Scope of the invention

[001] The present invention relates to the technical field of sport.

[002] In particular, the invention relates to an innovative device that can be applied especially to soccer but also to other similar sports in which a ball, or another object such as a puck, must go beyond a certain line (such as a goal line) . The device can immediately make the occurred achievement of the goal (the fact of going beyond the preset line) recognizable to the spectator, even in uncertain cases that require an intervention of the referee and/or of specific technologies.

Brief outline of prior art

[003] The so-called "Technology in the field" or also "Goal line technology" has been known for years by now which during a soccer match or other sports, removes any reasonable doubt whether any goal scored is really valid or not .

[004] This technology is generally known with the wording "Goal line technology" and it has been used in almost all European nations, comprising Italy, not only in soccer but also in other sports, from rugby to basketball and tennis.

[005] During the match, the crossing of the goal line by the playing object may not be always evident (see the doubtful cases in soccer where sometimes it is not evident whether the ball has gone beyond the goal line or not) .

[006] The same occurs in other sports in which going beyond the line can cause the ball to be outside the playing field (see the case of tennis) .

[007] Therefore, the technology consists in applying sensors in order to define a crossing line.

[008] If the sport in question provides for a ball reaching or going beyond a line (in the example of soccer, the goal is valid when the ball goes beyond the goal line) , the sensors can be arranged in such a way as to retrace this line and detect the crossing.

[009] In particular, sensors can be applied to the two vertical goalposts in soccer.

[0010] When the ball goes beyond the goal line, the sensors detect the crossing of the ball and send a signal that is received by a suitable receiving device of the referee.

[0011] Generally, the receiving device of the referee is a watch connected wireless with these sensors (in a direct or indirect way) and which vibrates in response to the signal received by the sensors.

[0012] In this way, in an undoubtedly way, the referee receives the information of the occurred goal and can confirm the goal also in those situations in which it is difficult for the referee and his assistants to be certain about the goal .

[0013] Therefore, accordingly, in the case of football, the positive effects of the application of technology on the goal line are obvious since, thanks to this technology, now it is possible to be certain about the occurred goal also in situations that would have been doubtful in other contexts .

[0014] This technology is suitable for applications not only on the goal line but also on any crossing line such as playing field sides and for other sports, such as hockey, in which a puck is used to play.

[0015] Given the foregoing, a technical issue connected to this type of technology is that, at the moment when a doubtful goal condition occurs and the "Goal line technology" comes into play, the spectators in general (both on the bleachers and at home) wait for long trepidation moments. An immediate information does not exist and is not possible with this technology. In fact, normally, during a soccer match, if the goal is evident, an exultation of supporters that is part of choreography and of the sporting spirit, occurs.

[0016] In a situation in which the "Goal line technology" comes into action, the public cannot rejoice immediately since this technology gives the information about the occurred goal to the referee only and he must consequently confirm the goal or not. Therefore, the public can only wait for what the referee is going to communicate subsequently. [0017] Therefore, at the current state of the art, there is no technology that enables to immediately "inform" about the occurred goal also the public and not only the designated referee, and not only in soccer but also, as mentioned, in other sports in which the aim is make the playing object go beyond a line.

Summary of the invention

[0018] The refore, an aim of the present invention is to solve said technical issues.

[0019] In particular, the aim of the present invention is to provide a device which, alone or in a possible combination with the already well-known "Goal line technology" enables to "inform" also supporters about the occurred aim (goal, in the case of soccer) , both in soccer and in similar sports in which a ball or other object, such as a puck, must go beyond a certain goal line.

[0020] The aim of the present invention is also to provide a technology which enables to inform immediately everyone about a condition of crossing or not of a certain line by the playing object.

[0021] Therefore, these and other aims are achieved with the present device (1) .

