Abstract
Provided is a water track marker (1) for marking a sports track, such as a water ski track, on a water surface (20). The water track marker comprises at least a first marker ejector (11) configured to eject marker projectiles (2) towards the water for creating an instant marking (3) on the water surface (20) upon impact with the water surface (20). Provided is also a method for marking a sports track and a towing boat comprising said water track marker.
Claims
1. A water track marker for temporary marking of a sports track on a water surface comprising: at least a first marker ejector configured to eject marker projectiles towards the water for creating an instant marking on the water surface upon impact with the water surface, and a control system for automatically controlling an ejecting timing to eject said marker projectiles according to a predetermined track data.
2. The water track marker according to claim 1, wherein said first marker ejector is configured to eject the projectiles variably to a first side and second side of a middle line of the sports track.
3. The water track marker according to claim 1, wherein said first marker ejector is configured to be arranged on a towing boat, said towing boat being configured to tow a person.
4. The water track marker according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises a speed sensor for detecting the speed of a towing boat on which the water track marker is arranged, and said control system is adapted to control the ejection of said marker projectiles based on a detected speed of the towing boat.
5. The water track marker according to claim 4, wherein the control system is configured to only eject marker projectiles in a predetermined speed range of the towing boat.
6. The water track marker according to claim 4, wherein the control system further comprises a mode selector comprising a manual mode and at least a first predetermined mode, wherein said predetermined mode comprises track data, said track data comprising number of markings of the track, longitudinal distance between markings in relation to the extension of a mid-line of the track, transverse distance between a marking and the mid-line perpendicularly to said mid-line of the track.
7. The water track marker according to claim 6, wherein said control system comprises a second mode, in which said number of markings are set to continuous, by which the first marker ejector is configured to continuously fire marker projectiles until manual cancelation is done.
8. The water track marker according to claim 1, wherein said first marker ejector comprises an ejector tube through which the marker projectiles is ejected, wherein said ejector tube is configured to eject the marker projectile in a path so that the marker projectiles collides with the water surface at a predetermined impact point.
9. The water track marker according to claim 8, wherein said ejector tube is configured to eject the projectile with a top spin.
10. The water track marker according to claim 9, wherein said ejector tube has an exit portion, wherein the exit portion is bent upwards in order to obtain a predetermined ejector angle.
11. The water track marker according to claim 10, wherein said exit portion comprises a friction lining on an inner wall of the exit portion, said friction lining arranged to be in contact with the ejector projectile during ejection, said friction lining in cooperation with said exit portion providing topspin for the ejector projectile and leading the ejector projectile in a steep impact towards the water, preventing the ejector projectile to bounce on the water surface.
12. The water track marker according to claim 8, wherein the ejector tube comprises a cover movable between a closed position in which the cover prevents a projectile to exit by mistake, and an open position in which exit of a projectile is allowed.
13. The water track marker according to claim 1, further comprising a holder configured to be detachably arranged on a towing boat.
14. The water track marker according to claim 1, further comprising a second marker ejector, wherein said first marker ejector is configured to eject marker projectiles towards a first side of a mid-line of the track, and wherein said second marker ejector is configured to eject marker projectiles towards a second side of said mid-line of the track.
15. The water track marker according to claim 1, wherein the marker projectiles comprises an outer shield which is water soluble, an inner filling which is fluid, and wherein said marker projectile is arranged to break upon impact with the water surface and cause a splash marking.
16. A towing boat comprising a water track marker according to claim 1.
17. A method for marking an instant and temporary sports track on a water surface using a water track marker comprising a marker ejector arranged on a towing boat, said method comprising the steps: ejecting a first marker projectile to a first side of said towing boat, and ejecting a second marker projectile to a second side of said towing boat, so that said first and second marker projectiles marks a temporary sports track.
18. The method according to claim 17, said track marker comprising a control system for further carrying out the steps: determining a speed of a towing boat on which the marker ejector is arranged, and based on said determined speed, determining a time interval between the launch of said first marked projectile and said second marker projectile.
19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps: repeating the method so as to eject a plurality of first and second projectiles, for forming a zig-zag sports track on a water surface.
20. The method according to claim 19, said track marker comprising a control system further comprising a mode selector which comprises at least a first predetermined mode comprising track data of a choice of track, the method further comprising the steps of enabling the mode selector, selecting a mode comprising said track data, and ejecting the first and second projectiles according to a said selected mode.
