FR2620039A1 - Fluorescent tennis - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a novel game which makes it possible to make the movements and the effects of the game of tennis clearer. The game is played in the dark on a rectangular court illuminated with black-light lamps and tubes: with balls 1, racquets 2, a net 3, strips defining the pitch 4, which emit light or which become fluorescent through the action of black light.

Description

The present invention relates to a new fluorescent tennis game.

Fluorescent tennis is played on a rectangular court of 24.08 meters in length and 11.27 meters in width for the double game and 8.23 meters in width for the single game. This game is preferably played indoors and Darkness. the court being lit by black light tubes and lamps. A net made of a fluorescent polymer wing is placed in the center of the court, the strip of the net is also made of fluorescent polymer and measures 5 centioatres in width. For competition. the strip of the net may consist of an optical fiber of small diameter wound in a spiral around an axis in transparent polymer and will be lit by a laser diode emitting in the visible. This game can be practiced on various surfaces: tar. clay, grass, synthetic surface. The service line is 6.40 people away from the net.

Figure 1 shows the court as a whole.

The I mark marks the baseline. whose length is 8.23 meters for the game of siiple.

The reference n02 marks the baseline for the double game, this line measures 11.27 meters in width.

The reference n03 marks the length of the ground is 24.08 meters.

Mark n04 arches the length of the service line, ie 4.11 meters.

mark n05 marks the length of the service square, ie 6.40 meters.

The mark n06 marks the net.

the strips which park the boundaries of the land will be painted on the ground with bright fluorescent paint, or made of bright fluorescent polymer adhering to the ground by gluing. The strips are 5 cm wide.

For the competition, the strips are 6 cm wide and can be illuminating.

the lighting strips consist of a light source: incandescent lamps arranged linearly or neon tubes covered with a device in the form of an inverted U forcing the strip.

This inverted U-shaped device is used to protect lamps or tubes from shock and vibration and to filter out the emitted light. The device rests on a synthetic foam and is held on the ground by elastic bands or springs.

A vacuum is provided between the top of the inverted U and the lamps or tubes to allow air to circulate and ensure their cooling.

The device is covered with a layer of transparent silicone or polyimide of a centimeter thick to absorb surface shocks.

Figure n2 shows this device.

The mark n'l marks the inverted U-shaped device.

The mark n2 marks the light source.

The N'3 mark marks the synthetic foam to absorb shocks.

Mark n4 marks the silicone or transparent polyamide layer to absorb surface shocks.

The referee chair is painted with fluorescent paint and is lit by black light tubes and lamps,
Advertising on the court and on the players is done by fluorescent black light posters.

Players' rackets are special.

The device according to the invention allows a better appreciation of the movement of the racket.

The fluorescent tennis rackets have an ovoid shape fig 3 mark (1). and are covered with a fluorescent paint which can be at the discretion of the player. either a single color, or two different fluorescent colors (one color per side); or a first fluorescent color is used on both sides of the racket: this color is called the background color. On this color are drawn bands, letters, geometric patterns, signs of the zodiac, photograph of a player or of a player, in a second fluorescent color, deposited by painting or by sticking a fluorescent pattern on one of the faces of the racket: and the same or a different thing included in the list cited above, deposited symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to the first face of the racket, in a third fluorescent color. The first, second and third colors can be confused.

The racket can also include fluorescent patterns included in the list cited above, the color of which alternates on each side of the racket. These provisions make it possible to better account for the movements of the racket.

For competition, the rackets are ovoid in shape fig 3 mark (1) and have a groove 6 millimeters wide and 10 millimeters deep located in the middle of the frame, ovoid part and handle, on each side thereof. A 1- inside this groove are installed low consumption light emitting diodes which amplify the impression of movement of the racket. These diodes are powered by batteries or batteries located in the handle fig 3 mark 2, via fine copper tracks circulating in the groove, and a switch located at the end of the handle fig 3 mark 3
These light-emitting diodes are eight in number per side of the racket, arranged regularly, plus two on each side of the handle. These diodes can be flashing light-emitting diodes fig 3 mark 4.

These light-emitting diodes are protected from shocks and vibrations by a layer of transparent silicone or polyïnide. Two terminals located at the end of the handle allow the batteries to be recharged.

