US3003762A

US3003762A - Ski instruction apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3003762A
Application number: US854311A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles T Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-11-20
Filing date: 1959-11-20
Publication date: 1961-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1978-10-10

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1959 LINK it U rlulllllllvalllllllil INVENTOR. Charles T. Lewis.

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 10, 1961 c. T. LEWIS SKI INSTRUCTION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1959 INVENTOR. Charles T. Lew/'6.

W a fToPA/ws Patented Get. 10, 1961 United States Patent Oflice 3,003,762 SKI INSTRUCTION APPARATUS Charles T. Lewis, P.0. Box 4755, Oklahoma City, Okla. Filed Nov. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 854,311

' 9 Claims. (Cl. 272-32) This invention relates to instructional and amusement devices for use in aquatic sports, and more particularly to a novel apparatus for moving or towing persons in generally circular paths for instructions and practice of aquatic sports such as water skiing and the like.

Heretofore, the usual methods for persons to learn water skiing are for the pupil to be on water skis and to start behind a fast motor boat with an instructor assisting the pupil with a regular length ski rope tied behind the motor boat that is capable of accelerating to a speed that will pull the skier to the top of the water to a planing position. This necessitates the instruction being given in relatively large size bodies of water for maneuverability of the boat, and frequently in areas of fast motor boat traific, requiring the beginning pupil to have additional strain in watching out for passing tratlic and large waves of passing boats, as well as natural roughness of the water, all of which adds to the perils and difiiculties of the water skier.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a novel apparatus which may be placed in shallow water close to the shore, or in small bodies of water, and away from fast motor boat traflic for instruction and practice of water skiing in a manner eliminating the difliculties above-mentioned; to provide such a structure wherein there is a central platform whose base rests on the bottom with an upright column carrying a rotatable arm or boom positioned above the surface of the water with a propelling means on one end and a ski or tow rope extending from the other end remote from the rotatable mounting, said propelling means being at a different or lesser distance from the rotatable mounting than the extending ski or tow rope to eliminate any danger of the skier being or falling into the path of the propelling means; to provide such a structure witha winch or other control for the extension of the tow rope from the arm with the rope control adjacent to an operator position which is near the propelling means whereby the operator can control both the rope and propelling means while having full view of the skier at all times; to provide such a structure wherein the arm or boom is extendable in length to increase the diameter of the path of the skier for greater operational movement as the instruction progresses; to provide such a structure with a propelling means such as an outboard motor with sufiicient power and acceleration to quickly pull the skier to planing position; to provide such a structure wherein the ski rope and the boom are adjusted to minimum position for initial instruction of a beginner and later, as the pupil proficiency increases, the boom and ski rope are extended for greater range; to provide such a structure wherein the center column and motor supports are adjustable to provide necessary height or clearance above the water surface; to provide such a structure wherein the center platform is a hollow tank which, when empty, will provide buoyancy for floating of the apparatus to a desired location and upon operation of a valve controlled inlet water will fill said base causing same to sink to the bottom, the water load holding the structure in position; and to provide such a water ski instruction apparatus that is economical to manufacture, eflicient in operation, that forms a safe means for a beginner to learn, as well as to enable the more advanced water skier to practice and become more proficient.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent'from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the ski instruction apparatus embodying the features of the present invention in operative position.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the instruction apparatus.

FlG. 3 is a vertical sectional view throughthe apparatus on the line 33, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the boom on the line 44, FIG. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates an aquatic sports instructional and amusement device particularly adapted for water skiing and generally consisting of a base 2 having an upright column or standard 3 and a rotatable arm or boom 4 with a ski or tow rope 5 extending from adjacent one end of the arm or boom and a propelling means, such as an outboard motor 6, carried adjacent the other end of the boom for effecting rotation thereof whereby a person on water skis holding to a bar member or handle 7 on the end of'the tow rope will be drawn through a substantially circular path.

In the structure illustrated, the base 2 preferably consists of a hollow tank 8 of suitable shape preferably square or rectangular and having bottom, side and top walls 9, 10 and 11 respectively to define a chamber 12 of sufiicient volume whereby when empty the base will form a float with sulhcient buoyancy to support the apparatus for towing to a desired location. The bottom wall 9 preferably has depending portions 13 forming feet adapted to engage the bottom of a lake or other body of water in which the apparatus is to be operated. A tubular member 14 having an outwardly extending plate 15 secured at the bottom thereof is positioned in the tank substantially at the center whereby the bore 16 of said tubular member registers with an aperture 17 in the top wall 11. The plate 15 is suitably secured to the bottom wall 9, and the upper end of the tubular member 14 is suitably secured to the top wall 11 whereby said tubular member is held in upright position, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Gusset plates 18 are secured to the plate 15 and the tubular member 14 to further brace same and form a rigid structure. The bore 16 of the tubular member 14 forms a socket opening from the upper or top of the tank to receive a tubular standard or column 3 which extends into said socket and is suitably secured therein. Brace members -19 such as tubes have ends connected as at 20 to the standard in upwardly spaced relation to the base 2 with the other ends suitably connected to the top wall 11 as at 21 in spaced relation to the standard forming diagonal braces to aid in holding the standard and tank and support said standard in upright position relative to the tank.

A valve member 22 is arranged in the tank to control an inlet opening 23 in the bottom wall 9 whereby when the valve is opened water can flow into the bottom aperture 23 to fill the tank causing same to sink. A tubular member, such as a pipe 24-, is connected to the valve member 22 and tea flange surrounding an opening in the top wall 11 as at 25 whereby the opening in the tubular member 24 registers with an opening or bore in a tubular extension or pipe 26 connected to the flanged portion 25 and extending upwardly therefrom to support a valve actuating rod 27 that extends through the bores of the

pipes

24 and 26 and has a valve operating wheel 28 on the upper end of said rod 27. The upper end of the pipe 26 is supported by a brace 29 extending laterally from the standard 3, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The tubular member 14 and the lower portion of the standard 3 have registering apertures 30 and 31 whereby water in the tank will flow through said apertures into the interior of the hollow standard or column 3. An inlet pipe 32 of a pump 33 has communication with the chamber 12 and preferably is arranged in the column 3 withthe lower portion supported by a member 34, said inlet pipe extending upwardly in the column 3 to a point above the normal level of water in which the apparatus will be located, and then through the wall of the standard or column 3 to'the pump 33 whereby when the pump is operated and the valve 22 is closed, water may be pumped from the tank 8.' In the illustrated structure, the pump 33 is shown as hand operated. However, the pump couldbe driven by a suitable'motor or the like.

Discharge of the pump is through an open pipe 35 positioned above the normal level of the water in a lake or the like in which the apparatus is to be operated.

The upper end of the standard or column 3 is preferably cylindrical and has coarse screw threads 37 thereon, and an elongate cylindrical column head 38 is adjustably mounted on 't-he column 3, and, in the illustrated structure, said head has internal threads 39 engaging the threads 37 whereby the head may be screwed on the upper end of the column 3 and adjusted vertically thereon to vary the height of the upper portion of said head. A suitable fastening device 40, such as a set screw, extends through the head 38 and is adapted to engage the column to lock the head and column in adjusted position. The upper portion of the column 3 has bearing members 41 therein aligned with a bearing member 42 r in the upper end of the head for rotatably mounting a shaft 43 of a boom or arm carrier 44. The shaft 43 is preferably longer than the spacing between the

bearings

41 and 42 to permit extension and contraction, as desired, of the column and head to adjust the position of the boom above the level 45 of the water in the body of water in which the device is to be operated.

' The boom carrier 44 has a portion above the head 38 on which is secured the boom or arm 4. In the illustrated structure, the carrier has a horizontal bore 46 extending therethrough and the boom 4 is tubular and extends through said bore 46 and is secured to' the carrier as by welding. One end portion 47 of the boom 4 is shownas a motor arm portion with spaced motor supports 48 securedthereto and depending therefrom. The lower ends of the motor supports are suitably secured to I the propelling means in the form of a conventional outboard motor 6 having a propeller blade 49 adapted to extend into the Waterwhereby operation of the motor will drive the blade and move the boom about the axis of U the shaft 43. In the illustrated structure, the motor supports are sectional and extensible consisting of threaded rods 50 and 51 secured to the motor arm of the boom and to the outboard motor respectively with the adjacent ends of said rods threaded into coupling members 52, v

the rods and coupling members having rightand lefthand threads whereby turning of the coupling members 52 will cause extension or contraction of the motor support to adjust the distance of the propeller blade 49 winch being rotated by a crank 60 above the seat 57 whereby the operator has control of the winding in or paying out of the ski rope. The ski rope 5 extends from the drum 59 through an aperture 61 in the motor arm of the boom and then longitudinally through the bore 62 of said boom. The other end portion 63 of the boom 4 extends radially opposite from the motor arm and has a tubular truss structure 64 secured therebelow and extending longitudinally thereof to provide reinforcing and rigidity to said boom portion 63. The truss terminates as at 65 in spaced relation to the column head 38, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The truss 64, in the illustrated structure, consists of spaced substantially vertical members 66, each having their upper ends secured to the lower portion of the boom portion 63 and their lower ends secured to a stringer 67 having one end secured as at 68 adjacent the outer end 69 of the boom portion 63 and inclined downwardly therefrom, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Diagonal braces 70 have their ends secured to the stringer and upright intersection points and are inclined upwardly with their opposite ends secured to the intersection of the uprights and boom portion 63.

A boom extension 71 is telescoped in the boom portion 63 and is slidably mounted therein whereby the extension may be moved outwardly to provide a longer boom arm. The boom extension 71 is tubular having a bore 72 therein through which the ski rope 5 extends, said ski rope passing outwardly from the bore 72. through an aperture 73 adjacent the outer end 74 of the extension with the ski rope terminating in a loop 75 in which is slidably mounted a bar rope 76 having ends secured to the handle or bar 7. The boom extension 71 has a plurality .of apertures 77 spaced longitudinally along said extension and adapted to be selectively registered with apertures 78 in the boom portion 63 adjacent the end thereof for. receiving a suitable fastening device such as a pin 79 to secure the boom extension .in selected adjustable position to provide the desired length of the ski connector arm whereby the aperture 73 and thereby the ski bar 7 are spaced radially from the column 3 a much greater distance than the motor 6 as, for example, the motor arm may be lZ-feet long and the boom portion 63 30-feet long and the boom extension some ZO-feet whereby a skier, even in falling from thenormal path, would still be substantially outwardly from the path of the motor.

In using a structure constructed asdescribed, and assuming the structure is on or adjacent the shore with the valve 22 closed and tank 8 empty, a boat is connected to the apparatus to tow same to a position in a lake or other body of water on which it is desired to instruct or practice water skiing and preferably in an area having a substantially flat bottom 80. The hand wheel 28 is then turned to open the valve 22 whereby water will enter below the motor arm of the boom. Brackets 53 are mounted on the motor 6 and extend therefrom toward the column 3 with the inner end of said brackets having a sleeve 54 slidably mounted on a rod 55 having its upper end secured to the motor arm of the boom whereby the rod depends therefrom in parallel relation to the motor supports 48. A suitable fastening device 56 is arranged in the sleeve and adapted to engage therod to secure the sleeve in adjusted position on the rod. 7 v An operators seat 57 is fixed on the brackets 53 to position the operator whereby a speed control lever 58 of the motor is easily accessible. The operators chair faces in the opposite direction to the propeller blade 49 whereby the operator is facing forwardly relative to the direction of travel of the motor arm and thereby facing toward a skier as is later described.

A winch drum 59 is rotatably mounted ;on the motor arm or supports 48 to carry a supply of skirope 5, said the tank 8 filling same causing said tank to sink to the bottom 80, the water being at a suitable depth to accommodate the apparatus. If the person going to ski is a beginner, the boom extension 71 is retracted to position the aperture 73 adjacent to the end 69 of the boom portion 63, and the pin 79 inserted through registering

apertures

77 and 78 to hold samein position. The winch 59 is then actuated to wind the rope wherein the bar 7 may be grasped and be of suitable height for the skier. The operator and instructor then takes the position in the seat 57, starts the motor 6, and then, with the skier grasping the bar 7, the motor is accelerated to rotate the boom at a speed that will pull the skier to the top of the water into planing position, and the rnotor may be slowed or speeded up and the winch 59 actuated to'extend the ski rope as desired in the instruction of the pupil, and periodically, as the student progresses, the apparatus may be stopped, the pin 79 removed and the boom extension moved outwardly to increase the radius and the operational range of a student, and when fully extended, even professional skiers may practice jumps with theski rope spasms in maximum position and the jump placed near the outer perimeter of the action. When the instructions are finished, if desired, the apparatus may be raised and towed to shore by closing the valve 28 and operating the pump 33 to pump the water from the tank 8 whereby the buoyance of the air chamber 12 will cause the apparatus to float so it can be towed to the shore.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a head on said standard and adjustable on the upper portion thereof to change the height of the head, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation about a vertical axis at said head, means for supporting said standard in a body of water whereby said boom is spaced above the surface of the water and adjustment of the head on the standard raises and lowers said boom relative to said water surface, said boom having tubular arms extending radially opposite from the head with one of said arms being longer than the other, a motor member having a propeller, means supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, a winch supported on the shorter of the boom arms, a tow rope on said winch and extending therefrom through the tubular boom toward the end of the other arm, and a boom extension telescoped in said longer boom arm and adjustable relative thereto for lengthening the boom on the side opposite the motor, said boom extension being tubular and the tow rope extending through said tubular extension and laterally outwardly thereof adjacent the end of said boom extension, said tow rope having an end on the portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed thereby whereby operation of the winch will effect drawing in and paying out of said rope to change the extending length thereof and the operational range of the person grasping same.

2. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a head on said standard and adjustable on the upper portion thereof to change the height of the head, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation about a vertical axis at said head, means for supporting said standard in a 'body of water whereby said boom is spaced above the surface of the water and adjustment of the head on the standard raises and lowers said boom relative to said water surface, said boom being tubular and having tubular arms extending radially opposite from the head with one of said arms being longer than the other, a motor member having a propeller, means adjustably supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, an operators seat supported adjacent the motor and movable therewith with the operator facing in the direction of movement of the motor, a winch supported on the shorter of the boom arms, a tow rope on said winch and extending therefrom through the tubular boom toward the end of the other arm, and a boom extension telescoped in said longer boom arm and adjustable relative thereto for lengthening the boom on the side opposite the motor, said boom extension being tubular and the tow rope extending through said tubular extension and laterally outwardly thereof adjacent the end of said boom extension, said tow rope having an end on the port-ion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed thereby whereby operation of t3 the winch will effect drawing in and paying out of said rope to change the extending length thereof and the operational range of the person grasping same.

3. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a head on said standard, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation about a vertical axis at said head, a base having a hollow chamber therein providing buoyancy for floating of the base and standard and boom and adapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottom thereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting the upright standard on said base with the head on the standard above the surface of the water, a valve controlled inlet communicating with said base chamber whereby opening thereof permits water to enter said chamber to cause said base to submerge, means connected to the base chamber and operable to draw water from the base chamber to make same buoyant, said boom having tubular arms, extending radially opposite from the head with one of said arms being longer than the other, a motor member having a propeller, means supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, and a tow rope extending through the tubular boom toward the end of the longer am, said tow rope extending laterally outwardly of the longer of the boom arms adjacent the end thereof, said tow rope having an end on the portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed.

4. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a head on said standard, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation about a vertical axis at said head, a base having a hollow chamber therein providing buoyancy for floating of the base and standard and boom and adapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottom thereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting the upright standard on said base with the head on the standard above the surface of the water, means operable to permit water to enter said chamber to cause said base to submerge, means communicating with the base chamber and operable to draw water from the'base chamber to make same buoyant, said boom having tubular arms extending radially opposite from the head with one of said arms being longer than the other, a motor member having a propeller, means supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, an operators seat supported adjacent the motor and movable therewith with the operator facing in the direction of movement of the motor, a tow rope extending through the tubular boom toward the end of the longer arm, a boom extension telescoped in said longer boom arm and adjustable relative thereto for lengthening the boom on the side opposite the motor, said boom extension being tubular and the tow rope extending through said tubular extension and laterally outwardly thereof adjacent the end of said boom extension, said tow'rope having an end on the portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed thereby, and means operable to efiect drawing in and paying out of said rope to change the extending length thereof and the operational range of the person grasping same.

5. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a head on said standard and adjustable on the upperportion thereof to change the height of the head, a tubular boom extending horizontally adjacent .said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation about a vertical axis at said head, a base having a hollow chamber therein providing buoyancy for floating of the base andstandard and boom and adapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottom thereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting the upright standard on said base with the head on the standard above the surface of the water, a valve controlled inlet communicating with said base chamber whereby opening thereof permits water to enter said chamber to cause said base to submerge, a pump on said standard above the water level, an inlet duct extending from said pump through said standard into the basechamber whereby operation of the pump will draw water from the base chamber to, make same buoyant, said boom being tubular and having tubular arms extending radially opposite from the head with one of said arms beinglonger than the other, a motor member having a propeller, means adjustably supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boom anns in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, an operators seat supported adjacent the motor and movable therewith with the operator facing in the direction of movement of the motor, awinch supported on the shorter of the boom arms, a tow rope on said winch and extending therefrom through the tubular boom toward the end of the other arm, and a boom extension telescoped in said longer boom arm and adjustable relative thereto for lengthening the boom on the side opposite the motor, said boom extension being tubular and the tow rope extending-through said tubular extension and laterally outwardly thereof adjacent the end of said boom extension, said tow rope having an end on the portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed thereby whereby operation of the winch will effect drawing in and paying out of said rope to change the extending length thereof and the oper ational range of the person grasping same.

6. Au aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, 'a head on said standard, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head, for rotation about a vertical axis at said'head, a base having a hollow chamber therein providing buoyancy for floating of the base and standard and boom and adapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottom thereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting the upright standard on said base with the head on the standard above the surface of the water, a valve controlled inlet communicating with said base chamber whereby opening thereof permits water to enter said chamber to cause said base to submerge, means connected to the base chamber and operable to draw water from the base chamber to make same buoyant, said boom having arms extending radially opposite from the head with one of said arms being longer than the other, propelling means supported on the shorter of the boom arms and operative to effect rotation of the boom, and a tow rope extending along the boom toward the end of the longer arm, said tow rope extending laterally outwardly of the longer of the boom arms adjacent the end thereof, said towrope having an end on the portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed.

7. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a head on said standard, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on' said head for rotation about a vertical axis at said head, a base having a hollow chamber therein providing buoyancy for floating of the base and standard and boom and adapted to be submerged in a body of water and rest on the bottom thereof when the chamber is filled with water, means supporting the upright standard on said base with the head on the standard above the surface of the water, means connected with said base chamber and operable for introduction of water into said chamber to cause said base to submerge, means connected to the base chamber and operable, to

draw water from the base chamber to make same buoyant; said boom having arms extending radially opposite from the head with one of said arms being longer than the other, a motor member having a propellen'means supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, and a tow rope extending along the boom toward'the end of the longer arm, said tow rope extending laterally outwardly of the longer of the boom arms adjacent the end thereof, said tow rope having an end on the portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed.

8. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a head on said standard and adjustable onthe upper portion thereof to change the height of the head, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation about a vertical axis at said head, means for supporting said standard in a body of water whereby said boom is spaced above the surface of the water and adjustment of the head on the standard raises and lowers said boom relative to said water surface, said boom having arms extending radially opposite from the, head with one of said arms being longer than the other, a motor member having a propeller, means supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation of the motor effects rotation of the boom, a tow rope extending laterally outwardly from adjacent the end of said longer boom arm, said tow rope having an end on the portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed thereby, and means on said boom and operatively connected to the tow rope to effect drawing in and paying out of said rope to change the extending length thereof and the operational range of the person grasping same.

9. An aquatic instruction device comprising, an upright standard, a head on said standard and adjustable on the upper portion thereof totchange the height of the head, a boom extending horizontally adjacent said head, means rotatably mounting said boom on said head for rotation about a vertical axis at said head, means for supporting said standard in a body of water whereby said boom is spaced above the surface of the 'water and adjustment of the head on the standard raises and lowers said boom relative to said water surface, said boom having arms extending radially opposite from the head with one of said arms being longer than the other, a motor member having a propeller, means supporting said motor means on the shorter of the boom arms in depending relation thereto whereby the propeller extends into the water and operation of the motor effects rotationtof the boom, a winch supported on the shorter of the boom arms, a tow rope on said winch and extending there from along the boom toward the end of the other arm, and a boom extension supported by said longer boom arm and adjustable relative thereto for lengthening the boom on the side opposite the motor, the tow rope extending along said extension and laterally outwardly thereof adjacent the end of said boom extension, said tow rope having an end on the portion extending from the boom extension adapted to be grasped by a person to be towed thereby whereby operation of the'winch will eflect drawing'in and paying out of said rope to change the extending length thereofand the operational range of the person grasping same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS