Sinkable buoy system for use with a water sports course

• US 7,455,561 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wallyskier Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wallyskier Incorporated
• Inventors: Tuttle, Walter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US11/403,718
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 441/1, 441/2, 441/6, 441 11- 21, 441 23- 29, 441/30
• US Class Current: 441/6
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/16 specially adapted for marking a navigational route signalling or lighting devices B63B45/00

Abstract

A sinkable buoy system including a guide buoy, an inflatable air bladder, a weight component, an air supply line and an air supply, wherein the air bladder and the weight component are not housed within a common housing. A system for inflating and deflating an air bladder in order to float a buoy at the surface and sink a buoy below the surface as desired. A sinkable buoy system for use with a water sports course in order to float buoys of the course during course use and sink the buoys when the course is not in use.

Claims

1. A sinkable buoy system, comprising:

a heat-sealed urethane coated nylon air bladder including a valve positioned about a bottom end of the air bladder;

a buoy removably connected to the air bladder by a tether having an adjustable length, wherein the buoy floats above the air bladder in the water;

a weight removably connected to the air bladder by a tether having an adjustable length, wherein the weight is positioned below the air bladder in the water;

an air supply coupled to the air bladder through an air supply line and operable for selectively supplying and removing a volume of air to and from the air bladder;

a mounting plate for mounting the buoy system to a cross-arm of a water sports course, the mounting plate defining attachment points for attaching at least one cross-arm position maintaining cable for connecting the cross-arm to a main cable of the water sports course, the mounting plate positioned between the air bladder and the weight;

wherein the buoy system is operable for floating and submerging the buoy to a predetermined depth and in a controlled manner.

2. The sinkable buoy system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the sinkable buoy systems are interconnected by a distributed air supply network.

3. A water sports course, comprising:

a plurality of cross-arms linked together by one or more cable sections;

an anchor attached to and positioned about each end of the course operable for maintaining the course in an extended position;

a plurality of buoy systems, each buoy system comprising an air bladder including a valve positioned about a bottom end of the air bladder, a buoy tethered to the air bladder, a tethered weight, and a mounting plate for mounting the buoy system to one of the plurality of cross-arms, the mounting plate defining attachment points for attaching the cable sections thereto for maintaining the plurality of cross-arms in position;

a network of air supply lines for interconnecting the air bladders, wherein the air supply lines are lashed to the plurality of cross-arms and the one or more cable sections; and

an air supply connected to the network of air supply lines operable for supplying and removing air to and from the air bladders.

4. The water sports course according to claim 3, wherein the air bladder is a heat-sealed urethane-coated nylon bag.

5. The water sports course according to claim 3, wherein the course is a water ski slalom course.

6. A sinkable buoy system, comprising:

an air bladder including a valve positioned at the bottom of the air bladder for attaching an air line;

a buoy tethered to the air bladder;

a weight tethered to the air bladder;

a mounting plate for mounting the buoy system to a cross-arm of a water sports course, the mounting plate defining attachment points for attaching at least one cross-arm position maintaining cable for connecting the cross-arm to a main cable of the water sports course, the mounting plate positioned between the air bladder and the weight; and

an air supply coupled to the air line for supplying and removing air from the system;

wherein the buoy is positioned above the air bladder in the water and the weight is positioned below the air bladder in the water.

7. The sinkable buoy system according to claim 6, wherein the air bladder is a heat-sealed urethane coated nylon bag.