Abstract:
A detachable handle system ( 10 ) includes a connector which in a first embodiment ( 33 ) pins ( 34 ) to a handle tube ( 21 ), and which in a second embodiment ( 433 ) attaches through a resilient tube ( 437 ) that is radially expanded. The detachable handle is in the preferred embodiment provided with a readily replaced handle grip ( 22 ). By detaching the handle ( 21 ) and replacing the handle grip ( 22 ), a multitude of grips may be fabricated in diverse colors and geometries for a single handle, thereby satisfying the desires of each individual user. A tow rope ( 35 ) is attached to the connector ( 33, 433 ) through a hole ( 36 ) in the connector ( 33 ) and then circumferentially about the connector ( 33 ), independent of the handle tube ( 21 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/323,187 filed Sep. 17, 2001, the contents which are incorporated herein in entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention pertains generally to aquatic devices, and more particularly to tow handles such as might be used for water skiing, wake boarding and other similar activities.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    In the sports of water skiing, wake boarding and the like, a powered watercraft tows one or more individuals across the water. The towed individual will desirably skim across the water on a support, which may be as small as the skier&#39;s feet but which will more generally be much larger, and might, for exemplary purposes only and not to be limiting thereto, include water skis or wake boards. The support will most preferably assist with a hydro-planing effect between the water surface and the support, and in many cases will also include features such as curved leading edges that scale or overcome waves.  
           [0006]    In order for an individual to ride upon the water surface, the towing watercraft must obtain sufficient speed to reduce the water displacement that would otherwise occur. This speed is obtained by the transfer of force through a tow rope and into a tow handle. The towed individual grasps the tow handle with one or both hands, and maintains balance upon the support. Through various body manipulations, the towed individual will typically change course generally limited by an arc defined by the length of the tow rope, but can through some maneuvers even defy the arc and travel a different path. As is known, these various body manipulations put relative large forces in unpredictable directions upon the tow handle. These forces are of course affected by the encountering of waves and similar disturbances, resulting in a need for a strong, durable and reliable tow handle.  
           [0007]    In addition to the forces that are applied to a tow handle, tow ropes attaching to the handle will become worn and frayed through use. In order to enable a person to replace ropes, various concepts have been proposed that include end caps that both terminate the handle and also provide attachment points for the tow ropes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,060,049 by Rumbaugh; 4,335,478 by Pittman; 4,043,290 by Holland; 4,392,833 by Hayden; and 5,503,580 by McCarthy are exemplary. Rumbaugh, for example, illustrates molded rope anchoring flanges that are inserted into the handle tube and ultrasonically welded or adhesively bonded in place. McCarthy discloses a high durometer urethane bushing member that is glued or molecularly bonded into place.  
           [0008]    While these patents illustrate durable and quality handles, they also prevent an individual from readily replacing the grip portion of the handle. For the amount of use required to fray the tow rope, the handle grip will also experience significant wear. Further, when an individual wishes to change the grip to a different style or color, the permanent attachment of end caps prevents or complicates replacement of the grip.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In a first manifestation, the invention is a detachable handle system comprising in combination an aquatic tow rope, a coupler, and a detachable handle. The coupler has a receiver for aquatic tow rope to which a tow rope may be fastened, and also has a longitudinal handle engaging member. A locking member is set to one of a first state or a second state and may subsequently be set to the other of the first and second states, and is reversible therebetween. In the first state, the locking member locks the coupler to the detachable handle when a separating force of a first magnitude is applied, and in a second state the locking member releases the detachable handle from coupler when the same separating force is applied.  
           [0010]    In a second manifestation, the invention is an apparatus grasped by a person to couple to a towing watercraft. A handle has a first end, a second end, and a tubular body therebetween. A removable hand grip generally encompasses the tubular handle body. At least one end cap is coaxial with the handle tubular body and adjacent one of the ends of the handle, and has a rope receiving member. A releasable fastener couples the end cap to the handle when engaged and permits the end cap to separate from the handle otherwise.  
