Rope rewinding device for a ski boat

• US 4,969,610 A
• Filed: 12/12/1988
• Issued: 11/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Sickmeyer, Jerry Taylor, Rebecca Sickmeyer
• Original Assignee: James Sickmeyer, Jerry Taylor, Rebecca Sickmeyer
• Inventors: Taylor, Jerry, Sickmeyer, Rebecca, Sickmeyer, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Jillions, John M.
• Application Number:
  US07/283,508
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 242/107, 242/86.5 A, 242/86, 242/96, 242/106, 114/254
• US Class Current: 242/371
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/67 Connection means on the towing watercraft, e.g. pylons, side poles or winches
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/35 Ropes, lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/425 attached to, or forming part of a vehicle, e.g. truck, trailer, vessel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 242/904 Water ski reel

Abstract

An automatic ski rope rewinding device is presented used to rewind a ski rope when the rope is not pulling a skier. The invention utilizes a standard rope or cord rewinding mechanism which is mounted by L-shaped brackets to the body of the boat. The rewinding mechanism and rope are encased by an outer, waterproof casing. A water removing gasket facilitates removal of water from a rope being rewound and a loop near the attached end of the ski rope is used to directly attach the ski rope to the boat cleat when pulling a skier.

Claims

1. An automatic rope rewinding device for a ski boat, comprising:

(1) a reel for winding a ski rope rotatably attached to the stern of a ski boat by means of L-shaped reel brackets;

(2) an automatic, spring operated rope rewinding means in cooperable connection with said reel;

(3) a ski rope secured to said reel having a handle attached at the free end of said rope and a knotted loop near the secured end of said rope; and

(4) an outer casing completely surrounding said reel, rewinding means and rope, permanently attached to the outside stern of a ski boat, said outer casing having handle receiving clips on the outside thereof and a rope-receiving slot opposite the stern of said boat, said rope slot further comprising a water-removing gasket therein;

2. An automatic rope rewinding device for a ski boat, as in claim 1, wherein said casing is essentially watertight.

3. An automatic rope rewinding device for a ski boat as in claim 1, wherein said reel brackets comprise metal angles which protrude through said casing and are attached to the stern of said ski boat by means of bolts.

4. An automatic rope rewinding device for a ski boat as in claim 1, wherein said water-removing gasket is made of sponge material or rubber or similar material which removes water as the ski rope is drawn through said rope-receiving slot.

5. An automatic rope rewinding device for a ski boat as in claim 1, wherein said casing is made of fiberglass or similar hard, lightweight, non-corrosive material.

6. An automatic rope rewinding device for a ski boat, comprising:

(1) a reel for winding a ski rope rotatably attached to the floor of a ski boat by means of reel brackets;

(2) an automatic, spring operated rope rewinding means in cooperable connection with said reel;

(3) a ski rope secured to said reel having a handle attached at the free end of said rope and a knotted loop near the secured end of the rope; and

(4) an outer casing completely surrounding said reel, rewinding means and rope, permanently attached to the inside rear floor of a ski boat, said an outer casing having a rope receiving slot essentially perpendicular to the point of attachment of said casing to the floor; and

(5) a stern aperture having a water-removing gasket therein.

7. An automatic rope rewinding device for a ski boat as in claim 6, wherein said stern aperture water removing gasket is made of sponge material or rubber or similar material which removes water as the ski rope is drawn through said stern aperture.