The present invention relates generally to the field of water recreation devices and particularly to devices and methods for towing a water recreation device and its rider behind a water vehicle.
Water sports, such as wake boarding, commonly require use of a tow bar system to pull a rider on a water recreation device along the surface of the water behind a powerboat. A typical tow bar system includes a tow line and hand grips. Depending on the types and durations of maneuvers a rider wishes to perform, the rider may prefer a tow bar system that employs a more traditional single-grip configuration or, alternatively, that features an individual grip for each hand (e.g., dual grip). Furthermore, to achieve desired performance and/or maximize enjoyment during a single ride, the rider may prefer to selectively alternate between dual-grip and single-grip modes.
However, current tow bar systems can be difficult for a rider (particularly a novice rider) to effectively use. For example, inexpensive single-grip tow bars routinely force the rider's hands together for two-hand gripping while the recreation device is in motion, thereby limiting the rider's ability to physically adjust her grip for comfort, energy-conservation, and/or performance purposes. Furthermore, both the single-grip and dual-grip tow bar systems can be difficult to hold onto during the rider's transition from being pulled out of the water at the start of a ride to being accelerated to planing speed during the course of a ride.
Several dual-grip tow bar systems exist for use by a rider of a water recreation device. For example, a tow line characterized by the provision of two grips, one for each hand of a water skier, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,092,068 to Brownson et al. (“Brownson”), U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,786 to La Botz (“La Botz”), U.S. Pat. No. 3,219,007 to Kiefer et al. (“Kiefer”), U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,904 to Spurlock et al. (“Spurlock”), U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,833 to Hayden (“Hayden”), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,722 to Joseph (“Joseph”). However, neither the free-standing dual grips shown in the Brownson and La Botz references nor the convertible dual grips described in the Kiefer, Spurlock, Hayden, and Joseph references maintain a substantially fixed orientation in relation to each other when used in dual-grip mode because each grip is mechanically supported only by tow rigging consisting entirely of ropes. These dual-grip designs implemented with loose rigging have some performance advantages, but they compromise rider comfort and energy. Specifically, the skier must rely on muscle strength both to hang on to the grips during the transition from pullout to planing speed, and also to maintain the grips in a functional orientation while being pulled. Such exertion may cause the rider to tire before she can sufficiently enjoy the ride on a recreation device.
To help a rider maintain comfort and conserve energy, releasable towing systems offer, among other advantages, an opportunity for a rider of a water recreation device to passively ride while the tow line is affixed to the board itself, Releasable towing systems for water recreation devices are disclosed in La Botz and also in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,531 to Humphrey, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,955 to Echols, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,860 to Clark. For example, the La Botz and Humphrey references both describe adding an intermediate hooking mechanism to a conventional tow line that a rider may use to snag an anchor member affixed to a water recreation device for the purpose of towing. Similarly, the Echols reference describes draping from a tow line a coupling device that mates with a retainer mounted on the surface of a water recreation device. However, these systems pose one or both of the following challenges for a rider, and particularly for a novice rider: 1) manipulating a small hooking mechanism to release it from an anchor member while in the process of being towed, and 2) managing the instability of a single-grip or dual-grip tow bar system that is loosely tethered by ropes. Both the Echols and Clark patents disclose presenting a recess in the top surface of a water recreation device to accommodate a tow bar. However, these single-grip tow bars expose the rider's hands to being pinched between the tow bar and the board when the rider attempts to remove the substantially planar tow bar from a low-profile tow hook or from a recess in the board's surface.
With the above in mind, the present invention advantageously provides a tow rope system that presents a structure with enhanced stability to facilitate selective use for both passive and active towing of a rider on a water recreation device. The present invention further advantageously provides methods by which a dual drawbar may be selectively released and engaged with a tow hook on a water recreation device, and by which a dual drawbar may be selectively positioned for traditional and ergonomic gripping by a towed rider of a water recreation device. For purposes of this disclosure, a drawbar is a bar or other stable device to which a load to be pulled may be hitched or otherwise coupled.
