GB2165670A

GB2165670A - Timing device

Info

Publication number: GB2165670A
Application number: GB08420685A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Maurice Raymond Cowen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-08-15
Filing date: 1984-08-15
Publication date: 1986-04-16
Also published as: GB8420685D0; GB2165670B

Abstract

Illumination devices 12 which can be arranged along a track are energised by delay means 13 with an interval between energisation of adjacent devices so as to indicate passage along the track at a given speed. The interval is variable by control 14, so as to vary the given speed. It may be variable during the activation of the delay means or only between activations. The period of illumination of each illumination device is preferably longer than the interval. A starter 17 may generate a sound signal simultaneously with activation of the delay means 13. The illumination devices 12 may be mounted on a flexible member 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Timing device In order to pace a number of competitors in a race, there has been provided a physical object which is moved along the track in front of the competitors. In greyhound racing, a hare device is used; in cycle racing, a motor bicycle driven by a human rider is used. The hare must be provided with it own special track and means for propelling it along the track. It is expensive to provide a human rider for the pacing motor bicycle and the constancy and level of his speed is subject to human error.

Similarly, when an athlete is in training, it can be inconvenient and unreliable to have to use another athlete to provide pace.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic diagram of a pacing device for an athletics track.

The illustrated device comprises a flexible tube 11 containing a series of electric lamps 12 at regular intervals along its length. For a long track, several tubes may be used, arranged end to end and preferably extending along the while length of the track, which may be a circuit of, say, 400 metres. The use of several tubes is particularly useful when a temporary installation is made, so that the component tubes are sufficiently short that their weight is easily carried.

A timing generator 13 is provided to energise the lamps 12 in turn, with a delay between energisation of successive lamps. This delay can be varied so that the speed by which the illumination travels along the length of the tube 11 can be varied. The variation of the delay in the timing generator 13 can be controlled by a controller 14 which is provided with a keyboard 15 and a digital display 16. The delay to be generated by the timing generator 13 could be keyed into the controller 14 in a variety of ways.The actual delay could be keyed into the keyboard: the time required to travel the relevant distance could be keyed in, with a microprocessor being used to multiply the keyed-in time by the ratio of the distance between adjacent lamps to the relevant distance: or special keys could be provided for Olympic, World, National and lo cal record times which keys could cause the microprcessor to feed from its memory the appropriate delay time to the generator. The microprocessor would require programming with the above ratio and the various record times for the relevant distance.

The beginning of the illumination cycle can be initiated by a starting gun 17 for the ath letes, the gun being electrically connected to the generator 13.

The lamps can be mounted in any conve nient manner. The illustrated arrangement of mounting lamps in a tube is convenient for temporary installations, since the tubes may be laid alongisde the track. In more permanent installations, the illumination devices can be mounted on poles alongside the track, and if desired shields below the lamps may be provided so that the illumination can only be seen by the spectators, and not the competitors.

More than one set of lamps may be provided, each set giving a different indication, for example by means of a different colour, the timing generator 13 being capable of generating a different delay for each set of lamps.

It would then be possible to indicate simultaneously more than one record time.

It is also possible to adjust the timing generator to vary the delay at certain intervals during the passage of the illumination along the tubes. This may be done to take into account a competitor slowing down as he becomes tired towards the end of a race or a competitor who has a final burst of speed towards the end. Arrangements could be made to change the delay automatically after a predetermined period of time, or after a given fraction of the track length or a given number of laps of the track.

The above description is of the preferred arrangement of my invention. Broadly defined,.

the invention comprises a timing device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for arrangement along a track and means for energising said illumination devices in turn with a regular interval between the commencement of illumination of adjacent devices, means being provided to vary that interval. The interval, having been selected, may remain constant, or it can be arranged to vary in a predetermined pattern.

The time of illumination of each device can be varied, but is preferably at least as long as said interval (so that at least one lamp is illuminated at any instant) and preferably not more than three times said interval.

