US 5,779,576 A · Throw-measuring football

Abstract

The invention discloses an amusement projectile characterized in a first embodiment by a football shape which is thrown by a user and which comprises electronics therein to measure and display the distance traveled by the thrown ball to the point of impact with the ground or to another user. Using an accelerometer in cooperation with a microprocessing board disposed within the ball, the distance traveled is determined by measuring the initial velocity and the time recorded during the flight of the ball based upon changes in the acceleration of the ball, and an inset liquid crystal display screen mounted on the football is used to display the distance as well as time of flight and a nondimensional thrust value. A toggle button is used to alternately display the "flight characteristics," which are distinguished by the position of a decimal in the three digit display. The toggle button also serves as an activation button which is depressed immediately prior to throwing and remains depressed until release of the ball, and which starts the timer and the accelerometer measurements upon its release. From these two measurements and data stored in a read only memory chip, the microprocessing board calculates the above identified values and causes those values to be displayed on the display screen. The invention includes an automatic shutoff characteristic which disconnects the battery after a predetermined period of inactivity.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An amusement projectile of the type adapted to be propelled by a user through the air to land on the ground at a distance from said user, said projectile comprising a body, means for computing flight characteristics, and digital display means mounted on said body for displaying flight characteristics of said amusement projectile, said means for computing flight characteristics comprising:

accelerometer means disposed within said body for measuring an acceleration of said amusement projectile upon being propelled by said user and generating an acceleration signal representative of said measured acceleration;
signal conversion means for receiving said acceleration signal and converting said acceleration signal to a digital acceleration signal;
timer means for determining a time from a separation of said amusement projectile with said user to an impact with the ground, and generating a time signal representative of this determined time;
memory means for storing flight characteristic data;
microprocessor means for receiving said digital acceleration signal and said time signal, and for retrieving said flight characteristic data stored in said memory means, and for computing flight characteristics therefrom;
and
battery means for providing power to said microprocessor means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Throw-measuring football

Life of this patent

Throw-measuring football

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21