21. A water track marker for marking a sports track on a water surface comprising: at least a first marker ejector configured to eject marker projectiles towards the water for creating an instant marking on the water surface upon impact with the water surface, and a control system for controlling ejecting timing, for the first marker ejector to eject said marker projectiles; wherein the control system comprises a mode selector comprising at least a first predetermined mode, wherein said predetermined mode comprises track data, said track data comprising a number of markings of the track, a longitudinal distance between markings in relation to the extension of a mid-line of the track, and a transverse distance between a marking and the mid-line perpendicularly to said mid-line of the track.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will in the following be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:
(2) FIG. 1 is a rear view of a water track marker according to an embodiment of the invention, seen in the direction of movement of a towing boat,
(3) FIG. 2 is a rear view of a water track marker according to an embodiment of the invention,
(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of a water track marker according to an embodiment of the invention,
(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a water track marker according to an embodiment of the invention,
(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective schematic view of a towing boat having a water track marker according to an embodiment of the invention and towing a water skier on a water sports track,
(7) FIG. 6 is a top schematic view of a towing boat having a water track marker according to an embodiment of the invention and towing a water skier on a water sports track,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
(8) The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements. In FIG. 1, a rear view of a water track marker 1 is shown. The water track marker 1 is seen in the direction of forward movement of a towing boat 40. The towing boat 40 is arranged to tow a person, such as a person performing water sport such as water skiing. The water track marker 1 is located on the front of the boat 40 and this particular arrangement comprises two marker ejectors 11, 12, the first marker ejector 11 pointing in a left direction, slightly forward and the second marker ejector 12 pointing in a right direction, slightly forward. The right marker ejector 12 ejects marker projectiles 2 along a predetermined path. The path may be determined by several factors; the direction of the marker ejector 12, and the velocity of which the marker projectile 2 exits the marker ejector. The speed of the boat 40 will also be a contributing factor.
(9) In FIG. 2, the water track marker 1 is seen in more detail. The view is also seen from the rear. As seen, the marker ejectors 11, 12 point slightly forward towards the sides S1, S2. The first marker ejector 11 is pointing towards a first side S1, which is towards the water on its corresponding side of the boat (not shown). Equally, the second marker ejector 12 is pointing towards a second side S2, which is towards the water on its corresponding side of the boat 40. The marker ejectors are arranged on a holder 4, which in turn is detachably arranged on the towing boat (not shown). The marker ejectors 11, 12 are arranged to the holder 4 by attachment arrangement 41. The attachment arrangement 41 may be pivotally adjustable on the holder 4 in order to allow adjustability of the marker ejectors 11, 12. This may be in order to adjust a path of the marker projectiles 2. In a common embodiment, the marker ejectors may be pointing slightly forward out towards the sides. This may be in order not to risk to hit the towed person with a marker projectile. Adjustment may be done by for example tuning screws. In that way fine calibration of the marker ejectors 11, 12 may be allowed. Adjustment may be possible in one or more directions, for instance angularly in a horizontal plane or a plane at an angle relative to the vertical plane. It may also be angularly adjustable in a vertical plane. There is also a possibility that the adjustment may be done via a three-dimensional pivot point. In this particular installation, the attachment arrangement 41 comprises a first tuning screw 42a for rotational adjustment in the vertical plane, and a second tuning screw 42b for rotational adjustment in the horizontal plane or a plane nearly horizontal. It may be a possibility that the adjustment is done automatically based on the distance to the water surface for instance. The marker ejectors are each arranged to eject marker projectiles 2. The marker projectiles may be spherical objects, like balls, which upon impact with the water surface break and cause a splash marking 3. The splash marking will provide for an instant and temporary marking for marking a sports track, such as a water ski course. The marker ejectors are configured to eject marker projectiles at a certain velocity in order to form a zig-zag pattern in the water. Depending on the speed of the boat, the marker projectiles 2 may be ejected at different time intervals, one at the time. Further, the track marker 1 comprises a control system 5, having a speed sensor 51, in this embodiment illustrated in as a GPS. The control system comprises a control unit having for example a general-purpose processor, an application specific processor, a circuit containing processing components. The control unit is communicatively connected to the marker ejectors 11, 12 and is configured to control system parameters such as timing of the ejections. The connection may be wired or wireless. Moreover, the control unit may be embodied by one or more control units, where each control unit may be either a general purpose control unit or a dedicated control unit for performing a specific function. It should be understood that the control unit may comprise a digital signal processor arranged and configured for digital communication with an off-site server or cloud based server or with another device such as a mobile device in the vicinity of the control unit. Thus data may be sent to and from the control unit. E.g. a track pattern may be created/selected in a smart phone and the communicated to the control unit, for executing said track.
