US3602188A

US3602188A - Ski boat warning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3602188A
Application number: US867830A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel M Penaflor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-10-20
Filing date: 1969-10-20
Publication date: 1971-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-31

Abstract

A flag system for ski boats automatically operated by a release of tow line tension to raise a flag for warning other boats of ''''skier down.'''' A spring loaded flag standard is retracted by tension on a tow line for water skiers and upon tension release automatically raises the warning flag. A normally closed switch in the system operates a warning light visible to a boat operator upon skier release of the tow line.

Description

, 1 (WWW 1 i M f 119*2530 XR 3a6029188 5R JUVILUU [72] Inventor Daniel M. Penlflor 1,171,638 2/1916 Hayward 116/50 5129 Valpey Park Ave., Fremont, Calif. 2,538,885 1/1951 Schumann, Jr. 116/28 UX 94538 2,654,338 10/1953 Deal 1l6/132X [21] Appl. No. 867,830 3,021,513 2/1962 Lanket 340/286 UX [22] Filed Oct. 20,1969 3,091,757 5/1963 Brockm. 340/213 [45] Patented Aug. 31,1971 3,109,075 10/1963 Ratcliff 114/235 UX Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi [54] SKI BOAT WARNING APPARATUS Attorney-Gregg and Hendncson 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 116/132, 114/235, 116/173, 248/42 [51] Int. Cl G08c 5/00 [50] Field of Search 1 16/114, ABSTRACT; A fl g slgm*iqflrwkimpoam automqicauy 132, 173, 174, 175, 28; 1 14/235 WS; 280/480; operated lgm gglgggg gi tgw jine tension l 9/310; 272/1 B, 32; 200/161, 52; 340/213, 286; warning gmg hgg q f i xig Egg g4 A spn 248/38 43 standard is retracted by tension on a ton/ line? and ufiti'rft" V V [56] References Clted mufiwdhfiany UNITED STATES PATENTS light visible to a boat operator upon skie release of the tow 1,013,582 1/1912 Bedini 1l6/132X line.

PATENTEU M1831 I97! 3.602.188

SHEET 1 [IF 2 E Mum PAN/IL M. Pawnee F G-l irroewlra PATENTED was! l97| sum 2 (IF 2 Wyn roe DAN/i4 Maw/#2 we SKI BOAT WARNING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION.

The sport of water skiing has become extremely popular and is carried out by the motor boat towing of a person upon water skis. Generally a tow line affixed to the stern of the motor boat is grasped at an outer end thereof by a person upon water skis so as to be towed across the surface of a lake or the like. While this sport. has gained wide spread acceptance it is widely recognized in the field that various substantial dangers are involved therein Aside from the natural physical danger of falling or the like, the skier experiences the further danger of possible injury by other boats cruising in the same area as the skier's activities. While there is relatively small likelihood of collision between another boat and a skier being towed upon the surface of the water there is a substantial danger of a downed skier being run over by another motor boat. This danger has ledto the passage of laws requiring the presence of an observer in the stern of a ski boat towing a water skier. It has become common practice for the observer to signal the release of atow line by a skier by theobserver raising his arm. I

During the sport of water skiing it is inevitable that a majority of skiers will eventually fall from the skis or be forced, to release the tow line so as to thussinkintothe water. Whilethis is notnormally hazardous in itself. either because the skier is a good swimmer or wears a life jacket, it, then places the skier in the dangerous position of being relatively invisible. to the operatorsof other boats in the area. A downedskier at. or

beneath thesurface of the water is very difficult to observe by of time and attempts have been made to providewater skiers with automatic warning devices. Thus for example thereare a number of issued US patents showingdevices attachable to the head of a water skier for the purpose of raising a flag or the like upon dousing of the skier. Certain limitations attached to,

this general approach to the problem such as for example the limitationuponthe height of any warning device that may be raised above a downedskier and also the visibility of any warning device of this type when a skier may be disposed in,

other than a vertical position in the water.

The present invention operatestoprovide a solution to the abovenoted problem by. automatically raising a warning flag upon the ski boat from which askier has released atow line. It

has become common practice for those operating boats to ob-- serve other boats in the area particularly for warning signals and the present invention takes advantages of this observance to raiseawarningsignal upon the ski boat itself rather than attempting to raise a warning signalon thedowned skier.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION 1 The present-invention provides-a springdoadediflag standard carrying a flag at a topfthereofwhich is normally retracted into a container having an open top. The flagstandard is connected by suitable ,means to alineengaging a tow. line for awater skier. A certain amount of drag on the ,tow line is provided by a skier being drawn across ,the surface of water i by a motor boat or the like carrying; the present invention.

This drag or tension-by the skier being towed operates against the spring tension applied to the flag standard to maintain the flagin retracted position wherein it is invisible to those in the vicinity. At any time the skier being towed by a boat releases the towline the tension applied by the skier is thus released so that the spring-loaded standard rises to unfurl and reveal the warning flag on the boat. This then provides a positive waming to other boats in the area that a water skier is down in the water in the vicinity behind the boat carrying the warning flag.

The present invention further provides an automatically operated warning light visible to the operator of a ski boat. A simple electrical circuit provides a normally closed switch engageable by means responsive to tow line tension for opening so that upon release of a tow line by a skier the switch closes to operate the warning light. Consequently a boat operator is immediately warned by a light visible to him that a skier has released the tow line of his boat so that the operator may than return to the vicinity of such release to pick up the skier. The apparatus of the present invention provides an automatic warning system both to operators of other boats in the area of water skiing and to the operator of a boat towing a water skier so as to minimize the dangers of water skiing particularly as related to release by the skier of a ski boat tow line.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a-ski boat towing a skier;

FIG. 2.is an enlarged partial elevational view of a boat stem with portions broken away illustrating the present invention mounted upon a ski boat;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken in the plane 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational. view of the warning system of this. invention showing the warning flag raised;

FIG. 5 is a central sectional view taken through the operative portion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the flag raised and including only the upright elementsof-the device or apparatus with a tension line extending therefrom;

- FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view illustrating the connection DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is first made to FIG. 1 of the drawings as a general indication of the applicability of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 the sport of water skiing'is accomplished by the towing of a water skier ll:by means of a tow-rope 12 with amotorized ski boat 13. The skier ll .wears specially'constructed water skis 14 so that he is rapidly drawn along the surface of the water by the tow line behind .the boat and a boat operator 16 pilots the boat to proceed at a desired speed and in desired directions. Conventionally it is requiredfor a ski boat to carry a passenger or observer in addition to the operator 16.with such observer facing rearwardly in the boat to at all times view the water skier. The sport of water skiing entails the natural hazards of falling, slipping, or the like so that the skier must then release the tow line. Under these circumstances the skier sinks into the water and while this presents no particular hazard in itself inasmuch as the skier would normally wear a life jacket it does raise the danger of this skier being run over by other power boats in the area.The observer in the boat tells the boat operator that the skier is down and may raise his arm at such time as a skier releases the tow line. Thisarm signal serves as a warning to other boats in the area that a skier has released the tow line and is in the water either floating or submerged so that such boats shall avoid the'area until the skier is picked up by his ski boat.

The present invention operates to carry out the sport of water skiingin the same manner as described above but with the addition of an automatic warning signal providing a readily visible warning to all boats in the area that a skier has released the two line from the ski boat. Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 there will be seen to be generally illustrated the stern of a ski boat 13 with a tow line 12 extending astem thereof. In accordance with the present invention the tow line 12 is connected to a transverse line 21 anchored as to a ring bolt 22 at one side of the stern of the boat 13 and the other side connected to a tension line 23. The tow line as illustrated to be looped about the transverse line 21 so as to be capable of sliding laterally thereof. The tension line will be seen to extend through the transom 24 of the boat 13.

Before proceeding into details of description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated herein, it is further noted that the tension line additionally extends within the boat upwardly through a rigidly mounted vertical, cylindrical support 26 into engagement with the bottom of a flag standard 27 hearing a warning flag 28. At the upper end of the generally vertically extending cylindrical housing 26 there is provided an enlarged open ended cylinder 29 serving as a flag housing. The flag standard 27 is spring loaded to urge the standard upwardly from the cylindrical housing 26 and thus to raise the flag 28 from the open end of the flag housing 29.

