Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to water ski boats, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for mounting a video recording device to the pylon of a water ski boat so that the device tracks the movement of a skier while skiing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Water skiing is a popular activity both at the recreational and tournament levels. As is well known, the outboard or inboard motors of ski boats produce a wake which extends rearwardly from the stern of the boat for a number of feet. The skier grasps a ski rope attached to a pylon mounted to the boat and typically maneuvers in a side-to-side direction, back and forth across the wake, during a skiing run. The extent of side-to-side movement of the skier can vary significantly depending on the length of the ski rope, the skill of the skier, the type of activities being performed during a ski run and the like. 
     Many individuals have found it desirable to record their ski runs or those of others on video. Typically, a video camera or other video recording device is mounted in a fixed position to some part of the ski boat facing in a direction toward the stern of the boat. A wide angle lens is generally used in an attempt to maintain the skier in the frame of the video recording device as he or she maneuvers in the side-to-side direction. Very often the skier is visible for only part of the ski run, particularly when a longer ski rope is used. Alternatively, an individual located in the ski boat may attempt to record the ski run by manipulating the video recording device manually. The quality of the resulting video is completely dependent on the skill of the individual, and his or her ability to consistently maintain the skier centered in the frame of the video recording device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to an apparatus for mounting a video recording device to the pylon of a ski boat such that the video recording device tracks the skier during a ski run in response to movement of the ski rope. 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, a pylon mount is pivotally attached to the pylon of a ski boat. The pylon mount is formed with a rope guide opening through which the ski rope, attached at one end to the pylon, is extended. As the skier moves in a side-to-side direction during a ski run, the ski rope engages the pylon mount and pivots it in the same direction as the motion of the skier. 
     A first coupler is attached to the pylon mount and a second coupler may be releasably connected to the first coupler. The second coupler may be a separate element, or form part of, a video device mount. The video device mount may comprise a cradle for supporting a smart phone or similar portable video recording device, or a camera mount capable of mounting a video camera. In either case, the video recording device is movable with the pylon mount and tracks the skier in response to movement of the ski rope. 
     The ski boat pylon mount of this invention provides a reliable, easy-to-use and effective alternative to prior attempts at video recording ski runs from a water ski boat. It mounts to an existing pylon on the boat, without any modification of the pylon, and can be used with smart phones, video cameras or other video recording devices. The pylon mount automatically aligns with and tracks the position of the skier, and does not require any participation from individuals in the ski boat other than to turn on the video recording device. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic, plan view of a water ski boat pulling a skier; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the pylon mount being positioned on a pylon of the ski boat; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the assembled pylon mount with an upper coupler in position to connect to a lower coupler located on such mount; 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , except with the upper coupler connected to the lower coupler and a cradle positioned to connect to the upper coupler; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  depicting the cradle connected to the upper coupler and a smart phone mounted in the cradle; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 3 , except depicting an alternative embodiment in which a camera mount is located in position to connect to the lower coupler; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  illustrating the camera mount connected to the lower coupler; 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  showing a camera attached to the camera mount; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the assembled pylon mount; and 
         FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view taken generally along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a water ski boat  10  is schematically illustrated having a pylon  12  mounted to the stern. One end of a ski rope  14  is attached to the pylon  12 , in a manner described in more detail below, and its opposite end connects to a handle  16  that may be grasped by a skier  18 . Typically, the skier  18  moves in a side-to-side direction during a skiing run, illustrated generally by the arrow  20  in  FIG. 1 , crossing the wake (not shown) produced by the motor(s)  22  of the ski boat  10 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the pylon  12  is illustrated in more detail. Conventionally, the pylon  12  comprises a post  24  formed of aluminum of similar material which is bolted or otherwise rigidly affixed at the stern of the ski boat  10 . An inset  26 , preferably formed of nylon or other wear-resistant material, is bolted to the top end of the post  24  of pylon  12 . The inset  26  has a head section  28 , a skirt section  30  and a neck section  32  extending between the head and skirt sections  28 ,  30 . The neck section  32  has a smaller diameter than both the head and skirt sections  28 ,  30  to receive the looped end  34  of the ski rope  14 . See  FIG. 3 . 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, the pylon mount  36  comprises a first clamping section  38 , a second clamping section  40  and a lower coupler  42  affixed to the second clamping section  40 . The first clamping section  38  is generally U-shaped defining opposed aims  44  and  46  with a center section  48  between them. The arms  44 ,  46  and center section  48  have an outer surface  50  and a stepped, inner surface  52  that faces the second clamping section  40 . The arm  44  is formed with a recessed through bore  54 , and the arm  46  is formed with a threaded bore  70 , shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 9 , extending inwardly from the inner surface  52 . A ski rope opening  56  is formed in the center section  48  of the first clamping section  38 , extending from its inner surface  52  toward the outer surface  50 . The ski rope opening  56  defines a wall  58  preferably having a chamfered surface. 
     For purposes of the present discussion, the terms “upper” and “lower” refer to the vertical orientation of the pylon  12  and pylon mount  36  as depicted in the Figs. The terms “inner” and “outer” denote the relationship of the pylon mount  36  relative to the pylon  12 , e.g. the inner surface  52  of the first clamping section  38  is located closest to the pylon  12  whereas its outer surface  50  is spaced from the pylon  12 . 
