Abstract:
A visual device placed on a water ski that enables easy detection of the ski in various water and weather conditions. A reflective red flag attaches to a flexible spring that is attached to a rotator. A second spring attached to the rotator is connected to a counterweight to balance the flag. The rotator is rotatably coupled to a bracket that attaches to a water ski. In use, the device bends out of the way as to not interfere with the performance of the water ski. When the ski is not in motion, gravity causes the counterweight to move the flag to an upright position to allow visual detection of the ski.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   This invention relates in general to a visual device for locating water skis that have become separated from a skier. 
   Water skiing is a sport in which a person standing on one or more water skis is pulled across a surface of a body of water by a boat. People learning how to water-ski often learn on two skis. However, as a skier develops more experience and skill, the skier may advance to skiing on one ski. 
   When a skier transitions from two skis to one, some skiers start by skiing on two skis, and once balanced, drop one ski off. The dropped ski floats in the water until after the skier finishes skiing, when the boat returns to pick it up. 
   Unfortunately, the boat may go some distance from the dropped ski before returning to look for it. The wind and currents may cause the ski to drift, and choppy waters conceal the ski from view. Skis are easily lost when the skiers cannot remember where the ski was dropped, or when choppy water or the dim light of dusk hides the ski. 
   Loosing a ski is expensive to the skier when the skier replaces it. Further, lost skis can cause costly damage to boats that run over them, unaware that they are in the water. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention relates to a visual device attachable to a water ski for locating the water ski in the water, the device comprising a bracket adapted for attachment to a water ski; a rotator rotatably coupled to the bracket for 360 degree rotation relative to the bracket, the rotator having a periphery with a top hole and a bottom hole, the bottom hole being located approximately 180 degrees from the top hole on the periphery; a top spring having an end affixed in the top hole and an opposite end affixed to a flag, wherein the top spring is adapted to flex, and a bottom spring having an end affixed in the bottom hole and an opposite end affixed to a counterweight, wherein the bottom spring is adapted to flex. 
   The counterweight has a weight greater than that of the top spring and the flag so that the weight of the counterweight causes the flag to rotate to a position substantially upright when the water ski is substantially not moving to allow visual detection of the flag and for locating the water ski in the water. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partial side elevational view of the present invention affixed to a ski. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial side elevational view of the present invention affixed to a ski, shown as the ski is moving through the water. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial rear elevational view of the present invention affixed to a ski. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1–3 , the visual device of the present invention is shown installed on a water ski  6 , having a ski top  8  and a ski bottom  10 . A bracket  12  is attached to the water ski  6 . A rotator  14  is rotatably coupled to the bracket  12 , positioned and adapted to provide 360-degree rotation relative to the bracket. A top spring  16  has a top spring first end  18  affixed to the rotator  14 , and a top spring second end  20  affixed to a flag  22 . A bottom spring  24 , has a bottom spring first end  26  affixed to the rotator  14 , and a bottom spring second end  28  affixed to a counterweight  30 . 
   In one embodiment, the weight of the counterweight  30  is between 56 and 198 grams (2 and 7 ounces). In this embodiment, the weight of the counterweight  30  exceeds the combined weight of the top spring  16  and the flag  22 . The counterweight  30  may be shaped as a cylinder, approximately 5 cm (2 inches) in length and 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) in diameter, and made of steel. In one embodiment, the counterweight further comprises a threaded hole, adapted to hold the bottom spring second end  28 . In this embodiment, the counterweight  30  has a bevel, tapering to the hole. The beveled shape offers less resistance when the counterweight  30  is moving through the water. 
   In one embodiment, the rotator  14  is made of polyethylene, is cylindrically shaped, and adapted to rotate about its cylindrical axis. A rotator stud  32  is affixed to the bracket  12  and is positioned coaxially with the cylindrical axis of the rotator  14 , adapted to allow the rotator  14  to rotate 360 degrees around the rotator stud  32 . In this embodiment, the rotator  14  further includes a top hole  34  positioned on the peripheral surface of the rotator  14 . Top hole  34  is adapted to hold the top spring first end  18 . In one embodiment, the top hole  34  is threaded such that the top spring first end  18  is screwed into top hole  34 . In this embodiment, the rotator  14  is approximately 3.8 cm (1.5 inch) in diameter and 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) thick. In addition, the rotator stud  32  may be a threaded bolt such as a common 0.62 cm (0.25 inch) diameter bolt, approximately 2.5 cm (1.0 inch) in length. Such bolts are often referred to as  ¼ -20 bolts when the threaded portion includes 20 threads per inch of length. 
