Back to results
US 12,377,331 B2Granted
Tennis net tension system including service let indication feature
AssigneeGroup One Limited
InventorFredric Goldstein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is system and method for measuring the tension of a tennis net, and, alternatively or in addition, for determining if a service let occurs via the measuring of the net tension. The disclosed embodiments measure a force exerted on the center-strap or the singles stick by the net. In these embodiments, the measured force provides an accurate reflection of the tension of the net.
Claims10
A method, comprising:
- indicating, using an indicator, that an impact between a ball and a tennis net has occurred;
- arming a let detection function, wherein the indicating step is only performed when the let detection function has been armed;
- and
- starting a shot clock in order to help enforce a time limit imposed upon a player at various stages of a tennis match, wherein there is a delay between an end of a previous point and starting the shot clock, wherein the end of the previous point is indicated by an official inputting a score into a scoring tablet configured for use during a tennis match, wherein the delay is a pre-set, programmed delay during which the start of the shot clock is suspended, wherein the pre-set, programmed delay continues unless an additional input is received during the pre-set, programmed delay, wherein the pre-set, programmed delay is a defined amount of time,
- after the shot clock starts, the official provides an input into the scoring tablet which simultaneously indicates the start of play of another point, arms the let detection function, and causes the shot clock to either stop or disappear from an on-court screen, wherein the indication of the start of play of another point is sent over the Internet, and wherein the tennis scoring tablet is located on an elevated chair upon which the official sits while officiating the tennis match.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- starting a shot clock in order to help enforce a time limit imposed upon a player at various stages of a tennis match, wherein after the end of a previous point, an official inputs a score into a tennis scoring tablet, wherein inputting the score triggers a pre-set, programmed delay preventing a 25 second shot clock from immediately starting after inputting the score unless an additional input is received during the duration of the pre-set, programmed delay, wherein the pre-set, programmed delay is a defined amount of time;
- and
- after the 25 second shot clock starts, the official provides an input into the tennis scoring tablet which simultaneously indicates the start of play of another point and causes the shot clock to either stop or disappear from an on-court screen, wherein the indication of the start of play of another point is sent over the Internet, and wherein the tennis scoring tablet is located on an elevated chair upon which the official sits while officiating the tennis match.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.