Patent ID: 7121222

Claim:
A watercraft anchoring system, comprising: a housing having a first side wall, a second side wall and a peripheral wall extending therebetween and defining an interior, a dispensing opening being positioned in said peripheral wall and extending into said interior; a spool being rotatably mounted in the interior of said housing; biasing means for biasing rotation of said spool in a first direction, said biasing means being positioned in the interior of said housing; a tether cord attached to and wrapped about the spool, a portion of said tether cord extending through the dispensing opening in said housing such that rotation of said spool in a first direction retracts said tether cord into said housing and rotation of said spool in a second direction extends said tether cord out of said housing; a handle formed on said housing, said handle being located on the peripheral wall of said housing, said handle being located at a position approximately 120 degrees from the dispensing opening in said housing with respect to an axis of rotation of said spool, said handle forming a loop; a clasp attached to said housing for receiving a catch attached to said watercraft, said clasp being attached to the loop of said handle such that said clasp is located at a position approximately 120 degrees from the dispensing opening in said housing with respect to an axis of rotation of said spool; an anchor attached to a free end of said tether cord positioned outside of said housing; a securing assembly attached to said housing for selectively securing a portion of the tether cord against movement out of the dispensing opening in said housing, said securing assembly being positionable in a secured position preventing movement of said tether cord through said opening or in a released position allowing movement of the portion of said tether cord through said dispensing opening, said securing assembly comprising an actuator slidably mounted on said handle to permit a hand to grip said handle and slide the actuator while the hand grips said handle.