US3798631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Skier alarm system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-11-13
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1992-11-13
Abstract
Abstract An alarm system for use with ski boats is automatically operated when a water skier releases his grip on the tow line to produce an alarm indicative of ''''skier down''''. The system will continue to produce the alarm until a flag is raised as a warning to other boats whereupon the alarm will cease.
Inventors
- 👤 D Langford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:19
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; B; B63; B63B; B63B34/00; B63B34/60; B63B34/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for producing an alarm which notifies the operator of a tow boat when a water skier being towed thereby has released his grip on the tow rope and continues to produce that alarm until a flag is raised on the tow boat, said system comprising: a. tension means mountable between the tow boat and the tow rope for sensing the tension applied to the tow rope by the water skier and for sensing when that tension is released; b. a tension switch connected to a power source and operated by said tension means for movement from a normally open state when the tension is on the tow rope to a closed state when that tension is released; c. a control circuit coupled to receive the power from said tension switch when that switch is closed; d. alarm means connected to said control circuit for producing an alarm when power is applied thereto by said control circuit; and e. alarm interrupt means including a raisable warning flag assembly mountable on the tow boat for terminating the alarm produced by said alarm means upon raising of the flag.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A system for producing an alarm which notifies the operator of a tow boat when a water skier being towed thereby has released his grip on the tow rope and continues to produce that alarm until a flag is raised on the tow boat, said system comprising: a. tension means mountable between the tow boat and the tow rope for sensing the tension applied to the tow rope by the water skier and for sensing when that tension is released; b. a tension switch connected to a power source and operated by said tension means for movement from a normally open state when the tension is on the tow rope to a closed state when that tension is released; c. a control circuit coupled to receive the power from said tension switch when that switch is closed; d. alarm means connected to said control circuit for producing an alarm when power is applied thereto by said control circuit; and e. alarm interrupt means including a raisable warning flag assembly mountable on the tow boat for terminating the alarm produced by said alarm means upon raising of the flag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said alarm interrupt means comprises: a. a flag socket mountable on the tow boat and having an alarm interrupt switch which is closed when said flag socket is empty, said interrupt switch connected in series between said tension switch and said control circuit; and b. a flag pole insertable within said flag socket for opening said interrupt switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control circuit includes means for delaying the turn-on and the turn-off of said alarm means for a predetermined length of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises: a. a delay circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal coupled to receive the power from said tension switch; and b. a relay coupled to the output terminal of said delay circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises: a. a delay circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal, the input terminal coupled to receive the power from said tension switch; b. a relay coupled to the output terminal of said delay circuit; and c. a cycling circuit coupled to said relay for alternately energizing and de-energizing said relay at a predetermined rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cycling circuit includes a free running multivibrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said flag socket further includes an electric contact mounted in the bottom thereof within an electrically insulative gromet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said electric contact is coupled through a flasher to a power source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said flag pole is provided with a light mounted on the top thereof which has a power lead depending therefrom through said flag pole and terminating in an electric contact in the bottom of said flag pole.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
186 words
A system for activating an alarm which notifies the operator of a tow boat when a water skier being towed thereby releases his grip on the tow rope and holds that alarm activated until a warning flag is raised on the tow boat, said system comprising: a. tension means mountable between the tow boat and the tow rope for sensing tension applied to the tow rope by the water skier and for sensing when that tension is released; b. a tension switch connected to a power source and operated by said tension means for movement from a normally open state when tension is on the rope to a closed state when that tension is released; c. alarm means coupled to said tension switch for producing an alarm when said tension switch is closed; d. a flag socket mountable on the tow boat and having an alarm interrupt switch which is closed when said flag socket is empty, said interrupt switch connected in series between said tension switch and said alarm means; and e. a flag pole insertable within said flag socket for opening said interrupt switch.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
186 words
A system for activating an alarm which notifies the operator of a tow boat when a water skier being towed thereby releases his grip on the tow rope and holds that alarm activated until a warning flag is raised on the tow boat, said system comprising: a. tension means mountable between the tow boat and the tow rope for sensing tension applied to the tow rope by the water skier and for sensing when that tension is released; b. a tension switch connected to a power source and operated by said tension means for movement from a normally open state when tension is on the rope to a closed state when that tension is released; c. alarm means coupled to said tension switch for producing an alarm when said tension switch is closed; d. a flag socket mountable on the tow boat and having an alarm interrupt switch which is closed when said flag socket is empty, said interrupt switch connected in series between said tension switch and said alarm means; and e. a flag pole insertable within said flag socket for opening said interrupt switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
A system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tension means comprises: a. a hollow cylindrical housing closed on one end thereof and open on the other end; b. a plug having an axially positioned aperture formed therethrough, said plug sealingly mounted in the open end of said housing; c. a piston slidably reciprocal within said housing and in sealing engagement with the bore thereof, said piston having an orifice formed therethrough; d. a piston rod extending axially from said piston and sealingly slidably extendiNg through the aperture of said plug; e. a compression spring within said housing for biasing said piston toward the closed end of said housing; and f. means on said housing for mounting said tension switch thereon in a position so that a plunger of said switch extends into the bore of said housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3091757A
Cited
US3109075A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |