US3122609A

US3122609A - Communication means for skiing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3122609A
Application number: US752606A
Authority: US
Inventors: Moore Jurden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-08-01
Filing date: 1958-08-01
Publication date: 1964-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-25

Description

is REE-imam J. MOORE COMMUNICATION MEANS FOR SKIING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1, 1958 INVENTOR. JU/PDEIV MOORE ATTORNEYS Feb. 25, 1964 O- V a E United States Patent 3,122,609 COMMUNICATION MEANS FOR SKIING APPARATUS Jurden Moore, 93 Celia- SW., Grand Rapids, Mich. Filed Aug. 1, 1958, Ser. No. 752,606 6 Claims. (Cl. 179-1) This invention relates to skiing apparatus such as is used in the sport of water skiing and more particularly to a means of providing communication between a water skier and the operator of a boat for reasons of safety and improvement of the sport.

The operator of a boat pulling a water skier is continually required to turn his head to check on the presence of his water ski tow. Consequently, he cannot concentrate his attention fully on either of his responsibilities of maneuvering the boat with regard for the safety of other persons on or in the water, nor ascertaining the presence and well-being of his water ski passenger.

The person traveling behind the boat on water skis also has their attention diverted from the enjoyment of the sport from time to time in order to give visual hand signals to the operator of the boat. This not only detracts from the enjoyment of the sport but frequently results in an upset due to loss of balance or some other mishap.

Since the operator of the ski towing boat cannot di rect his full attention to the person on the skis, he is often unaware that his passenger has fallen or let go of the tow until sometime afterward. In instances where the tow is inadvertently released by the water skier, it is important that the boat return to pick up the water ski passenger as soon as possible in case of serious injury.

These are only a few of the inadequacies in the sport as presently known and practical, and bear out the need for new and improved water ski equipment. Accordingly:

-It is an object of this invention to provide a means of communication between the operator of a boat and his water ski tow passenger.

It is also an object of tln's invention to provide means of sound communication between a water skier and the towing boat so that the attention of the boat operator need not be diverted from the task of steering the boat.

It is another object of this invention to provide a means of voice communication between a water skier and boat operator to enable more explicit instructions as regards maneuvering the boat for the convenience of the skier.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means of communication between a water skier and a boat operator in combination with the ski tow rope.

A further object of this invention is to incorporate a .Voice T PiLXQQQV CC Within the hand hold member at IE6 d an towing o ration.

A n" even fiirtherobject of this invention is to provide an operable control for the voice circuit between the ski enthusiast and the boat operator.

Also among the objects of this invention is to locate the voice control in a position where it will be actuated by the impulses of the water when the device has been dropped by the ski enthusiast, as when the enthusiast has fallen from his skis.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the principal object of this invention is centered around providing some means of communication between a ski enthusiast and the operator of a boat for reasons of safety and for the greater enjoyment of the sport of water skiing.

These and other objects and advantages in the practice of this invention will be more apparent in the illustration and description of a working embodiment of the inven tion, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a boat with a ski tow apparatus of this invention connected thereto.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of the water skier making use of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of part of the ski tow apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the communication circuit of this invention.

The water ski apparatus of thisinvention includes a tow ropghav ng. means of engggeme t t iaaa zgi teat i. The hand hold member 1s formed to provide two separable parts that include means for axially engaging the two parts together, Voice receptive means, such as a small sound microphone, is mounted within one of the hand hold parts. The small microphone is connected by a wire interwound within the tow rope to voice receptive and amplifying equipment within the boat. The hand hold member which includes the microphone includes a small control switch which is mounted on the hand hold part on the side thereof engaged by the tow rope.