These and other objects, features, and advantages according to the present invention are provided by a tow rope system that may comprise first and second drawbar members, each of which may include a grip and opposing lateral supports that may be connected to the grip. Each of the drawbar members' opposing lateral supports may be connected to a coupling member. The first drawbar member may overlie the second drawbar member in an inverted position. The first and second drawbar members may extend outwardly from the coupling member in an angled configuration.
Each of the first and second drawbar members may have a dosed geometric shape which may define an enclosed void. For example, and without limitation, each drawbar member may be substantially triangular. Each lateral support of each of the drawbar members may have a posterior end connected to the grip and an anterior end connected to the coupling member. The first and second drawbar members may be aligned in a substantially symmetrical configuration.
The grips on the first and second drawbar members may be spaced apart from each other. The grips on the first and second drawbar members may curve outward from each other. The grip and the lateral supports of each of the drawbar members may be integrally formed as a monolithic unit. The first and second drawbar members and the coupling member may be integrally formed as a monolithic unit.
The coupling member may comprise at least one gusset adjacent the first and second drawbar members. The gusset(s) may be elastic to allow the angle between the first and second drawbar members to vary. For example, and without limitation, the range of the angle may vary between about 15 and 30 degrees. A pair of opposing gussets may be spaced apart from each other between the first and second drawbar members. The grip and lateral supports of the first and second drawbar members, as well as the coupling member and any gussets, may be integrally formed as a monolithic unit.
A tow rope may be connectable to an anterior end of the coupling member, A leader may have a first end connected to the coupling member and may have a second end connected to a tow rope.
A portion of the grip on either drawbar member may be adapted to engage a tow hook on a water recreation device, and another portion of the grip may present a textured gripping surface to a rider of a water recreation device. Each of the first and second drawbar members may be constructed of one or more rubber, plastic, aluminum, and carbon.
A method aspect of the present invention is for towing a rider on a water recreation device on a body of water. The method may include engaging a contact surface on the grip of a drawbar member with a tow hook, The contact surface may be positioned substantially central on the grip of the drawbar member.
The method may include a rider grasping the first drawbar member grip in a substantially central position, and removing the tow rope from the tow hook by pulling the grip of the first drawbar member to disengage the grip of the second drawbar member from the tow hook. The method may further include the rider raising the grip of the first drawbar member away from the surface of the riding board, thereby causing the grip of the second drawbar member to hang freely and oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the riding board.
The method may include the rider repositioning the tow rope system for ergonomic use by removing one of two hands from the grip of the first drawbar member, using the free hand to grasp the grip of the second drawbar member substantially central on the grip of the second drawbar member in an underhand technique, and rotating the grips of the first and second drawbar members to achieve a substantially vertical orientation of the two grips.
The method may include a rider repositioning the tow rope system for traditional use by rotating the grips of the first and second drawbar members to achieve a substantially horizontal orientation, removing a hand from the grip of the second drawbar member, using the free hand to grasp the grip of the first drawbar member, and positioning both hands of the rider in an overhand technique on the grip of the first drawbar member.
The method may include a rider lowering the grip of the first drawbar member toward the surface of the riding board, pushing the grip of the first drawbar member away from the rider to cause mating of the grip of the second drawbar member with the tow hook, engaging a contact surface on the grip of the second drawbar member with the tow hook, and removing the hands of the rider from the grip of the first drawbar member.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Referring now to
As shown in the alternative embodiments of
For example, and without limitation, the first drawbar member 120 may be positioned to overlie the second drawbar member 130. The two drawbar members may be aligned in a substantially symmetrical configuration with respect to a common plane defined equidistant from both the first drawbar member 120 and the second drawbar member 130. The first drawbar member 120 may be inverted with respect to the second drawbar member 130. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, after having had the benefit of reading this disclosure, that the size of the drawbar members 120, 130, as well as the distance of the drawbar members 120, 130 from the common plane described above, may be tailored to satisfy the varying use characteristics, such as performance and ease of operation, desired by water recreation device riders of differing skill levels and recreation interests.
