Abstract:
Method and apparatus for a dinghy brake including a cone-like member having a smaller front end and a larger rear end connected in line between a towing boat and a towed dinghy in such a way that if the towing boat should slow or stop suddenly, the towed dinghy would be stopped from overtaking or colliding with the towing boat. The dinghy brake includes a cone-like central member comprising a plurality of panels connected inside a plurality of cords so that the apparatus can be tied or connected between the towing boat and the towed dinghy.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/862,070 filed Aug. 4, 2013. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to boats and, more particularly, is concerned with a dinghy towing brake. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Devices relevant to the present invention have been described in the related art, however, none of the related art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,296,996, dated Jan. 10, 1967. Miller disclosed a method and apparatus for slowing the forward speed of a towed submerged vessel. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,379 dated Nov. 5, 1991, Cherry disclosed a method and apparatus for controlling the speed of boats. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,536,681 dated Jan. 2, 1951, Frieder, et al., disclosed a sea anchor. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,900 dated Nov. 13, 1984, Rutten, et al., disclosed a sea anchor. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,628 dated Mar. 29, 1988, Baughman disclosed a recoverable sea anchor and method therefor. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,583 dated Sep. 25, 1990, Renouard disclosed a water ski safety apparatus. 
     While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a dinghy brake including a cone-like member having a smaller front end and a larger rear end connected in line between a towing boat and a towed dinghy in such a way that if the towing boat should slow or stop suddenly, the towed dinghy would be stopped from overtaking or colliding with the towing boat. The present invention includes a cone-like central member comprising a plurality of panels connected inside a plurality of cords so that the apparatus can be tied or connected between the towing boat and the towed dinghy. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a brake to a towed dinghy so that the dinghy is prevented from overtaking and colliding with a towing boat should the towing boat slow or stop suddenly. A further object of the present invention is to provide a dinghy towing brake having the panels constructed in such a way that the individual members of the panel have a concave shape relative to the central axis of the cone so that the cone maintains itself in an open position when submerged. A further object of the present invention is to provide a dinghy tow brake which can be easily used by an operator. A further object of the present invention is to provide a dinghy tow brake which can be relatively easily and cheaply manufactured. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the present invention taken from  FIG. 1  as indicated. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a prior art device taken from a position similar to that indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration showing the present invention in operative connection wherein the towing boat is moving forward and towing the dinghy with the cone above water. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of the present invention in operative connection wherein the towing boat has stopped and the cone is beginning to open underwater. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of the present invention in operative connection wherein the towing boat has stopped and the cone has opened underwater. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of the present invention in operative connection wherein the towing boat has begun to move forward again and the cone is oriented with its smaller end forward. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings.
           10  present invention     12  cone/braking member     14  front cords     15  cord     16  front loop     20  rear loop     22  fabric panel     22   a  fabric panel     22   b  fabric panel     22   c  fabric panel     24  seam     26  seam     28  seam     30  stitching     32  towing boat     34  towing line from boat     36  dinghy     38  towing line to dinghy     39  towing line loop to dinghy     40  centerline     42  concave cross section     44  smaller end     46  larger end     48  water surface       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims. Figures I through  7  illustrate the present invention wherein a dinghy towing brake is disclosed and which is generally indicated by reference number  10 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown the present invention  10  having a truncated cone shaped braking member  12  attached on the inside of three cords  15  having first and second ends  14 ,  18  so that the larger end  46  of the cone is oriented toward the dinghy as shown in  FIG. 4 . The first end of the cords  14  are joined at a first loop or ring  16  and the second end of the cords  18  are joined at a second loop or ring  20 . The loops  16 ,  20  could be formed by forming or tying a small loop in the ends of the elongated flexible members or cords  15  or by attaching a separate ring. Braking member  12  comprises a plurality of panels  22  and has a smaller end  44  and a larger end  46 . The length of the present invention  10  is about one-fourth to one-third the length of the dinghy  40 . The present invention  10  has at least three cords  14 ,  18  of equal lengths arranged in a parallel fashion connected at the ends and forming a small loop or eye  16 ,  20  at each end wherein the loops or eyes are used to attach towing lines  34 ,  38 . A towing line  34  on one end of the present invention  10  is attached to the towing boat  32  and the towing line  38  on the other end of the device is attached to the towed dinghy or boat  36  wherein the towing line  38  attached to the dinghy is slightly less than the length of the present invention  10 . The towing line  34  attached to the boat is significantly longer and is expected to be at least 30 to 40 feet in length. Near the end of the present invention  10  that is attached to the boat, a fabric cone braking member  12  is attached to the inside of the three cords  14 ,  18  with the larger end  46  of the cone oriented toward the dinghy  36 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 1A , therein is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention  10  showing all elements just as in  FIG. 1 ; however, also shown is an alternative towing line loop  39  which replaces item  38  as shown in  FIGS. 4-7 . Loop  39  is an alternative way to connect the present invention  10  to the dinghy so that the length of the towing line can be easily varied and attached to the bow of the dinghy using a cow hitch type knot by simply passing the end of the loop  39  through a receiving ring on the bow of the dinghy and then passing the present invention  10  back through the end of the loop to form a conventional cow hitch type knot frequently used by sailors. Loop  39  can be made in various lengths so that the braking member  12  can always be maintained about amidships under the dinghy  36  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Otherwise, the present invention  10  as shown in  FIG. 1A  is the same as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , therein is shown a cross section of the cone  12  taken from  FIG. 1  as indicated showing individual panels  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  wherein each of the panels has a concave area  42  easily seen in cross section which is concave relative to the centerline or axis  40  of the cone  12 . The concavity shown at areas  42  is due to the panel  22   a  being sewn so that its edge seams  28  attach to a cord  14  and the edge seams  26  of panel  22   b  attach to the cord  14  and the edge seams  28  of panel  22   c  attach the cord  14  so that a cord  14  is disposed between each of the edge seams of the corresponding panels  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c ; stitching  30  is also shown passing through each of the seams and cords. The concave areas  42  is caused by the unique manner in which the edge seams of panels  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  are sewn to cords  14  and results due to the effective stiffness of the fabric from which the panels are expected to be constructed. The concave areas  42  are a result of the edge seams  24 ,  26 ,  28  being sewn at a sharp angle, approaching perpendicular, to the surface of the panel  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  extending between the edge seams which, due to the effectively stiff fabric or material of construction, causes the surfaces of the panels between the edge seams to flex outwardly and become concave with respect to centerline  40 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , therein is shown a cross sectional area of a related art cone  12  wherein the panels  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  have overlapping seams wherein the cords  14  are each disposed on the outside of the seams and are connected with stitching  30 . As can be seen, it is believed there are no concave areas created with respect to the axis  40  which causes the panels  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  to easily collapse in the water. 