           [0011]    In a third manifestation, the invention is a method of replacing a handle grip attached to an aquatic tow rope handle, comprising the steps of releasing the tow rope handle from a coupler; replacing the handle grip; engaging the tow rope handle with coupler subsequent to the replacing step; and attaching the tow rope to the coupler.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention solve inadequacies of the prior art by providing a readily replaced handle grip. A first object of the invention is to enable a casual user to readily remove and replace a tow handle grip. A second object of the invention is to enable this replacement without compromising the reliability of the tow handle during rugged use. Another object of the present invention is to provide this additional capability through well-engineered components, thereby avoiding undesirable additional cost and complexity. A further object of the invention is to enable tow handle grip replacement and simultaneously enable simple tow rope replacement. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention can be understood and appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment tow rope and handle constructed in accord with the teachings of the invention from a top plan view.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up top plan view of the preferred embodiment tow rope and handle of FIG. 1 partially disassembled, providing additional illustration of the features of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a first preferred rope to handle coupling for use with the preferred embodiment tow handle of FIG. 1, as it appears taken along section line  3 ′ of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second preferred rope to handle coupling for use with the preferred embodiment tow handle of FIG. 1, from a similar cut as that shown in FIG. 3.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    The present invention is manifested in the preferred embodiment tow rope system  10  illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 , and will find utility in sporting and recreational activities such as waterskiing, wake boarding and the like. Tow rope system  10  includes a handle  20 , yoke  30 , lead  40 , floats  45  and attachment loop  50 . In the preferred embodiment, yoke  30 , lead  40  and attachment loop  50  are each fabricated from rope or other similar flaccid materials as are known and recognized in the industry. Other components maybe provided having different or complimentary function, such as a stirrup  60  and floats  45 . The construction of the yoke  30 , lead  40 , floats  45  and loop  50  are not critical to the invention, and are illustrated herein as with stirrup  60  merely to provide a single exemplary and preferred embodiment of the invention as required by the patent statutes. Likewise, the lengths and diameters of the various components may be varied from those illustrated herein. Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize, for example, a myriad of attachment devices and methods that would each supplant attachment loop  50  for particular applications and purposes.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 illustrates a closer projected view of the junction between handle  20  and yoke  30 , with handle  20  and yoke  30  separated from each other. Textured handle grip  22  is also more visible therein. As is evident, yoke  30  most preferably includes a rubber or plastic boot  32  which, when coupled to handle  21 , extends slightly about the end of grip  22 . Boot  32  will most preferably be somewhat resilient, and sufficiently durable to withstand multiple flexures over time. Within yoke  30  and generally coaxial with boot  32  is a male connector  33  protruding therefrom. Rope  35  passes through boot  32  and then through and about connector  33 , around an enlarged end  37  of male connector  33 . Male connector  33  slips coaxially within tube  21 , and pin  34  serves to lock the two together. Hex wrench  70  is provided in association with pin  34  as one preferred enabling technique for the coupling between tube  21  and male connector  33 , though other devices and techniques which provide the necessary coupling are contemplated herein. Grip  22  is a relatively thin covering surrounding tube  21 , most preferably manufactured from a soft, pliable and potentially even somewhat sticky material. While not intended to be limited thereto, and recognizing that there are too many materials to individually list, EVA is one such material which has the desired characteristics suited for the preferred embodiment. EVA is available in a variety of groove patterns, colors and diameters, which allows the user a large assortment of options with one basic detachable handle system  10 . Other suitable materials that provide appropriate feel and comfort may also be used, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of male connector  33  and the immediately adjacent tube  21 , grip  22 , boot  32  and rope  35  taken along section line  3 ′ of FIG. 1. Holes  36  and  38  may be clearly seen. Hole  36  is a smooth walled, relatively large diameter hole which permits a stringer, a loop formed at the end of the rope, to pass through. Consequently, hole  36  may preferably be approximately the same or of somewhat larger diameter than two diameters of rope  35 , or rope  35  may be specially braided or woven to keep a smaller diameter in the loop region. A groove  39  may be cut in enlarged end  37  to smoothly accommodate rope  35  therein, but this is not necessary for the performance of the invention.  
         [0021]    In contrast to hole  36 , hole  38  in the preferred embodiment is relatively smaller in diameter, and will most preferably be tapped or otherwise engaging with pin  34 . While pin  34  is illustrated as being threaded and turned such as through movement of hex wrench  70 , the retention of male connector  33  to tube  21  is not due primarily to the threading, but is instead a pinning action, since pin  34  passes through both tube  21  and male connector  33 . Consequently, there is no opportunity for pin  34  to loosen and cause a failure in this important coupling. Instead, any loosening of pin  34  will first be observable as a deformation in grip  22 , and pin  34  will not reasonably be able to be removed without folding back grip  22 . Unthreaded pins, countersunk bolts and nuts, and other couplings too numerous to specifically mention herein may be used to serve the function of pin  34 , and the present invention is not limited to a particular pin structure or geometry.  
         [0022]    During assembly, or re-assembly as the case may be, boot  32  will be stretched out of the way. Then rope  35  is passed through male connector  33 , and then the stringer terminating rope  35  is passed around enlarged end  37  in groove  39  to prevent rope  35  from being retracted from male connector  33 . Male connector  33  may, either before or after securing rope  35 , be inserted into tube  21 , and pin  34  screwed therein to retain tube  21  rigidly with male connector  33 . Most preferably, grip  22  will either be folded or slid back from tube  21  to provide access to a small hole therein, or may alternatively have a small hole punched therethrough to allow pin  34  to pass through. Finally, boot  32  is replaced about male connector  33  and grip  22 . As will now be evident, boot  32  serves to retain rope  35  in place, preventing stringer rope  35  from inadvertently loosening up and subsequently sliding off enlarged end  37 . Furthermore, boot  32  encloses pin  34  and tube  21 , protecting the user from any direct exposure with metal parts. Boot  32  does, of course, also provide visual trim to enhance the finished appearance of detachable handle system  10 .  
