BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Since running has become increasingly popular in the 1970s and 1 980s, major popular sports events such as city marathons have continued to thrive and gained considerable economic importance. With usually thousands or even ten thousands of participants enrolling for single events, a problem regarding timekeeping arises. It takes minutes for several thousand runners to pass a starting fine usually only a few meters wide. If timekeeping starts synchronously for all athletes participating, the athletes with higher starting numbers standing further behind, when the starting shot is fired, are put at a disadvantage, because timekeeping has already been running, when they enter the course. However, most athletes are usually interested in being officially informed about their respective individual running time by means of a certificate or such. Concerning competitive sports, the sports associations involved require documented exact results of the competitors. In addition, organizers depend on substantial automation, because the large number of timekeeping personnel required otherwise could neither be financed nor handled.

Approaches to deal with the above problems include letting groups of runners enter the course group by group at predefined points in time. However, this approach usually cannot suffice, because, for organizational reasons, these groups are still big enough to pose a handicap of up to some ten seconds on runners starting further behind within one group. Further, considerable organizational efforts are necessary to make sure, that each athlete will start with the group he is schduled to run with.

By and by, automated timekeeping systems identifying runners crossing the start and finish lines through a transponder attached to the runner's shoe have become increasingly common. This kind of transponders is usually operated using 125 kHz technology and fastened to the runner's shoe laces. Before the start of a particular run the transponders have to be programmed on site, e. g. when the starting numbers are handed out, in order to assign the transponders to the respective runners or starting numbers, respectively. This procedure requires considerable time and administrational effort, resulting in additional costs for the necessary staff.

An object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above drawbacks. in particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method contributing to reduction of the administrational effort associated with prior art automated timekeeping systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to accomplish the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention an athlete identification sheet for sports events is provided, comprising a transponder chip for contactless electronic identification of an athlete passing start, finish or intermidiate timekeeping locations, and a starting number section with a starting number printed thereon for visual identification of the athlete. The transponder chip has stored therein an electronically readable code correlateable to the starting number.

Thus, each respective athlete participating in the sport event receives, affixed to the athlete identification sheet, a transponder, which'does not have to be intricately programmed on site but, by storing the code correlateable to the starting number, already includes the information needed to identify the runner when crossing the start or finish line.

Preferably, the transponder chip is affixed to the athlete identification sheet by means of a permanent connection, such as being integrated in a laminar structure composed of at least two layers forming at least part of the athlete identification sheet, or being

casted in polymer resin, e. g. polyurethane-resin, bonded to said athlete identification sheet.

According to one preferred embodiment, the transponder chip is affixed to the starting number section. The respective athlete simply attaches the starting number section to his jersey like a conventional starting number. Through a respective antenna system at start and finish, the athlete is registered electronically when passing the start and finish line, respectively, allowing his exact running time to be determined and assigned to his starting number. After the sports event, the transponder chip can be desposed <BR> <BR> together with the starting number section. , thus saving, if comercially available low cost passive transponder chips are used, costs for maintanance, programing and other administrational efforts arising with applying multiple use transponder chips.

According to another preferred embodiment, the athlete identification sheet comprises a timekeeping section to which the transponder chip is affixed, wherein the timekeeping section is attached to the starting number section by means of a detachable connection. This enables attaching of the transponder chip to the athlete separately from the starting number section, for example to improve ease of use or to make applicable an especially reliable transmission technology using ground antennas.

