DISPLAY SYSTEM HAVING FLEXIBLE GEAR

• US 3,742,490 A
• Filed: 10/12/1970
• Issued: 06/26/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harvey Henderson
• Original Assignee: Harvey Henderson
• Inventors: Henderson, Harvey
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US05/080,040
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 340/235R,87R,286R,371R
• US Class Current: 340/815.83
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/67 Connection means on the towing watercraft, e.g. pylons, side poles or winches
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/22 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A display system having a collapsible pole, an electromechanical operating system to alternately extend and retract said pole. An electrical control system selectively actuates the operating system.

Claims

1. A compact automatic display system adapted to promptly extend and subsequently retract a prominent signal in response to a predetermined actuating event comprising:

a. a collapsible pole means adapted to be mechanically extended and retracted and to display a flag thereon, comprising;

I. a set of telescoping tubes with the innermost tube and adjoining tube having a flag mounted therebetween on an elastic rope attached to the outer end of said innermost tube and the outer end of said adjoining tube with said elastic rope requiring a stretch force for substantial extension in excess of the extension force for extending said tube set;

II. a flexible gear adapted to extend and retract said tube set and to be compactly coiled during the retraction of said tube set; and

, III. drive means for moving said flexible gear to extend and retract the tube set;

b. an electromechanical operating system adapted to alternately extend and retract said pole means comprising;

I. a power supply;

II. a double pole, double throw relay connected to said power supply;

III. a relay circuit joining said relay and said pole means adapted to extend said pole means when said relay is in its first position and retract said pole means when said relay is in its second position;

IV. an extension switch in said relay circuit adapted to stop the extension of said pole means in its final extended position; and

, V. a retraction switch in said relay circuit adapted to stop the retraction of said pole means in its final retracted position, said extension switch and retraction switch each being actuated by said pole means in its extended position and retracted position, respectively. c. an electrical control system adapted to selectively actuate the electromechanical operating system comprising a connection circuit joining said power supply and the coil of said relay and an actuating switch in said connection circuit adapted to be operated by a predetermined actuating event, said actuating switch comprising a first and second contact adapted to be electrically connected by an interconnecting body of water and a major portion of said connection circuit being enclosed in a strong fabric sleeve with said connection circuit portion spirally wound around a central cable which sleeve and cable extend substantially along the entire length of the tow rope.

2. A compact automatic display system adapted to promptly extend and subsequently retract a prominent signal in response to a predetermined event comprising:

a. collapsible pole means comprising a set of telescoping tubes adapted to be mechanically extended and retracted and to display a signal thereon;

b. an electromechanical operating system including a flexible gear adapted to alternately extend and retract said tube set and to be compactly coiled during retraction of said tube set;

c. drive means for moving said flexible gear to extend and retract said tube sEt; and

d. an electrical control system adapted to selectively actuate said electromechanical operating system.

3. A display system as stated in claim 2 wherein said collapsible pole means includes a flag mounted between the innermost of said telescoping tubes and the tube adjacent thereto.

4. A display system as stated in claim 3, wherein said flag is mounted on an elastic rope attached to the outer end of the innermost tube and the outer end of the adjoining tube, said elastic rope requiring a stretch force for substantial extension in excess of the extension force for extending said tube set.

5. A display system as stated in claim 2, wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor operating a gear set with the terminal gear engaging said flexible gear.

6. A display system as stated in claim 2, wherein said electromechanical operating system includes:

a. a power supply;

b. a relay connected to said power supply;

c. a relay circuit joining said relay and said pole means, adapted to extend said pole means when said relay is in a first position, and retract said pole means when said relay is in a second position;

d. an extension switch in said relay circuit adapted to stop the extension of said pole means in its final extended position; and

, e. a retraction switch in said relay circuit adapted to stop the retraction of said pole means in its final retracted position.

7. A display system as stated in claim 6, wherein said electrical control system comprises:

a. a connection circuit joining said power supply and the coil of said relay; and

b. an actuating switch in said connection circuit adapted to be operated by a predetermined actuating event.

8. A display system as stated in claim 2 wherein said electromechanical operating system includes a power supply and a relay and said electrical control system includes:

a. a connection circuit joining said power supply and the coil of said relay; and

b. an actuating switch in said connection circuit adapted to be operated by a predetermined actuating event.

9. A display system as stated in claim 8, wherein a major portion of said connection circuit is enclosed in a strong fabric sleeve and said connection circuit portion is spirally wound around a central cable which sleeve and cable extend substantially along the entire length of the tow rope.

10. A display system as stated in claim 8, wherein said actuating switch comprises a first and a second contact adapted to be connected electrically by an interconnecting body of water.

11. A display system as stated in claim 10, wherein said electrical control system includes a skier communication system and a skier position signal system.

12. A display system as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer end of said flexible gear is attached to the inner end of the innermost of said telescoping tubes.

13. A display device as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible gear comprises an elongated front strip of semi-rigid material having a series of gear teeth formed therein.

14. A display device as defined in claim 13 which includes a flexible metal strip integrally attached to the underside of said semi rigid strip.

15. A collapsible telescopic means adapted to mechanically extend and retract a warning flag or other object which comprises:

a. a housing;

b. a set of telescoping tubes with the outermost of said tubes mounted in said housing and the innermost of said tubes connected to the flag or other object to be extended and retracted;

c. a flexible gear operatively associated with said tube set to extend and retract the same and adapted to be compactly coiled within said housing during retraction of said tube set;

d. drive means including a gear for driving said flexible gear to extend and retract said tube set; and

e. electrical power means adapted to selectively operate said drive means to selectively extend and retract said tube set.

16. Collapsible telescopic means as defineD in claim 15 which includes means for actuating said power means in response to a predetermined actuating event.

17. Collapsible telescopic means as defined in claim 15 wherein said flexible gear comprises an elongated strip of semi-rigid material having a series of gear teeth formed in one face thereof.

18. Collapsible telescopic means as defined in claim 15 including an anchor stud and said flexible gear has an extended portion without teeth therein which is attached to and spirally wound around said stud to facilitate retraction of said gear and said tube set.

19. Collapsible telescopic means as defined in claim 17 in which the power means includes limit switch means operatively associated with said gear strip for controlling the movement of said tube set.

20. Collapsible telescopic means as defined in claim 19 wherein said limit switch means comprises a pair of pin operated switches and said gear strip carries a pair of apertures for reception of said pins to operate said switches.

21. Collapsible telescopic means as defined in claim 17 wherein said flexible gear includes a flexible metal strip integrally attached to the underside of said semi-rigid strip.