Figure 3 shows one set of this device.

The mark í marks the shape of the racket.

Mark 2 marks the batteries.

Mark 3 marks i on / off switch located at the end of the handle.

The mark 4 marks the light-emitting diodes.

According to a variant, another type of racket can be used in competition fig 4 II s' is a racket of ovoid shape fig 4 mark I which has a groove 6 millimeters wide and 10 millimeters deep located in the middle of the frame, ovoid part and handle, on both sides of the racket. In this groove are placed low consumption light emitting diodes. Each face of the racket has 24 light-emitting diodes, and 6 light-emitting diodes for each side of the streak. The light-emitting diodes are regularly arranged on each side of the racket, but grouped by islands of 3 diodes of different colors. These diodes can be flashing light emitting diodes.

These light-emitting diodes are powered by batteries located in the handle of the racket fig 4 mark 2 via 4 copper tracks circulating in the grooves. one of these tracks serving as a common neutral for all the light-emitting diodes, the other three each connecting: the positive terminal of the battery, to the positive terminal of the light-emitting diodes of a given color. These tracks will be connected to a linear displacement contactor (4-position switch), located at the end of the handle, allowing the light-emitting diodes of the chosen color to be switched on or else the stopping of all the light-emitting diodes. The racket includes a linear connector with 4 positions for each side. The light-emitting diodes are protected from shock and vibration by a layer of transparent silicone or polyïnide. Two terminals located at the end of the handle allow the batteries to be recharged.

Figure 4 shows one set of this device.

The mark I marks the shape of the racket.

The mark 2 marks the batteries or the batteries supplying the light emitting diodes.

The mark 3 marks the light-emitting diodes.

Mark 4 marks the terminals that allow the batteries to be charged.

The mark 5 marks the two linear connectors with 4 positions located at the end of the handle.

The fluorescent tennis balls are made with a hollow rubber sphere measuring 6 cm in outside diameter and 5.5 cm in inside diameter fig 5 mark 1.

This rubber sphere is covered with a felt sheet 5 millimeters thick. this felt is glued to the rubber sphere, and is dyed in the mass with a fluorescent dye of a bright color. This color serves as the background. On this background is printed by dyeing in a second fluorescent color, different from that of the background, a ring that goes around the circumference of the ball. A second ring is printed on the background in a third fluorescent color different from that of the background and the first ring.

The two rings intersect. The width of the rings can vary from 2 to 22 millimeters, the angle between the two rings can vary from 10 to 172 degrees. The advantage of this device is to highlight, the movements of the ball, rotations, speed translations: the fluorescent dye, fluorescing under the action of black light gives a remarkable aesthetic result.

Figure 5 shows the entire device, in this case the angle between the two rings is 90 degrees.

Mark 1 marks the rubber sphere.

Mark 2 marks the felt sheet.

The mark 3 marks the two rings of fluorescent color different and different from that of the background.

For competition fluorescent tennis balls are different, but also allow to better see the movements of the ball, rotations, translations, speed and therefore better appreciate the strokes played.

Competition balls are 6.5 cm diameter spheres made of silicone or transparent polyamide. Inside, from the ball are included two fluorescent polymer tubes of different colors forming intersecting circles at an angle which can vary from 10 to 172 degrees, the transparent polymer tubes have an outside diameter between 2 and 10 millimeters.

Figure 6 shows this device, in this case the angle between the fluorescent polymer tubes is 90 degrees.

Mark 1 marks the silicone or transparent polyamide ball.

Mark 2 marks the fluorescent polymer tube forming a circle of the first color.

Mark 3 marks the fluorescent polymer tube with a second color.

Alternatively, the balls will be made of silicone or transparent polyamide 6.5 cm in diameter, they will contain a rechargeable battery located in the center of the ball, and low consumption light emitting diodes placed on the axes of the ball. The light-emitting diodes will be of different color on each of the axes of the ball and could be flashing light-emitting diodes. The bullet is composed in the center of a core containing the battery and a female jack plug of 3.5 millimeters in diameter, with a built-in miniature switch.

