Hockey light

Abstract

The hockey light of the present invention is for use in conjunction with a televised sporting event that mimics the lighting system generally used by hockey arenas, both professional and amateur, to indicate a significant event during the game. The hockey light includes a housing generally formed of two components: an upper goal light and a base support system. The hockey light may be activated manually or remotely. The assembly may provide a two-way switch for switching the goal light and sound on or off. The two-way switch provides for switching between activation of the goal light only or simultaneous activation of the goal light and sound system. Additionally, the assembly may be programmed to play any audio material such as a school fight song, applause, air horn noise or chirping, for example, that may be downloaded from a personal computer, or may incorporate a DVD, compact disc, tape recording or any other sound system within the base or remotely attached to the hockey light and adjusted with a high/low volume control.

Description

RELATED CASES

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/457,601 filed on Mar. 26,2003, and is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a novelty item for use during a sporting event. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hockey light for signaling an event, such as a goal, during a televised hockey game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Several lighting and sound systems are available to indicate a successful score, end of a quarter or period, or other activities, occurrences or events during a sporting event for use with an amateur or professional goal system. Other novelty items are also available to signal a score, produce sound effects or generate a message. Examples of these novelty items include the HOCKEY MODEL GL-H5 Indoor hockey goal light by NEVCO®, U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,195 to McMahan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,094 to Quinn, U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,880 to Booth et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,947 to Kavitch. Another novelty item related to hockey is HE SCORES by POOF®, a hand held hockey related goal light for fans to show their team spirit. Additionally, systems have been developed to aid the television viewer in spotting the movement of a hockey puck on the ice and a visual score indicator. These systems are described in U. S. Pat. No. 5,947,846 to Craig and U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,250 to Honey et al.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is a novelty hockey light for use in conjunction with a televised sporting event that mimics the lighting system generally used by hockey arenas, both professional and amateur, to indicate a significant event during the game.

[0005] Specifically, the hockey light includes a housing generally formed of two components: an upper goal light and a base support system. The base is preferably round and supports the generally round goal light above it. The base includes a housing for supporting at least one speaker, volume adjustment, audio message or music generator, light activation system and energy means such as a battery for activating the goal light and other amenities. Additionally, the base may include an infrared receptor for remote activation of the device.

[0006] The goal light is preferably a rounded cone shaped lens formed of a translucent material having a reddish hue. Other colors, such as a school color scheme, may also be provided. The interior light is preferably a rotating beacon.

[0007] The hockey light may be activated manually or remotely. The assembly may provide a two-way switch for switching the goal light and sound on or off. The two-way switch provides for switching between activation of the goal light only or simultaneous activation of the goal light and sound system. Additionally, the assembly may be programmed to play any audio material such as a school fight song, applause, air horn noise or chirping, for example, that may be downloaded from a personal computer, or may incorporate a DVD, compact disc, tape recording or any other sound system within the base or remotely attached to the hockey light and adjusted with a high/low volume control.

[0008] The hockey light may be battery powered or may include an AC/DC adapter for plugging into a wall unit. Alternatively, other means for activating the assembly may be employed including activation via an inaudible television audio signal, a pager or page network transmission, for example. Additionally, a clip, or other means may be included on the base to seat or hold the remote control unit when not in use. The remote control may also be equipped with a lanyard to enable a user to place the control and his/her neck for example to prevent misplacing the control.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention including a cut-away of the lens to show an interior bulb and support base having manual components including an on-off switch, a volume control, a speaker, light activation switch and an AC/DC adapter with plug.

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention including a remote control with storage clip, a remote speaker and an AC/DC adapter with plug.

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention including a receptacle for batteries.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a hockey light 10 of the present invention is there shown and includes a housing 12 generally formed of two components: an upper goal light 14 and a base support system 16. The base 16 is preferably round and supports the generally round goal light 14 above it. The base 16 includes a housing 18 for supporting at least one speaker 20, volume adjustment 22, audio message or music generator 24, light activation system 26 and energy means 28 such as a battery 30 (see FIG. 3) for activating the goal light 14 and other amenities. Additionally, the base 16 may include an infrared receptor for remote activation of the device by a remote control unit 32.

[0013] The goal light 14 is preferably a rounded cone shaped lens formed of a translucent material having a reddish hue. Other colors, such as a school color scheme, may also be provided and incorporated in both the goal light 14 and base 16. Additionally, logos or other advertisements may be provided on the light and base or the outer profile of the hockey light 10 may be formed to reflect the shape of certain goods or logos. The interior light 34 is preferably a rotating beacon.

[0014] The hockey light 10 may be activated manually or remotely. The assembly 10 may provide a two-way switch 22, 24, 26 for switching the goal light and sound on or off. The two-way switch provides for switching between activation of the goal light only or simultaneous activation of the goal light and sound system. Additionally, the assembly may be programmed to play any audio material such as a school fight song, applause, air horn noise or chirping, for example, that may be downloaded from a personal computer, or may incorporate a DVD, compact disc, tape recording or any other sound system within the base or remotely attached to the hockey light and adjusted with a high/low volume control.

