Patent ID: 9701168
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: B60D,B63B,Y10T

Claim:
1. A variable rigidity tow cable configured for operation with a tow vehicle, comprising: a tension control cable having a first end configured to connect to the tow vehicle at a first attachment point on the tow vehicle and a second end configured to connect to the tow vehicle at a second attachment point on the tow vehicle that is spaced from the first attachment point; a tension control device connected to the first end or the second end of the tension control cable that controls tension in the tension control cable to increase and decrease a length of the tension control cable; beads disposed on the tension control cable, the beads including an apex bead with first and second ends, a first plurality of the beads are slidably disposed on the tension control cable between the first end of the apex bead and the first end of the tension control cable, and a second plurality of the beads are slidably disposed on the tension control cable between the second end of the apex bead and the second end of the tension control cable; and the apex bead, the first plurality of beads and the second plurality of beads defining a rigid shape of the tension control cable upon a predetermined decrease in length of the tension control cable to a tensioned length; and the beads in the first plurality of beads and the beads in the second plurality of beads are free to move relative to one another on the tension control cable when the tension control cable has a length greater than the tensioned length.