The battery and the 3.5 mm diameter female jack plug, with a
built-in miniature switches are poured together into a plastic cylinder after the connections have been made. This cylinder co-carries a hole of 4 millimeters in diameter to let pass the jack ale plug of 3.5 millimeters in diameter. Around this cylinder and in contact with it. are arranged transparent polymer bracelets of circular shape placed on the axes of the ball and which intersect in their middle.

These bracelets have a double role.

They maintain the battery and the 3.5 mm diameter female jack plug, with a built-in miniature switch which overhangs the battery.

 They make it possible to absorb shocks and vibrations and to protect the battery and the 3.5 mm diameter female jack plug by reinforcing the action of the silicone or polyïnide used.

The 3.5 mm female jack plug with a miniature switch incorporated in to recharge the battery. via a jack plug connected to an external charger which connects in the female jack plug. the built-in miniature switch has the function of switching on and off the light-emitting diodes. the bullet has a hole 4 millimeters in diameter. this hole is made using a flexible and transparent polymer tube poured at the same time as the ball fig 7 mark 6.

When the jack plug enters the female jack plug the switch opens and stops the light emitting diodes. the plus and minus terminals of the battery are then connected to the external charger: the battery can be recharged. If you remove the jack plug maIe. the light-emitting diodes light up because the miniature switch is in the closed position. For transporting the balts, a jack plug without connections is provided, it will suffice to remove it to use the balls, this is the Play position.

Figure 7 shows the whole of this device.

Mark 1 marks the silicone or transparent polyïnide ball.

Mark 2 marks the transparent polymer bracelets
Reference 3 marks the light-emitting diodes placed on the transparent polymer bracelets.

Mark 4 marks the battery.

The mark 5 marks the female jack plug with incorporated switch enclosed in its plastic cylinder.

The mark 6 marks the flexible and transparent polymer hose, used for the passage of the matte jack plug.

According to another variant, the competition ball described above, made of silicone or transparent polyide 6.5 cm in diameter and comprising a rechargeable battery in its center, and bracelets made of transparent polymer supporting light-emitting diodes which may be flashing, placed regularly on its axes, but having no hole can be used.

In this case, the battery is recharged by induction, the
The battery is surrounded by 998 turns of a small diameter copper wire forming a coil. The two ends of the coil are connected to the poles of a rectifier bridge. On leaving the rectifier bridge, a polarized direct current is obtained when the coil is subjected to a high frequency magnetic field. A diode placed in series between the rectifier bridge and the battery blocks the current in the battery ~ coil direction. This device makes it possible to recharge the battery. The switching on and off of the light-emitting diodes are entrusted to two miniature electromagnetic relays cast at the same time as the ball. These relays are placed after the rectifier bridge, but before the diode which is directly connected to the battery.

The first relay is a simple relay which returns to its initial position when I 'cut the supply current.

The second electromagnetic relay is a stable bu relay which operates by pulses: this means that it remains in the position on which it has been placed. For example, a first pulse places it in position A, a second pulse places it in position B, a third pulse returns it to position A.

The operating principle is as follows: the two supply coils of the two relays are connected - behind the rectifier bridge, but before the diode which is directly connected to the battery.

the plus terminal of the battery is connected to the input of the first relay which acts as a switch, then leaves from the output of the first relay, to the input of the second relay a wire connected to the output of the second relay leaves to the plus terminal light emitting diodes. The minus terminal of the light emitting diodes is connected to the minus terminal of the battery.

The relay supply coils are placed after the rectifier bridge but before the diode which is directly connected to the battery.

When the coil is subjected to a high frequency magnetic field supplied by an external generator, an induced alternating current appears in the coil placed in the center of the ball, this current is rectified by the rectifier bridge, glues the first relay, switches the second, pass the diode and will recharge the battery. The first relay is glued, the power supply circuit for the light emitting diodes is open, the light emitting diodes are stopped. The light-emitting diodes cannot be illuminated during charging. The second relay has also changed state, but its position does not matter while the battery is charging, since it behaves like a second switch placed in series between the positive terminal of the battery and the positive terminal of the light-emitting diodes, and that the first is already open. By cons when the battery is not charging, the first relay is at rest establishing a current from the battery to the light emitting diodes via the second relay which is a bi ~ stable relay reacting to the pulses present on its control circuit. It will then be necessary to send a high frequency magnetic field by pulses to switch the second relay to the desired position. This relay will behave either as an open switch and the light-emitting diodes will be off, this will be the transport position; either as a closed switch and the light-emitting diodes will be on: this will be the blind position.

 the clothes of the youngsters will be classic: white Bermuda shorts and short-sleeved shirt for men, white skirt and short-sleeved shirt for women.