[0015] The hockey light 10 may be battery powered 30 or may include an AC/DC adapter 28 for plugging into a wall unit. Alternatively, other means for activating the assembly may be employed including activation via an inaudible television audio signal, a pager or page network transmission, for example. Additionally, a clip 36, or other means may be included on the base 18 to seat or hold the remote control unit 32 when not in use. The remote control 32 may also be equipped with a lanyard to enable a user to place the control 32 around his/her neck for example to prevent misplacing the control.

[0016] The hockey light 10 is preferably used in conjunction with a televised sporting event that mimics the lighting system generally used by hockey arenas, both professional and amateur, to indicate a significant event during the game. The present invention may be used manually or remotely to trigger a light and/or sound to commemorate an event such as the end of a period or a goal scored during a hockey game. The hockey light 10 assembly may incorporate school or team colors and logos. Additionally, the hockey light 10 may be equipped to receive and play any sounds, recordings, songs or messages from a person, computer, or any sound device 38.

[0017] It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. Thus, it is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the methods and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Claims

1. A hockey light assembly comprising a housing including an upper goal light and a base support system;

said base support system further comprising:

a housing for supporting a sound system and speaker for broadcasting said sound, said sound system including an audio message or music generator, wherein said audio message and music generator may include preprogrammed material means for actively broadcasting by a user from at least one of the following: a radio, a compact disc, a tape recording, a DVD, a user, a computer, or any other source of sound production or audio material;

volume adjustment for controlling said sound system;

an energy activation system for powering said hockey light assembly;

a switching mechanism for activating said hockey light alone, said sound system alone, or said hockey light simultaneously with said sound system; and

an external activation device for activating said assembly, including but not limited to a remote control sensor, a television signal, a pager or a page network transmission.

2. The hockey light system of claim 1, said upper goal light comprising an outer lens and an internal light system, wherein said outer lens is formed of a translucent material and said internal light system is a rotating beacon.

3. The hockey light system of claim 2, said outer lens further comprising a colored hue or logo.

4. The hockey light system of claim 2, said upper goal light and said base support system further comprising a team color scheme.

5. The hockey light system of claim 1 and further comprising a remote control for activating said hockey light system and nesting for said control within said base support system.

6. A hockey light assembly comprising a housing including an upper goal light and a base support system;

said upper goal light further comprising an outer lens and an internal light system, wherein said outer lens is formed of a translucent material having a colored hue and includes a visual monogram, and said internal light system is a rotating beacon, and

an external activation device for activating said assembly, including but not limited to a remote control sensor, a television signal, a pager or a page network transmission.

7. The hockey light assembly of claim 6, said base support system further comprising:

a housing for supporting a sound system and speaker for broadcasting said sound, said sound system including an audio message or music generator, wherein said audio message and music generator may include preprogrammed material means for actively broadcasting by a user from at least one of the following: a radio, a compact disc, a tape recording, a DVD, a user, a computer, or any other source of sound production or audio material.

8. The hockey light assembly of claim 7, said base support system further comprising volume adjustment for controlling said sound system.

9. The hockey light assembly of claim 8, said base support system further comprising an energy activation system for powering said hockey light assembly; and a switching mechanism for activating said hockey light alone, said sound system alone, or said hockey light simultaneously with said sound system.

10. The hockey light assembly of claim 7, said base support system further comprising an external activation device for activating said assembly, including but not limited to a remote control sensor, a television signal, a pager or a page network transmission.

11. A hockey light assembly comprising a housing including an upper goal light and a base support system;

said base support system further comprising:

a housing for supporting a sound system and speaker for broadcasting said sound, said sound system including an audio message or music generator, wherein said audio message and music generator may include preprogrammed material means for actively broadcasting by a user from at least one of the following: a radio, a compact disc, a tape recording, a DVD, a user, a computer, or any other source of sound production or audio material;

volume adjustment for controlling said sound system;

an energy activation system for powering said hockey light assembly; and

a switching mechanism for activating said hockey light alone, said sound system alone, or said hockey light simultaneously with said sound system;

said upper goal light comprising an outer lens and an internal light system, wherein said outer lens is formed of a translucent material and said internal light system is a rotating beacon; and

an external activation device for activating said assembly, including but not limited to a remote control sensor, a television signal, a pager or a page network transmission.

12. The hockey light system of claim 11, said outer lens further comprising a colored hue or logo.

13. The hockey light system of claim 11, said upper goal light and said base support system further comprising a team color scheme.

14. The hockey light system of claim 11 and further comprising a remote control for activating said hockey light system and nesting for said control within said base support system.