Motorized Retractable Line for a Water Sports Facility

• US 20110143846A1
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard P. Davis
• Original Assignee: Richard P. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Richard P.
• Application Number:
  US13/033,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20110143846A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 472/128
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/00 Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor golf courses A63B69/3691; water roundabouts A63G3/00; construction of surfaces of foundations E01C; roofs E04B7/00; buildings or groups of buildings for sports E04H3/10; swimming or splash baths or pools E04H4/00; coverings for baths E04H4/06

Abstract

Described are systems, devices and methods for providing a motorized retractable line or ski rope for a facility in which to practice water sports such as wakeboarding, wake surfing, wake skating, waterskiing, kneeboarding and the like. A motorized retractable line may operate by manual control or preferably by automation. Operation is in response to one or more detectable events or one or more controls. When a water sport participant loses contact with a handle of the ski rope, the motorized retractable line extends by unwinding from a winch or by another mechanism. The motorized retractable line is carried in the flow of water until it reaches a designated length or a maximal length (e.g., to a downstream side of the water sports facility), or until a participant re-connects with the handle of the ski rope. A participant may re-engage in a water sport from any position in the water sports facility after losing contact with the ski rope. A participant is returned to a designated participation area. A participant may re-engage more quickly in a water sport in a water sports facility after losing contact with the ski rope than previously possible. A participant may be able to engage in an increased number of runs or water sport sessions within a block of time or rental session.

Claims

1. A water sports facility comprising:

an open channel comprising an open channel length, a open channel width, an upstream side, and a downstream side, wherein the open channel is configured to allow water to flow along the open channel length from the upstream side toward the downstream side;

one or more effluents capable of ejecting water into the upstream side of the open channel;

one or more water influents that provide water to the one or more effluents; and

a retractable ski rope capable of reaching the downstream side of the open channel.

2. The water sports facility of claim 1 wherein the water sports facility further comprises a mounted ski rope fixture.

3. The water sports facility of claim 2 wherein the mounted ski rope fixture is extendable.

4. The water sports facility of claim 1, wherein the water sports facility further comprises a motorized winch for retracting the retractable ski rope.

5. The water sports facility of claim 4, wherein the retractable ski rope comprises a winch control for controlling, directly or indirectly, operation of the motorized winch.

6. The water sports facility of claim 5, wherein the winch control is accessible by a participant, and wherein the winch control retracts the retractable ski rope to a designated participation area and to no other area when engaged.

7. The water sports facility of claim 4, wherein the motorized winch operates at a sufficient speed to allow a participant to plane on water in the open channel.

8. The water sports facility of claim 1, wherein the water sports facility further comprises a vertical riser, wherein the vertical riser is configured to raise and lower a point of origin of the retractable ski rope above a plane of the open channel.

9. The water sports facility of claim 8 wherein the vertical riser is configured to programmatically maintain the retractable ski rope at a desired angle relative to a plane of the open channel throughout a plurality of locations in the open channel.

10. A method for providing a retractable ski rope to a water sport environment, the method comprising:

flowing water into the water sport environment at a rate measured in volume per time;

providing a retractable ski rope at a first position within the water sport environment;

detecting an indication of a condition in the water sport environment;

extending the retractable ski rope to a second position within the water sport environment; and

retracting the retractable ski rope to the first position within the water sport environment.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein retracting the retractable ski rope to the first position further comprises:

maintaining the retractable ski rope at a desired angle relative to a plane in the water sport environment as the retractable ski rope is retracted.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a speed of the retracting the retractable ski rope is controlled programmatically once retraction of the retractable ski rope begins.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting an indication of a condition in the water sport environment further comprises:

detecting a disengagement of a participant from a handle of the retractable ski rope.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

performing a change in operation of the water sport environment after detecting the indication of a condition in the water sport environment and while extending the retractable ski rope to the second position within the water sport environment.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the performing a change in operation of the water sport environment comprises:

ejecting water against a circulation of water in the water sport environment upon receiving an indication of non-participation by a water sport participant.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

automatically controlling at a relatively constant value a participant-selected angle of the retractable ski rope irrespective of an amount of extending the retractable ski rope, wherein the participant-selected angle of the retractable ski rope is measured relative to a plane defined by water in the open channel.

16. A method for providing a retractable ski rope to a water sport participant in a water sports facility, the method comprising:

ejecting water from a plurality of effluents at an upstream side of an open channel in the water sports facility for use by the water sport participant;

providing the retractable ski rope to the water sport participant; and

extending the retractable ski rope upon detection of a condition in the water sports facility.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

ceasing the extending the retractable ski rope upon detection of a contact with the ski rope by the water sport participant.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

providing a control to initiate retraction of the retractable ski rope to the water sport participant.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

retracting the retractable ski rope beginning a fixed time after the water sport participant regains contact with the retractable ski rope.