of the balloon.

 The energy necessary for the operation of the transmitter (3) being advantageously supplied by a battery associated with it, the recharging of this battery, as well as the command to start and stop the transmitter (3) can be provided by means of conductive wires (15) leading to a socket and / or a switch (16) located near the valve (17) for inflating the tube (13).

 According to another variant of the invention shown in sections perpendicular to one another in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inner envelope (18) of the balloon consists of a substantially spherical inflatable bladder and having on its axis a free passage (19) whose walls are common to that of the bladder (18).

 The transmitter (3) being introduced therein is immobilized, substantially at the center of gravity of the balloon (1), due to the tightening of the walls of the passage (19) under the effect of the inflation pressure of the bladder ( 18).

 The conductors (15) take the passage (19) to reach the socket and / or the switch (16) located near the bladder inflation valve (17).

According to another variant of the invention shown in section in FIG. 5, the transmitter (3) is installed within the interior volume (24) of the balloon (1), or of its inner envelope when it has one, using a cross
a lon comprising at least 3 to 4 branches (20) of piano wire to which it is integral, at the intersection of these branches, which is located substantially at the center of gravity of the ball.

 The branches (20) of the spider, folded for introduction inside the balloon, or of its inner envelope when it has one, are deployed there under the effect of their elasticity. Each of their ends, shaped as rounded sticks (19), bear at as many points on the inner wall of the balloon, or on its inner envelope when it has one.

 The conductors (15) lead to the socket and / or to the switch (16) arranged in the valve (17) for inflating the balloon, or of its inner envelope when it has one.

 According to another variant of the invention shown in exploded view fig. 6 and in perspective fig. 7, the balloon consists of a volume of elastic foam (21) of generally spherical shape. The transmitter (3) is placed there in a housing (22) matching the external shapes.

 The foam volume (21) consists of several parts, at least one of the contact planes passing through the center of gravity of the total volume that they constitute. The housing (22) is arranged there so that the mass of the transmitter (3) which it is intended to contain is symmetrically distributed with respect to this center of gravity.

 The constituent parts of the volume of the ball are advantageously coated, on their face (1) participating in the external delimitation of this volume, with a coating or an envelope ensuring protection. The assembly and maintenance ae these constituent parts together can take place by various methods such as gluing, stapling, lacing (23), this statement, provided by way of example, not being limiting.

 The conducting wires (15) providing access to the power supply system and / or to the transmitter start and stop control (3), run between two contiguous parts, constituting the volume of the balloon and terminate to the socket and / or to the switch (16), at any point on their junction line, on the external face (1) of the ball.

 According to other variants of the invention, the ball is replaced by a ball, a puck, a disc, etc ... or any other object capable of being moved by one or more players, using their feet and / or with their hands, using, if necessary, accessories such as racket, club, bat, mallet, etc. These accessories, as well as the gloves and / or shoes-worn by the players can then be equipped with all or part of the elements of the device which is the subject of the invention with a view to exchanging a signal between transmitter and receiver under the effect of contacts between ball, ball, puck, disc, etc. of a on the other hand gloves, shoes, clothing and clothing accessories worn by players as well as racket, club, bat, mallet, etc ...

 The technologies and methods which can be used for the production of the device and accessories which are the subject of the invention are mainly electronics and low power radio transmission, however, the transmission, reception, counting and recording of data in question can also be obtained by other processes such as electrical contacts and pulses, infrared radiation, ultrasound, mechanical contacts, etc.

 The relationship between ball, ball, etc ... and player (s) may give rise to observation and scoring of scores by followers, witnesses, referees, etc ... and such a method being neither reliable nor practical. device and accessories objects of the invention can then intervene as a means of controlling these observations and counting.

 The device which is the subject of the invention as well as the accessories constituting the compulsory (ball, ball, etc.) or optional complement (special clothing in particular) are intended for the practice of a new sport or game akin to golf. (by the possible design of the required pitches and the type of relationship between player, ball, course duration, number of strokes played, etc.), in football and handball as well as in rugby (driving and ball control using feet and / or hands), jogging, cross-country, long-distance running, etc.

 With simple rules, easy to memorize and apply, this sports entertainment is situated in relation to the natural environment and can interest a very large number of people, of all conditions, ages and abilities, thereby determining a particularly potential market. important.

 The device which is the subject of the invention is also applicable to any field other than sports and games, when a random proximity time between any two objects, operators or subjects, both of which are mobile, must be measured. , transmitted, captured, displayed, memorized, etc ...

