Claims
- 1. A detachable handle system comprising in combination an aquatic tow rope, a coupler, and a detachable handle;
said detachable handle extending from a first end to a second end and having a manual gripping member therebetween; said coupler having a receiver for said aquatic tow rope to which said aquatic tow rope may be fastened and having a longitudinal handle engaging member; and a locking member which is set to one of a first state or a second state that permits subsequent setting to the other of said first and second states and that is reversible between said first and said second states, and which in a first state locks said coupler to said detachable handle when a separating force of a first magnitude is applied between said coupler and said detachable handle, and which in a second state different from said first state releases said detachable handle from said coupler when said separating force of said first magnitude is applied.
- 2. The detachable handle system of claim 1 wherein said locking member is set to a first or second state manually.
- 3. The detachable handle system of claim 1 wherein said coupler tow rope receiver is circumferential about said coupler.
- 4. The detachable handle system of claim 1 wherein said aquatic tow rope is non-destructively detachable from said receiver.
- 5. The detachable handle system of claim 2 wherein said locking member extends longitudinally parallel along a single radial axis.
- 6. The detachable handle system of claim 5 wherein said locking member comprises a pin passing simultaneously through said detachable handle and said coupler.
- 7. The detachable handle system of claim 6 wherein said pin is threaded.
- 8. The detachable handle system of claim 1 wherein said detachable handle extends longitudinally from a first end to a second end.
- 9. The detachable handle system of claim 8 wherein said locking member comprises a radially expandible material and a means for expanding said radially expandible material.
- 10. The detachable handle system of claim 1 wherein said expanding means comprises a means to compress said radially expandible material parallel to said longitudinal axis.
- 11. An apparatus grasped by a person to couple to a towing watercraft, comprising:
a handle having a first end, a second end, and a tubular body therebetween; a removable hand grip generally encompassing said tubular handle body; at least one end cap coaxial with said handle tubular body and adjacent one of said first and second ends of said handle having a rope receiving member; and a releasable fastener coupling said end cap to said handle when engaged and permitting said end cap to separate from said handle otherwise.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said tubular body is generally cylindrical, and said end cap is generally cylindrical.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said releasable fastener is threaded to said end cap.
- 14. A method of replacing a handle grip attached to an aquatic tow rope handle, comprising the steps of:
releasing said aquatic tow rope handle from a coupler; replacing said handle grip; engaging said aquatic tow rope handle with said coupler subsequent to said replacing step; and attaching said tow rope to said coupler.
- 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of attaching further comprises the steps of:
passing said tow rope through said coupler; and encompassing said tow rope about said coupler.
- 16. The method of claim 14 wherein said engaging step further comprises turning a screw.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of engaging further comprises the step of radially expanding resilient material.
- 18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of moving said handle grip to obtain access to said screw, prior to said turning step.
- 19. The method of claim 14 wherein said step of engaging further comprises the step of inserting said coupler into said aquatic tow rope handle.
- 20. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:
stretching a boot to reveal said coupler prior to said releasing step; and repositioning said boot about said coupler subsequent to said engaging step.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/323,187 filed Sep. 17, 2001, the contents which are incorporated herein in entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60323187 |
Sep 2001 |
US |