Sporting equipment including integrated diffused indicator

Abstract

A fencing weapon or piece of sporting equipment includes a diffused indictor light visible through at least one aperture. For the sport of fencing the diffused indictor light can signal valid and invalid touches. Sports equipment benefits in particular from this diffused indictor light configuration to provide instantaneous feedback to the bearer of such equipment, their teammates and competitors, and viewers of play involving such equipment.

1 . A fencing weapon comprising:
 a blade portion;   a handle; and   a guard portion, wherein said guard portion further comprises at least one aperture, a light diffusing portion and at least one integrated indicator illumination device.   
     
     
         2 . The fencing weapon of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one integrated indicator illumination device further comprises at least one indicator light. 
     
     
         3 . The fencing weapon of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one integrated indicator illumination device further comprises an array of indicator lights. 
     
     
         4 . The fencing weapon of  claim 3 , wherein said at array of indicator lights can be programmed to output at least two of colors of visible light. 
     
     
         5 . The fencing weapon of  claim 3 , wherein said array of indicator lights can illuminate a light diffusing portion such that a first color is visible through a first of said at least one aperture and a second color is visible through a second of said at least one aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The fencing weapon of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one indicator light further comprises an input for receipt of a signal from an electrical scoring apparatus to turn on or to turn off. 
     
     
         7 . The fencing weapon of  claim 6 , wherein said electrical scoring apparatus connects to said at least one indicator light by at least one wire connected to said fencing weapon. 
     
     
         8 . The fencing weapon of  claim 1 , wherein said light diffusing portion further comprises a diffusive substance. 
     
     
         9 . The fencing weapon of  claim 8 , wherein said plastic diffusive substance further comprises a plastic with adequate hardness to prevent breaking during fencing action. 
     
     
         10 . The fencing weapon of  claim 1 , wherein said light diffusing portion and at least one integrated indicator illumination device are substantially covered by a cover. 
     
     
         11 . The fencing weapon of  claim 1 , wherein said light diffusion portion substantially encapsulates said at least one integrated indicator illumination device. 
     
     
         12 . The fencing weapon of  claim 10 , wherein said cover further comprises at least one reflective surface for reflecting light from said at least one integrated indicator illumination device toward said at least one aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The fencing weapon of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one indicator light further comprises at least one light emitting diode. 
     
     
         14 . The fencing weapon of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one aperture and said light diffusion portion further comprise a coating material which prevents that contacting said at least one aperture or said light diffusion portion with an opponent's weapon or weapon tip will register a valid touch. 
     
     
         15 . The fencing weapon of  claim 1 , wherein the fencing weapon further comprises a power source for providing power to said integrated illumination device. 
     
     
         16 . The fencing weapon of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said light diffusing portion extends into said at least one aperture. 
     
     
         17 . The fencing weapon of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one aperture is at least partially filled by a light transmitting substance. 
     
     
         18 . A fencing weapon guard comprising:
 a first layer comprising a guard containing at least one aperture,   a second layer disposed next to said guard comprising a light diffusing portion,   at least one integrated indicator illumination device adjacent to said light diffusion portion, and   a protective layer substantially covering said at least one integrated indicator illumination device and said second layer,   wherein said first layer, said second layer and said protective layer further comprise an opening for insertion of a fencing weapon blade.   
     
     
         19 . The fencing weapon guard of  claim 18 , wherein said fencing weapon guard further comprises a power supply for providing power to said at least one integrated indicator illumination device. 
     
     
         20 . The fencing weapon guard of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one aperture further comprises a series of apertures substantially forming a pattern. 
     
     
         21 . The fencing weapon guard of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one integrated indicator illumination device is situated substantially beneath said at least one aperture. 
     
     
         22 . The fencing weapon guard of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one integrated indicator illumination device is situated beneath at least a portion of said metal layer. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A piece of sporting equipment comprising:
 a frame or shaft;   a handle;   wherein said frame, shaft, or handle, further comprises at least one aperture and a light diffusing portion and said piece of sporting equipment further comprises at least one integrated indicator illumination device which can provide illumination to said diffusing portion.   
     
     
         25 . The piece of sporting equipment of  claim 24 , wherein the sporting equipment is a fencing weapon, a racket, a golf club, a baseball bat, a hockey stick, or a lacrosse stick. 
     
     
         26 . The piece of sporting equipment of  claim 24 , wherein the sporting equipment is a stringed racket and said strings at least partially comprise the light diffusing portion.