Patent ID: 9688367
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: B63B

Claim:
1. A tow rope engagement apparatus for employment with water sports equipment for supporting a standing rider being towed through water, comprising; a handle; a handle line engaged at a first end to said handle and extending to a second end; said handle configured for gripping by a hand of user riding said sports equipment; a docking member, said docking member dimensioned for a removable engagement in an engaged position with a docking component, said docking component having a base plate engageable to a riding surface of said sports equipment, a pair of sidewalls rising from said baseplate and a space between said sidewalls configured for a frictional engagement with said docking member; a split line engaged at a first end to said docking member and extending to a distal end; means to engage said distal end of said split line, and said second end of said handle line, to a distal end of a tow rope configured to engage with an aquatic towing vehicle; said docking member being disengageable from said engaged position with said docking component by movement in a direction substantially normal to said riding surface; a release line communicating between said handle line and said docking member; and said release line providing means for communicating a force to said docking member to induce a movement toward said vertical direction and a disengagement from said engaged position, when said rider of said sports equipment moves from a crouched position, adjacent to said riding surface during the start of a tow of said body, to a substantially standing position upon said riding surface; whereby force from said towing vehicle communicated to said tow rope during said start of said tow, with said docking member in said engaged position, is communicated primarily to said sports equipment, whereafter said force is communicated primarily to said handle subsequent to said user moving from a said crouched position to said standing position.