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US3949698A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Adjustable ski hitch

Assignee: EPCO PRODUCTS Inc
•
Filing: 1974-10-09
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Granted: 1976-04-13
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Expires: 1994-10-09
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Abstract

Abstract An accessory for attachment to the transom of a power boat for providing a relatively high easy release tow rope attachment point above the general level of the boat stern is disclosed comprising a plurality of telescopingly engaged tubular members having at least a pair of elbow portions in L-shaped tubular members with tow rope attachment device such as a ring and stud located on a tubular member between the elbow portion and having means associated with adjacent pairs of telescoping tubular members for fastening those pairs together. Two of the fasteners also function to attach the accessory to the boat transom and the telescoping overlaps may be provided with a plurality of alignable apertures thus allowing the height and width of the accessory to be adjustably determined for a particular installation.

Inventors

  • 👤 James F. Sell

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 14:12
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B34/00; B63B34/60; B63B34/67

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 171 words
An accessory for attachment to a power boat for providing a relatively high, easy release tow rope attachment point above the general level of the boat stern comprising: a sleeve; a ring, and a stud adjacent the ring whereby a tow rope bight may be passed through the ring and over the stud with the ring preventing inadvertent detachment of the tow rope from the stud, the ring and stud being connected to the sleeve; a pair of generally L-shaped structures each telescopingly engaging the sleeve from opposite ends thereof; a pair of tubular members telescopingly engaging the respective ends of the L-shaped members remote from the sleeve, the tubular members and L-shaped structures having alignable apertures in the vicinity of their respective telescoping engagement; a pair of means for locking the respective L-shaped structures and tubular members together each including at least one protrusion for extending through the aligned apertures; and means for simultaneously securing the accessory to a boat and retaining the protrusion in position through the aligned apertures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 171 words
An accessory for attachment to a power boat for providing a relatively high, easy release tow rope attachment point above the general level of the boat stern comprising: a sleeve; a ring, and a stud adjacent the ring whereby a tow rope bight may be passed through the ring and over the stud with the ring preventing inadvertent detachment of the tow rope from the stud, the ring and stud being connected to the sleeve; a pair of generally L-shaped structures each telescopingly engaging the sleeve from opposite ends thereof; a pair of tubular members telescopingly engaging the respective ends of the L-shaped members remote from the sleeve, the tubular members and L-shaped structures having alignable apertures in the vicinity of their respective telescoping engagement; a pair of means for locking the respective L-shaped structures and tubular members together each including at least one protrusion for extending through the aligned apertures; and means for simultaneously securing the accessory to a boat and retaining the protrusion in position through the aligned apertures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 195 words
An accessory for attachment to the transom of a power boat for providing a relatively high easy release tow rope attachment point above the general level of the boat stern comprising a plurality of telescopingly engaged tubular members having at least a pair of elbow portions with tow rope attachment means located on a tubular member between the elbow portions, and means associated with adjacent pairs of telescoping tubular members for fastening those pairs together, at least two of the means for fastening being adapted to provide the further function of fastening the accessory to the boat transom, the telescopingly engaged tubular members being provided with a plurality of alignable apertures in the vicinity of telescoping overlap, the said at least two means for fastening each comprising a U-bolt adapted to pass around a tubular member in the vicinity of the overlap and through the transom, and a plate having a pair of U-bolt passing apertures and at least one protrusion, the plate adapted to lie between the transom and the pertaining tubular member with the protrusion passing through a pair of alignable apertures to prevent relative axial movement of the pertaining engaged tubular members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 195 words
An accessory for attachment to the transom of a power boat for providing a relatively high easy release tow rope attachment point above the general level of the boat stern comprising a plurality of telescopingly engaged tubular members having at least a pair of elbow portions with tow rope attachment means located on a tubular member between the elbow portions, and means associated with adjacent pairs of telescoping tubular members for fastening those pairs together, at least two of the means for fastening being adapted to provide the further function of fastening the accessory to the boat transom, the telescopingly engaged tubular members being provided with a plurality of alignable apertures in the vicinity of telescoping overlap, the said at least two means for fastening each comprising a U-bolt adapted to pass around a tubular member in the vicinity of the overlap and through the transom, and a plate having a pair of U-bolt passing apertures and at least one protrusion, the plate adapted to lie between the transom and the pertaining tubular member with the protrusion passing through a pair of alignable apertures to prevent relative axial movement of the pertaining engaged tubular members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 48 words
The accessory of claim 2 wherein the tow rope attachment means comprises a ring and a stud adjacent the ring whereby a tow rope bight may be passed through the ring and over the stud with the ring preventing inadvertent detachment of the tow rope from the stud.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
The accessory of claim 3 wherein the tubular members form an inverted U-shape with the tubular member between the elbow portions being disposed horizontally above the boat stern and supported between downwardly extending portions of the U.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3034470A Cited
US3110331A Cited
US3233934A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-04-13 1979-10-13 1980-04-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-04-13 1983-10-13 1984-04-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-04-13 1987-10-13 1988-04-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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