[0022] This device (1) comprises:

A sensor system suitable for monitoring a crossing line for a playing object, for example a ball in general such as a soccer ball or a puck, said sensor system being suitable for detecting this crossing of the line by the playing ob ect ;

According to the invention, said device comprises at least one light source (100) which is activated upon reception of a signal indicating the crossing of said line. [0023] The refore, when the sensors detect a crossing of the line, they emit a signal that causes the activation of the light source. In this way, the public is immediately informed about the occurred goal through lights that are also lighted in a choreographic way.

[0024] Therefore, the light source can be something like a headlight to position in a visible way in a predetermined spot in the neighborhood of the field.

[0025] Advantageously, an emitting/receiving device (30) communicating both with said sensor system and with said at least one light source in such a way that said emitting/receiving device (30) controls an activation of said at least one light source upon a reception of a signal coming from the sensor system can be included.

[0026] Substantially, the emitting/receiving device (30) receives the signal from the sensor system and therefore sends an activating signal that controls the activation of the light source.

[0027 ] Advantageously, in a possible variant, said sensor system can be directly connected or anyway communicating with said at least one light source in such a way as to control a switching on of said light source.

[0028] Advantageously, a wrist device having vibrating means suitable for vibrating upon reception of a signal coming from said emitting/receiving device (30) , can be provided. [0029] In this way the known "Goal line technology" can be combined and be cooperating with the present invention. The emitting/receiving device 30 controls both the switching on of the light sources and the wrist object generally supplied to the referee/s.

[0030] Advantageously, said at least one light source can be a led headlight or projector (1) , preferably multi-coloured.

[0031 ] Advantageously, said LED headlight or projector (1) can be anchored to the ground protected from bad weather at IP67 degree.

[0032] Herein is also described an assembly comprising:

A playing field, such as a soccer field;

At least one crossing line for a playing object, such as a soccer ball;

A device, according to one or more of the previous features indicated above.

[0033] An object of the present invention is also a method comprising :

The arrangement of a sensor system capable of detecting the crossing of a line by a playing object, for example a ball in general such as a soccer ball or a puck;

The arrangement of at least one light source;

And wherein in correspondence of any crossing of the line by said playing object, the sensor system emits a signal which causes the activation of said at least one light source.

[0034] Advantageously, the goal line can be a soccer goal line .

[0035] Advantageously, said sensor system can comprise at least one sensor applied in correspondence of the soccer goal in such a way as to define the crossing line that obviously coincides with the goal line.

[0036] Advantageously two sensors can be provided, each one arranged at a vertical soccer goalpost.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the device comprises :

- A LED headlight or projector (1)

[0038] According to the present invention, the means of the goal line technology ("Goal line technology" ) are cooperating with said LED headlight or projector, also multi-coloured, arranged behind the goal line, suitable for transmitting brightness at the moment when this goal technology comes into action to determine whether the ball has gone beyond the goal line or not.

[0039] In fact, there are cases in which the ball remains behind the line for an infinitesimal fraction of second and the human eye cannot see whether the ball crossed the line.

[0040] Advantageously, according to the present invention, at least one LED headlight or projector (1) connected with the goal technology, in such a way that the spectators can see the illuminated light beam from a distance and rejoice at the instant of the goal without waiting for the referee's decisions .

[0041] This type of spotlight can mount high-brightness LED, preferably of the electric type and configured in such a way as to optimize the result of a maximum light output, in any sports field, at the moment when the technology in the field comes into operation: "Goal line technology".

[0042] A preferred configuration of the invention described here provides a device (1) comprising:

A sensor system suitable for monitoring a crossing line for a playing object, for example a ball in general such as a soccer ball, a puck or the like, said sensor system being suitable for detecting this crossing of the line by the playing object; said device comprising at least one light source (100) which is activated upon reception of a signal indicating the crossing of said line; wherein an emitting/receiving device (30) communicating both with said sensor system and with said at least one light source is included in such a way that said emitting/receiving device (30) controls an activation of said at least one light source upon a reception thereof of a signal coming from the sensor system; and wherein a wrist device is provided having signaling means suitable for signaling the occurrence of the crossing of said line, for example through a vibration, upon reception of a signal coming from said emitting/receiving device ( 30 ) .

[0043] Therefore, this solution is actually a solution that is perfectly integrated into the so-called "Goal line technology" .

[0044] The sensors and the emitting/receiving device (30) can be the pre-existing ones of the "Goal line technology". The same is for the wrist device. Therefore, light sources are added to this goal line technology, for example in the form of headlights, such as LED, which can be installed in areas outside the field and that can illuminate in any direction in order to indicate the occurred crossing of the line with their lighting.

[0045] For example, in the case of soccer, the headlights can be positioned outside the field, for example behind the goal line, to signal the occurred goal (see figure 1 and figure 2) .

[0046] The refore, the object of the present invention is also an assembly comprising:

A playing field, such as a soccer field;

At least one crossing line for a playing object, for example a soccer ball;

A device (1) comprising:

A sensor system suitable for monitoring a crossing line for a playing object, for example a ball in general such as a soccer ball, a puck or the like, said sensor system being suitable for detecting this crossing of the line by the playing object; said device comprising at least one light source (100) which is activated upon reception of a signal indicating the crossing of said line; and wherein an emitting/receiving device (30) communicating both with said sensor system and with said at least one light source is included in such a way that said emitting/receiving device (30) controls an activation of said at least one light source upon a reception thereof of a signal coming from the sensor system; and wherein a wrist device is provided having signaling means suitable for signaling the occurrence of the crossing of said line, for example through a vibration, upon reception of a signal coming from said emitting/receiving device ( 30 ) .

[0047] In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the playing field is the soccer or five-a-side football field.

[0048] The playing object is the ball.

[0049] As indicated above, therefore, this solution is actually a solution that is perfectly integrated into the so-called "Goal line technology".

[0050] The sensors and the emitting/receiving device (30) can be the pre-existing ones of the "Goal line technology". The same is for the wrist device. Therefore, light sources are added to this goal line technology, for example in the form of headlights, such as LEDs, which can be installed in areas outside the field and that can illuminate in any direction in order to indicate the occurred crossing of the line with their lighting.

[0051] For example, in the case of soccer, the headlights can be positioned outside the field, for example behind the goal line, to signal the occurred goal (see figure 1 and figure

2) .

Brief description of the drawings

[0052 ] Additional features and advantages, according to the invention, will become more apparent from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, given only by way of non-exhaustive example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0053] Figure 1 shows a plan view and a front view of the present device that specifically highlights the light beam upwards, according to a first possible configuration.

[0054] Figure 2 shows an axonometric view with light sources positioned in different stations with respect to those ones of figure 1 and integrated into the pre-existing "Goal line technology" .

Description of some preferred embodiments

[0055] The device according to the present invention is therefore described with reference to the appended figures.

[0056] A f irst preferred embodiment of the invention is described in particular with reference to figure 1.

[0057] This case shows a LED headlight or projector 1 that can be of cylindrical or rectangular shape, for example. As described in figure 1, two LED headlights or projectors 1 are highlighted behind the goal line at the moment of their functioning at the moment of the goal.

[0058] In this case, specifically, the invention is shown with reference to the soccer playing field but the same technology can be applied to other sports.

[0059] In fact, the figure shows the playing ground (or five- a-side football and the like) with a couple of light sources 1 (for example headlights or the like) , each couple placed behind the goal line. [0060] Figure 1 still shows in a front view the playing goal and the two light sources that beam the light beam upwards.

[0061] Naturally, the LED element or headlight 1 can be made of material that is believed to be suitable for making the device in its whole anchored to the ground and protected from bad weather at IP67 degree.

[0062] As highlighted by figure 1, this case shows the whole playing field and provides a couple of headlights 1 placed outside the lines of the playing field behind the goals and, specifically, a headlight for each goal side.