The players will be able to adopt outfits in fluorescent fabrics. The players and the players will have to wear their initials in fluorescent letters on their shirts. IJs or they will no longer have to wear a band with fluorescent fabrics on the forehead, wrists and ankles
The game's rules.

The players serve and receive alternately, for each service, they must stand outside their baseline, and serve in the opposing service area, located diagonally. Players are entitled to a foul; the fault being characterized by a ball in the net or out of the limits of the ground. If the ball touches the net, the player may replay the ball. The ball which goes out of the limits of the ground, which enters the net or which is lost by a player brings a point to 1 adversary. At the end of the fourth point there is a game, after seven games, with two games of difference there are seven. The matches are played in three seps, with a difference of seven for women, and in five seps, with two seven difference for men.

The referee is sovereign on the court; he can nevertheless consult the public if he deems it useful. The public can express themselves thanks to a small box containing a battery and two light-emitting diodes, one red and the other green connected to the battery by a three-position switch; the first position corresponds to the stopping of the light-emitting diodes, the second corresponds to the starting of the green light-emitting diode
The third position corresponds to the switching on of the red light-emitting diode. The public encourages the players, and answers the questions asked by the referee using this box by lighting the light-emitting diode of his choice.

Claims (4)

 1. Game or tennis court comprising, in particular, as accessory equipment, balls, rackets, a net, strips for limiting the pitch, a referee's chair, clothing or advertising posters and allowing better highlight in particular the movements and effects of the game of tennis, characterized in that it is lit by lamps or tubes with black light and that, among said equipment or accessories, balls, rackets, the net and the land boundary strips are designed in such a way that they become at least partly fluorescent under the action of black light.  2. Game or tennis court according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the field limiting strips are painted on the ground with bright fluorescent paint, or else made of bright fluorescent polymer adhering to the ground by collage.  3. Game or tennis court according to revendtcation 1, characterized in that at least some of the field limitation strips are illuminating and consist of a light source produced with incandescent lamps or neon tubes (Figure 2 , item 2) covered with an inverted U-shaped device (Figure 2, item 1) used to protect the light source from shock and vibration and to filter the light emitted, the U-shaped device being covered with a layer, in particular of a centimeter of transparent silicone or polyimide to absorb surface shocks (Figure 2, item 4), and the U-shaped device resting on a synthetic foam to absorb shocks and vibrations (Figure 2, item 3).  4. Game or tennis court according to claim 1, characterized in that the net consists of a fluorescent polymer mesh or a fluorescent polymer mesh surmounted by a strip of small diameter optical fiber net wound in spirals around an axis in transparent polymer and lit by a laser diode emitting in the visible.  5w New game according to claim 1 characterized in that the rackets have in particular an ovoid shape (fig 3 (1)) and are covered with a fluorescent paint of different color on each side of the racket, or else a fluorescent color is used on the whole racket for the background, on this background are drawn. bands, letters, geometric patterns. the signs of the zodiac, or the photograph of a player: in a second fluorescent color deposited by painting or by collage on one of the sides of the racket: the same or a different motif included in the list quoted above is drawn in a third fluorescent color symmetrically or asymmetrically on the second face of the racket. The racket can also include fluorescent patterns included in the list cited above and whose color alternates and this on the two racket faces.  6) A new game according to claim 1 characterized in that the rackets are in particular of ovoid shape (fig 3 mark 1), and have a groove six millimeters wide and one centimeter deep in particular located in the middle of the part ovoid frame and handle, on each side of the racket; inside this groove are placed light-emitting diodes with low consumption, of different color on each side of the racket (fig 3 mark 4), these diodes are in particular ten in number per side of the racket (eight in the part ovoid and two on the handle) and are arranged regularly (fig 3 mark 4); these diodes can be flashing light emitting diodes, they are powered by rechargeable batteries or batteries located in the handle of the racket (fig 3 mark 2) via copper tracks circulating in the groove, and an on-off switch (fig 3 reference 3): the diodes and the power supply tracks are in particular protected from shocks by a layer of silicone or transparent polyImide. 