US3585940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water ski tow system or the like
Assignee: AQUA FUN Inc
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Filing: 1969-10-06
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1989-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A tow system for pulling water skiers around a course comprises a main driving cable extending about the course and driven at the desired speed and an accelerating cable for picking up a skier and bringing him to a speed approaching that of the main cable. A rigid driving bar member is suspended from the main cable and a rigid pickup hook fitting is attached to the skier''s towline. At the loading station the driving bar enters guide members which prevent its lateral displacement, and the pickup fitting driven by the accelerating cable enters guide member which hold it in the path of the driving bar. A lateral guide chute and a wheel on the pickup fitting determine the path of the pickup hook and the driving bar pulls the hook away from the accelerating cable when the wheel is released from the chute. At the unloading end of the course a similar guide system and chute are employed to maintain alignment of the bar and hook and the chute is sloped upwardly and away from the point of engagement and lifts the hook from the main cable bar.
Inventors
- 👤 John T Hancock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:15
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B34/00; B63B34/60; B63B34/63; B61; B61B; B61B11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
In a system for towing water skiers and the like over the surface of a body of water and comprising a main towing cable arranged about a predetermined ski course and an accelerating cable having a straight portion parallel to a straight portion of the main cable and means for driving said cables whereby the accelerating cable may be operated to approach the speed of the main cable, a loading system comprising a rigid bar attached to and suspended from said main cable, a hook engaging element secured near the lower end of said bar, a towline hook, a towline secured to said hook, a guide member extending laterally from said hook, a hanger on said hook for engaging the accelerating cable, a stop on said accelerating cable for engaging said hanger, a first stationary guide means adjacent said straight portion of said main cable for holding said bar in a fixed course parallel to said accelerating cable, and a second stationary guide means adjacent said straight portion of said accelerating cable for holding said guide member in a fixed course with said hook adjacent the course of said bar, and means for moving said hook and said hook engaging element in the same path whereby said element overtakes and engages said hook and said towline is picked up by said main cable, said guides being of lengths for releasing said bar and said guide member after engagement of said element and said hook.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
In a system for towing water skiers and the like over the surface of a body of water and comprising a main towing cable arranged about a predetermined ski course and an accelerating cable having a straight portion parallel to a straight portion of the main cable and means for driving said cables whereby the accelerating cable may be operated to approach the speed of the main cable, a loading system comprising a rigid bar attached to and suspended from said main cable, a hook engaging element secured near the lower end of said bar, a towline hook, a towline secured to said hook, a guide member extending laterally from said hook, a hanger on said hook for engaging the accelerating cable, a stop on said accelerating cable for engaging said hanger, a first stationary guide means adjacent said straight portion of said main cable for holding said bar in a fixed course parallel to said accelerating cable, and a second stationary guide means adjacent said straight portion of said accelerating cable for holding said guide member in a fixed course with said hook adjacent the course of said bar, and means for moving said hook and said hook engaging element in the same path whereby said element overtakes and engages said hook and said towline is picked up by said main cable, said guides being of lengths for releasing said bar and said guide member after engagement of said element and said hook.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a system for towing water skiers and the like a loading system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said hook and hook engaging element in the same path includes laterally offset portions of said first stationary guide means for moving said bar to position said hook engaging element in the path of said hook.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
In a system for towing water skiers and the like a loading system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first stationary guide means is shaped to return to its original guide path for releasing said hanger from said accelerating cable and thereby releasing said hook therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a system for towing water skiers and the like a loading system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide member on said hook comprises a rigid shaft secured to the towline hook and a freely rotatable wheel mounted on the end of said shaft for rotation about the axis of said shaft, and Wherein said second stationary guide means comprises a chute having a longitudinal opening extending toward said hook and positioned to receive and guide said wheel with said shaft extending through said longitudinal opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
In a system for towing water skiers and the like a loading system as set forth in claim 1 including unloading means positioned adjacent the end of the course of said main cable for releasing said hook from said hook engaging element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a system for towing water skiers and the like a loading and unloading system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said guide member on said hook comprises a rigid shaft secured to the towline hook and a freely rotatable wheel mounted on the end of said shaft for rotation about the axis of said shaft, wherein said second stationary guide means comprises a chute having a longitudinal opening extending toward said hook and positioned to receive and guide said wheel with said shaft extending through said longitudinal opening and wherein said hook opens on the side opposite said wheel and wherein said releasing means adjacent the end of the course comprises a second chute having an opening on its side toward said hook and extending upwardly and horizontally away from the line of travel of said cable whereby said hook is moved out of engagement with said hook engaging element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a system for towing water skiers and the like a loading and unloading system as set forth in claim 5 including longitudinal guide members adjacent the ends of the course for holding the hook and bar in predetermined positions and wherein said guide members are flared away from the course at their inlet ends of the guide members to provide funnellike openings for receiving the moving hook and bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
In a system for towing water skiers and the like a loading and unloading system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said guide members comprise pairs of spaced tracks the tracks of each pair flaring away from one another near their ends to provide said funnellike openings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |