GB2190846A - Ball - Google Patents

Abstract

A ball with a built-in speed measuring function includes a ball body having therein an electronic computing circuit element, 1, display means 2 contiguous thereto, a power source 3, and a switch 4, which are all covered with a shock-absorbent material 61. The ball body is provided at least on the face opposite to the display face of the display means with a cover 8 formed of a transparent material. In use when the ball is thrown, switch 4 is actuated to energise a counter in the circuit element 1. When the ball is arrested by impact a second switch 51,52 is actuated to stop the counter and thus give an indication of the duration of flight on the display 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ball with built-in speed meter Background of the invention Field of the invention The present invention relates to a ball such as a baseball and, more particularly, to a ball capable of automaticallydeterminingatimeorspeedduring which oratwhich a ball released from the fingers of a pitcher is caught by a catcher.

Priorart In the prior art, the speed of a moving article such as a pitched ball is measured by making use of reflected waves from said article upon which infrared rays, etc. emanating from a position away from a pitching position are permitted to strike.

However, the conventional arrangement has the disadvantages that it is of a complicated structure, and is troublesome to handle,.and that any accurate measuring is impossible, since it relies upon indirect means which make use of reflected waves of infrared rays, etc.

Summary of the invention An object of the present invention is to solve the problems as mentioned above. According to the presentinvention,this object is achieved bythe provision of a ball with a built-in speed measuring function, including a ball body having therein an electronic computing circuit element, display means contiguous thereto, a power source and a switch, which are all covered with a shock-absorber material, said ball body being provided at least on the face opposite to the display face of said display means with a cover formed of a transparent material.

Briefdescription ofthe drawing The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will now become apparent form the following detailed explanation with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is given forthe purpose of illustration alone, and in which Figure lisa partly cut-away side view showing part of one embodiment ofthe ball according to the present invention.

Preferred embodiment of the invention Referring to Figure 1, an electronic computing circuit element including an integrated circuit, etc. is shown at 1. The circuit element 1 includes a display device 2formed of a liquid crystal, a power source cell 3, a manually operable reset switch 4, and a stop switch 5which is actuated upon receiving an impact.

The stop switch 5 comprises a ring-iike contact 51 and a weight-like contact 52 formed at the end of a spring rocking liy attached to the center thereof, and is integrally positioned just below a casing 6 molded of a synthetic resin. Within the casing 6, there are housed the circuit element 1, the display device 2, the cell 3 and the like through a protective member61 formed of a shock-absorber material such as a synthetic rubber and having a suitable thickness. On the other hand, a hollow, spherical body having a suitable thickness is divided by a shock-absorber material such as syntehtic rubber into halves to define a pair of cover portions 7 and 8.The reset switch 3 is positioned in a recess 71 formed on the side of the cover portion 7, and a flange 62 ofthe casing 6 is fixedly fitted into a stepped portion on the boundary face ofthe cover portion 7 in such a mannerthatthe casing 6 is positioned in a space defined by the cover portion 7. Another cover portion 8faces a window of the display face of the display device 2, and is formed of a transport synthetic resin.

An outer sheath 9 having a suitable thickness and formed of a soft and elastic material such as a synthetic resin is integrally applied over the cover portions 7 and 8.

In the arrangement as mentioned above, when a push is given to the reset switch 4, the counter's output of the circuit element 1 is reset. This resetting is kept intact as long as the switch 4 is pressed down.

Then, when a pitcherthrowsthis ball toward a catcher, the counter of the circuit element 1 operates from the momentthe reset switch 4 is released from the fingers ofthe pitcher, and the output thereof is displayed on the display device 2. Upon the ball being caught by the catcher, the resulting impact allows the contact 52 of the stop switch 5 to come into contact with the contact 51, thereby stopping the operation of the counter of the electronic computing circuit element 1, the output of which is then displayed on the display device 2, and is visually ascertained through the cover portion 8.

According to the arrangement of the present invention, it is possible to automatically determined a time during which a ball released from thefingers of a pitcher is caught by a catcher with the operation of the counter of the electronic computer circuit element. If the distance from the pitch to a catcher is predetermined,then itis possibletorelatively determine the speed of a pitched ball from the thus determined time.

In particular, it is possible to protect the electronic devices such as the aforesaid electronic computing circuit element against an impact produced atthe time of catching by the casing of the electronic circuit in a space defined by the cover memberformed of the shock absorber material into a ball-like shape. In addition, the results are directly viewed through the transparent cover portion as the output of the display device positioned contiguous to the circuit element.

1. A ball with a built-in speed measuring function, including a ball body having therein an electronic computing circuit element, display means contiguous thereto, a power source and a switch, which are all covered with a shock-absorber material, said ball body being provided at least on the face opposite to the display face of said display means with a cover formed of a transparent material.