Thus, each respective athlete participating in the sport event receives, attached to a starting number section, a timekeeping section including a transponder, which does not have to be intricately programmed on site but, by storing the code correlateable to the starting number, already includes the information needed to identify the runner when crossing the start or finish line. The respective athlete simply detaches the timekeeping section, which may be designed in principle like so called RFID labels known from the field of merchandise protection and marking of goods, and attaches it to his running shoe or a tag on the shoe adapted to such attachment. The athlete attaches the starting number section to his jersey like a conventional starting number. Through a respective ground antenna system at start and finish, the athlete is registered electronically when passing the start and finish line, respectively, allowing his exact running time to be determined and assigned to his starting number.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the timekeeping section comprises a back surface at least partially coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, by which it can be easily adhered to the sports shoe or to a tag suitable for this purpose. Advantageously, the timekeeping section can first be attached by its self- adhesive coating to a portion of the starting number section coated for limiting adhesion. The athlete receives the timekeeping section and the starting number section as one sheet and then simply peels off the timekeeping section designed as a self- adhesive transponder label before adhering it to his shoe. A further advantageous embodiment of the present invention comprises a self-adhesive coating on at least part of the back surface of the starting number section. In this case, the timekeeping section and the starting number section are preferably arranged side by side on a sheet of release material. After receipt, the athlete peels of both the starting number section and the timekeeping section and adheres the former to the chest of his jersey, the latter to his shoe.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the starting number section and the timekeeping section are connected to each other by a perforated line. After receipt of the athlete identification sheet the athlete detaches the two sections by tearing appart the identification sheet along the perforated line and attaches the timekeeping section to his shoe, the starting number section to his jersey. No tools are required for this procedure.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the athlete identification sheet comprises at least one printed voucher section, which is also attached to the starting number section by means of a connection detachable preferably without applying any tools. Such a voucher can be used as a receipt when the identification sheet is handed out to the athletes. If an athlete whishes to register for a sport event shortly before the start, such a voucher section can also serve as a registration form. The athlete completes the form with his personal data, signs and detaches the voucher and hands it in to officially register. The voucher can be designed to be machine-readable, e. g. to serve for personalizing automatically printed certificates. Additional vouchers detachably connected to the starting number section may be used as coupons for food and drinks, respectively, or as carriers for publicity or product samples etc.

Preferably, the front surfaces of both the starting number section and the timekeeping section comprise a weatherproof coating, which is especially advantageous, since popular sport events usually are neither postponed nor cancelled because of unfavorable weather.

Preferably, the transponder is operated using sender frequencies of 13,56 MHz, 868 MHz or 2,54 GHz.

According to another aspect of the present invention a method for registering starting and finishing times of athletes participating in a sports event is provided comprising the following steps. Identification sheets are provided to a plurality of athletes, each of the athletes receiving one identification sheet, and each of the identification sheets comprising a respective transponder chip and a respective starting number section with a respective starting number printed thereon, the respective transponder chip having stored therein a respective electronically readable code correlateable to said respective starting number. Reading devices, which are connected to an electronic chronometer apparatus, are provided at both a starting location and a finishing location and optionally at intermediate time measurement locations, with the reading devices being adapted to read the codes from the respective transponder chips in a contactless manner. If the starting line also serves as a finish line, one reading device will suffice.

Starting number sections and transponder chips are attached to the respective athletes.

In one adventageous embodiment of the invention, the transponder chip is integrated in the starting number section; in another adventageous embodiment, the transponder is integrated in a timekeeping section attached to the respective starting number section by means of a detachable connetction. In the latter embodiment, the timekeeping sections are detached from the respective starting number sections and attached to shoes, clothing (or tags fastened to shoes or clothing) of the respective athletes.

Generally, the respective code of each transponder chip is read whenever the respective athlete carrying the particular chip passes one of the reading devices and the momentary time is determined from the electronic chronometer apparatus. Data pairs comprised of the respective code and the time of reading the respective code are stored.

According to one advetageous embodiment of the invention, the respective electronically readable codes are also read prior to providing the identification sheets to said athletes, for example when the athlete identfication sheets are assembled by applying the pre- manufactured transponder chips to the pre-manufactured sheets, and reference data pairs including the respective code and the respective starting number are stored in a database. After the sports competition, the corresponding data pairs stored during the run are retrieved for each reference data pair in order to correlate the determined times to the corresponding starting number.

When following the procedure described above, preferably the respective chip identification numbers, implemented by the manufacturer of the transponder chips, are correlated to the starting numbers, thus avoiding implementation of any additional codes.

Preferably, comercially available low cost passive transponder chips are used, since the athlete identification sheet according to the invention is a disposible article, thus saving costs for maintanance, programing and other administrational efforts arising with aplying multiple use transponder chips.