   The rotator  14  further includes a bottom hole  36  positioned on the peripheral surface of the rotator  14  approximately 180 degrees from the top hole  34 . Bottom hole  36  is adapted to hold the bottom spring first end  26 . In one embodiment, the bottom hole  36  is threaded such that the bottom spring first end  26  is screwed into bottom hole  36 . 
   The bracket  12  is adapted to be affixed to the ski  6 . In one embodiment, the bracket  12  is made of polyethylene or polypropylene and comprises a vertical section  38  that supports the rotator stud  32 . In this embodiment, the vertical section  38  includes a threaded hole  40  adapted to accept the rotator stud  32 . Extending from the vertical section  38  is a top tab  42  and a bottom tab  44 . The top tab  42  and bottom tab  44  are spaced apart enough for the ski  6  to fit between. In one embodiment, the top tab  42  is removably secured to the ski top  8  by a VELCRO® brand or other hook and loop fastener. Similarly, the bottom tab  44  is removably secured to the ski bottom  10  by a VELCRO® or other brand hook and loop fastener. In this way, the bracket  12  can be removed from the ski  6  by pulling the top tab  42  and bottom tab  44  apart enough to disengage the VELCRO® or other brand hook and loop fasteners and remove the ski  6 . 
   To facilitate disengagement from the hook and loop fasteners, the top tab  42  and bottom tab  44  may be approximately 8 cm (3 inch) in length. In one embodiment, the top tab  42  and bottom tab  44  are approximately 2.5 cm (1.0 inch) wide and 0.5 cm (0.2 inch) thick. In this embodiment, the vertical section  38  measures approximately 2.5 cm (1.0 inch) from the top tab  42  to the bottom tab  44 . Further, the vertical section may be approximately 3.8 cm (1.5 inch) wide and 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) thick. 
   In one embodiment, the counterweight  30 , bottom spring  24 , rotator  14 , top spring  16 , and flag  22  operate together. When the bracket is installed on a ski  6  and the ski  6  is floating in water, gravity causes the counterweight  30  to move to a straightened position below the ski  6  as shown in  FIG. 1 . When the ski  6  is in motion as indicated in  FIG. 2 , the flow of water will cause the counterweight  30  to move. Movement of the counterweight  30  causes the rotator  14  to rotate about the rotator stud  32 , causing the top spring  16  and flag  22  to move opposite of the counterweight  30 . Thus, when the ski  6  stops moving, the flag  22  will always end up in an upward position regardless of whether the ski top  8  or ski bottom  10  is facing up. 
   When a water-skier is using the ski  6 , the ski  6  is pulled through the water. When the ski  6  is in motion, water flow causes the counterweight  30  and the bottom spring  24  to move to a flexed position as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the counterweight  30  and bottom spring  24  move to the flexed position, the rotator  14  turns, causing the top spring  16  and flag  22  to rotate forward as shown in  FIG. 2 . The top spring  16  provides flexibility while the ski  6  moves through the water. 
   In one embodiment, the flag  22  is brightly colored and reflective, such as a red or silver color, to make the ski  6  easier to locate. The flag may be triangular in shape, approximately 5 cm (2 inches) wide and 10 cm (4 inches) long. In this embodiment, the flag  22  is glued to the top spring  16 . 
   In one embodiment, the top spring  16  and the bottom spring  24  are made from grade-304 stainless steel. The top spring  16  and the bottom spring  24  are a suitable size, such as 0.5 cm (0.2 inch) diameter spring stock. In this embodiment, the top spring  16  is approximately 18 to 20 cm (7 to 8 inch) in length, and the bottom spring  24  is approximately 15 to 18 cm (6 to 7 inch) in length. 
   Although the principles, alternate embodiments, and operation of the present inventions have been described in detail herein, the visual device is not to be construed as being limited to the particular illustrative forms disclosed. It will thus become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the embodiments herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.