Still referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
For strength and comfort, the grips 122, 132 and the opposing lateral supports 124, 134 may be constructed of rigid or semi-rigid materials. For example, and without limitation, the grips 122, 132 and the opposing lateral supports 124, 134 may be constructed of one or more of the following list of materials: rubber, plastic, aluminum, and carbon. In one embodiment, a portion of the grips 122, 132 may be adapted to engage a stop mount, such as a tow hook, on a water recreation device. In another embodiment, a portion of the grips 122, 132 may be textured to present a gripping surface to a rider of a water recreation device. In yet another embodiment, the grips 122, 132 and the lateral supports 124, 134 may be individual components that may be assembled to form the first and second drawbar members 120, 130, respectively. For example, and without limitation, the grips 122, 132 and the lateral supports 124, 134 of each of the first and second drawbar members 120, 130 may be integrally formed as a monolithic unit. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, after having had the benefit of reading this disclosure, that molding each of the drawbar members 120, 130 not only may result in reduced manufacturing costs when compared to assembly of multiple components, but also may increase the safety of the drawbars by minimizing potential failure points.
As shown in
Referring now to
To strengthen the angle between the two drawbar members 120, 130, multiple gussets 160 may be spaced apart and substantially adjacent to opposing lateral supports 124, 134 included in the first and second drawbar members 120, 130. Those skilled in the art will appreciate, after having had the benefit of reading this disclosure, that the first drawbar member 120, the second drawbar member 130, the coupling member 140, and the at least one gusset 160 may be integrally formed as a monolithic unit. For example, and without limitation, the gusset(s) 160 may be molded during manufacturing as an integral part of the tow rope system 100.
Referring now to
As shown in
Referring now additionally to
Referring now additionally to
Accordingly, the methods illustrated in the flowchart 210 in
Referring now additionally to flow chart 310 illustrated in
Referring now additionally to
Accordingly, the methods illustrated in the flowchart 310 in
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/592,759 titled Water Recreation Device filed on Dec. 2, 2009, which, in turn, claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/200,637 filed on Dec. 2, 2008, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/603,579 titled Multifunction Engagement Apparatus for a Water Recreation Device and Associated Methods, filed simultaneously herewith, the entire contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3092068 | Brownson | Jun 1963 | A |
3219007 | Kiefer | Nov 1965 | A |
3304904 | Spurlock | Feb 1967 | A |
3918114 | Schmitt | Nov 1975 | A |
4069786 | La Botz | Jan 1978 | A |
4392833 | Hayden | Jul 1983 | A |
4592734 | Metiver | Jun 1986 | A |
4678444 | Monreal | Jul 1987 | A |
4867722 | Joseph | Sep 1989 | A |
D304061 | Raiter et al. | Oct 1989 | S |
4989531 | Humphrey | Feb 1991 | A |
5083955 | Echols | Jan 1992 | A |
5163860 | Clark | Nov 1992 | A |
5167553 | Wilson | Dec 1992 | A |
5376207 | Pittman | Dec 1994 | A |
5427047 | Woodfin et al. | Jun 1995 | A |
5447116 | Kobayashi | Sep 1995 | A |
5503580 | McCarthy | Apr 1996 | A |
5634834 | Cole et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
5797779 | Stewart | Aug 1998 | A |
5820430 | Hornsby et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
6007394 | Kagan | Dec 1999 | A |
6585549 | Fryar | Jul 2003 | B1 |
7216600 | Hamilton et al. | May 2007 | B1 |
1360357 | Duff et al. | Sep 2012 | A1 |
8292681 | Duff | Oct 2012 | B2 |
20060185571 | Leseberg | Aug 2006 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20130017742 A1 | Jan 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61200637 | Dec 2008 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 12592759 | Dec 2009 | US |
Child | 13603530 | US |