Motion-related, information-indicating system for football

Abstract

Motion-related, information-indicating systems for football generate and present flight relevant information of a thrown football. These systems include a measuring device and an indicating device. In one embodiment, the system measures the spin speed of a football using a gyro. If the spin speed is higher than a preset value, then an LED light on the football is tuned on. A quarterback assesses his spin speed by whether the LED light is on or off. In another embodiment, the indicating device is an LED light positioned on a ring worn by the quarterback. A transmitter/receiver pair transfers signals from the thrown football to the ring. In another embodiment, the system measures the acceleration of a football using an accelerometer. Further the system indicates the acceleration value on an LCD display monitor positioned on the ground. A quarterback checks the LCD display to access the strength of his throw.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A football adapted to be thrown in a manner resulting in spinning of said football substantially around a long axis thereof as said football travels along a trajectory;
 said football having a measuring device and an indicating device.   
     
     
         2 . The football of  claim 1 , where the measuring device comprises a sensor measuring flight information. 
     
     
         3 . The football of  claim 2 , where the sensor measures the spin speed of the football. 
     
     
         4 . The football of  claim 2 , where the sensor measures the strength of the throw of the football. 
     
     
         5 . The football of  claim 1 , where the indicating device comprises a display monitor. 
     
     
         6 . The football of  claim 5 , where the display monitor is physically separate from the football. 
     
     
         7 . The football of  claim 1 , where the indicating device comprises a light source. 
     
     
         8 . The football of  claim 7 , where the light source is on the football. 
     
     
         9 . The football of  claim 7 , where the light source is physically separate from the football 
     
     
         10 . The football of  claim 1 , where the indicating device comprises a sound source. 
     
     
         11 . A football adapted to be thrown in a manner resulting in spinning of said football substantially around a long axis thereof as said football travels along a trajectory;
 said football having a measuring device and an indicating device; where the measuring device comprises a sensor measuring flight information.   
     
     
         12 . The football of  claim 11 , where the sensor measures the spin speed of the football. 
     
     
         13 . The football of  claim 11 , where the sensor measures the strength of the throw of the football. 
     
     
         14 . The football of  claim 11 , where the indicating device comprises a display monitor. 
     
     
         15 . The football of  claim 14 , where the display monitor is physically separate from the football. 
     
     
         16 . The football of  claim 11 , where the indicating device comprises a light source. 
     
     
         17 . The football of  claim 16 , where the light source is on the football. 
     
     
         18 . The football of  claim 16 , where the light source is physically separate from the football. 
     
     
         19 . The football of  claim 11 , where the indicating device comprises a sound source.