Rotating Ski Tow Camera Mount for Close-Up Skier Tracking

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ski tow devices do not allow for a camera to maintain alignment with a skier being towed by a boat, limiting the ability to capture close-up footage due to a wide field of view required to encompass the skier's movements.

Innovation Solution

A ski tow device with a pivotable or rotatable pedestal-shaped body that includes a camera mount, allowing the camera to remain aligned with the ski rope as the skier moves relative to the tow post, enabling a narrower field of focus for closer footage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the camera is mounted on a fixed ski tow device, then the camera can capture the skier's movements, but the field of view must be wide which prevents closeup footage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of focusVSAvoidcamera alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ski tow device incorporates a rotating mechanism that allows the camera mount to dynamically adjust its orientation. The device can pivot or rotate to follow the skier's position, enabling the camera to maintain a focused, narrow field of view on the skier without requiring wide-angle lenses, thus achieving closeup footage while tracking movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the skier's position and movement as feedback to automatically adjust the camera's orientation. By monitoring the skier's location relative to the boat and tow rope, the device rotates the camera mount to maintain optimal alignment, ensuring the narrow field of focus remains centered on the skier throughout the ride.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the camera mount is fixed on the ski tow, then the structure is simple, but the camera cannot remain aligned with the skier as the skier moves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera alignmentVSAvoidski tow structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ski tow device incorporates a rotating mechanism that allows the camera mount to dynamically adjust its orientation. The device can pivot or rotate to follow the skier's position, enabling the camera to maintain a focused, narrow field of view on the skier without requiring wide-angle lenses, thus achieving closeup footage while tracking movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating camera mount mechanism serves multiple functions: it maintains camera alignment with the skier, provides a stable mounting platform, and enables both closeup and wider shots by adjusting orientation. This multi-functional design achieves reliable alignment without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11618534B2Ski tow for boats

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 MARINE ACCESSORIES CORP

AI summary

A ski tow for a boat having a tow post and a ski rope connected to the tow post. The ski tow includes a pedestal shaped body having a lowermost foot spaced apart from an uppermost cap by an intermediate die; a camera mount located on the cap and configured for receiving a camera; and a chase extending vertically through the pedestal body and open on both ends. The pedestal shaped body pivots or rotates such that the camera mount remains aligned with the ski rope as a skier connected to the tow rope moves relative to the tow post and moves the tow rope relative to the tow post.