Timing buoy with remote timing capability

• US 5,588,889 A
• Filed: 08/07/1995
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott D. Easter
• Original Assignee: Scott D. Easter
• Inventors: Easter, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/512,121
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 441/1, 441/6, 441/21, 441/23, 441/26, 441/28, 441/32, 441/25, 441/2, 116/107, 368/1, 368/6, 368/10, 114/328
• US Class Current: 441/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/00 Buoys floating decoys, e.g. for waterfowl A01M31/06; means for indicating the location of underwater objects B63C7/26; life-buoys, e.g. rings B63C9/08; mountings of acoustic transducer in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys G10K11/006; electric cables supported on or from floats H02G9/12
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/16 specially adapted for marking a navigational route signalling or lighting devices B63B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Abstract

A timing buoy comprising a flotation buoy having an outer shell. A switch in communication with the outer shell and activatable in response to forcible contacts to the shell. A timing device responsive to the switch to start and stop a timing sequence in response to a forcible contact to the shell of the buoy. An embodiment of the invention may also include a transmitter and receiver to start and stop a remote timing device in response to contacts on the shell of the buoy which actuate the switch. The invention may also include a method for timing a watercraft event by positioning the inventive apparatus in the path of the watercraft and enabling the watercraft to strike the buoy to start and stop the timing sequence of the timing device.

Claims

1. A timing buoy for watercraft sports, comprising:

a shell configured to operably receive and operably withstand contact forces;

a timing device;

a switch operably attached to the shell enabling the switch to be actuated in response to contact forces applied to the shell;

connection means for transmitting an actuation signal from the switch to a transmitter in response to a contact force applied to the shell; and

wherein the transmitter is configured to send a signal to a remote receiver enabling the receiver to actuate the timing device in order to operably start or stop the timing device in response to a contact force applied to the shell.

2. The timing buoy of claim 1, wherein the shell further includes:

first and second shell portions.

3. The timing buoy of claim 1, further including:

an anchor line eyelet attached to the shell.

4. The timing buoy of claim 1, further including:

an internal well for storing of an anchor.

5. The timing buoy of claim 1, wherein the switch further includes:

a toggle switch.

6. The timing buoy of claim 1, wherein the switch further includes:

a shaft and a boot slidably attached to the shaft.

7. The timing buoy of claim 1, such that the transmitter and receiver further include:

means for transmitting and receiving a wireless signal, respectively.

8. A timer device for watercraft sports, comprising:

a buoy having outer shell;

a timing device; and

switch means in communication with the shell and operably responsive to contact forces on the shell for sending an electrical signal to a transmitter and a remote receiver combination such that the transmitter is configured to send a wireless signal to the receiver in response to an electrical signal from the switch means in response to contact forces applied to the shell and the wireless signal from the transmitter is received by the receiver which actuates the timing device to actuate a timing sequence in response to contact forces applied to the shell and the wireless signal from the transmitter.

9. The timer of claim 8, wherein the buoy further includes:

an upper portion and a lower portion.

10. The timer of claim 8, further including:

an anchor line eyelet attached to the shell.

11. The timer of claim 8, further including:

an internal well for storing of an anchor.

12. The timer of claim 8, wherein the switch means further includes:

a toggle switch.

13. The timer of claim 8, wherein the switch means further includes:

a shaft and a boot slidably attached to the shaft.

14. A timer for watercraft sports, comprising:

a shell;

a timing device; and

switch means in communication with the shell and responsive to contact forces on the shell for transmitting an electrical signal to the timing device to actuate a timing sequence in response to contact forces applied to the shell; and

connection means for electrically connecting the switch means to the timing device to transmit an electrical signal to the timing device in response to a contact force applied to the shell in order to start and stop the timing device;

wherein the connection means further includes transmitter circuitry and the timing device further includes receiver circuitry in order that an electrical signal may be transmitted and received by the timing device;

wherein the transmitter circuitry and receiver circuitry combination are wireless one with respect to the other such that a wireless signal from the transmitter is received by the receiver without the need for an electrical connections therebetween.

15. The timer of claim 14, wherein the shell further includes:

first and second shell portions.

16. The timer of claim 14, further including:

an anchor line eyelet attached to the shell.

17. The timer of claim 14, further including:

an internal well for storing an anchor.

18. The timer of claim 14, wherein the switch means further includes:

a toggle switch.

19. The timer of claim 14, wherein the switch means further includes:

a shaft and a boot slidably attached to the shaft.