     The second clamping section  40  of the pylon mount  36  is similar to the first clamping section  38 . It is generally U-shaped with opposed arms  62  and  64  and a center section  66  between them. The arm  62 , beginning at the stepped inner surface  68  of the second clamping section  40 , is formed with a threaded bore  70 . A recessed through bore  54  is formed in the arm  64  of the second clamping section  40 , as shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 9 . The lower coupler  42  is mounted near the outer surface  72  of the second clamping section  40 , in the position depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     The first and second clamping sections  38 ,  40  are connected to one another and pivotally mounted to the inset  26  by placing their respective inner surfaces  52 ,  68  adjacent to the neck section  22  of the inset  26  and then inserting a clamp bolt  74  having a lock washer  76  through the recessed through bore  54  in the arm  44  of the first clamping section  38  and into the threaded bore  70  in the arm  62  of the second clamping section  40  where it is tightened down. The same connection is made with a second clamp bolt  74  and lock washer  76  between the opposite arms  46  and  64  of the first and second clamping sections  38 ,  40 , respectively. The ski rope  14  may be is extended from the neck section  22  of the pylon  12  through the ski rope opening  56  in the first clamping section  38  in position to contact the wall  58  formed by such opening  56 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 ,  9  and  10 , in one embodiment the pylon mount  36  is employed with a cradle  78  to mount a smart phone  80 . The cradle  78  is connected to the pylon mount  36  by an upper coupler  82  which is received by and mounted to the lower coupler  42 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  9  and  10 , the lower coupler  42  is preferably formed with a first half section  84  and a second half section  86  which are at least partially separated from one another by a slot  88 . A first bore  90  is partially formed in each of the first and second half sections  84 ,  86 , and a second, cross bore  92  is formed in each of the first and second half sections  84 ,  86  which intersects the first bore  90 . The cross bore  92  is threaded in one of the first and second half sections  84 ,  86 . 
     The upper coupler  82  may be formed in two parts, namely, an upper leg  94  and a lower leg  96 . The lower leg  96  includes an extension  98  having a circumferentially extending recess  100 , and a generally planar surface  102  formed with a number of blind bores  104 . The upper leg  94  includes two half sections  106 ,  108  at least partially separated by a slot  110 , and a generally planar surface having an anti-rotation pin  114  shown in phantom in  FIG. 3 . A first bore  116  is partially formed in each of the half sections  106 ,  108 , and a second, cross bore  118  is formed in each of the first and second half sections  106 ,  108  which intersects the first bore  116 . The cross bore  118  is threaded in one of the first and second half sections  106 ,  108 . The upper and lower legs  94 ,  96  of the upper coupler  82  are connected to one another by inserting the pin  114  on the upper leg  94  into one of the blind bores  104  in the lower leg  96  with their respective planar surfaces in abutment with one another. A bolt  120  connects the upper and lower legs  94 ,  96  together. It should be understood that upper and lower legs  94 ,  96  may be oriented at various angles relative to one another, depending upon which blind bore  104  of the lower leg  96  receives the pin  114  on the upper leg  94 , and the approximately 90° orientation shown in the Figs. is for purposes of illustration only. 
     In order to connect the upper coupler  82  to the lower coupler  42 , the extension  98  on the lower leg  96  of the upper coupler  82  is extended into the first bore  90  of the lower coupler  42 . A fastener  122  is inserted into the cross bore  92  in the lower coupler  42 , so that it extends into the recess  100  of extension  98 , and then the fastener  122  is tightened down. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the cradle  78  is formed with a base  124 , opposed side walls  126 ,  128 , a front wall  130  and a back wall  132  which collectively receive and mount a smart phone  80  or similar portable device having video recording capability. An extension  134  having a circumferential recess  136  extends outwardly from the base  124  for insertion into the first bore  116  of the upper coupler  82 . The cradle  78  is secured to the upper coupler  82  by inserting a fastener  138  into cross bore  118 , so that it extends into the recess  136  of extension  134 , and then the fastener  138  is tightened down. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-8 , the pylon mount  36  of this invention may be employed with another version of a video device mount, e.g. a camera mount  140  of the type, for example, commercially available from Woodman Labs, Inc. of Half Moon Bay, Calif. under the name and mark “GOPRO®”. The camera mount  140  may be formed with a base plate  142  having an upper surface that mounts a pair of spaced locking arms  144 ,  146 , and a lower surface. An extension  148  having a circumferential recess  150  projects from the lower surface of base plate  142 . In order to connect the camera mount  140  to the lower coupler  42 , its extension  148  is received within the first bore  90  of the lower coupler  42 . A fastener  122  is inserted into the cross bore  92  in the lower coupler  42 , so that it extends along the recess  150  of extension  148 , and then the fastener  122  is tightened down. A camera  152 , schematically depicted in  FIG. 8 , may be releasably fixed to the camera mount  140  by inserting a pedestal  154  located at the bottom of the camera  152  between the locking arms  144 ,  146  on the camera mount  140 . 
     The pylon mount  36  of this invention provides an efficient, easy-to-install an effective means of creating a video of a skier  18  during a skiing run. The first and second clamping sections  38 ,  40  of the pylon mount  36  are easily pivotally mounted coupled to the inset  16  of the pylon  12  by tightening down two clamp bolts  74  as described above. Depending on the type of video recording device to be used, e.g. a video camera, smart phone or other portable device, a cradle  78 , camera mount  140  or other video device mounting may be quickly and easily secured to the pylon mount  36  by tightening a single fastener  122  to the lower coupler  42 , and, in the case of the camera mount  140 , a second fastener  122  to the upper coupler  82 . 
     Because the ski rope  14  extends through the ski rope opening  56  in the pylon mount  36 , as the skier  18  moves from side-to-side during a skiing run the ski rope  14  engages the wall  58  of the ski rope opening  56  causing the pylon mount  36  to follow. In turn, the smart phone  80  or camera  152  track the motion of the skier  18  so that he or she is always centered in the frame of the video without the need for someone on the ski boat  10  to manipulate the video recording device in any way. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: b