"SIGNAL CARD"

Subject:

This Invention Patent refers to a signal card used by referees in matches in general with the aim of cautioning or sending off players by using a digital system that receives, stores and transfers information of cautioning situations through the use of a yellow card and ejection through the use of a red card occurred during the match, as well as additional data such as scores, goal, own goal, ejection of coaches, fair play, dangerous play, hand ball, and other situations. Technical State:

The technical state, reason for the present invention, is known by the use of caution and ejection cards, that is, yellow and red cards, made of cardboard paper or similar, where the referee needs to write down to which player the card was given and from which team, so then after they can add such information to the match report sent to the corresponding sports federation.

This system is not very effective, since it requires the game to be stopped for longer so as the referee can grab a pen or similar, write down the information on the card or on a separate notepad and then put the pen back. Inventive Concept:

The present Signal Card is based on the inventive concept of using electronic components such as a chip associated to software in order to obtain an automation system for collection, storage and transfer of data about the use of yellow ad red cards during the match, apart from additional data such as the score and coach ejection, in an efficient and accessible manner. In other words, it provides a functional improvement in relation to the object technical state, and has been developed based on the difficulties found in the traditional form. Application Field:

The application of the present Signal Card occurs by using it to collect, store, and transfer data about situations such as cautioning players by using the yellow card or sending off players by using the red card during matches of various types such as soccer, basketball, handball, volleyball, and others, through an automated control of information, thus being used as a sports assistant. Advantages: The Signal Card presents the following advantages:

• Easy operation, which makes it possible to be used by all referees, either beginners or more experienced;

• Flexibility, since it can be used in all types of sports games where caution and ejection cards are used;

• The possibility of collecting through the ejection card, so-called red card, more information about goals, own goal, fair play, and coach ejection;

• Improved definition concerning a player's ejection, where it can be either a direct ejection (no use of yellow card) or an ejection resulting from the use of a second yellow card;

• The possibility of collecting through the caution card, or yellow card, more information about some players' behaviors which are commonly found in soccer games, such as tripping an opponent, hand ball, dangerous play, complaint, striking an opponent, blatant holding or pulling, and improper and reckless behavior; • Portability, since its light and small shape allows the cards to be carried by referees during the match;

• The possibility of reducing the length of game interruptions for the application of a card, thus allowing the game to flow with less interruptions; and • It allows all collected information to be transferred automatically to the match report with more details, also informing when such event occurred during the game, without requiring the referee to review the match for notes of this kind.

Illustrations

Aiming to make search easier and providing a better understanding of the present patent, as stated in the report, according to a basic and preferential form of implementation created by the requester, we refer to the attached illustrations that are an integral part and support the present descriptive report, where:

FIG. 01 - shows a front view of the card;

FIG. 02 - shows a side view of the card; FIG. 03 - shows a rear view of the card;

FIG. 04 - shows a front view of the card, pointing out a possible location for the chip;

FIG. 05 - shows a front view of the yellow card; and

FIG. 06 - shows a front view of the red card. Description:

The Signal Card, in its first simplified construction, is comprised of external box 1 , which can be made of light materials such as plastic, acrylic, acrylate or other material, and should come in the colors of the cards, yellow or red. If the card is used for games that contain other card color rules to be applied, such model can be adjusted to these colors.

Inside the external box 1 there is chip 2, and this is the mechanism that contains the software or the solution

responsible for collecting and storing data about the use of cards and other events. Chip 2 can be placed inside external box 1 in the best position possible, considering its interrelation with the other items. The front end of external box 1 contains digital display 3, which shows card use data, buttons 4 containing inscriptions TEAM A and TEAM B for choosing between teams A or B, and buttons 5 to determine the number of the player's shirt to whom the card will be given. The front end of external box 1 also has button 6 containing the inscription CONFIRM, and button 7 containing the inscription CANCEL.