As a skier is drawn through the water by the ski boat, tension is applied to the tow line 12 which then draws the tension line 23 rearwardly of a boat by means of the transverse line 21 and consequently counteracts the spring loading of the flag standard and holds the flag 28 within the flag housing 29. At any time the skier releases the tow line for whatever reason, the tension on such line is substantially removed and the spring loaded flag standard is thus immediately raised by spring pressure to consequently raise the flag 28 from the flag housing and produce a visual warning of such skier release of the tow line.

Considering now the illustrating embodiment of the present invention in somewhat greater detail and referring to FIGS. -8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the upright cylindrical housing 26 is formed as an open ended cylinder extending through the deck 31 of a ski boat with a fitting 32 about the housing thereat. This fitting may be bolted to the deck 31 as indicated at 33 and preferably provides for a rearward inclination of the housing in extension above the deck. Within the housing 26 there is provided a standard guide 34 slidably disposed within the housing and having an internal shoulder about the upper portion thereof against which a compression spring 37 bears. This standard guide 34 is adapted to move longitudinally of the housing in response to spring pressure and is constrained from moving out of the end of the housing by a centrally aperture end plug 38 secured to the top of the housing. The flag standard 27 is extended through the central opening in the plug 38 and threaded into the ,upper end of the guide 34 so as to be movable with the guide. The above noted flag housing 29 is secured to the top of the end plug 38 in axial extension from the housing 26, as by threaded engagement with the end plug, as illustrated in FIG. 5. This flag housing 29 is made of sufficient diameter to accommodate the flag 28 when the flag standard 27 is drawn downwardly to dispose the flag within the housing. A fitting 39 about the housing 26 may be threaded into the fitting 32 to secure the housing in desired position in extension above the boat deck 31. When the invention is not in use the fitting 39 may be loosened so that the housing 26 may be slid downward beneath the deck. The bottom of the cylindrical housing 26 is closed beneath the deck by a thick washer or the like 41 which may for example be retained in position by means of a thick-walled cylinder 42 secured about the lower end of the housing by a bolt 43 threaded therethrough and having an internal shoulder extending about and partially across the lower end of housing 26. The compression spring 37 will be seen to be retained within the housing between the lower washer 41 and standard guide 34. A grease may applied to the spring 37 to reduce noise and friction as it moves along the inner surface of the housing 26.

An upper tension line 46 extends axially downward through the cylindrical housing 26 from the bottom of the standard guide 34. The guide 34 may be formed with an opening through the bottom thereof into a chamber so that the tension line 46 may be extended through the opening and knotted in the chamber to consequently be retained in engagement with the standard guide. The upper tension line 46 extends through the central opening in the bottom cylindrical housing washer 41 and thence about a pulley wheel 47 for extension toward the stern of the boat. In practice this pulley wheel 47 may be mounted upon a depending portion of the small cylinder 42 locked to the lower portion of the cylindrical housing 26 beneath the boat deck, as shown. The tension line 46 is adapted to extend through the transom of the boat at the stern thereof and provision is made to limit tension line movement during water ski operations and for adjusting the length of line. As shown in FIG. 5, the line 46 is attached beneath and behind the pulley wheel 47 to a turnbuckle 48 having a hook 49 threaded in the opposite end thereof. This then provides for adjusting the length of line between the guide 34 in the housing and the hook end beneath the housing.

At the stern of the boat provision is made for passage of the line through the transom, as illustrated in FIG. 6. An opening 51 is formed through the transom 24, preferably at one side of the transom as shown in FIG. 3. A pair of

metal collars

52 and 53 are fitted in the opening 51 on opposite sides of the transom and maintained in place as by bolts 54. The outer tension line 23 extends through these collars and is attached to a flanged ring 56 behind the transom. This ring 56 may be formed with a central opening through the flange thereon and the line extended through the opening and knotted as illustrated. The flange on the ring 56 is adapted to be pulled against the outer transom collar 53 in facing relation thereto under the condition wherein the line 23 is drawn forwardly into the boat. This line 23 extends forwardly of the transom through a metal collar 57 which may be free to slide thereon and the line is looped at the inner end for engagement by the hook. As illustrated in FIG. 6, this loop 58 in the line may be completed by looping the line and then passing it through the braids thereof and thence back through the braids. This operation may be accomplished by the attachment of a pointed member to the line end in conventional manner, however it is to be appreciated that other types of loop ends may be formed as for example by braiding.

The invention provides for limiting movement of the line 23 through the transom and in the position illustrated in FIGS. 6 the line is fully retracted into the boat with the flange of the ring 56 resting against the outer transom collar 53. With tension upon the line, as applied by a water skier being drawn through the water, the ring 56 is moved away from the boat and the line is drawn through the transom opening 51 until the floating collar 57 on the line engages the inner transom collar 52 with the line loop 58 immediately behind same and bearing upon this collar. Thus it will be seen that movement of the line 23 is limited as set by the location of the loop 58 and consequently the provision of adjustment by the turnbuckle 48 is necessary to ensure proper operation of the spring-loaded flag standard. The loop 58 is placed on the hook 49 to complete the connection of the two portions of the

tension line

23 and 46 operating the flag standard in response to the presence of tension on this line as exerted by a water skier.

It is to be appreciated that under certain circumstances a ski boat equipped with the present invention may be used for purposes other than towing a water skier. This then requires provision for preventing raising of a flag warning inasmuch as no tension would be applied to the tension line and the flag standard would normally be raised. This may, for example, be accomplished by the mounting of the flag on the standard in such a way that is may be easily removed therefrom. Such a mounting is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein the flag 28 is shown to be attached to a hollow tube 61 as, for example, by slipping an expanded flag edge into a longitudinal tube slot. The tube 61 is dimensioned to slide onto the top of the flag standard 27 to a small projection 62 on the standard limiting downward movement of the tube thereon. The top of the flag standard may be threaded to receive a tapped ball or the like 63 as shown in FIG. 7 so that the flag in its tube is held in position at the top of the standard but is readily removed therefrom merely by unthreading the ball 63 and slipping the tube from the standard. It will of course be appreciated that provision may also be made for holding the spring 37 in compression as, for example, by inserting a pin or the like in the housing 26 to retain the guide 34 in a depressed or lowered position.

A further portion of the present invention is illustrated in F168. 6 and 9. As noted above the operator of a ski boat necessarily faces forwardly of the boat during travel of same and consequently is not in a position to observe the presence or absence of the skier being towed. A simple electrical circuit such as illustrated in FIG. 9 is provided for lighting a warning lamp 71 on the dashboard or the like 72 of the ski boat. A switch 73 is shown in FIG. 6 to be mounted on the inside or forward surface of the transom 24'with a switch armextending into position to be engaged by the floating collar 57 on the tension line 23. This switch 73 is preferably a normally closed switch and is shown in FIG. 9 to be connected between electrical groundand one side of the lamp 71, with the other side of the lamp being connected through a battery or other power supply 74 back to electrical ground. With the switch 73 being a normally closed switch it will be seen that tension applied to the ring 56 of the present invention by a water skier being drawn through the water will draw the tension line 23 through the transom collar 52 and thus move the switch arm to open the switch. Consequently under this condition the warning light 71 is not energized or lit. Immediately upon release of a tow line by a skier the spring 37 of the present invention draws the tension line 23 inwardly of the boat so that the collar 57 thereon is free to move away from the transom and the arm of I the switch 73 thus moves to normally closed position thereby placing the warning lights 71 in circuit with the battery to light the lamp. It is to be appreciated that the warning lamp 71 may be mounted at any desired location on the ski boat but preferably in a position to be readily viewed at least by the boat operator and may be located to be visible from other boats. It is of course also possible to incorporate an interrupter in the circuit so that the warning light will flash.

