SIGNALLING DEVICE FOR INDICATING IMPROPER POSITION OF A SKIER

• US 3,644,919 A
• Filed: 12/18/1970
• Issued: 02/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scott/Mathauser Corporation
• Original Assignee: William R. Mathauser
• Inventors: Mathauser, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US05/099,632
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 340/279 35/29D,29A,29R 272/57B 200/DIG.2
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 for skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 11/00 Accessories for skiing or snowboarding fittings on vehicles for carrying skis B60R9/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/02 Body attached switches

Abstract

A signalling device for indicating improper position of a skier or the like comprising means attachable to the body of the skier and including means responsive to the position of the skier operatively connected with indicating means for causing a signal to indicate when the skier is not in the proper position.

Claims

1. A signalling device for indicating to a skier when not assuming a correct position of the body comprising means attachable to the lower extremities of the body and including sensing means responsive to flexure of the joints of the lower extremities, the sensing means being operatively connected to a signalling means for indicating to the skier when assuming a position other than the correct position.

2. A signalling device as in claim 1, wherein said sensing means are positioned adjacent the feet of the skier.

3. A signalling devicE as in claim 2, including a source of electrical energy, said sensing means and said signalling means being operatively connected therewith.

4. A signalling device as in claim 3, wherein said sensing means comprises a flexible member adapted to be mounted between the foot of the skier and a boot worn by the skier and responsive to the position of the skier to establish an electrical circuit between the source of electrical energy and the signalling means.

5. A signalling device as in claim 4, wherein said sensing means has a flexible elongate tube therein, said tube being filled with a hydraulic fluid or the like and having an expandable portion which is adapted to be expanded when the tube is flexed.

6. A signalling device as in claim 5, wherein a microswitch is mounted in said sensing means adjacent said expandable portion of said tube and is adapted to be operated by said tube when the tube expands upon being flexed, said microswitch being operatively connected to said source of electrical energy for establishing and interrupting an electrical circuit between said source of energy and said signalling means.

7. A signalling device as in claim 6, wherein said signalling means comprises a speaker for emitting an audible signal.

8. A signalling device as in claim 6, wherein said signalling means includes a vibrator adapted to be positioned adjacent the body of the skier for indicating to the skier through the sense of touch that the skier or the like is not in the proper position.

9. A signalling device as in claim 6, wherein the signalling means comprises means for causing a mild electrical shock to be transmitted to the skier when he is not in the proper position.

10. A signalling device as in claim 6, wherein said signalling means comprises a speaker for emitting an audible signal, a vibrator for signalling the skier through the sense of touch, and a light for giving a visual signal when the skier is not in the proper position.

11. A signalling device as in claim 10, wherein said source of electrical energy and said speaker are mounted in an audio and power unit, and wherein a control knob is provided on said power unit for increasing or decreasing the volume of sound by the speaker.

12. A signalling device as in claim 11, wherein said control knob is operatively connected to said source of electrical energy for selectively energizing and deenergizing said signalling device.

13. A signalling device as in claim 12, wherein said control knob includes means for selectively energizing either said speaker or said vibrator.

14. A signalling device as in claim 13, wherein a switch means is provided on said audio and power unit operatively connected to said source of energy for simultaneously energizing said speaker and said vibrator.

15. A signalling device as in claim 14, wherein said microswitch is adjustably positioned relative to said expandable tube whereby the amount of expansion of said tube necessary to actuate said microswitch may be varied to accommodate persons of different size or different stance.

16. A signalling device as in claim 15, wherein said sensing means and said signalling means are connected to said source of energy by means of flexible leads or wires.

17. A signalling device as in claim 16, wherein said flexible leads are connected to said sensing means through a bayonet-type connection.

18. A signalling device as in claim 17, wherein said flexible member comprises a generally tongue-shaped member adapted to be worn between the upper front surface of the skier'"'"''"'"'s foot and the boot whereby when the skier'"'"''"'"'s knees are flexed or bent properly for skiing, the flexible member is distorted and the flexible tube is at least partially collapsed to cause the hydraulic fluid therein to expand the expandable portion of the tube to open the microswitch.

19. A signalling device as in claim 17, wherein said flexible member comprises an anklet adapted to be worn about and encircle the ankle of the skier whereby wHen the skier'"'"''"'"'s knees are flexed or bent properly for skiing the flexible member is distorted and the flexible tube is at least partially collapsed to cause the hydraulic fluid therein to expand the expandable portion of the tube to open the microswitch.

20. A signalling device as in claim 19, wherein said flexible tube is positioned in the front central portion of said anklet.

21. A signalling device as in claim 1, wherein said sensing means is positioned at the knee of the skier.

22. A signalling device as in claim 21, wherein said sensing means includes switch means operable in response to the position or degree of flexure of the skier'"'"''"'"'s knee.

23. A signalling device as in claim 22, wherein said sensing means is carried by upper and lower leg strap means adapted to be adjustably positioned about the leg of the skier above and below the knee, respectively.

24. A signalling device as in claim 23, wherein said switch means comprises a microswitch carried by one of said leg strap means and microswitch-actuating means carried by the other of said leg strap means.

25. A signalling device as in claim 24, wherein said microswitch-actuating means includes a shaft adjustably positioned in a bracket.

26. A signalling device as in claim 25, wherein said microswitch and said shaft are carried on respective bracket means fixed to a respective leg strap means.

27. A signalling device as in claim 26, wherein said bracket means fixed to said leg strap means are pivotally interconnected to one another.

28. A signalling device as in claim 27, wherein said microswitch and said shaft are positioned at the side of the knee.

29. A signalling device as in claim 28, wherein said signalling means comprises a speaker for emitting an audible signal.

30. A signalling device as in claim 28, wherein said signalling means includes a vibrator adapted to be positioned adjacent the body of the skier for indicating to the skier through the sense of touch that the skier is not in the proper position.

31. A signalling device as in claim 28, wherein the signalling means comprises means for causing a mild electrical shock to be transmitted to the skier when he is not in the proper position.

32. A signalling device as in claim 28, wherein said signalling means comprises a speaker for emitting an audible signal, a vibrator for signalling the skier through the sense of touch, and a light for giving a visual signal when the skier is not in the proper position.