Patent Publication Number: US-2021179237-A1

Title: Control bar for controlling a traction unit

Description:
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention, as indicated by the title of the invention, is a control bar for controlling a traction unit. 
     A control bar is a foam handle with a metal core, preferably aluminum, from the ends of which ropes or similar come out, joined at a single rope, the control bar used for gripping in sports in which the user is pulled, such as water skiing or similar. 
     The traction unit can be any of the known units, especially conceived for drones or similar. 
     The present invention is characterized in that the control bar is provided with means that enable control of the traction unit, making it unnecessary for there to be a third person to control the traction unit. 
     Therefore, the present invention falls within the field of control bars as well as controls. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In performing the act of waterskiing, people ski on the water while holding on to a cord that is pulled by a powerful motorboat and do spectacular maneuvers on one or two skis. It is necessary to have a motorboat that is driven by a person. 
     Nowadays people are more inclined to use lighter units with sufficient power as a means for traction, such as drones or similar. 
     New developments have been attempted, such as a user on a wakeboard being pulled by a drone, having a cable for traction in which one end is attached to the drone and the other is attached to the user by means of a harness or similar. 
     Managing the drone with the drone&#39;s own controls while being pulled by the cable that goes from a harness worn by the user to the drone is quite complicated, to say the least, the act of simultaneously coordinating one&#39;s balance while controlling the drone proving to be a difficult task. 
     Therefore, the object of the present invention is to develop a device that simultaneously serves as a gripping means, point of traction and controls for the traction unit, developing a control bar such as the one described below, the essence of which is stated in the first claim. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is a control bar for controlling a traction unit, wherein the control bar has a structure into which the control means of the traction unit are integrated. 
     The user holding the control bar, object of the invention, may be on skis, a canoe or motorboat, a surf board, or on water skates or on any surface that enables the user to move by means of a traction unit, the user being the one who has complete control of the traction unit by means of the control bar. 
     The structure of the support may be a bar or an integral assembly in the shape of a triangle. 
     The control means integrated into the control bar may have any form or combination of forms that is possible to develop, ranging from physical control means to electronic means based on voice recognition. 
     The control that will be carried out from the control bar shall preferably be steering control, left and right, and acceleration, optionally including control of elevation and descent. 
     A possible embodiment of the control means would include the controls for the traction unit, said controls able to be thumbwheels integrated into the bar of the control bar, slighting protruding to facilitate the rotation thereof. 
     Alternatively, the controls may be push buttons that when pressed produce the action corresponding to a turn to the side of the push button pressed or the acceleration and deceleration of the traction unit. 
     In another possible embodiment, the controls for steering may be achieved through a gyroscope integrated into the bar of the control bar, such that when the bar is turned, the corresponding effect is that of a change of direction of the traction unit. 
     The controls for elevation and descent will be programmed such that they will produce a proportional elevation or descent of the traction unit according to the instructions given through the controls for elevation or descent. 
     As was previously stated, the alternative control means to the controls may be electronic processing means that allow for voice recognition and through which the voice is recognized and generating control commands for the traction unit. 
     The instruction for elevation or descent allows the user to jump over an obstacle (a wave, for example) or simply make a jump. 
     The bar of the control bar will have power supply means, either integrated into the bar itself, in which case it would be rechargeable from the outside, or the energy will be received from the traction unit by means of a power supply cable. 
     The control bar will preferably have a communications unit housed in the bar that will be in charge of transmitting instructions carried out by the means integrated in the bar to the traction unit. Transmission from the communications unit to the traction unit may be through communication cables which would go from the bar to the traction unit, or may be wireless, using any of the known means, such as radiofrequency, WiFi, bluetooth, etc. 
     All of the functions and the management of the instructions are controlled by a control unit, to which the controls or control means (push buttons, gyroscope, thumbwheels, etc.), as well as the communications management unit, are connected. 
     The control bar may be used as a gripping element, a point of traction and for control of the traction unit, or may merely provide grip and control of the traction unit, being assembled in association with a harness placed on the user, the harness being the element that pulls the user, as in kite surfing. 
     Thanks to the design and integration of the control means of a traction unit in a control bar, it is possible to combine the features of a gripping point and traction for the user into a single unit, which also serves as control means for the traction unit, with the possibility of the user controlling the traction unit while at the same time being pulled and remaining fastened, all in a simple and intuitive way, making the unit a practical and simple assembly that allows for traction activities to be carried out without having to rely on a third person. 
     There is no danger of losing the control bar, since the traction units are prepared to return to the point where the bar was lost and, therefore, the user can recover the control bar. 
     Except when indicated otherwise, all of the technical and scientific elements used in this specification have the meaning commonly understood by a person with average skill in the art to which this invention belongs. When this invention is put into practice, methods and materials may be used that are similar or equivalent to the ones described in this specification. 
     Throughout the description and claims, the word “comprise” and its variants are not intended to exclude other technical characteristics, additions, components or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages and characteristics of the invention may be deduced from both the description and the practical use of the invention. 
    