7) New game according to claim 1 characterized in that the racket is in particular of ovoid shape (fig 4 mark 1) and has a groove of six millimeters in width and one centimeter in depth, in particular located in the middle of the frame (ovoid part and handle) on each face of the racket: inside this groove are placed light-emitting diodes with low consumption the diodes are placed regularly (fig 4 mark 3) by islands of three light-emitting diodes each of which will have a different color, LEDs may be flashing. The racket will support, in particular, twenty-four light-emitting diodes on its ovoid part and six on the handle on each of its sides; the diodes are powered by batteries located in the handle (fig 4 mark 2), via four copper tracks per side circulating in the grooves of the racket: two linear contactors with four positions, located at the end of the handle (fig 4 mark 5 ) allow to choose the color of the light-emitting diodes which must light up, on each side of the racket and to start or stop the light-emitting diodes.  8) A new game according to claim 1 characterized in that the fluorescent tennis balls are produced in particular by a hollow rubber sphere (fig 5 mark 1) 6 centimeters in outside diameter, covered with a sheet, made of felt (fig 5 item 2) five millimeters thick. this felt sheet is dyed in the mass with a bright fluorescent dye, forming the bottom: on the bottom is printed a ring by dye in another fluorescent color different from that of the bottom, this ring goes around the circumference of the ball a second ring is printed on the bottom in a third fluorescent color different from that of the bottom, and of the first ring: the two rings intersect forming an angle between ten degrees and one hundred seventy-two degrees, the width of the rings is between two and twenty two millimeters. 9) A new game according to claim 1, characterized in that the balls will be in particular spheres of 6.5 cm in diameter made of silicone W or transparent polyamide inside which are included two fluorescent polymer tubes (fig 6 mark 2 and 3) with an outside diameter in particular of between two and ten millimeters forming intersecting circles at an angle of between ten and one hundred and seventy-two degrees.  lf New game according to claims 1 and 8 characterized in that the balls will be spheres of 6.5 cm in diameter made of silicone or transparent polyamide (fig 7 item 1) in which are included low consumption light emitting diodes (fig 7 item 3), located on transparent polymer bracelets, which cross in their center (fig 7 item 2) and another function of which is notably to maintain a rechargeable battery topped by a 3.5 mm jack female plug. diameter with a built-in miniature switch (fig 7 mark 5) which allows to recharge the battery (fig 7 mark 4) and to start and stop the light-emitting diodes which are different in color according to the axis considered: the bullet has a hole of four millimeters in diameter which lets through a male jack plug of 3.5 millimeters in diameter to recharge the battery, this hole is in particular produced by a flexible plastic pipe and transparent poured at the same time as the ball (fig 7 mark 6).  supply of light emitting diodes the first relay cuts the supply current of the light emitting diodes when recharging the battery, The second relay is a stable bu relay which changes state according to the iipulsions which are supplied on its coil and which allows '' turn on or off the light emitting diodes by sending high frequency pulses to the ball by means of an external generator. The light emitting diodes are different in color on each axis of the ball.  II) New game according to claims 1,8,9 characterized in that the balls are spheres of 6.5 cm in diameter made of silicone or transparent polyamide (fig 7 item 1) in which are included low light emitting diodes consumption (fig 7 mark 3) located on transparent polymer bracelets that cross in their center supporting a rechargeable battery located in the center of the ball: this battery is surrounded by 998 turns of a small diameter copper wire forming a coil , a rectifier bridge, a diode, and two miniature electromagnetic relays accompany it in the ball. An external high frequency generator creates an alternating current induced in the coil, this current is rectified by the rectifier bridge and directed towards the battery through a diode to allow recharging the battery, the power coils of the two relays are notably connected between the rectifier bridge and the diode which is connected to the battery. The two relays behave like two switches placed in series on the circuit.