US20050288134A1

US20050288134A1 - Sensiball

Info

Publication number: US20050288134A1
Application number: US10/759,569
Authority: US
Inventors: David Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-25
Filing date: 2004-06-25
Publication date: 2005-12-29

Abstract

The technical abstract for the “SENSIBALL” entails a standard regulation “NFL” football which is laced with a “webbing” of paper thin sensor strips which would be constructed from a non-corrosive material such as PVC plastic. The “webbing” would be inserted permenantly beneath the outer skin of the ball. In conjunction with this “laced football” would be the football field itself, which would incorperate “sensor marker” at each and every increment of every yard line, sideline, end zone and goal post. These “sensor markers” would be constructed of a non-corrosive alloy and be placed beneath the playing surface of the field.

Description

The “SENSIBALL” would use a sensory device embedded just underneath the skin of the football, This sensory device would monitor the progress of the ball on the playing surface, by either GPS satellite tracking, or by laser technology.
The “SENSIBALL”, when used in American or Canadian football applications would accurately determine the “spotting” of the football by the officials in crucial situations. Yards gained could then be verified instantly or possibly over ruled.
The “SENSIBALL” would incorperate paper thin “sensor” strips which would be laced inside of the ball in a linear fashion. (see FIG. 1). These sensor strips would be concealed beneath the ball's outer skin, and in no way distort the balance or shape of the football.
The “SENSIBALL” would then work in conjunction with “contact plates” buried below the playing surface of the football field. GPS applications would map the playing field, and “track” the football as a “target”.
Laser applications would require these flexible yet non-corrosive contact plates to be buried ±6″ below a natural grass surface, or just beneath astro turf.
The “contact plates” would emit invisible pulses of laser light, which would react with the sensor strips on the ball thus giving the ball's precise location in relationship to the markings on the playing field. (FIG. 2).
The contact plates would be precisely the same width as each yard line, side line, and end zone, and these plates would be centrally connected to the head linesman's viewing monitor. (FIG. 3).
IN CONCLUSION, the “SENSIBALL” would be useful in disputed yardage gains or losses but would not necessarily replace the head linesman, or other official yard keepers.
I David K. Smith claim that the “SENSIBALL” (laser football) will revolutionize the game of American football.

Claims

1. The “SENSIBALL” would use sensory devices to monitor the ball's progress on the playing surface by means of either GPS satellite tracking, or laser technology.

I further claim that this invention would assist referees in making critical judgement calls that could otherwise be made in error.

I also claim that the “SENSIBALL” would change the game of american, or Canadian football from a game of inches, to a game of one thousandths of an inch.