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&#39;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 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. 
         [0004]    Therefore, it would be desirable to have a retractable tow rope apparatus that solves all of the above mentioned difficulties as well as conveniently but removably being mounted or mountable to the boat and being able to be carried by a user. Further, it would be desirable to have a retractable tow rope apparatus that prevents the rope from tangling during retraction. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, a retractable tow rope apparatus for particular use with a motorized boat for waterskiing includes a hollow spool positioned for rotational movement within an outer casing. One end of the spool includes a flange defining a plurality of spaced apart indentations. A retraction spring is mounted inside the spool and is coupled to the spool and casing for selectively moving the spool relative to the casing. Specifically, the spool may be automatically moved by the spring to retract a tow rope about the spool. A spool brake is coupled to the outer casing and includes a configuration for selectively passing through the outer casing aperture and engaging a respective indentation in the spool flange. Activating the spool brake causes the spool to stop retracting. A retractable handle is coupled to the spool for manually turning the spool to retract or extend the tow rope. 
         [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. 
         [0007]    Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a retractable tow rope apparatus for storing and deploying a tow rope. 
         [0008]    Another object of this invention is to provide a retractable tow rope apparatus, as aforesaid, having a spring for automatically retracting a tow rope when activated. 
         [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. 
         [0010]    Yet another object of this invention is to provide a retractable tow rope apparatus, as aforesaid, that automatically drains excess water from the casing. 
         [0011]    A further object of this invention is to provide a retractable tow rope apparatus, as aforesaid, that squeezes water from the rope during retraction. 
         [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. 
         [0013]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a retractable tow rope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention with a manual spool handle in a retracted configuration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1   b  is another perspective view of the tow rope apparatus as in  FIG. 1   a  with the manual spool handle in an extended configuration; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2   a  is a side view of the tow rope apparatus as in  FIG. 1   a;    
           [0017]      FIG. 2   b  is a sectional view taken along line  2   b - 2   b  of  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0018]      FIG. 3   a  is another perspective view of the retractable tow rope apparatus illustrating additional features of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3   b  is a front view of the tow rope apparatus as in  FIG. 3   a;    
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the tow rope apparatus as in  FIG. 3   a  with the casing removed; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view from another angle of the tow rope apparatus as in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6   a  is a top view of the tow rope apparatus as in  FIG. 3   a;    
           [0023]      FIG. 6   b  is a sectional view taken along line  6   b - 6   b  of  FIG. 6   a;    
           [0024]      FIG. 6   c  is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from  FIG. 6   b ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 7   a  to  7   c  are views of a ring assembly for mounting the tow rope apparatus to a boat. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0026]    A retractable tow rope apparatus  100  particularly for use with watersports and/or with a boat according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1   a  through  7   c  of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a retractable tow rope apparatus  100  according to the current invention may include an internal spool  110 , an outer casing  120 , a retraction spring  130 , a spool brake  140 , a drive screw  150 , a moving fairlead  160 , a drive assembly  170 , and a rope  180 . 
         [0027]    The internal spool  110  (also referred to herein as a “hollow spool”) has opposed first and second ends  111 ,  112 , and a first flange  113  may extend outwardly from the first end  111  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The first end  111  and/or the first flange  113  may define a plurality of indentations  114  (also referred to herein as “grooves”) which may or may not extend through the first end  111 . Though not shown in the drawings, the spool  110  may be understood to define an imaginary center axis extending from the spool first end  111  to the spool second end  112  about which the spool rotates, and the plurality of indentations  114  may extend radially outward at equally spaced apart intervals relative to the imaginary center axis ( FIG. 5 ). A retractable spool crank handle  210  ( FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ) may be coupled to the spool  110  to allow for selective rotation of the spool  110  relative to the outer casing  120  to manually wind the rope  180  about the spool  110  as described below. 
         [0028]    The outer casing  120  surrounds the spool  110 , the spool being mounted for rotational/axial movement therein. The outer casing  120  has opposed first and second ends  121 ,  122  and a front side  123  ( FIGS. 1   a  through  3   b  and  6   b ). It is understood that the outer casing  120  may present a narrow profile such that the rope  180  may be wound in a single column atop itself as it is retracted ( FIG. 2   b ). As shown in the other drawings, however, the outer casing  120  may present a larger profile ( FIG. 3   a ). 
         [0029]    The outer casing first end  121  defines an aperture  125  (also referred to herein as a “hole”) having a dimension or configuration that is complementary to that of the plurality of indentations  114  in the first flange  113  of the spool  110  for reasons that will be described in more detail later. The front side  123  also defines a front opening  124  through which the rope  180  may pass. The outer casing  120  may define at least one hole  126  for draining liquid and/or enabling moisture to evaporate from the outer casing  120  ( FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b ). The outer casing  120  includes a handle  220  ( FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b ) for transporting the outer casing  120 , and means for coupling the outer casing  120  to the boat may be included. The means for coupling the outer casing  120  to the boat may include a bracket  230  ( FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b ) having a configuration complementary to a pole, pylon, or other boat structure suitable for retaining the apparatus  100 . The coupling means may, alternatively, include a ring  103  attached to the outer casing  120  by a pair of ropes  104  as shown in  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c ; the boat may include a vertical attachment pole (not shown), and the ring  103  may have a diameter complementary to a diameter of the attachment pole so that the ring  103  may be placed around the attachment pole. Alternately (or additionally), tie straps, hook and loop fasteners, one or more clips, and/or other fasteners may be used to couple the outer casing  120  to the boat. 
