GB2335525A - Displaying information - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for use in displaying information comprises a motorboat (2), a tow-line (4), a parasail (6), and a banner (8). The tow-line (4) is connected at its proximal end to the boat (2) and at its distal end to the parasail (6), and the banner (8) is secured in relation to the tow-line (4) between the parasail (6) and the boat (2). The invention also provides assemblies for use in manufacturing the apparatus, and a method for displaying information using the apparatus.

Description

2335525 1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD The present invention relates to

apparatus for displaying information, notably advertising information. The invention also provides a method for displaying advertising material or other information using the apparatus. The apparatus and method are particularly for use in conveying information to people on a beach or other stretch of coastline.

At the right time of year, many people flock to beaches or other regions of coastline. Advertisers wish to advertise their wares at the beach, and, because every stretch of coastline has its dangers, coastguards and others need to convey safety information to people in or near the water.

Traditionally information has been conveyed to people on a beach by means of flags on flagpoles (for safety warnings), or smoke writing from an aeroplane (for advertising). It is also known to drag signs or banners behind a light aircraft while flying at low altitude and speed. The noise of the aircraft usually draws people's attention, who then read the sign.

There are drawbacks with all these arrangements. Flags may be difficult to see from a distance, and difficult to understand if they carry symbols. When the wind drops, a flag may not be readable at all. The use of aircraft is expensive, and severely limited by air traffic regulations as to flying over densely populated areas. Weather conditions also impose severe limitations, sometimes requiring the use of larger, heavier, more expensive aircraft. Weight limitations force the use of very lightweight fabrics which are 2 usually quite transparent. This means that a sign is readable from the ground only when the aircraft is flying in one direction. If the pilot reverses direction the sign will be read backwards. Printing the sign on both sides of a banner is usually impractical because of the transparency of the fabric. Moreover, the range limitations of light aircraft will restrict total flight time to only a few hours. In addition, pilots must receive special training.

1 I- _M It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for displaying information which reduces at least some of the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in displaying information, the apparatus comprising a motorboat, a tow-line, a parasail, and a banner; the tow-line being connected at its proximal end to the boat and at its distal end to the parasail, and the banner being secured in relation to the tow-line between the parasail and the boat.

The parasail is a type of parachute or lifting canopy which rises into the air when it is pulled along behind a boat at sufficient speed. It is sometimes referred to as a parafoil.

Many vacationers who head for the beaches for their holidays will be familiar with the sight of motorboats pulling a parasail from which a daring thrill-seeker may hang at considerable height above the sea. The basic functioning is as follows: the parasail user dons a harness connected by a long tow line to a motorboat.

The parasail is laid out behind the rider and starts to 3 - inflate and provide lift as the motorboat moves forward and the tow-line is tightened, tugging steadily on the canopy. As the boat speed increases, greater lift is generated as air continuously moves into the inflated canopy and through openings in the fabric of the parasail. More speed generates more lift and both increase until the rider is taken aloft and towed at a height of up to 70% of the length of the tow-line. The motorboat makes wide turns and the rider enjoys a ride of several minutes. Landing is simply a matter of the boat slowing and manoeuvring to let the rider slowly descend into the water at the edge of the shore.

The parasail is designed to provide great stability in the direction of movement and no input from the rider is needed in order to steer the device. In this sense it is very different from conventional paragliding parachutes which provide a great deal of manoeuvrability to the pilot. Because of the stability of direction of movement, the apparatus of the invention may be used without a rider.

The invention is particularly useful for advertising or displaying information in populated shoreline areas. Although limited to shoreline areas, the invention has several advantages over aircraft towed signs.

1. Cost per hour is considerably lower. I estimate about one third to one half that of comparable aerial towed systems.

2. Marine traffic regulations will limit powerboat operations to a minimum distance from the waters, edge. In Europe this distance is usually 200 meters. However this distance is about the ideal distance from 4 which suitable banners should be read.

1 3. Weather conditions are less restrictive than with aircraft. If weather conditions are too rough for a 28 foot powerboat, the chances are that they are also too rough for most bathers and unlikely to be considered "a nice day for the beach".