2. A ball constructed or arranged substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ball with built-in speed meter Background of the invention Field of the invention The present invention relates to a ball such as a baseball and, more particularly, to a ball capable of automaticallydeterminingatimeorspeedduring which oratwhich a ball released from the fingers of a pitcher is caught by a catcher. Priorart In the prior art, the speed of a moving article such as a pitched ball is measured by making use of reflected waves from said article upon which infrared rays, etc. emanating from a position away from a pitching position are permitted to strike. However, the conventional arrangement has the disadvantages that it is of a complicated structure, and is troublesome to handle,.and that any accurate measuring is impossible, since it relies upon indirect means which make use of reflected waves of infrared rays, etc. Summary of the invention An object of the present invention is to solve the problems as mentioned above. According to the presentinvention,this object is achieved bythe provision of a ball with a built-in speed measuring function, including a ball body having therein an electronic computing circuit element, display means contiguous thereto, a power source and a switch, which are all covered with a shock-absorber material, said ball body being provided at least on the face opposite to the display face of said display means with a cover formed of a transparent material. Briefdescription ofthe drawing The foregoing and other objects and features of the present invention will now become apparent form the following detailed explanation with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is given forthe purpose of illustration alone, and in which Figure lisa partly cut-away side view showing part of one embodiment ofthe ball according to the present invention. Preferred embodiment of the invention Referring to Figure 1, an electronic computing circuit element including an integrated circuit, etc. is shown at 1. The circuit element 1 includes a display device 2formed of a liquid crystal, a power source cell 3, a manually operable reset switch 4, and a stop switch 5which is actuated upon receiving an impact. The stop switch 5 comprises a ring-iike contact 51 and a weight-like contact 52 formed at the end of a spring rocking liy attached to the center thereof, and is integrally positioned just below a casing 6 molded of a synthetic resin. Within the casing 6, there are housed the circuit element 1, the display device 2, the cell 3 and the like through a protective member61 formed of a shock-absorber material such as a synthetic rubber and having a suitable thickness. On the other hand, a hollow, spherical body having a suitable thickness is divided by a shock-absorber material such as syntehtic rubber into halves to define a pair of cover portions 7 and 8.The reset switch 3 is positioned in a recess 71 formed on the side of the cover portion 7, and a flange 62 ofthe casing 6 is fixedly fitted into a stepped portion on the boundary face ofthe cover portion 7 in such a mannerthatthe casing 6 is positioned in a space defined by the cover portion 7. Another cover portion 8faces a window of the display face of the display device 2, and is formed of a transport synthetic resin. An outer sheath 9 having a suitable thickness and formed of a soft and elastic material such as a synthetic resin is integrally applied over the cover portions 7 and 8. In the arrangement as mentioned above, when a push is given to the reset switch 4, the counter's output of the circuit element 1 is reset. This resetting is kept intact as long as the switch 4 is pressed down. Then, when a pitcherthrowsthis ball toward a catcher, the counter of the circuit element 1 operates from the momentthe reset switch 4 is released from the fingers ofthe pitcher, and the output thereof is displayed on the display device 2. Upon the ball being caught by the catcher, the resulting impact allows the contact 52 of the stop switch 5 to come into contact with the contact 51, thereby stopping the operation of the counter of the electronic computing circuit element 1, the output of which is then displayed on the display device 2, and is visually ascertained through the cover portion 8. According to the arrangement of the present invention, it is possible to automatically determined a time during which a ball released from thefingers of a pitcher is caught by a catcher with the operation of the counter of the electronic computer circuit element. If the distance from the pitch to a catcher is predetermined,then itis possibletorelatively determine the speed of a pitched ball from the thus determined time. In particular, it is possible to protect the electronic devices such as the aforesaid electronic computing circuit element against an impact produced atthe time of catching by the casing of the electronic circuit in a space defined by the cover memberformed of the shock absorber material into a ball-like shape. In addition, the results are directly viewed through the transparent cover portion as the output of the display device positioned contiguous to the circuit element. CLAIMS

1. A ball with a built-in speed measuring function, including a ball body having therein an electronic computing circuit element, display means contiguous thereto, a power source and a switch, which are all covered with a shock-absorber material, said ball body being provided at least on the face opposite to the display face of said display means with a cover formed of a transparent material.

2. A ball constructed or arranged substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Amendentsto the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 2 above have been deleted or textually amended.

(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed asfollows:

2. A ball as defined in claim 1,wherein said switch element comprises a manually operable reset switch and a stop switch capable of being put in operation upon receiving an impact.

3. A ball constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.