     Turning generally to  FIGS. 4-7 , in a towing situation, tension on the line  34  causes the present invention  10  to collapse cone  12  and the present invention  10  rises out of the water, but when the boat  32  slows or stops suddenly, the present invention  10  falls into the water and is overtaken by the dinghy  36 , reversing its orientation to the direction of movement of the dinghy  36  and the fabric cone  12  fills with water like a parachute to increase hydraulic resistance and slows and stops the dinghy. When the boat  32  starts moving forward again the fabric cone  12  collapses because the boat is attached to the small end  44  of the cone  12 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , therein is shown a towing situation wherein the towing boat  32  is connected to the present invention  10  using towing line  34  and the dinghy  36  is connected to the rear of the present invention  10  using towing line  38 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the situation wherein the towing vessel  32  is towing the dinghy  36  in a forward direction (smaller end  44  in front) with the present invention  10  raised above the water surface  48  because lines  34 ,  38  are taunt. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , therein is shown the towing boat  32 , the boat towing line  34 , the dinghy  36 , water  48 , the dinghy towing line  38  and the present invention  10  wherein the towing boat  32  has either slowed or stopped in the water  48  and the present invention  10  has become submerged and its larger end  46  has begun to enlarge and fill with water with lines  34 ,  38  relaxed. This action results because line  38  is shorter than line  34 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , therein is shown the towing boat  32 , the vessel towing line  34 , the dinghy  36  and the dinghy towing line  38  along with the present invention  10  underwater wherein the larger end of the present invention  10  has fully opened so that it is now acting as a brake or de-accelerator to prevent the dinghy  36  from colliding or overtaking the towing boat  32  with lines  34 ,  38  relaxed. This action results because line  38  is shorter than line  34 . As illustrated, the present invention  10  seems to work better when its larger end  46  is located at about amidships of the towed boat  36 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , therein is shown the towing boat  32 , the boat towing line  34 , the dinghy  36  and the dinghy towing line  38  along with the present invention  10  wherein the towing boat  32  has begun to move forward and tighten the boat towing line  34  and begun to pull on the smaller end  44  of the present invention  10  so that again it is moving easily through the water  48  with its smaller end  44  oriented forwardly. 
     A boat and dinghy have been previously referred to herein to simplify the discussion, but the present invention  10  could be used in a situation where the towing boat was smaller than the towed boat or dinghy. 
     Furthermore, while the previous discussion is applicable to recreational craft, the present invention  10  could be built on a larger scale and could have value as a safety device in the towing of large commercial vessels such as barges and ships. The present invention  10  could prevent a tug from being run over by the large commercial vessel it is towing should the tug run aground or lose power. 
     The size of the present invention  10  would be proportional to the size of the boat being towed and would be as effectively strong as necessary to tow the boat selected to be towed. The length of the device  10  is expected to be from one-fourth to one-third the length of the boat being towed or about 3-4 feet long relative to a typical dinghy which is usually 10-14 feet long. It is expected that the size of the fabric cone braking member  12  in length could be up to about one-third the length of the present invention  10  and the diameter of the cone would be slightly larger than the length of the cone. 
     By way of summary and with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , the present invention  10  provides braking for a first towed boat  36  being towed behind a second towing boat  32  on a water surface  48  including a plurality of cords  15 , each the cords having a first end  16  oriented toward the towing boat and a second end  20  oriented toward the towed boat, a braking member  12  interposed in the plurality of cords, wherein the plurality of cords lie along the periphery of the braking member, wherein the braking member has the shape of a truncated cone having a smaller diameter end  44  and a larger diameter end  46 , wherein the smaller diameter end is oriented toward the first end of the plurality of cords and the larger diameter end is oriented toward the second end of the plurality of cords, a longer tow line  34  and a shorter tow line  38 , wherein the longer tow line connects the towing boat to the first end of the plurality of cords and the shorter tow line connects the towed boat to the second end of the plurality of cords to permit the towed boat to be towed behind the towing boat. Further, wherein the smaller diameter end of the braking member is oriented toward the towing boat when the towing boat is moving forward so that the braking member is disposed above the water surface. Further, wherein the shorter tow line orients the larger diameter end of the braking member toward the towed boat providing greater hydraulic resistance when the towing boat is stopped as the braking member sinks below the water surface. Further, the braking member including a plurality of panels  22  disposed between each pair of cords so that the number of panels equals the number of cords, wherein the panels are configured so that each panel has a concave shape shown at  42  with respect to a centerline of the braking member so that the panel retains its concave shape without collapsing when below the water surface.