Sensor mat for athletes

Abstract

A sensor mat for accurate timing of athletic jumps, including top and bottom plates which are separated by a cavity. The plates come into contact under the weight of the athlete and activate timing circuitry. Airflow in the cavity is enhanced by passages or vents in the bottom plate to improve response time of the mat.

1 . A sensor mat for an athlete, including:
 a bottom plate supported on a base,   a top plate held apart from the bottom plate forming a cavity between the top and bottom plates,   circuitry associated with the top and bottom plates which times electrical contact between the top and bottom plates due to a weight of the athlete on the top plate,   wherein the bottom plate comprises airflow passages which assist airflow in the cavity during contact between the top and bottomplate,   
     
     
         2 . The sensor mat according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow passages comprise an arrangement of slots in the bottom plate. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor mat according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow passages comprise lateral vents which assist airflow in and out of the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor mat according to  claim 1 , comprising a resilient means between the top and bottom plates. 
     
     
         5 . (currently amended.) The sensor mat according to  claim 4 , wherein the resilient means comprises an array of conical springs determined by the weights the top plate. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor mat according to  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom plates are manufactured from stainless steel, and wherein the top and bottom plates are held apart by strips of tape disposed along edges of the top and bottom plates. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor mat according to  claim 1 , comprising a pair of bottom plates side by side corresponding to individual feet of the athlete. 
     
     
         8 . A sensor mat for timing athletic jumps, comprising:
 a switch formed by top and bottom electrically conductive plates spaced apart in parallel by a peripheral insulator, and   timing circuitry connected to the switch which times activation of the switch caused by a weight of an athlete depressing the top electrically conductive plate into electrical contact with the bottom electrically conductive plate.   
     
     
         9 . The sensor mat according to  claim 8 , further comprising a base which supports the bottom electrically conductive plate and provides one or more resilient members which compensate weight of the top electrically conductive plate. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor mat according to  claim 9 , wherein the resilient members are an array of springs located in pockets in the base and extending upwards through holes in the bottom electrically conductive plate. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor mat according to  claim 8 , comprising a plurality of air flow passages which assist flow of air between the top and bottom electrically conductive plates during activation of the switch. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor mat according to  claim 11 , wherein the air flow passages are slots formed in the bottom electrically conductive plate. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor mat according to  claim 8 , comprising a rim which contains the top and bottom electrically conductive plates and the base to form the mat. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor mat according to  claim 9 , wherein the timing circuitry is formed as a circuit board contained in the mat in parallel with the top and bottom electrically conductive plates. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor mat according to  claim 8 , wherein the top and bottom electrically conductive plates are manufactured from stainless steel, and the insulator which spaces the top and bottom electrically conductive plates is a strip of adhesive tape.