[0063] In this case, the headlights, or the light source in general, project a light upwards as shown in figure 1.

[0064] In fact, figure 1 schematizes the soccer goal (it could be of another sport in which a ball or similar object must go beyond a goal line, for example also the puck of ice hockey) .

[0065] The refore, the figure shows the lighting of these light sources.

[0066] Therefore, according to the invention, the light sources are controlled by a sensor system (such as a couple of sensors) arranged in such a way as to define a line of action thereof that corresponds to (and therefore retraces) a goal line.

[0067] The sensors, for example infrared rays or other similar sensor systems, detect the crossing of the ball or of the object in general and therefore they acquire information that the line has been crossed and therefore the aim of the play has been achieved or, in other cases, crossing a sideline has been detected.

[0068] In the example of the soccer playing field, the sensors can be arranged at vertical goalposts or in proximity thereof in such a way as to be able to detect the crossing of the goal line by the ball.

[0069] The person skilled in the art can readily check the most suitable way of the sensor system and the type of sensors to be used.

[0070] The sensors send a signal that controls the switching on of the light sources.

[0071] Therefore, the light sources clearly indicate that the aim has been reached and therefore the public knows the information immediately.

[0072] The light sources can remain active for a predetermined time and then be switched off, in such a way that the playing can resume.

[0073] The sensors can send a signal to an emitting/receiving device 30 that, once it has received the signal from the sensors, controls the switching on of the light sources with which it communicates (wireless, with cables or similar solutions) .

[0074] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the description above is well combined with the well-known "Goal line technology" already in use.

[0075] Sp ecifically, the pre-existing sensors that are already applied and in use to this "Goal line technology" can be used, making them control also an activation of said light sources .

[0076] For this purpose, said sensors can also send a signal directly also to the light sources with which they are in communication or connected (wireless, with cables or similar solutions) .

[0077] Alternatively, the signal can be sent instead from the watch that is supplied with this "Goal line technology" to the referee or another person of reference.

[0078] This watch receives the signal from the sensors and vibrates to indicate to the referee that a goal occurred, that is the ball crossed the goal line. The same watch, upon a vibration thereof, can send a further signal to the light sources . [0079] In a further embodiment, the emitting/receiving device 30 can be present.

[0080] Specifically, as described in figure 2, the LED headlights or projectors 100 are electrically associated and digitally connected with suitable transmission means of the "Goal line technology".

[0081] Sp ecifically, there is the emitting/receiving device 30 that sends the signal to the watch 20 which vibrates to indicate the crossing of the line to the referee.

[0082] Therefore, figure 2 shows the watch 20 that receives the signal from the emitting/receiving device 30 which vibrates .

[0083] Contextually, the emitting/receiving device 30 communicates, preferably wirelessly, with the light sources 1 by sending information about the crossing of the line and thus activating the light sources in question.

[0084] Therefore, figure 2 shows a non-limiting example of soccer playing field even if the description is valid for any sport in which an object must go beyond a crossing line or must remain inside certain perimeter (for example, the description could be applicable to tennis to be certain that the ball is inside the provided limits and did not exit from the limit, as it can happen at the moment of service) .

[0085] Therefore, with reference to figure 2, the goal with the ball that has gone beyond the goal line are shown. This crossing has been detected by the sensors relative to the "Goal line technology" that activate the emitting/receiving device 30 accordingly.

[0086] The emitting/receiving device 30 activates both the referee's watch (or anyway the referee's wrist object) and the light sources.

[0087] The light sources have been depicted as raised headlights directed towards the goal but they could easily be in any other form and arrangement, for example like the one of figure 1.

[0088] Therefore, figure 2 shows said emitting/receiving device 30 that, once it has received a crossing signal coming from the sensors, sends and activation signal to the referee's watch and to the light sources.

[0089] In this way, at the same time, both the referee and the public are informed about the goal.