Skier alert system

• US 20030164777A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norcross Marine Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Norcross Marine Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Lentine, Gregory E., Lentine, Louis F. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,822,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/984
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/63 Holding means for the user, e.g. handle bars or harnesses

Abstract

A water skier tow bar and float assembly includes a tow bar handle, control buttons on the tow bar handle and a float assembly connected to the tow bar handle. A wireless radio transmitter is mounted within the float assembly for generating wireless signals indicative of desired water skier conditions based on water skier actuation of the control buttons.

Claims

1. A water skier tow bar and float assembly comprising:

a tow bar handle having a grip over which the fingers and hands of a user clasp;

control actuators positioned along the grip and actuated by a user and indicative of a desired water skier condition;

a float assembly connected to said tow bar handle; and

a wireless radio transmitter mounted within the float assembly and operatively connected to the control actuators for generating wireless signals of desired water skier conditions based on user actuation of the control actuators.

2. A water skier tow bar assembly according to claim 1, and further comprising a battery compartment within the float assembly for receiving at least one battery for powering the wireless radio transmitter.

3. A water skier tow bar and float assembly according to claim 1, wherein said desired water skier conditions comprise a speed up, a slow down, a turn and/or a stop condition.

4. A water skier tow bar and float assembly according to claim 1, and further comprising an antenna operatively connected to said wireless radio transmitter.

5. A water skier tow bar and float assembly according to claim 1, wherein said antenna is carried by said float assembly.

6. A water skier tow bar and float assembly according to claim 1, wherein said control actuators comprise a plurality of control buttons that each actuate said wireless transmitter for generating a wireless signal indicative of a desired water skier condition.

7. A water skier tow bar and float assembly according to claim 6, wherein said control buttons comprise pressure actuated control buttons that respond to pressure exerted by a water skier.

8. A water skier tow bar and float assembly according to claim 6, wherein said control buttons each extend circumferentially around a portion of the tow bar handle.

9. A water skier tow bar and float assembly according to claim 6, wherein said control buttons extend about 180 degrees around a portion of the tow bar handle.

10. A water skier tow bar and float assembly according to claim 6, wherein said control buttons are color coded.

11. A water skier tow bar assembly comprising:

a tow bar handle;

control actuators positioned along the tow bar handle and actuated by a user and indicative of a desired water skier condition; and

a wireless radio transmitter operatively connected to the control actuators for generating wireless signals of desired water skier conditions based on water skier actuation of the control actuators.

12. A water skier tow bar assembly according to claim 11, wherein said desired water skier conditions comprise a speed up, a slow down, a turn and/or a stop condition.

13. A water skier tow bar assembly according to claim 11, and further comprising an antenna operatively connected to said wireless radio transmitter.

14. A water skier tow bar assembly according to claim 11, wherein said control actuators comprise a plurality of control buttons for actuating said wireless transmitter and generating a wireless signal indicative of a desired water skier condition.

15. A water skier tow bar assembly according to claim 14, wherein said control buttons comprise pressure actuated control buttons that respond to pressure exerted by a water skier.

16. A water skier tow bar assembly according to claim 14, wherein said control buttons extend circumferentially around a portion of the tow bar handle.

17. A water skier tow bar assembly according to claim 14, wherein said control buttons extend about 180 degrees around a portion of the tow bar handle.

18. A water skier tow bar assembly according to claim 14, wherein said control buttons are color coded.

19. A water skier alert system used with a boat towing a water skier via a rope and a tow bar handle and float assembly secured thereto comprising:

a radio receiver that is adapted to be positioned on the boat-towing the water skier for receiving wireless radio signals transmitted from a tow bar handle and float assembly in response to water skier actuation of a desired water skier condition; and

a display operative with the receiver for displaying a desired water skier condition as actuated by the wireless transmitter signals and indicative of desired water skier conditions.

20. A water skier alert system according to claim 19, wherein said desired water skier condition comprises a speed up, a slow down, a turn and/or stop condition.

21. A water skier alert system according to claim 19, wherein said display comprises an alphanumeric display.

22. A water skier alert system according to claim 19, and further comprising an alarm that sounds for a predetermined period of time indicative of a desired water skier condition.

26. A water skier alert system according to claim 22, and further comprising an alarm that sounds for a predetermined period of time indicative of a desired water skier condition.

23. A water skier alert system used with a boat towing a water skier via a rope and a tow bar handle secured thereto comprising:

a radio receiver that is adapted to be positioned on the boat towing the water skier for receiving wireless radio signals transmitted from a wireless radio transmitter proximate the water skier and in response to water skier actuation of a desired water skier condition; and

a display operative with the receiver for displaying a desired water skier condition as actuated by the wireless transmitter signals and indicative of desired water-skier conditions.

24. A water skier alert system according to claim 23, wherein said desired water skier condition comprises a speed up, a slow down, a turn and/or stop condition.

25. A water skier alert system according to claim 23, wherein said display comprises an alphanumeric display.