    
     
       EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES 
       As a complement to the present description, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred practical exemplary embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represent the following. 
       In  FIG. 1  we can see a general representation of a control bar joined to a traction unit. 
       In  FIG. 2  we can see a first embodiment of the control bar. 
       In  FIG. 3  we can see a second possible embodiment of the controls. 
         FIG. 4  shows another alternative embodiment of the controls associated with wireless transmission means for sending instructions. 
         FIG. 5  shows another alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  shows a user provided with a control bar such as the one that is the object of the invention, assembled in association with a harness placed on the user. 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the figures, described below is a preferred embodiment of the invention proposed. 
     In  FIG. 1  we can see a user attached and pulled by a traction unit ( 13 ), the user being attached to a control bar, which comprises a bar ( 1 ) or a single, integral piece ( 15 ), as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As was previously mentioned, the control bar comprises a support structure into which the controls for the traction unit are integrated. The support structure can be a bar ( 1 ), such as the one shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , or it can be an integral assembly of a single piece ( 15 ), such as that which is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The controls may be made up of several different types, and any of the known types or combinations thereof may be used. 
     In one possible embodiment, the may comprise thumbwheels ( 2 ) that protrude from the outer surface of the bar ( 1 ), which could have up to three wheels, two of which for the control of the steering (right and left) and a third for controlling acceleration or speed. Optionally, it may have a fourth wheel for controlling elevation or descent, which will have proportional controls such that using the previously programmed controls will produce a proportional elevation or descent of the traction unit. 
       FIG. 3  shows an alternative embodiment of the controls for the traction unit which, as can be seen, comprises three push buttons ( 9 ), two of which for controlling the steering and a third, shown in the center, for controlling the acceleration or deceleration of the traction unit. 
       FIG. 4  shows another alternative embodiment, wherein control of the steering of the traction unit is done by means of an integrated gyroscope ( 11 ), in this case in the bar ( 1 ) of the control bar, associated with any of the means that could be used for controlling acceleration, in this case being a pressure sensor ( 12 ). 
       FIG. 5  shows another alternative embodiment, wherein control of the steering and speed of the traction of the unit is done by means of a joystick ( 14 ), in this case shown mounted on the integral structure of the single piece, also able to be on the bar ( 1 ) of the control bar. 
     In all of the cases, within the support structure of the controls for the unit is a control unit ( 3 ) associated with a communications unit ( 6 ), both powered either externally by the traction unit or by a battery ( 4 ) integrated in the support structure and able to be recharged by means of a recharging point ( 5 ). 
     The communications unit ( 6 ) is in charge of transmitting the instructions from the control bar to the traction unit ( 13 ), which may be done by means of signal transmission cables ( FIG. 2 ), or wirelessly ( 10 ), using any of the known means, (radiofrequency, WiFi, bluetooth, etc.). 
       FIG. 5  shows how the support structure of the controls for the traction unit ( 13 ) is a single integral piece, preferably in the shape of a slightly asymmetric triangle, such that it can be gripped with one hand and be controlled by a joystick ( 14 ) with the other hand. 
     Lastly, as was previously indicated, the control bar, object of the invention, can be used alone, in which case it provides a means for gripping, a point of traction and a means of control, or in combination with a harness arranged on the user, the harness being the means by which the traction is preferably transmitted to the user, the control bar being used for gripping and for controlling the traction unit. 
     As can be understood, the means used for controlling the steering, speed, elevation and descent may be any of the known means or combinations thereof, the same applying to the power supply of the control means and the transmission of the instructions from the control bar to the traction unit. 
     Having thus adequately described the nature of the present invention, as well as how to put it into practice, it must be noted that, within its essential nature, the invention may be carried out according to other embodiments differing in detail from that set out by way of example, which the protection sought would equally cover, provided that the fundamental principle thereof is not altered, changed or modified.