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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7770297 | Electronically actuated first-down marking system and associated method An electronically actuated first down marking system and associated method includes first and second marking assemblies positioned on a first sideline of a playing field, and third and fourth marking assemblies positioned on a second sideline of the playing field an... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7694424 | Methods, apparatuses, and systems for advertising on a first-down measurement device Methods, apparatuses, and systems for advertising on a first-down measurement device in an American-style football game are disclosed. An apparatus may include an information display and a sleeve for engaging the information display with a portion of the first-down ... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7481003 | Football down chain set A football down chain set for monitoring the position of a football. The chain set includes a standard having a pointer attached thereon. The pointer is spaced at a distance from the standard. The pointer gauges a position of the football. Another standard has anoth... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7434322 | Reference beam generator and system for producing guide beams for field markers A reference beam generator (1) for guiding a field marker for ground markings has a support element (11) which can be positioned in a defined manner relative to the Earth's surface, a laser diode and beam guidance means for the emission of the radiatio... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7303483 | Billiard aim instruction kit A billiard aim instruction kit for pocket billiards. A position reference tool is placed at locations on a pocket billiard table surface and aligned aiming toward a pocket. A marking powder packet is used to mark each location. The position reference tool is then re... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7219438 | System for operating one or more suspended laser projectors to project a temporary visible image onto a surface A temporary visible image, such as a first down reference line, corporate logo, or text is projected onto a target surface by an orientation-stabilized, fiber-fed laser projector. The projector may include at least one cylindrical lens or at least one pair of X-Y sc... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7185439 | System for measuring the position of a ball in a sporting event A sporting apparatus for use in football. The sporting apparatus is a system that measures the manner in which football downs and distance is calculated in football. The system includes two down markers, a ball marker, and a hand held device which are in visual cont... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7134966 | Golf putt training device and method A golf putt training device which is characterized as follows. A light apparatus adapted to project an alignment segment and an aiming spot on a playing surface. Whereby the light apparatus is positioned behind a ball and the aiming spot is projected in front of the... | 11/14/2006 |
| 6976928 | Sports ball spotting apparatus An apparatus used to officiate sporting events in which the positioning of the ball on the field by the officials is critical to the play. The apparatus employs a laser beam which is directed by the official parallel to the field of play at a height below the width ... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6935040 | Cable installation system and related methods A cable installation system for use by a cable installer may include a plurality of cable dispensers having different lengths of cable. In particular, each cable dispenser may also have a non-numeric, length-identifying marking associated therewith corresponding to ... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6907840 | Football first down indicator system A football first down indicator system for providing a method of quickly and accurately determining a first down in football. The football first down indicator system includes a pair of first down marker members each having an elongate housing member, and also havin... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6895677 | System for operating one or more lasers to project a visible line onto a surface At least one temporary visible reference line is projected onto a target surface, as for example, an athletic field, by several laser sources. A first laser source emits optical energy—at a wavelength of between 380 nm and 750 nm—along at least a first selectabl... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6851199 | Football measuring device and method A football measuring device has a handle, a chain segment extending from the handle, and a bar mounted perpendicular to the handle. A removable clip is placed on the chain segment to mark the displacement of the football relative to the first down position. ... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6851198 | Superior system and method for determining the position of a first down of a football on a field during a game Measuring the required distance necessary for a first down in the sport of football. The apparatus includes a ten yard marker pole with an attached laser apparatus. The laser apparatus emits light in the blue-green wavelength and is capable of emitting laser beam ac... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6796041 | System for operating one or more lasers to project a visible line onto a grass-covered surface An apparatus for providing at least one temporary visible line on a surface within the view of at least one video camera. The system comprises a first laser source disposed at a first elevated, stationary location relative to the surface, and a second laser source d... | 09/28/2004 |