         [0023]    As should now be apparent, handle  20  may be readily detached from yoke  30 , and grip  22  readily replaced. At the time of replacement, it will be conceivable to either replace both grip  22  and tube  21  or just grip  22 , depending upon the requirements and intentions of the designer. The grip will most preferably be easier and less expensive to replace than the entire handle. The use of a readily replaced grip  22  enables the detachable handle system  10  to be used with diverse grips of various colors and geometries, allowing a plurality of individuals to use the same detachable handle system  10  or an individual user to change grips at will for different activities or purposes. It is contemplated that one rope may be used with many different grips that can each substitute for grip  22 . Only nominal effort is required by the user to switch the grip.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows second preferred male connector  433  from the same cross-section as first preferred male connector  33 , but with a different securing mechanism, and with boot  32  removed therefrom as it would be during installation. As evident therein, stringer rope  35  still passes through a transverse hole  36  and then wraps about an enlarged end  37  of male connector  433 , resting in a groove  39 . However, a hole  438  extends longitudinally through male connector  433 , and allows socketed head bolt  434  to pass through. At the end of socketed head bolt  434  distal to hole  36  is a washer  435  and nut  436 , which may be implemented as two separate components or alternatively as a single component. Between washer  435  and male connector  433  is a resilient tube  437 . Tube  437  will most preferably be compressible, and, most preferably, will exhibit a relatively high coefficient of friction with tube  21 . Similarly, nut  436  will most preferably exhibit sufficient friction with washer  435 , or directly with tube  437 .  
         [0025]    To assemble a detachable handle system  10  using second preferred embodiment male connector  433 , a person will first insert male connector  433  into tube  21 , until enlarged end  37  engages with tube  21 . At this point, hex wrench  70  will be inserted into hole  438 , and socketed head bolt  434  will be turned to draw nut  436  towards hex wrench  70  and enlarged end  37 . Once again, the use of hex wrench  70  is illustrated herein as a part of the preferred embodiment for exemplary purposes, but other tools and techniques are contemplated herein for turning bolt  434 . In fact, separate rotating members may be provided specifically to turn bolt  434 , and may conceivably be coaxial therewith. However achieved, the rotation of bolt  434  in turn compresses tube  437  longitudinally and causes tube  437  to expand radially. This radial expansion effects a locking action with tube  21 . The resulting connection between tube  437  and tube  21  has great strength and is very reliable, owing to the relatively high coefficient of friction of tube  437 , the compressive forces driving tube  437  into contact with tube  21 , and the natural resilience of tube  437  to absorb severe forces. The friction between washer  435  and tube  437  prevents unintentional loosening during mechanical shock or temperature cycling. Once tube  437  has been longitudinally compressed and radially expanded, hex wrench  70  will be withdrawn, and stringer rope  35  passed through hole  36  and about groove  39 . FIG. 4 illustrates the assembly at this point, though it will be understood that a boot  32  will most preferably be included also similar to that shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0026]    In addition to the preferred male connectors  33 ,  433  contemplated herein, other alternatives are also contemplated. One noteworthy alternative is the use of a single direction friction fitting instead of the relatively smooth and cylindrical male end of connector  33 . Care should be taken, however, to ensure that such friction fitting is designed for the forces encountered at the end of the rope, and will be able to remain attached. As should be apparent, various connectors are known in other industries that have the characteristics of durable connection while still being removable, some without the need for tools, and which, with the benefit of the present disclosure, would be obvious to artisans to use.  
         [0027]    As already noted, the components of detachable handle system  10  maybe manufactured from a variety of materials, including metals, resins and plastics, ceramics, or even combinations of the above. The specific material used may vary, though preferences are more generally attained if the preferred embodiment is relatively light weight, durable and resistant to an environment of water or salt water spray, remains attached when in use, and is readily detached when not in use.  
         [0028]    A variety of designs and colors have been contemplated for detachable handle system  10 . The geometries and coloring may be artistic or functional. The materials used for a particular design may be chosen not only based upon the aforementioned factors such as weather resistance and weight, but may also be influenced by the particular artistic design.  
         [0029]    While the foregoing details what is felt to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, no material limitations to the scope of the claimed invention are intended. Further, features and design alternatives that would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be incorporated herein. The scope of the invention is set forth and particularly described in the claims hereinbelow.