Retractable Tow Rope Apparatus

Abstract

A retractable tow rope apparatus according to the present invention includes a hollow spool mounted for rotational movement inside a casing. A retraction spring is positioned inside the spool and is coupled to the spool and to the casing for selectively moving the spool therein. One end of the spool includes a flange defining a plurality of grooves. A spool brake is mounted to the casing for selective engagement with a respective groove, whereby to selectively stop the spool from paying out or retracting the tow rope. A retractable handle is mounted to the casing and coupled to the spool, enabling a user to manually turn the spool. The casing includes a handle for carrying the device. A bracket may be attached to the casing for releasably mounting the device to a boat.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to tow ropes and related storage devices and, more particularly, to a retractable tow rope apparatus for storing and mobilizing a water ski rope.[0002]A long length of rope is utilized when pulling a water skier behind a motorized boat. At the conclusion of a skier's time of skiing, such as when he falls down or a different skier desires to take a turn, the rope may be partially pulled back into the boat. Certainly, the rope must be pulled back within the boat when the overall skiing outing is completed for the day. The rope must then be allowed to dry and is stored away until its next use.[0003]Various devices for reeling or retracting a rope or cable have been proposed in the prior art. Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not provide a convenient means for transporting a tow rope from a storage location to a boat and back, for mounting the rope to the boat for use, or f...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The casing includes a handle by which the entire retractable tow rope apparatus may transported by a user. Means for releasably mounting the device to the boat during use is also provided. A movable fairlead may also be mounted to the casing adjacent the aperture through which a tow rope enters the casing for evenly positioning a tow rope on the spool during retraction. A squeegee may also be positioned proximate the aperture for squeezing water from the tow rope during retraction.

[0009]Still another object of this invention is to provide a retractable tow rope apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the automatic retraction may be conveniently stopped by a user, if desired.

[0012]A still further object of this invention is to provide a retractable tow rope apparatus, as aforesaid, that may be easily mounted to or removed from a boat.

Problems solved by technology

Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not provide a convenient means for transporting a tow rope from a storage location to a boat and back, for mounting the rope to the boat for use, or for easily gathering the rope following use.

Specifically, the existing devices do not enable a user to easily transport and mount a length of tow rope, retract the rope automatically without electrical power, have means for selectively stopping the retraction, enable excess water to escape from the housing during retraction, or have means for squeezing water from the rope itself during retraction.

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