Abstract:
A safety system includes a signal flag that is mounted on a water craft and which is connected to a person in a manner such that should the person fall into the water, the signal flag will be automatically and immediately deployed whereby any watercraft in the vicinity will be alerted to the presence of a person in the water.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the general art of water craft, and to the particular field of water craft accessories. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Water sports are some of the most popular sports and recreational activities of modern times. On any given day, any body of water has a multitude of water vehicles thereon. People enjoy sailing, boating, fishing, water skiing, and powered water craft use. 
   As with any popular activity, safety has become a major issue with water activities. People in the water are often at great risk. Unless there is some means for warning nearby water craft of the presence of a person in the water, there can be a dangerous situation. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for warning of the presence of a person in the water. 
   While the art contains examples of devices to alert a towing vehicle that a towed person has fallen, the inventor is not aware of any device to alert people in other vehicles of the presence of a person in the water. 
   Therefore, there is a need for a means for warning water craft other than the water craft immediately associated with a downed person of the presence of a person in the water. 
   PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a main object of the present invention to provide a means for warning of the presence of a person in the water. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for warning water craft other than the water craft immediately associated with a downed person of the presence of a person in the water. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These, and other, objects are achieved by a signal system that is attached to a person and which automatically deploys if the person falls into the water and which will deploy a signal flag that is visible to all water craft in the immediate vicinity of the signaling water craft. 
   Using the signal system embodying the present invention will permit all water craft in the immediate vicinity to be immediately alerted to the presence of a person in the water. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a water craft embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a signal flag used in the signal system embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a simple electric circuit used to control the signal flag. 
       FIG. 3B  shows an alternative electric circuit used to control the signal flag. 
       FIG. 4A  shows the signal flag unit in a stored condition. 
       FIG. 4B  shows the signal flag unit in a deployed condition. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
   Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a water craft safety signal system  10  which achieves the above-stated objectives. 
   System  10  comprises a mounting element  12  mounted on a water craft  14 . 
   A signal flag unit  20  is mounted in mounting element  12  and includes a tubular housing  22  having a first end  24  which is a top end when signal flag unit  20  is mounted on the water craft  14 , a second end  26  which is a bottom end when signal flag unit  20  is mounted on the water craft  14 , a longitudinal axis  28  which extends between first end  24  and second end  26 , and a longitudinal bore  30  which extends between first end  24  and second end  26 . 
   A support staff  40  is slidingly accommodated in bore  30  of the tubular housing  22  to move toward and away from first end  24  in directions  42  and  44 . Support staff  40  has a first end  46  which is a top end when signal flag unit  20  is mounted on the water craft and is positioned outside of bore  30 , a second end  48  which is a bottom end when the signal flag unit  20  is mounted on the water craft  14  and which is located inside bore  30 . Support staff  40  is movable within tubular housing  22  in directions  42  and  44  to move between a stored position shown in  FIG. 4A  with first end  46  located near first end  24  of tubular housing  40  and a signaling position shown in  FIG. 4B  with first end  46  of the support staff  40  spaced away from the stored position in the direction of longitudinal axis  28  of tubular housing  22 . 
   A signal element  50 , such as a flag or the like, is fixedly mounted on the support staff  40  near first end  46 . A light or beacon can also be used as will be understood from the teaching of the present disclosure. 
   A spring seat  54  is fixed to second end  48  of the support staff  40 . 
   A spring  60  is located in bore  30  of tubular housing  22  and has a first end  62  engaged with spring seat  54  and a second end  64  engaged with tubular housing  22  as via a cover  66  on the housing  22 . Spring  60  is arranged to bias support staff  40  in direction  42  out of bore  30  of the tubular housing  22  toward the signaling position when the support staff  40  is in the stored position. 
   A signal flag unit control system  70  includes a retainer unit  72  mounted on the tubular housing  22 . Retainer unit  72  includes a housing  74  mounted on tubular housing  22  adjacent to first end  24 . 
   A solenoid unit  80  is located in housing  74  and has a solenoid controlled prong  82  that extends into bore  30  of the tubular housing  22  and moves toward and away from spring seat  54  in a direction transverse to longitudinal axis  28  of the tubular housing  22  between a locked position engaging the spring seat  54  and a release position (shown in  FIG. 4B ) spaced apart from the spring seat  54 . The directions of prong movement are indicated by double headed arrow  84  in  FIG. 4B . Solenoid unit  80  is located with respect to the spring seat  54  so the prong  82  engages the spring seat  54  when the solenoid unit  80  is in the release position when the support staff  40  is in the stored position thereof to retain the support staff  40  against movement toward the signaling position under the influence of the bias of the spring  60 . The solenoid unit  80  has the prong  82  in the locked position when activated and moves the prong  82  to the release position when de-activated. The solenoid unit  80  has a spring  88  which biases the prong  82  outwardly into a spring seat-engaging location and pulls the prong  82  back out of engagement with the spring seat  54  when the solenoid  80  is activated. 
   A solenoid unit control unit  90  is connected to the solenoid unit  80  to move the prong  82  of the solenoid unit  80  between the locked position and the release position and includes a cord  92 . Cord  92  has one end  94  connected to the solenoid and a free end  96 . 
   An ankle strap  98  is located on free end  96  of cord  92 . The ankle strap  98  is attached to the leg of a skier or to the leg of a water craft operator. 
   Cord  92  moves in directions  100  and  102  between a first position and a second position. The solenoid  80  is de-activated when the cord  92  is in the second position. If a person to whom the ankle strap  98  is connected falls overboard or into the water, the cord  92  will move into a position to de-activate the solenoid  80  and cause the prong  82  to move away from the spring seat  54  to free the support staff  40  to move under the influence of the bias of spring  60  in direction  42  into the signaling position. 
   A manual override system  110  has a manually operated switch  112  connected to the solenoid unit  80  to activate or de-activate the solenoid unit  80  using the manual switch  112  of the manual override system  110 . A suitable circuit is shown in  FIG. 3A . 
   It is also noted that the solenoid unit  80  can be replaced by a motor unit  120  shown in  FIG. 3B . Operation of the motor unit  120  is similar to operation of the solenoid unit  80  and thus will not be discussed in detail. Both the solenoid  80  and the motor unit  120  can be powered from a battery  124  such as will be found on most water craft, or can include a battery that is contained in the signaling system. 
   The circuits shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a switch N/C which is normally closed and will be opened when the cord  92  is pulled so the solenoid  80  or motor  120  is de-activated and the prong  82  is quickly removed from the blocking position shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  to permit the spring  60  to move the flag  20  from the  FIG. 4A  position to the  FIG. 4B  position. 
   It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.