Towrope retriever for watercraft

• US 6,672,238 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Innovative Sports Incoporated
• Original Assignee: ReelFly, Inc.
• Inventors: Schoening, Jerry M., Hayduk, Matthew T., Sheikholeslam, Sherwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US10/327,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20030084833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 114/253, 114/254, 114/247
• US Class Current: 114/254
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/67 Connection means on the towing watercraft, e.g. pylons, side poles or winches

Abstract

A towrope retriever system for a watercraft for simplifying and improving the safety of the towrope handling, storage, reeling out, and reeling in of a towrope, in which the towrope retriever is connected to or integrated into a support unit such as a tower or pylon securely attached to the watercraft, substantially increasing the overall height of the watercraft, and allowing the performer to jump higher and perform more challenging aerial maneuvers, is disclosed. The towrope retriever may be rotatable to allow the performer a greater flexibility of movement and may be easily removed for storage.

Claims

1. A towrope retriever system for a watercraft, comprising:

(a) a support unit securely attached to the watercraft for substantially increasing the height where a towrope retriever attaches to said watercraft and for increasing acrobatic characteristics of water sport activities by a performer;

(b) a towrope retriever comprising;

i) a main housing unit connected to the support unit;

ii) an electronic control unit;

iii) a reel being axially mounted on said main unit and for reeling a towrope having an attachment end attached to said reel and a handle end, said reel being axially mounted in the main housing;

iv) a motor having a motor shaft operatively connected to the reel and electrically controlled by the electronic control unit for providing rotational power to the reel; and

v) a rope holding device for securely holding the towrope at a selected length

wherein the reel is concentrically mounted on said motor shaft.

2. The towrope retriever system of claim 1, wherein the support unit is a pylon being rigidly attached to the watercraft.

3. The towrope retriever system of claim 1, wherein the motor is powered by electrical power supplied from a power supply on the watercraft.

4. The towrope retriever system of claim 1, wherein the motor is capable of unidirectional operation.

5. The towrope retriever system of claim 1, wherein the motor is capable of fixed speed operation.

6. The towrope retriever system of claim 1 further comprising one or more visual length indicators placed on the towrope.

7. The towrope retriever of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is an integrated wired device.

8. The towrope retriever system of claim 1, wherein the towrope retriever is encased in a main housing.

9. The towrope retriever system of claim 8, wherein the main housing is integrated into the support unit.