Motorized retractable ski tow rope

• US 6,474,588 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eduardo Valverde
• Original Assignee: Eduardo Valverde
• Inventors: Valverde, Eduardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Jillions, John M.
• Application Number:
  US09/887,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20020005451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 242/390.2, 242/390.3, 242/390.8, 242/390.9, 242/396.5, 242/396.9, 242/904, 114/254
• US Class Current: 242/390.2
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/67 Connection means on the towing watercraft, e.g. pylons, side poles or winches
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2551/13 Remote control devices, e.g. speech recognition
• 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: B65H 75/4486 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/44 Electrical transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/16 the drums or barrels being freely rotatable , e.g. having a clutch activated independently of a brake B66D1/20, B66D1/22, B66D1/24 take precedence; clutches activated alternately with brakes B66D1/14, slip couplings B66D1/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 242/904 Water ski reel

Abstract

A water ski tow rope retrieval and payout system is disclosed. The system includes a reel having a quantity of tow rope wound therearound. The reel is powered by an electric motor through a drive shaft which is also coupled to an electrically controlled brake or clutch. The brake or clutch acts to keep the drive shaft, and thus the reel, from rotating freely when the electric motor is not being used to pay out or retrieve tow rope. An embodiment of the water ski tow rope retrieval and payout system having radio remote control is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A water ski tow rope retrieval and payout system for attachment to a watercraft, the water ski tow rope retrieval and payout system comprising:

a housing having an open top and a rearward opening slot, said housing being adapted for attachment to the watercraft;

a reel support frame supported within said housing;

a reel rotatably supported by said reel support frame, said reel being capable of rotation about an axis of rotation;

a shaft rotatably supported by said reel support frame, said shaft having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said shaft being rotatably supported with said longitudinal axis thereof parallel to said axis of rotation of said reel;

a first gear wheel rotatably supported by said reel support frame, said first gear wheel having an axis of rotation which is coincident with said axis of rotation of said reel, said first gear wheel being fixed relative to said reel such that said first gear wheel and said reel rotate as a unit;

a second gear wheel fixed to said shaft concentric with said longitudinal axis of said shaft, said second gear wheel being in mesh with said first gear wheel such that rotation of said shaft causes the rotation of said reel;

an electric motor supported within said housing, said electric motor being coupled to a portion of said shaft adjacent to and including said first end of said shaft to selectively power said shaft to move rotationally; and

a solenoid operated clutch supported by said housing, said solenoid operated clutch being coupled to a portion of said shaft adjacent to and including said second end of said shaft, said solenoid operated clutch being in a disengaged condition when energized to allow rotation of said shaft, said solenoid operated clutch being in an engaged condition when not energized, said solenoid operated clutch preventing rotation of said shaft when said solenoid operated clutch is in said engaged condition.

2. The water ski tow rope retrieval and payout system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speed reduction gearbox, said electric motor being coupled to said shaft via said speed reduction gearbox, whereby less torque is required from the electric motor to rotate said reel.

3. The water ski tow rope retrieval and payout system according to claim 1, wherein said electric motor can be selectively operated in a first and a second rotational direction in order to selectively payout and retrieve a tow rope, respectively.

4. The water ski tow rope retrieval and payout system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a radio receiver communicating with said electric motor and said solenoid operated clutch; and

a radio transmitter adapted for transmitting user inputs to said radio receiver, whereby a user may operate the water ski tow rope retrieval and payout system by remote control.