| 6778283 | Method and apparatus for locating a football on a field of play The present invention is a system and method of precisely locating a football on a football field in order to determine whether a first down has been achieved. The invention employs an optical distance measuring device that communicates via a wireless transceiver wi... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6751880 | System and method for operating groups of lasers to project a visible line of demarcation within discrete regions of an athletic field The surface of an athletic field is divided into multiple regions or zones. A first of these zones is served by a first group of laser sources. A second of the zones is served by a second group of laser sources. Each group includes at least two lasers arranged to pr... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6527647 | Pool training device The present invention is a pool training device, including a base configured to be placed on a pool tabletop surface, a mounting mechanism secured to the base, and a truncated circular element perpendicular to and attached to the base via the mounting mec... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6350211 | Baseball pitching aid A simulated image of a batter facing a pitcher is provided for use in pitching practice. The lower portion of the batter includes one or more stakes which are inserted into the ground and provide a stable support. By positioning the simulated batter in an... | 02/26/2002 |
| 6045450 | Billiards table targeting disk This invention relates to a targeting disk that lays flat on a billiards table and enables a player to more reliably aim and shoot a cue ball at a target ball. The disk has a hemispherical or half-moon shape that is twice as wide as it is long. The radius... | 04/04/2000 |
| 6024649 | Accurack This present invention relates to the game of pool. It is a device to rack pool balls with consistent accuracy. Throughout the history of pool-billiards, balls were racked by using a triangular or quadrilateral (9 ball) shaped rack in which the racker wou... | 02/15/2000 |
| 6012228 | Color coded football yardage measuring sleeve A new color coded football yardage measuring sleeve for showing an exact distance a football team must move to achieve a first down when measuring chains are brought onto a football field. The inventive device includes a cylindrical sleeve portion having ... | 01/11/2000 |
| 5640777 | Golf club with optical alignment system An alignment system and method of use provide significant improvement in the accuracy of a golf stroke or putt. The alignment system may be incorporated into or attached to the head or shaft of a golf club such as a putter or a chipper. One component of t... | 06/24/1997 |
| 5214491 | Apparatus and method for determining the position of a football during a football game A method and apparatus for determining the position of a ball on a playing field during a game, for example a football in the game of American rules football, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a guide ramp having a length corresponding to the first dow... | 05/25/1993 |
| 5189803 | Device for measuring the first down in football A device for measuring the position of a football on a football playing field has a base member adapted to be placed in juxtaposition on a yard line on the football playing field. A first elongated member to determine the distance the football is position... | 03/02/1993 |
| 5113589 | Football exact yard marker and method for use A device for making the location of a football on a football field comprising a large view container having two opposite sides containing see through material and having a vertical line on both sides of the see through material, a spirit level under the c... | 05/19/1992 |
| 5067245 | Instant placement down rod A combination down marker and football position determining device for use by football game officials to indicate the down of play and the location of the football relative to the sideline of the football field. A compound prism member mounted within the ... | 11/26/1991 |
| 4333237 | Apparatus for comparing the distance of two balls from a third ball An apparatus for comparing the distances of two balls from a third ball which all lie on a horizontal plane comprises a telescopic rod pivotally mounted to swing around the vertical axis of a stand which rests on the same plane as the balls. At the free e... | 06/08/1982 |
| 4232450 | Football yardline locating device An object such as a football lying on a playing field is optically sighted through a measuring plane from a remote location. An adjustable framing assembly outlines the field as viewed in the measuring plane and mounts scale means to enable rapid measurem... | 11/11/1980 |
| 4178694 | Point-of-aim indicator A point-of-aim indicator for pool balls or the like which includes a relatively flat base member which has thereon a center line which is adapted for alignment with the vertical axis of an object ball together with means indicating the desired contact poi... | 12/18/1979 |
| 4014117 | Spectator football visual aid A visual aid for football spectators includes red and green lights on poles associated with a particular game object, which are selectively energized by remote control to indicate the success or failure to achieve the particular game object. In one embodi... | 03/29/1977 |
| 3985356 | Apparatus for locating and positioning a football on a football playing field A carriage is provided for movement along a track which is positioned parallel to one side of the playing field. Means for providing a measuring beam, such as a laser beam, is supported from the carriage and directs the measuring beam across the field and... | 10/12/1976 |
| 3947026 | Billiard training device A billiard training device (e.g., for games of pool, snooker or billiards) for simultaneously providing a visual indication of desired point of aim for the cue ball and desired point of contact with an object ball, to propel the latter in a predetermined ... | 03/30/1976 |
