Sporting equipment including integrated diffused indicator

Abstract

A fencing weapon or piece of sporting equipment includes a diffused indictor light visible through at least one aperture. For the sport of fencing the diffused indictor light can signal valid and invalid touches. Sports equipment benefits in particular from this diffused indictor light configuration to provide instantaneous feedback to the bearer of such equipment, their teammates and competitors, and viewers of play involving such equipment.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY[0001]The modern sport of fencing is hundreds of years old. Historically, referees and bout directors awarded points (or touches—where one opponent's weapon blade or tip makes contact with the target area of the other opponent) by visually observing two opponents and determining whether a touch occurred and whether the fencer scoring the touch should be awarded a point based on existing rules. The object of saber fencing, based on cavalry fencing on horseback, is to score touches by contacting a blade or tip of a fencer's weapon with an opponent's target area (above that opponent's waist including his arms and head). The object of foil fencing is to score touches by contacting the tip of a fencer's weapon with an opponent's target area (the opponent's torso). The object of epee fencing, based on first-blood duels, is to score touches by contacting the tip of a fencer's weapon with an opponent's target area (any part of the opponent's body). Each form of modern ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a fencing scoring system that uses electrical circuits to determine touches between fencers. However, the current system has several drawbacks. Firstly, the electrical scoring apparatus is often difficult to see for fencers and referees, as they must quickly turn their attention from the fencing action to observe indicator lights. Secondly, the scoring system is confusing for spectators who have to associate one color light with each fencer. To address these issues, the patent proposes a new system that includes indicator lights in the fencer's mask to make it easier for them to see the scoring apparatus.

Problems solved by technology

Often actions, contacts, and target areas are difficult to visually see.

This speed renders it difficult to determine when touches are scored.

Even where several officials are employed to judge a match, visual identification of scoring maneuvers is difficult.

Disagreement between officials often occurs, due to the inconsistency in the quality of perspective enjoyed by the various officials.

A problem associated with the state of the art fencing system is that electrical scoring apparatuses are often difficult to see for fencers and referees who must rapidly turn their attention from the fencing action to observe indicator lights on the apparatus.

They can be confusing to spectators who have to associate one color light with each fencer and often are unsure which light represents which fencer.

However, they are often costly and may require after market electronics and batteries in order to function properly.

These devices are often less costly, however, they are of limited use in that they can easily be misheard and do not offer a convenient vantage for fencers, referees, and observers.

Images