4. The weight of the banner is much less critical, thus permitting the use of heavier, more durable fabrics that may be sufficiently opaque to permit writing on both sides. However, even if this were not the case, the powerboat operator could lower the parasail and reverse the sign at the end of a run so he can then head back along the coast with a readable banner.

5. A typical 28 foot powerboat has enough fuel capacity to operate at planing speeds for at least eight hours before refuelling. Moreover, a one or two man crew can learn to operate the equipment in only a few hours.

6. A powerboat can carry an inventory of several signs, thus permitting alternating runs with different banners. An aircraft capable of changing banners in mid-flight would have to be very large and expensive.

The invention also gives coastguards and other authorities the possibility to communicate much more effectively with the crowds of people that converge on popular resort areas during weekends and holidays. A banner that clearly states "SHARK ALERT! LEAVE THE WATER" is understood by everyone and is far more visible than flag signals.

- The banner must be suitable for carrying information, which may be permanently or removably printed on the banner, sewn on, adhered, or otherwise affixed to the banner. Many materials well known to those skilled in the art may be used, for example hessian or card, or plastics materials such as nylon, polypropylene, Dacron"', or PVC. The banner may be formed from cast or woven sheets or film materials.

Some banners may require the use of long battens to prevent flapping. To fly the parasail with a battened banner attached, the boat must drag most of the banner through the water as the parasail is inflated by rushing air. The parasail will lift the banner from the water. The light weight of the banner in relation to the size of the parasail will ensure a quick liftoff despite the increase in drag caused by the banner being in the water. If the banner does not require long, stiff battens, then it may be possible to carry the banner rolled up on the boat where it will unfurl itself as the parasail rises in the air.

The requirement for battens will depend on the shape and size of the banner. The speed of a boat flying a parasail will typically be in the 20 to 25 knot range, which is about one quarter the speed of an aircraft towing a similar banner. For this reason, flapping should be much less of a problem than with signs towed by an aircraft.

From the publicity point of view, the slower speed of the boat and the closer distance of the banner to the public will also result in a longer read time than with aircraft towed systems.

- 6 Commercially available parasails come in different diameter sizes according to the weight of the rider. A 24-foot diameter canopy is about the smallest size and corresponds to a 45 to 70 kg individual. A 2.5 meter by 15 meter banner made of Dacron" sailcloth weighs about 25 kg including attachment points at both ends, letters, and fibreglass batons to reduce flapping. Compared to a human rider, the lower weight of the banner should be partly compensated by higher drag, so this size of parasail should prove to be adequate for the purposes of the invention without the need for special sizes to be manufactured. A 2.5 meter by 15 meter parasail in the USA costs about $1000. The cost of 100 meters of nylon rope and the attachment system for the banner should add about $100. The banners, signs and billboards should cost about the same as those used for aircraft towed systems.

1 A different attachment system is required for towing a banner instead of a passenger. The tow-line will typically be attached to a tow-bar, to which the parasail is connected by ropes. In a preferred embodiment the tow-bar is provided with a rigid rod that hangs down substantially vertically from the towbar in use. The rod may be formed from any suitable material, for example fibreglass, wood, or metal. The banner is secured to the rod by securing means that allow the banner to be removed and substituted quickly. It is preferred that the rod is able to swivel freely in the direction of travel (pitch) but is substantially prevented from moving laterally to the direction of travel (sway or yaw). Alternatively, the banner could be connected directly to the tow-bar by means of one or more ropes or the like, in a manner similar to the attachment of a banner to an aircraft. This attachment method may, however, require the use of a lightweight banner.

The banner, parasail, and tow-bar may be sold as a unit, for connection to a boat. Accordingly, another aspect of the invention provides an assembly for use in manufacturing the apparatus claimed in claim 1, the assembly comprising a parasail connected to a tow- bar for connection to a motor boat, the tow-bar being connected to a banner for displaying information.

The banner and mounting member may also be sold separately, for modifying existing parasails. Another aspect of the invention therefore provides an assembly for use in manufacturing the apparatus claimed in claim 1, the assembly comprising a banner connected to a mounting member adapted to be mounted on a tow-bar for a parasail.