A person on water skis using the ski tow apparatus of this invention merely disassoci-ates the two parts of the hand hold member and holds on to one while the other, with the microphone, is raised into a speaking position. The control button is depressed and communication is available to the operator of the towing boat. If the hand hold member including the microphone is dropped into the water, as when a ski enthusiast falls from his skis, the circuit control button is so located that it will be spasmodically operated by the water wave impulses as the hand hold part bounces over the water. This alerts the boat operator to the loss of his ski tow passenger.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a power boat 10 with an operator 12 seated at the controls. A ski ioyg gope li The tow rope is shown con;

ed to the boat.

n I Q A wire conductor 18 w rope 14, as will be described later, and is connected to a communication console unit 20 mounted in the instrument panel of the boat. Headphone leads 22 are connected to the communication console 20 and to headphones 24 worn by the operator of the boat.

9..15i LQ, Qgadliilgsildsihaakatoaa.wateraskiersillm The ski enthusiast 30 is shown on water skies 32, by. FIG. 2. The ski tow rope 14 is separated 'nt hach of the tow rope separations 34 is further divided

I

42 and 44. Each of these parts include holes 46 near each of its ends to receive the

tow rope ends

36 and 38 therethrough. The

ends

36 and 38 of the tow rope are engaged to the hand hold

parts

42 and 44 on the same sides of each part.

The

members

42 and 44 which form the hand holding member 40 of the ski tow apparatus, are hollow tubular members, or the like. The one hand holding part 44 includes a member 48 of reduced cross section which may be telescoped into engagement with the hollow end 50 of the other hand hold part 42. Thus the two

parts

42 and 44 of the hand hold member 40 may be separated or engaged together at will.

The member 48 may be of wood or other buoyant material. It may extend clear through the hand hold part 44 or may merely close the ends to provide an air chamber therein for making the hand hold part 44 more buoyant and such as will float if dropped in the water. The other hand hold part 42 may also include some means therein providing buoyancy. r

A small sound receptive microphone 52 is mounted within the end of the hand hold part 42. The end of the hand hold part receiving the microphone 52 is cut at an angle 54 to dispose the microphone in a direction away from the ski tow rope 14, and accordingly in a position which is easier for the skier 30 to use. The microphone 52 is naturally such tas is not affected if it is dropped in the water.

The microphone 52 is connected to the conductor wire 18 which is shown in FIG. 3 as interwoven within the ski tow rope 14, and more particularly within the

parts

34 and 36 which lead to the end of the hand hold part 42 near the microphone.

A control button 56 is mounted within the hand hold part 42 near the microphone end thereof. The control button is disposed between the ends of the hand hold part 42 and on the side thereof to which the

ends

36 and 38 of the tow rope 14 are engaged.

In FIG. 5 is shown the voice circuit 60 of the disclosed ski tow apparatus. The microphone 52 and the control button 56 are connected in series, by the wire conductor 18 which extends through the ski tow rope 14, with a power supply source 62 which forms part of the communication console 20. The communication console also includes a power amplification source 64 which is connected to the headphones 24 worn by the boat operator 12.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the person 30 on the water skis 32 has means of voice communication with the operator 12 of the boat 10, whenever desired.

Operation the tow rope 14. The tow rope 14 is connected to the hand hold

parts

42 and 44 as has been described.

To make use of the ski tow apparatus, the tow rope 14 is connected to the boat 10, as to the swivel connection 16. Phone plug jacks or the like are used to connect the wire conductor 18 from the tow rope '14 to the communication console 20. Similarly, the headphone lead 22 is connected to the console 20. The boat operator 12 wears the headphones 24 as shown by FIG. 1.

With the boat underway and the-ski enthusiast 30 supported on the skis 32 on the water, the communication system of this invention is made use of in the following manner:

The water skier 30 disconnects the hand hold part 42 from the other part 44. The part 44 is held in one hand to maintain towing engagement with the boat 10. With the other hand the part 42 is raised to a speaking position as is shown in FIG. 2.

The microphone 52 at the end of the hand hold member 42 is raised near the mouth and the control button 56 is depressed by a finger or thumb of the skiers hand holding the member 42.

When the button 56 is depressed the voice circuit 60 is closed and communication may be made with the operator 12 of the power boat 10.

As will be appreciated, the boat operator 12 may direct his full attention to maneuvering the boat 10. He is able to receive communication from the water skier 30 via the headphones 24 whenever the ski enthusiast wishes to communicate with him. At the same time, a person on the water skis may disassociate the hand hold

parts

42 and 44 and raise the one part 42 to communicate with the boat operator whenever necessary or desirable. The hand hold

parts

42 and 44 are readily reengaged together after instructions have been given to the boat operator 12.

In the event the tow passenger 30 falls from the skis the hand hold member 40 will fall into the water. Due to the location of the control button 56 on the side of the hand hold part 42 between the tow rope ends 36 and 38, the button is in position to be spasmodically operated as it is bounced across or towed through the water. Accordingly, a boat operator 12 will be immediately aware of what has happened due to the fluctuations in the communication circuit 60.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be understood that other modifications and improvements may be made thereto. Such of these modifications and improvements as incorporate the principles of this invention are to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

I claim:

1. A water ski tow device, comprising; a tow rope haying m an s of engagement to a towlng boat at"t3'ii" "nd rid a hanafibidmgnelapggrerja sitar fli' pthere-ndthegggf, said hand holding memberhaving 's'pa rable parts each connected to said towing rope, a microphone mounted within one of said separable hand holding parts, voice communication lines connected to said microphone and interwound within said tow rope, and voice receptive means mounted within said towing boat and connected to said communication lines for receiving a message transmitted from a water skier using said hand holding member.

2. A water ski tow device, comprising; a tow rope having means of engagement to a towing boat at one end thereof and a hand holding member for a skier at the other end thereof, said hand holding member including a microphone mounted therein, and communication lines connected to said microphone and arranged within said tow rope for connection to voice receptive means within said tow boat, and an on-off control provided on said hand holding member on the side thereof with which said tow rope is engaged and interconnected between said communication lines and microphone for permitting selective use of said microphone by a water skier using said hand holding member and spasmodic actuation by water Wave impulses upon being dropped into the water while said boat is underway.

3. A water skiers tow device, comprising; a tow rope having means of engagement to a boat and including a hand hold member for a skier at the other end thereof, said hand hold member being formed to provide two separable parts and having means of axially engaging said two parts together, said tow rope being engaged to said hand hold parts near each end of each of said parts and at the same side thereof, a microphone mounted within the outer end of one of said hand hold parts, communication lines connected to said microphone and interwound within said tow rope and that part thereof engaged to said one hand hold part, said microphone and communication lines being a part of a voice transmitting circuit to said tow boat enabling a water skier using said hand hold member to convey instructions to the operator of said tow boat, and a circuit control switch mounted on said one hand hold part between the ends thereof and on the side thereof with which said tow rope is engaged, and interconnected within said voice transmitting circuit, for permitting said water skier to selectively activate said voice circuit and causing water wave impulses to spasmodically activate said circuit when said hand hold part is dropped in the water by said water skier while said tow boat is underway, to alert said boat operator of such mishap.

4. A water ski tow device comprising, a tow rope having means of engagement to a towing boat at one end thereof and a hand holding member for a skier at the other end thereof, voice communication means provided between said handle and said boat; said communication means including a voice transmitting means mounted on said handle and a voice receiving means mounted at said boat whereby a message may be communicated therebetween.

5. A water ski tow device comprising, a tow rope having means of engagement to a towing boat at one end thereof and a hand holding member for a skier at the other end thereof, voice communication lines associated with said tow rope and connecting with said hand holding member and said boat, voice communication equipment means connected to said communication lines at said handle and at said boat whereby a message may be communicated therebetween.

6. A water ski tow device comprising, a tow rope having means of engagement to a towing boat at one end thereof and a hand holding member for a skier at the other end thereof, a voice communication system between 15 2,914,018

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,043,526 Lindal Nov. 5, 1912 2,377,442 Osterhoudt June 5, 1945 2,691,784 Eckl Oct. 19, 1954 2,776,443 Howard Jan. 8, 1957 Schachner et a1 Nov. 24, 1959