# US 5,349,569 A · Timing system for swimming race > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,349,569 A - Document ID: US5349569A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/022,368 - Filed: 1993-02-25 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1992-02-28 - Assignees: Seiko Instruments Inc. - Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5349569A ## CPC - A63B 71/0686: {Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means} - G07C 1/24: Race time-recorders - A63B 69/12: Arrangements in swimming pools for teaching swimming {or for training} - A63B 71/06: Indicating or scoring devices for games or players {, or for other sports activities} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A timing system for swimming race which records, displays, and prints the time of race. To provide a mask circuit in a control device which controls each signal, enables the timing system to exactly perceive a swimmer's touch. Furthermore, a top edge panel is provided on a touch panel so as to perceive a swimmer's touch at an oblique angle. A plurality of lane boxes are provided for backup of a touch signal and a starting block signal, in case of failure and misoperation of the control device. Further, a visual display device is provided in order that a swimmer can recognize a starting signal visually. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A timing system for a swimming race comprising: a start signal generator for generating a start signal of a swimming race; a starting block signal generator provided at a starting block for generating a starting block signal in response to a swimmer's feet leaving from said starting block; a touch panel suspended along the wall of a swimming pool for generating a touch signal in response to a swimmer touching said touch panel, said touch panel comprising a rear panel having a vertical portion having a switch portion and a horizontal portion bent at a bending portion from said vertical portion, a front panel disposed opposite to said vertical portion of said rear panel, a top edge panel fixed at one end on the upper part of said front panel and covering the bending portion of said rear panel, and an elastic member disposed between said rear panel and said top edge panel and having a bending angle which is more acute than that of said bending portion of said rear panel in order to elastically support said top edge panel and being located so as to touch said switch portion for actuating an electric switch when said top edge panel is pressed obliquely; a control device having at least a timing cicuit for clocking the time in response to said start signal, said starting block signal, and said touch signal; and a recording device for recording the time outputted from said control device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A timing system for a swimming race as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tubular tape switch actuated by pressure of said front panel is inserted into each of a plurality of sheaths provided on a surface of said vertical portion of said rear panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A timing system for a swimming race as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sheaths are made out of a material which lets water through. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A timing system for a swimming race as claimed in claim 2, wherein a frame having holes to drain water is provided at an outer peripheral portion of said rear panel so as to be attached and removed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A timing system for a swimming race as claimed in claim 2, wherein ends of said tape switch comprise a welding portion and a sealing portion made of a sealing material to coat said welding portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A timing system for a swimming race as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a signal distributor for distributing said starting block signal from said starting block signal generator and said touch signal from said touch panel to a main lane box and to a sub lane box provided for each lane of the swimming pool, said main lane boxes being serially connected by one cable for inputting said starting block signal and said touch signal to said control device of said main lane boxes, and said sub lane boxes being serially connected by one cable for inputting said starting block signal and said touch signal to a sub control device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A timing system for a swimming race as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device includes a mask circuit for masking said touch signal from said touch signal in response to a first signal from said starting block signal generator generated by diving of a swimmer and for unmasking said touch signal from said touch panel in response to a second signal from said starting block signal generator generated by a swimmer stepping up onto a starting block. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A timing system for a swimming race as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control device includes a counting circuit for counting a number of swimmers waiting for their turns in relay after getting a first signal from said starting block signal generator generated by diving of a swimmer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A timing system for a swimming race as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a visual display device for displaying visually a sign of ready and start after inputting a ready signal and a start signal to said control device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A timing system for a swimming race as claimed in claim 9, wherein said visual display device makes a colored sign showing ready different from a colored sign showing start. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A timing system for swimming race as claimed in claim 9, wherein said visual display device is provided at, at least, one of a tip of said starting block and a turn side of the swimming pool. ### Claim 12 A touch panel for suspension on the wall of a swimming pool for generating a touch signal when touched by a swimmer, the touch panel comprising: a rear member having a vertical portion, and a support portion connected to the vertical portion and supportable on an edge of a swimming pool so that the vertical portion is suspended on a wall of the swimming pool; a front member spaced from and opposed to the vertical portion of the rear member and movable vertically and horizontally relative to the rear member; a top edge member having a front end connected to an upper part of the rear member vertical portion, the top edge member extending rearwardly to cover the space between the front and rear members; switch means mounted in the space between the front and rear members and actuatable in response to rearward horizontal movement of the front member caused by a swimmer touching the front member for generating a touch signal; and elastic biasing means movably disposed in a space defined by the front, rear and top edge members for biasing the top edge member and thus the front member vertically upwardly, the elastic biasing means being responsive to a force applied obliquely to the top edge member by a swimmer to enable rearward horizontal movement of the front member to acutate the switching means and being responsive to a force applied vertically downwardly to the top edge member to enable vertical downward movement of the front member without effecting actuation of the switching means. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A touch panel according to claim 12; wherein the elastic biasing means comprises an elastic member having a first portion extending rearwardly between the top edge member and the support portion of the rear member, and a second portion extending downwardly in the space between the front member and the vertical portion of the rear member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A touch panel according to claim 13; wherein the first and second portions of the elastic member are connected together at an acute angle which is more acute than the angle at which the vertical and support portions of the rear member are connected together. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A touch panel according to claim 12; wherein the switching means comprises at least one tubular tape switch mounted on the rear panel vertical portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A touch panel according to claim 12; further including, in combination therewith: a start signal generator for generating a start signal denoting the start of a swimming race; a starting block signal generator for generating a starting block signal in response to a swimmer's feet leaving a starting block; and a control device having a timing circuit for clocking the time in response to the start signal, the starting block signal and the touch signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A touch panel according to claim 16; wherein the elastic biasing means comprises an elastic member having a first portion extending rearwardly between the top edge member and the support portion of the rear member, and a second portion extending downwardly in the space between the front member and the vertical portion of the rear member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A touch panel according to claim 17; wherein the first and second portions of the elastic member are connected together at an acute angle which is more acute than the angle at which the vertical and support portions of the rear member are connected together. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A touch panel according to claim 16; wherein the switching means comprises at least one tubular tape switch mounted on the rear panel vertical portion.