Flag Football Notification Device

Abstract

A flag football system includes a belt device on a flag football belt and a flag coupling detachably engaged between a flag and the belt device. The flag coupling allows the flag to be coupled to the belt device and decoupled therefrom by pulling during play. The belt device includes an electronic system with a microcontroller, a flag detection system to detect a flag coupling status and send a flag coupling status signal, and a notification system to issue audible, visual, tactile, and/or wireless signals when the flag is decoupled. The flag detection system includes a sensor to detect presence or absence of the flag coupling on the flag. The notification system controls lights to be illuminated or doused, a speaker for sound to be emitted, and wireless signal transmission via a wireless communications subsystem. Devices can be electronically paired with the belt device, including a helmet and mobile devices.

1 . A flag football system to attach to a flag football belt via a belt loop, comprising:
 a belt device, comprising
 a belt device portion of a flag coupling; and 
 an electronic system, comprising
 a flag detection system to detect a flag coupling state; 
 a notification system to create one or more signals showing the flag coupling state. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The flag football system of  claim 1 ,
 the belt device portion of the flag coupling selected from the group comprising a suction cup and a portion of a ball and socket coupling.   
     
     
         3 . The flag football system of  claim 2 , further comprising
 a flag comprising a flag portion of a flag coupling.   
     
     
         4 . The flag football system of  claim 1 ,
 the notification system comprising one or more lights showing the flag coupling state.   
     
     
         5 . The flag football system of  claim 4 ,
 the flag coupling state comprising a decoupled state and a coupled state;   the notification system comprising a first light and a second light;   the first light being illuminated when the decoupled state is detected, and the second light being illuminated when the coupled state is detected.   
     
     
         6 . The flag football system of  claim 4 ,
 the flag coupling state comprising a first state and a second state;   the notification system comprising a first light and a second light; and   the first light being illuminated and the second light being doused when the first state is detected, and the second light being illuminated and the first light being doused when the second state is detected.   
     
     
         7 . The flag football system of  claim 4 ,
 the notification system further comprising a controllable speaker;   the speaker emitting an audible signal controlled by the flag coupling state.   
     
     
         8 . The flag football system of  claim 4 ,
 the notification system further comprising a wireless communications subsystem that communicates a signal disclosing the flag coupling state.   
     
     
         9 . The flag football system of  claim 8 , further comprising
 one or more paired devices paired to the belt device by the wireless communications subsystem.   
     
     
         10 . The flag football system of  claim 1 ,
 the flag detection system comprising a sensor;   the sensor configured to output a flag coupling state signal.   
     
     
         11 . The flag football system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a flag comprising a flag portion of the flag coupling;   the flag coupling state comprising a decoupled state and a coupled state;   the flag detection system detecting a coupled state when the flag portion is coupled with the belt portion; and   the notification system detecting a decoupled state when the flag portion is decoupled from the belt portion.   
     
     
         12 . The flag football system of  claim 11 ,
 the notification system comprising at least two signal systems selected from the list composed of a light, a controllable speaker, a vibrator, and a wireless communications subsystem.   
     
     
         13 . A method of signaling the state of a flag football flag, comprising:
 detecting a flag coupling state using a flag detection system of an electronic system on a belt device;   creating one or more signals showing the flag coupling state using a notification system of the electronic system; and   the belt device comprising a belt device portion of a flag coupling.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 the detecting step comprising detecting either a decoupled state or a coupled state;   the creating step comprising illuminating a first light when the decoupled state is detected, and illuminating a second light when the coupled state is detected.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 the detecting step comprising detecting either a first state or a second state;   the creating step comprising
 illuminating a first light and dousing a second light when the first state is detected, and 
 illuminating the second light and dousing the first light when the second state is detected. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 the detecting step comprising detecting a decoupled state; and   the creating step comprising creating a visual signal using one or more lights and emitting an audible signal using a controllable speaker;   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 the creating step comprising communicating a signal disclosing the flag coupling state via a wireless communications subsystem.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising
 pairing one or more paired devices to the belt device by the wireless communications subsystem.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 the detecting step comprising operating a sensor; and   outputting a flag coupling state signal from the sensor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising
 a flag comprising a flag portion of a flag coupling; and   the detecting step comprising
 detecting a coupled state of the flag portion coupled to the belt portion; and 
 detecting a decoupled state of the flag portion decoupled from the belt portion.