(10) FIG. 3 is a front view of a water track marker 1 according to an embodiment, corresponding to the one in FIG. 2. Here it is seen more clearly, that the marker ejectors 11, 12, in this particular installation are similar. Hereinafter if not mentioned specifically, it will be assumed that the first and second marker ejectors 11, 12 may be identical, or at least comprising similar features. The marker ejectors may resemble a soft projectile gun, such as a paintball gun, having features as such in order to launch a projectile. The marker ejectors 11, 12 comprise an ejector tube 111, 121, through which a marker projectile 2 is ejected. The ejector tube 111, 121 comprises an exit portion 112, 122 through which the marker projectile 2 exits. The exit portion 112, 122 may be shaped in a suitable manner in order to lead the marker projectile through the exit portion to obtain a desired path towards the water surface 20. This shape may thus be of great importance in order to obtain a predictable result wherein the marker projectile impacts the water surface at a predetermined location. The exit portions 112, 122 have a bent shape pointing slightly upwards. The ejector tube 111, 121 may have an internal lining (not shown) of a material having high friction. This material may be a rubber like material. The upward bent shape, in combination with the high friction lining, may result in that the projectile obtains a spin, which subsequently leads the projectile in a more direct steep path towards the water surface, ensuring that the projectile does not bounce on the water surface but breaks upon impact. This provides higher accuracy as well as a larger splash on the water surface. The amount of splash may be important for the water skier, since a large splash is more visible than a small splash. Also, a larger splash may linger longer on the water surface.
(11) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a water track marker 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. Each of the marker ejectors 11, 12 comprise a corresponding projectile magazine 114, 124 in which the marker projectiles 2 are loaded. The projectile magazine may hold a plurality of projectiles, at least to cover the numbers of projectiles 2 to be ejected for marking of one specific track. More specifically, the magazines may each hold at least three projectiles, more preferably at least five projectiles, or even more preferably at least ten projectiles. A larger magazine 114, 124 allows the marking of several tracks and/or a longer type of track. It is possible that there is a single large magazine holding projectiles 2 for both marker ejectors. Further, a marker ejector 11, 12 of a certain type suitable for marking a sports track on the water may comprise pressurized gas tank 113, 123 (best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) configured to comprise expandable gas, such as compressed air or carbon dioxide. Further, the gas tank is fluidly connected to the marker ejector's ejector tube for allowing compressed gases to flow from the gas tank to the barrel through the a powertube and bolt which propel the loaded projectile forward. The projectile magazine is loaded with spherical projectiles. The projectiles may be paintball beads with colorless filling and shells. The balls burst upon impact with water and sink. The projectiles may be 100% bio-degradable.
(12) In FIG. 5, there is an exemplary view of a towing boat 40, towing a water skier 50 which is rounding a marking 3 on a sports track. It can be seen that the water track marker 1 is arranged to the boat 40. The water track marker may be arranged by clips, screws, or similar fastening items. Attachment arrangement may use quick clips. When the boat 40 has pulled the water skier 50, it is moved out on the left side of the boat and gives a clearing sign. The boat driver then starts at a time when a strong white LED lights up. The water skier waits until the diode goes out. In the following, it will be described how the control system 5 is used. The control system 5 with GPS receiver, or another speed sensor, determine the speed of the boat and then energizes solenoids which are used to release the pressurized gas from the gas tank and fire the marker projectiles 2. The system may be configured to be limited to function during speed between 40 km/h and 60 km/h. That is a safety feature which ensures that the marking of a track only occurs at safe speeds, and not during start and stop. It may be configured to function at different speeds as well. However, it may be suitable that these speeds are safe for a sportsperson to be towed. Regardless of the speed of the boat, the system is configured to mark the water surface at predetermined marking intervals. A common track may comprise six markings, three at 41 meter intervals. The six markings are distributed by three markings on each side S1, S2 of a mid-line M. It should however be understood that a sports track may comprise any number of markings and any distances between them.
(13) FIG. 6 is a top view of a towing boat 40 towing a water skier while the water track marker 1 simultaneously ejects marker projectiles 2.
(14) In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.
