초록 ▼

A water-skier towrope-handling system is provided that provides an alarm to the driver of a ski towboat when the skier falls. The alarm is triggered by the release of the towrope handle by the skier, independent of the tension on the ski rope. Preferably, a back-up switch is provided that activates

A water-skier towrope-handling system is provided that provides an alarm to the driver of a ski towboat when the skier falls. The alarm is triggered by the release of the towrope handle by the skier, independent of the tension on the ski rope. Preferably, a back-up switch is provided that activates the alarm upon contact with the water. The back-up switch is mounted on the towrope in close proximity to the handle assembly to signal the boat driver that the towrope handle assembly is in the water. The monitoring system also provides a tracking system that provides signals to the boat driver of the skier\s position relative to the towboat. Preferably, the position indicator is frozen at the time of a fall to indicate the relative position of the skier at the time of the fall to facilitate finding the downed skier. The towrope handling system can also be used to vary the length of the towrope without affecting the action of the alarm and position-monitoring devices.

대표청구항 ▼

A device for monitoring the status of a water-skier being towed by a rope from a boat, comprising: warning means mounted on the boat; tow handle means attached to said rope, said tow handle means including actuation means gripped by said skier and responsible to release of the grip of the skier to p

A device for monitoring the status of a water-skier being towed by a rope from a boat, comprising: warning means mounted on the boat; tow handle means attached to said rope, said tow handle means including actuation means gripped by said skier and responsible to release of the grip of the skier to produce a warning signal; first transmission means linking said actuation means to said warning means to transmit said warning signal from said actuation means to said warning means, said warning signal being independent of the tension on said rope, said first transmission means including at least one electrical conductor running the length of said towrope from said tow handle to said boat; and a continuous sleeve of flexible, waterproof material running the length of said towrope, said electrical conductor being surrounded by said sleeve.