Solution 8 brings a LED actuated automatically when information is entered incorrectly or when two yellow caution cards are given to one player, indicating that the red card used to send the player off should be applied. Also, an alarm sounds along with the light indicator. Such light indicator can be adjusted to the rules of other kinds of sports by changing the chip content. Each game or each sport can have a specific chip containing particular information of each case. External box 1 contains at the back door 9 to access inside it, and on the side mechanism 10 to interconnect the card with the computer through a specific cable in order to transfer data stored in the chip.

Aiming to increase the possibility of collecting data about the varied events that usually occur during matches, the yellow and red cards were improved by counting with specific buttons to collect other data such as the score, fair play and others. Yellow Card

Therefore, the yellow card now counts with additional buttons to determine the events during a match that may have triggered the application of a caution card.

The front end of yellow card external box 1 contains likewise digital display 3, which shows card use data, buttons

4 containing inscriptions TEAM A and TEAM B for choosing between teams A or B, and buttons 5 to determine the number of the player's shirt to whom the card will be given.

Buttons 1 1 are used to indicate the player's behavior that motivated the application of a caution card, where RC is for complaint, FT for striking an opponent; MB for hand ball, CR for tripping an opponent, AD for improper and reckless behavior, AG for holding or pulling an opponent, JP for dangerous play. The device also has Button 6 containing the inscription

CONFIRM, button 7 containing the inscription CANCEL, and scroll mechanism 12 for better use of software present in chip 2 placed internally to external box 1 .

Solution 8 brings a LED actuated automatically when information is entered incorrectly or when two yellow caution cards are given to one player, indicating that the red card used to send the player off should be applied. Also, an alarm sounds along with the light indicator.

Red Card

Likewise, the front end of external box 1 contains digital display 3, which shows card use data, buttons 4 containing inscriptions TEAM A and TEAM B for choosing between teams A or B, and buttons 5 to determine the number of the player's shirt to whom the card will be given or that has participated in a given event.

Buttons 13 are used to indicate the score: goal or own goal, and button 14 indicates the fair play of a player (FP). Button 15 indicates ejection situations, and TE stands for

Expelled Coach, 2 ^nd yellow: second yellow card given to a player, which determines the application of a red card of ejection or Direct Ejection: when a player is ejected without having 2 yellow cards applied previously. The device also has Button 6 containing the inscription

CONFIRM, button 7 containing the inscription CANCEL, and scroll mechanism 12 for better use of the system present in

chip 2. The beginning and end of the game is determined by button 16, activating the clock (chronometer).

Solution 8 brings a LED actuated automatically whenever information is entered incorrectly or when a special event, such as the beginning or end of a game, occurs. Also, an alarm sounds along with the light indicator. Operation:

This patent is put into practice as follows: When the card is given to a certain player, the referee shall enter the number of the player's shirt, which will be shown in display 3, and select to which team this play belongs: Team A or Team B, being Team A the team that plays in its own stadium (home team) and Team B the visitors. After determining the number of the player's shirt through buttons 5 and choosing the teams, CONFIRM button 6 should be pressed so as the data is stored in chip 2.

When the yellow card is applied to a given player, the referee can choose the reasons that triggered the card among the options indicated in buttons 1 1 . When two yellow cards are given to the same player, LED

8 is actuated along with an alarm sound indicating that the red card (ejection) should be applied. Then the operation of

determining the player's shirt number and choosing between the teams should be made effective in the red card.

When the red card is applied to a certain player, the referee shall determine whether it was the second yellow card or direct ejection through buttons 15. If the coach is ejected, the corresponding button should be actuated and the team to which the coach belongs should be determined.

The score, goal and own goal, are stored through buttons 13 and fair play through button 14. In the event of an error when entering the player's shirt number or when selecting the team, CANCEL button 7 should be used and the operation shall be resumed.

If the game has specific rules, which are compliant with chip 2, the ways of operation may be changed to match such rules.

The signal cards can be connected to a computer, and data can be transferred to it. Scroll bar 12 allows browsing through the software and view data better. Conclusion: The Signal Card is supported by unprecedented technical and functional features, as you can see in the attached pictures and understand in the descriptive report, thus deserving the legal protection requested.