Claims (9)

 1. Device intended for the practice of a new sports game, characterized in that it comprises at least two distinct and complementary elements between them, the first being a ball, a ball or any other object capable of being moved by a player using his feet and / or his hands, directly or through a racket, club, mallet, etc., associated with a transmitter (3) with its source energy, generally consisting of an electric battery, possibly rechargeable, connected to a socket and / or to a switch (16) by the conductors (15) ending near a hatch arranged in any place of the envelope ( 1) sealed from the balloon and most often arranged in its center of gravity, within a material (2) such as polystyrene beads, sawdust, fiber, etc., protected by the sealed envelope (1), and the second a receiver (6) carried by the player and endowed with its own energy source, constit most often from a battery associated with a switch, and equipped with the screen or the display window (7).  2. Device according to claim 1. above, characterized in that the transmitter (3) equipping the ball, the ball, etc ... broadcasts during the game, uninterruptedly, a signal (5), the most often radioelectric, timed and including an identification code specific to the transmitter (3) and to the balloon with which it is associated.  3. Device according to claim 1. above, characterized in that the signal (5) is automatically picked up, exclusively under the effect of the code specific to the transmitter (3), by one or more receiver (s) (6 ), when the distance (4) between transmitter (3), in A. and receiver (s) (6), in B. is equal to or less than that fixed by the rule of the game, this reception is automatically interrupted when the distance (4) becomes again greater than that fixed, the time during which transmitter (3) and receiver (s) (6) are located in this proximity limit giving rise to display by means of liquid crystals, or any comparable means, on the screen (7) of the receiver (s) (6) set (s) to the code of the transmitter ( 3).  4. Device according to all of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be added to it by C., at any distance from A. and B., a secondary receiver (8) receiving, directly or indirectly, the signals emanating from several transmitters (3) and displaying under the code (9) specific to each of them them, the data (10) generally received at the same time by the receivers (6) carried by the players and on which appear in (7) their respective scores.  5. Variant of the invention according to claim 1. and 2. above characterized in that the balloon or the ball (fig. 2) are lined with a volume of foam (12) associated with an inflatable tube (13) occupying the free space between the foam (12) and the envelope (1) of the balloon or ball and wedging, under the effect of its inflation pressure, the volume of foam (12) as well as the emitter ( 3) disposed in its center, substantially at the center of gravity of the ball or the ball, the conductive wires (15) connecting the transmitter (3) to the socket and / or to the switch (16) passing through the foam (12) to terminate on the surface of the outer envelope (1) of the ball or ball, preferably near the inflation valve (17) of the tube (13).  6. Variant of the invention according to claim 1. and 2. above, characterized in that the ball or the ball (fig. 3 and 4) comprises an inflatable inner envelope (18), of generally spherical shape in the axis of which is formed a free passage (19) whose wall is common to that of the envelope (18) and inside which the transmitter (3) is introduced and maintained, substantially at the center of gravity of the ball or the ball, under the effect of the inflation pressure of the casing (18), the conducting wires (15) connecting the transmitter (3) to the socket and / or to the switch (16) passing through the passage (19) to reach the surface of the outer casing (him) of the ball or the ball, preferably near the inflation valve (17) of the inner envelope (18).  7. Variant of the invention according to claims 1 and 2. above, characterized in that the interior space (24) of the balloon or the ball (fig. 5) admits a crosspiece in piano cord whose branches (20), at least 3 to 4, at the intersection of which the emitter (3) is fixed, bending for introduction inside the ball or the ball, or their inner envelope when they have one, are deployed there because of their elasticity, each branch (20) bearing on the inner wall of the ball, of the ball, or of their inner envelope when they have one, by its end in the shape of a rounded butt (19) by immobilizing the transmitter (3) substantially at center of gravity of the balloon or ball, the conductive wires (15) connecting the transmitter (3) to the socket and / or to the switch (16) ending inside the inflation valve (17) of the ball or ball, or their inner casing when they have one.  8. Variant of the invention according to claims 1. and 2. above, characterized in that the balloon (1) consists (fig. 6 and 7) of at least two blocks of elastic foam (21), bearing on one or more of their faces with a protective coating, concurrently to the determination of a homogeneous volume, of substantially spherical shape, united within an envelope or assembled by various methods such as gluing, lacing (23) etc ... admitting the transmitter (3) in a cavity (22 ) by matching the contours and arranged on either side of the contact plane of at least two constituent blocks of the ball or the ball, so that the mass of the transmitter (3) is symmetrically distributed around their center of gravity, the conductive wires (15) connecting the transmitter (3) to the socket and / or to the switch (16) traveling between the foam blocks to open at any point on their junction line, on ia outer side of the ball.  9. Variant of the invention according to all of the above claims, characterized in that the counting and recording carried out on the basis of the exchange of signals (5) between the transmitter (3) and the receiver (6) relate further to their contact or proximity time, on the number of shocks accused by the ball (1), in particular during the players' manual shoots and throws, as well as on the intensity of these shocks.