         [0030]    The retraction spring  130  may be located inside the spool  110  and coupled to both the spool  110  and the outer casing  120  for selectively moving the spool  110  relative to the outer casing  120  ( FIG. 6   b ). As shown in  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b , and  2   b  through  6   c , the spool brake  140  may be coupled to the outer casing  120  and have a configuration for selectively passing through the outer casing aperture  125  and engaging a respective indentation  114 . A plurality of bearings  200  between the spool  110  and the outer casing  120  ( FIGS. 6   b  and  6   c ) may enable the spool  110  to spin unfettered when tension is applied to the rope  180  and the spool brake  140  is at a released configuration  141 . 
         [0031]    The drive screw  150  may be coupled to the outer casing  120  to extend along the outer casing front opening  124 , and the moving fairlead  160  may be coupled to the drive screw  150  (e.g., by mating threads) as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The drive assembly  170  may selectively associate the drive screw  150  with the spool  110 , so that movement of the spool  110  causes movement of the drive screw  150  (and thus the attached fairlead  160 ) when the drive screw  150  is associated with the spool  110 . The fairlead  160  may also be attached to a fairlead guide axle  177  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) to keep the fairlead oriented properly. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the drive assembly  170  may include a clutch plate  171  adjacent the spool  110 , an engaging axle  172  for selectively associating the clutch plate  171  with the spool  110 , and a drive belt  173  for associating the drive screw  150  with the clutch plate  171 . The engaging axle  172  may have an outer end  175  accessible outside of the outer casing  120  for selectively moving the engaging axle  172  between engaged and released configurations  178 ,  179  ( FIGS. 6   b  and  4  respectively). 
         [0032]    The rope  180  has one end coupled to the spool  110 , and at least a portion of the rope  180  may pass through the moving fairlead  160  to a position exterior to the outer casing  120  ( FIGS. 3   a  and  6   a ). A squeegee guide  127  may be coupled to the outer casing  120  adjacent the front opening  124  for cleaning and squeezing excess liquid from the rope  180  when the rope  180  is being passed through the front opening  124  to the moving fairlead  160  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0033]    In use, the retractable tow rope apparatus  100  may be selectively mounted on a boat as described above for application in watersports or other water activities. The rope  180  is coupled to the spool  110  by one end and may be selectively coupled to any person or object on the other end. When the rope  180  is completely unwound from the spool  110  and coupled to a person or object, the retractable tow rope apparatus  100  may be used to tow the person or object through water. The rope  180  may be similarly used for towing when the spool brake  140  passes through the outer casing aperture  125  and engages a respective indentation  114 , as the spool brake  140  keeps the rope  180  from being wound about (or unwound from) the spool  110  when at this configuration. 
         [0034]    When the spool brake  140  is in its released configuration  141  ( FIG. 6   a ) and tension is applied to the rope  180 , the plurality of bearings  200  ( FIG. 6   b ) between the spool  110  and the outer casing  120  enable the spool  110  to spin unfettered so as to unwind the rope  180  to a desired length. Tension on the rope  180  winds the retractable spring  130 , which in turn rotates the spool  110  in relation to the outer casing  120 . When the engaging axle  172  associates the clutch plate  171  with the spool  110  and the spool  110  is rotated, the rotation of the spool  110  activates the drive assembly  170  ( FIG. 4 ); the clutch plate  171  is rotated, which causes the drive belt  173  and therefore the drive screw  150  to rotate ( FIG. 4 ). Rotation of the drive screw  150  causes the moving fairlead  160  to move along the drive screw  150  (while maintaining proper orientation by way of the fairlead guide axle  177 ) along the front opening  124 . When the engaging axle  172  does not associate the clutch plate  171  with the spool  110 , the spool  110  rotates with little or no effect on the drive assembly  170 . 
         [0035]    When tension is no longer applied to the rope  180  and the spool brake  140  is in its released configuration  141 , the rope  180  will retract automatically due to the stored energy in the retraction spring  130  ( FIG. 6   b ), and as long as the engaging axle  172  associates the clutch plate  171  with the spool  110  as noted above, the moving fairlead  160  may guide the rope  180  around the spool  110  to eliminate or minimize tangles. The rope  180  may also be wound manually around the spool  110  by using the retractable spool crank handle  210  ( FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b  and  2   b ). 
         [0036]    The squeegee guide  127  may prevent excess liquid from entering the outer casing  120  by cleaning and squeezing liquid from the rope  180  as the rope  180  is being wound about the spool  110  as described above ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The hole(s)  126  in the outer casing  120  ( FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  6   a ) may allow liquid to be drained from the outer casing  120  and/or any moisture remaining on or within the rope  180  to evaporate. When the apparatus  100  is no longer needed, it may be easily removed from its mounting on the boat and transported by its carrying handle  220  to a storage location. 
         [0037]    It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.