1. A timing device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for arrangement along a track, means for energising said illumination devices in turn with an interval between commencement of illumination of adjacent devices and means for varing said interval.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 compris ing control means for controlling the delay means to vary the period for which each said illumination device is energised.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the control means can cause the delay means to energise each illumination device for a per iod greater than said interval.

4. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 comprising a starter to generate a sound signal and simultaneously to activate said delay means.

5. A device as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 4 comprising a flexible member on which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Timing device In order to pace a number of competitors in a race, there has been provided a physical object which is moved along the track in front of the competitors. In greyhound racing, a hare device is used; in cycle racing, a motor bicycle driven by a human rider is used. The hare must be provided with it own special track and means for propelling it along the track. It is expensive to provide a human rider for the pacing motor bicycle and the constancy and level of his speed is subject to human error. Similarly, when an athlete is in training, it can be inconvenient and unreliable to have to use another athlete to provide pace. An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic diagram of a pacing device for an athletics track. The illustrated device comprises a flexible tube 11 containing a series of electric lamps 12 at regular intervals along its length. For a long track, several tubes may be used, arranged end to end and preferably extending along the while length of the track, which may be a circuit of, say, 400 metres. The use of several tubes is particularly useful when a temporary installation is made, so that the component tubes are sufficiently short that their weight is easily carried. A timing generator 13 is provided to energise the lamps 12 in turn, with a delay between energisation of successive lamps. This delay can be varied so that the speed by which the illumination travels along the length of the tube 11 can be varied. The variation of the delay in the timing generator 13 can be controlled by a controller 14 which is provided with a keyboard 15 and a digital display 16. The delay to be generated by the timing generator 13 could be keyed into the controller 14 in a variety of ways.The actual delay could be keyed into the keyboard: the time required to travel the relevant distance could be keyed in, with a microprocessor being used to multiply the keyed-in time by the ratio of the distance between adjacent lamps to the relevant distance: or special keys could be provided for Olympic, World, National and lo cal record times which keys could cause the microprcessor to feed from its memory the appropriate delay time to the generator. The microprocessor would require programming with the above ratio and the various record times for the relevant distance. The beginning of the illumination cycle can be initiated by a starting gun 17 for the ath letes, the gun being electrically connected to the generator 13. The lamps can be mounted in any conve nient manner. The illustrated arrangement of mounting lamps in a tube is convenient for temporary installations, since the tubes may be laid alongisde the track. In more permanent installations, the illumination devices can be mounted on poles alongside the track, and if desired shields below the lamps may be provided so that the illumination can only be seen by the spectators, and not the competitors. More than one set of lamps may be provided, each set giving a different indication, for example by means of a different colour, the timing generator 13 being capable of generating a different delay for each set of lamps. It would then be possible to indicate simultaneously more than one record time. It is also possible to adjust the timing generator to vary the delay at certain intervals during the passage of the illumination along the tubes. This may be done to take into account a competitor slowing down as he becomes tired towards the end of a race or a competitor who has a final burst of speed towards the end. Arrangements could be made to change the delay automatically after a predetermined period of time, or after a given fraction of the track length or a given number of laps of the track. The above description is of the preferred arrangement of my invention. Broadly defined,. the invention comprises a timing device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for arrangement along a track and means for energising said illumination devices in turn with a regular interval between the commencement of illumination of adjacent devices, means being provided to vary that interval. The interval, having been selected, may remain constant, or it can be arranged to vary in a predetermined pattern. The time of illumination of each device can be varied, but is preferably at least as long as said interval (so that at least one lamp is illuminated at any instant) and preferably not more than three times said interval. CLAIMS

5. A device as claimed in anyone of Claims

1 to 4 comprising a flexible member on which said illumination devices are mounted.

6. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein said varying areas is operable to vary said interval during activation of said delay means.

7. A timing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.