According to another aspect of the present invention a system for manufacturing athlete identification sheets is provided, which comprises printer means for printing consecutive starting numbers on a set of pieces of sheet material and registering means for registering a set of reference data pairs, wherein each reference data pair represents a respective starting number and a respective code stored in a transponder chip functionally associated with the piece of sheet material on which the respective starting number is printed. Each piece of sheet material is to receive a starting number different from the starting numbers printed on the other pieces of sheet material of the same set, and each transponder chip has to have stored therein a code different from the codes stored in the other transponder chips.

Preferably, the system further comprises reading means for reading the codes from said transponder chips. The codes may be the respective chip identification numbers as implemented by the manufacturer of said transponder chips.

In an alternative embodiment the system further comprises input means for inputting the codes into the transponder chips.

In an advantageous embodiment the system further comprise means for attaching the transponder chips to the pieces of sheet material.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention a method for manufacturing athlete identification sheets is provided, which comprises the steps of printing consecutive starting numbers on a set of pieces of sheet material with each piece of sheet material being functionally associated with a transponder chip having stored therein a respective code, and registering a set of reference data pairs, each reference data pair representing a respective starting number and the respective code stored in the transponder chip being functionally associated with the piece of sheet material on which the respective starting number is printed. Each piece of sheet material is to receive a starting number different from the starting numbers printed on the other pieces of sheet material of the same set, and each transponder chip has to have stored therein a code different from the codes stored in the other transponder chips.

According to an adventageous embodiment of the invention the method further comprises the step of reading the codes from the transponder chips, wherein the codes are the respective chip identification numbers as implemented by the manufacturer of the transponder chips. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the method comprises the step of inputting the codes into the transponder chips instead.

According to an enhancement of the invention, the method further comprises the step of attaching the transponder chips to the pieces of sheet material.

In addition, manufacturing athlete identification sheets according to the invention may include one or more steps of laminating, printing, coating, die-cutting, perforating and other manufacturing steps typically performed on sheet-like materials depending on the properties desired for the actual product. In particular, athlete identification sheets may be produced from an elongated web material, which is subjected to a suitable process including one or more of the above steps and then cut or punched into pieces resembling the athlete identification sheets or a pre-state thereof.

The accompanying drawings serve for a better understanding of the above and other features of the present invention. The drawings are of purely schematic nature and not drawn to scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 illustrates an athlete identification sheet according to the invention with the self-adhesive timekeeping section being attached to an area of the front surface of the starting number section coated for limited adhesion.

Fig. 2 shows another athlete identification sheet according to the invention with both timekeeping section and starting number section comprising a self-adhesive coating at their back surface and being arranged on a joint sheet of release material.

Fig. 3 shows another athlete identification sheet according to the invention comprising a voucher section, wherein both the voucher section and the timekeeping section can be detached from the starting number section by tearing the athlete identification sheet appart along a perforated line.

Fig. 4 shows an athlete identification sheet according to the invention with a transponder chip integrated in the starting number section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The athlete identification sheet shown in Fig. 1 is basically comprised of a starting number section 1, to which a timekeeping section 3 including a transponder chip 2 is attached. The timekeeping section 3 comprises a self-adhesive coating at its back surface, adhered to an area 4 of the starting number section 1 coated for limited adhesion, thus enabling the athlete to easily peel off the timekeeping section 3. As an alternative, the entire front surface of the starting number section 1 is covered by a transparent weatherproof coating limiting adhesion as well. The starting number 5 printed on the starting number section 1 also is stored in the transponder chip 2 in an encoded form and can be retrieved in a contactless manner employing a sender

frequency of 13,56 MHz, which is a common standard for so called RFID labels in the field of the marking of commercial goods. Generally, any code unequivocally correlateble to the starting number, such as the starting number itself or the chip identification number implemented by the manufacturer of the transponder chip, can be considered an encoded form of the starting number. Beside the starting number 5 the starting number section 1 comprises an imprint 6 of the name of the sports event within which the starting number is relevant.

The identification sheet is used as follows : The runner participating at the sports event receives the athlete identification sheet, peels the timekeeping section 3 off the starting number section 1 and adheres the former to his running shoe or to a tag tied to the shoe by the laces, the tag being adapted to securely hold the timekeeping section 3.

Then the runner attaches the starting number section 1 to his jersey using safety pins.