Claims (13)

1. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method

   for displaying information using the apparatus of Claim 1, the method comprising driving the motor boat in water at a speed sufficient to cause the parasail to be carried above the water and the banner to be deployed so that information carried on the banner can be read.

   The invention permits moving information to be displayed relatively close to a beach, and low down so 30 that it is within people's field of view.

   The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawing, in which:

   - 8 Figure 1 shows apparatus for displaying information, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a close up view of part of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a close up view of an alternative embodiment of the invention, corresponding to the view shown in Figure 2.

   The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a motor boat 2, a tow-line 4, a parasail 6, and a banner 8. The tow-line 4 is connected at its proximal end to the boat 2, and at its distal end to the parasail 6. The banner 8 is secured in relation to the tow-line 4, between the parasail 6 and the boat 2.

   I The tow-line 4 and the parasail 6 are connected together by means of a tow-bar 14, as best shown in Figure 2. The tow- line 4 is secured to the tow-bar 14 at a central attachment point 18. Ropes 16 are secured to each end of the tow-bar 14 to attach the parasail 6.

   A mounting member 24 is pivotally mounted on the towbar 14 to permit attachment of the banner 8. The mounting member 24 is Y-shaped, comprising a rigid rod portion 12 and a pair of arms 26 which are terminated by swivel mounts 28 located around the tow-bar 14.

   The rod 14 is provided with a pair of clips 10 which are releasably fastened through a pair of eyelets 30 at one end of the banner 8. The banner 8 is provided with a corresponding pair of eyelets at the other end, so that the banner 8 may be connected at either end to the 9 tow-bar 14.

   The mounting member 24 enables the rod 12 to pivot freely in the direction of travel, but substantially prevents movement lateral to the direction of travel.

   To display the banner, the boat 2 is moved forward at sufficient speed to raise the parasail 6 in the air and to deploy the banner 8 so that it can be seen above the sea.

   To change banners, the crew must remove any long battens from the attached banner 8 as it lays in the water, unclip the banner, roll it up and stow it on the boat. They can then roll out a new banner, fit the battens in their sleeves (not shown) and clip the eyelets 30 in the banner to the rod 12. Except for the first meter or two next to the rod 12, the new banner will lie in the water ready for use. To prevent the rest of the banner from sinking, a float may be clipped to the top end of the banner. The float will also serve as a warning buoy to help prevent other boats from running over the banner while it is in the water. Banners without battens, or banners with only short segmented battens, may be simply pulled onto the boat, rolled up and stowed away.

   In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 3, the clips 10 are directly connected to the tow-bar 14 by a rope or cord 20.

   CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for use in displaying information, the apparatus comprising a motorboat, a tow-line, a parasail, and a banner; the tow-line being connected at its proximal end to the boat and at its distal end to the parasail, and the banner being secured in relation to the tow-line between the parasail and the boat.
2. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the towline is attached to a tow-bar, which is attached the parasail by ropes, the banner being secured to the towbar.
3. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the banner is secured to the tow-bar via a mounting member which is mounted on the tow-bar.

   1
4. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mounting member is pivotally mounted on the tow-bar whereby, in use, the mounting member is free to pivot in the direction of travel of the boat, but is substantially prevented from pivoting laterally to the direction of travel.
5. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the mounting member includes a rigid rod which depends substantially vertically below the tow-bar when in use, and to which the banner is secured.
6. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the banner is made from sail cloth.
7. 7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the banner is made of a material which 11 - is substantially opaque.
8. 8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the banner is inhibited from flapping 5 by incorporation of one or more stiff battens.
9. 9. Apparatus for use in displaying information substantially as herein described with reference to or as shown in the drawing.
10. 10. An assembly for use in manufacturing the apparatus claimed in claim 1, the assembly comprising a parasail connected to a tow-bar for connection to a motor boat, the tow-bar being connected to a banner for displaying information.
11. 11. An assembly for use in manufacturing the apparatus claimed in claim 1, the assembly comprising a banner connected to a mounting member adapted to be mounted on a tow-bar for a parasail.
12. 12. A method for displaying information using the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising driving the motor boat in water at a speed sufficient to cause the parasail to be carried above the water and the banner to be deployed so that information carried on the banner can be read.
13. 13. A method for displaying information using the apparatus of claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the drawing.