Considering now the operation of the present invention, it is first noted that the invention may be mounted upon substantially any type of boat and furthermore that the mounting may be accomplished at substantially any desired position. As shown in the drawings hereof the upright portion of the invention is mounted near the stern of the boat on the port side thereof. An opening is formed in the deck 31 and the unit of FIG. 5 assembled thereat with the fixture 32 mounting this assemblage to the deck. Directly astern from the housing 26 there is formed the transom opening 51 and the transom collars are then attached with the line 23 being extended therethrough in connection with the flange ring 56 astern of the boat. An appropriate length of line is extended from the standard guide 34 downwardly through the housing and about the pulley 47 at the bottom thereof to extend via the tumbuckle 48 and hook 49 into engagement with the loop 58 with the lower line 23 fully drawn into the boat. With no slack in the

lines

23 and 46 and the flanged ring 56 abutting the outer transom collar 53 the line length is approximately correct. Minor adjustments may be made in line length by the tumbuckle 48. The ring 22 is then mounted on the opposite side of the stern of the boat and the transverse line 21 is connected between the

rings

22 and 56 with sufiicient slack that it will extend somewhat rearwardly of the boat in use as illustrated in FIG. 3. The switch 73 is then mounted adjacent the transom opening 51 in position for the switch arm to be engaged by the movable collar 57. With the electrical circuit of the switch and lamp completed and the flag mounted atop the flag standard 27 the invention is then in condition for use.

As a skier holding the tow line 12 is drawn through the water by the ski boat to rise onto the surface thereof and water ski, there will be applied 'a tension to the tow line because of the drag of the skier in the water and this is applied through the line 21 to the flanged ring 56 so as to pull the lower tension line 23 through the transom opening 51. This will be seen to draw the upper tension line 46 axially downward in the housing 26 so as to force the standard guide 34 downwardly in the housing to compress the spring 37. In practice the compression strength of the spring 37 is predetermined as, for example, on the order of about 12 pounds for desired compression thereof and the downward movement of the guide 34 in the housing draws the attached flag standard downward in the flag housing 29 to pull the flag into this housing. The pull on the tow line by the water skier draws the lower tension line 23 out of the boat until the collar 57 thereabout engages theinner transom collar 52. Further tension on the line does not further operate the invention, for line movement is limited as noted above. In this condition, with the boat moving through the water and drawing a water skier behind it, the warning flag 28 is maintained within the flag housing 29 so as to be obscured from view. At any time the water skier releases the tow line the tension on the lower line 23 and attached upper line 46 of the present invention is released or at least substantially reduced so that the compression spring 37 rapidly moves the guide 34 upwardly in the housing 26 to raise the flag standard and release the flag 28 from the top of the flag housing. It is to be appreciated that the tow line and gripping means for the water skier continues to be drawn through the water by the boat even after the water skier has released hold thereof and this of course applied some drag to the system. Thus the strength of the spring 37 must be sufficient to overcome this drag in order to raise the flag.

Not only is the flag 28 raised upon release of substantial drag on the tow line but also the force on the arm of the switch 73 is released so that the switch returns to normal closed position to complete an electrical circuit through the warning lamp 71 whereby the boat operator is immediately apprised of tow line release by the skier. In this condition the warning flag 28 is flying from the boat to warn other boats in the area that a water skier is down in the water. The height of the housing 26 may be made sufficient to locate the warning flag atop same in a position for ready viewing by other boat operators and also the flag itself may be made of a distinctive and highly visible color to enhance the warning.

