The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 18, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 23, 2006
John Frayn Ewans, Buckinghamshire, GB;
John Frayn Ewans, Buckinghamshire, GB;
Other;
Abstract
Operation of an electric microswitchfor timing or other purposes during rowing is brought about by the rower moving the heelsof his/her shoesin opposite sideways directions transitorily. A unitcontaining the switchinvolves two platesthat are tied by cordsto the two heelsrespectively within the foot-wellof the boat, so as to slide relative to one another against a spring bias when the heelsmove apart. The microswitchoperates in response to the sliding to energize an LEDfor sending a light pulse via fibre-optic cableto a timing unit. A modified unitincludes a wireless transmitterin place of the LED, and an alternative modification involves two parallel fibre-optic cablesfrom the unitand an optical block. The blockis moved in response to the heel-movement from where light transmitted by the unitdown the cableis not reflected back via the cable, to where the light is reflected back up the cablefrom reflective surfacesof block. Light reflected back to the unitvia the cable