When the runner passes the starting line, his encoded starting number is retrieved from the transponder chip 2 through a ground antenna and stored together with the momentary time. The same takes place, when the runner passes the finish line. The difference between the two times recorded is the individual running time of the participant carrying the corresponding starting number. Intermediate running times or lap times may be determined in the same manner.

Regarding the athlete identification sheet illustrated in Fig. 2, the starting number section 11 and the timekeeping section 13 including the transponder chip 12 are arranged side by side on a sheet of paper 17. Both sections 11, 13 comprise a self- adhesive coating 18 at their back surface. The sheet of paper 17 is coated with a silicone material 19 to facilitate peeling off the starting number section 11 and the timekeeping section 13. The starting number 15 and a logo or name 10 of a sponsor or commercial partner of the sport event are printed on the starting number section 11.

The identification sheet is used basically as described for the identification sheet shown in fig. 1, however with the improved feature that the runner does not have to rely on using safety pins to attach the starting number section 11 to his jersey but can simply adhere the starting number section 11 to the latter. For this purpose, the coating 18 consists of an adhesive sufficiently sticking to textile materials common for sportswear yet adapted to be peeled off these materials without causing damage to the respective clothing.

The athlete identification sheet shown in Fig. 3 is comprised of a starting number section 21 with a starting number 25 and a logo 26 printed thereon, a timekeeping section 23 with a transponder chip 23 having stored therein the starting number 25 in an encoded form, and a voucher section 30 with the starting number 25 and text fields 31 printed thereon. Both the voucher section 30 and the timekeeping section 23 can be detached from the respective rest of the athlete identification sheet by tearing the latter apart along the perforated lines 32a and 32b.

In use, the voucher 30 is detached, when the identification sheet is handed to the athlete, in order to remain with the administrative staff of the sports event, serving as a receipt. The runner further detaches the timekeeping section 23. The latter can be fastened to the running shoe tying the laces through the eyelets 33a, 33b. As an alternative, a leaflet (not shown) comprised of release material can be peeled off the back surface of the timekeeping section 23, uncovering a self-adhesive coating (not shown) adapted for adhering the timekeeping section 23 to a running shoe. Besides the afore-mentioned differences, the athlete identification sheet shown in Fig. 3 is used analogously to the athlete identification sheet shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows an athlete identification sheet according to the invention with the transponder chip 42 integrated in the starting number section 41. The starting number section 41 is composed of two layers 41'and 41"made of paper material and/ or polymere-foils adhered together to form a laminar structure with the transponder chip 42 arranged between them. For illustrative reasons, the upper layer 41"is shown like"pulled off"from the area, where the transponder chip 42 is situated. The starting number 45 as well as additional text 46 or symbols are printed on the upper layer 41".

In use, the athlete identification sheet is handed out to the athlete who then attaches the starting number section 41 including the transponder chip 42 to his jersey. When the runner passes the starting line, his encoded starting number is retrieved from the transponder chip 42 through an antenna system and stored together with the momentary time. The same takes place, when the runner passes the finish line. The difference between the two times recorded is the individual running time of the

participant carrying the corresponding starting number. Intermediate running times or lap times may be determined in the same manner.

If desired, end-manufacturing of athlete identification sheets of one of the types described above may be performed under the responsibility of the organizing staff of the particular sports event in which the athlete identification sheets are to be used. In this case, the organizing staff may recieve pre-manufactured athlete identification sheets as described above but without the starting number 5,15, 25,45 and other imprinted information 6,16, 26,31, 46. Then, consecutive starting numbers 5,15, 25,45 and additional information, logos etc. 6,16, 26,31, 46 are printed onto the pre-manufactured sheets using e. g. a laser printer or similar equipment. For each athlete identification sheet thus completed, a reference data pair comprised of the respective starting number 5,15, 25,45 and the respective transponder chip identification number is recorded, if the latter is to be used as an encoded form of the former. Prior to that procedure, the respective chip identification number as implemented by the chip manufacturer is retrieved using a suitable reading device. If the chip identification number as implemented by the chip manufacturer is not to be used, the respective starting number 5, 15, 25,45 is inputted into the respective transponder chip 2,12, 22,42 in an encoded form using a suitable programming device. Needless to say, end manufacturing of athlete identification sheets may as well be performed by an external supplier.