As the ski boat circles about and returns to the vicinity of the downed water skier the warning flag continues to fly, warning other boats to remain away from the area. As the water skier in the water grasps the tow line and the boat is accelerated to again draw the water skier up on to the surface on the skis there will again be applied a pull or drag to the tow line sufficient to pull the lower tension line 23 rearwardly through the boat transom and thus to draw the attached tension line 46 downwardly in the housing 26 so that the guide 34 moves downwardly to compress the spring 37 and depress the flag standard 27 to withdraw the warning flag 28 into the flag housing 29. At the same time the collar 57 on the lower tension line 23 is moved sternward against the transom collar 52 to thus move the arm switch 73 and open the switch so that the warning lamp 7! is disconnected.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a highly advantageous warning system for ski boats which operates automatically to provide a visual indication to other boats in the area of the loss of a skier from a ski boat and also to warn or apprise the boat operator of such loss. The warning flag of the present invention automatically is raised to provide a danger or warning signal at any time a water skier releases the tow line from a ski boat equipped with the present invention. This then removes the possibility of human error in warning away other boats from the vicinity of a downed water skier. It is to be appreciated that the present invention operates substantially instantaneously upon release of drag on the tow line extending from a boat equipped therewith and inasmuch as the operator is also instantaneously apprised of the loss of a skier being towed, the amount of boat travel before returning to the vicinity is minimized. Thus the time that the skier is in the water is minimized and the danger to the skier is minimized. It is to be further appreciated that the apparatus of the present invention is normally in a warning position both as to the warning flag and warning light. Thus initial connection of a tension line at the time water skiing is to commence ensures operability of the invention. The boat normally starts a water skiing operation with the warning flag raised and this is also advantageous in warning away other boats when a skier is to be initially pulled upward out of the water into skiing position.

It will be appreciated that the components of the present invention are to be formed of substantial materials such as metal except for the tension lines and flag and that the materials should be corrosion resistant. The majority of operating parts of the invention are displaced from the water itself so as to minimize destructive effects of same. Failure of tension lines, for example, result in raising of the warning flag so that the apparatus may be considered substantially fail safe.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to a single preferred embodiment thereof it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise details of illustration or terms of description. Reference is made to the appended claims for a definition of the invention.

I claim:

l h ski boat warning device comprising an open ended flag housing adapted to be mounted in extension above the deck of a ski boat, a spring-loaded flagstaff carrying a flag and disposed in said housing to normally extend said flag from the open end thereof, and

glension line connected to said flagstaff adjacent to the lower end thereof for extension sternward of the boat to connect to a skier tow line, whereby skier tension upon saig l tension line through the tow line holds said flagstaff within said flag housing and tension release causes said spring loading means to raise aid flagstaff and display said flag above said flag housing?" 2. The device of claim 1 further defined by means removably attaching said flag to said flagstaff.

3. The device of claim 1 further defined by means defining an opening through a stern of a boat carrying said flagstaff and having a flange about the opening inboard and outboard of the boat stern, and means limiting the length of movement of said tension line through said opening.

4. The device of claim 3 further defined by said means limiting the length of movement of said tension line comprising,

a connector joined to the end of the tension line exterior of the boat stern and having a lateral extent greater than the stern opening, and

a collar larger than the stern opening disposed about the tension line within the boat and movable between the boat stern and a line protuberance.

5. The device of claim 3 further defined by means connected in said tension line for controllably varying the line length.

6. The device of claim 1 further defined by a cylindrical housing mounting said flag housing, a guide slidably disposed in said cylindrical housing with a shoulder thereabout engaging the top of said spring loading means, said guide carrying said flagstaff, and a centrally apertured plug secured in said cylindrical housing above said guide for limiting upward travel of the guide, and said flagstaff extending through the plug aperture.

Claims

1. A ski boat warning device comprising an open ended flag housing adapted to be mounted in extension above the deck of a ski boat, a spring-loaded flagstaff carrying a flag and disposed in said housing to normally extend said flag from the open end thereof, and a tension line connected to said flagstaff adjacent to the lower end thereof for extension sternward of the boat to connect to a skier tow line, whereby skier tension upon said tension line through the tow line holds said flagstaff within said flag housing and tension release causes said spring loading means to raise said flagstaff and display said flag above said flag housing.

2. The device of claim 1 further defined by means removably attaching said flag to said flagstaff.

4. The device of claim 3 further defined by said means limiting the length of movement of said tension line comprising, a connector joined to the end of the tension line exterior of the boat stern and having a lateral extent greater than the stern opening, and a collar larger than the stern opening disposed about the tension line within the boat and movable between the boat stern and a line protuberance.