US3638876A

US3638876A - Water ski towrope reel

Info

Publication number: US3638876A
Application number: US621820A
Authority: US
Inventors: William W Bullock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-03-09
Filing date: 1967-03-09
Publication date: 1972-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-01
Also published as: FR2166765A5; GB1321202A; DE2237813A1

Abstract

A winding reel assembly including a rotatable winding member including appreciably different major and minor dimensions in right angularly disposed directions in a plane extending generally normal to the axis of rotation of the winding member and a mounting assembly for the winding member whereby its axis of rotation may be angularly displaced approximately 90* or a greater or lesser amount as desired.

Description

United States Patent Bullock *Feb. 1, 1972 [54] WATER SKI TOWROPE REEL 2,498,799 2/1950 Erickson ..242/100 2,575,588 11/1951 Fritts.... ...242/100 X [721 3' 3? d B- ggg RdgewaY 2,964,258 12/1960 Kutil ..242/106 8 a 1 3,215,361 11/1965 Jones, Jr. ..242/106 x 1 Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Feb 1, 1987, has been FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS claimed. 528,149 10/1940 Great Britain .242/86 [22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1967 989,711 4/1965 Great Brltam ..242/86 [21] App1.No.: 621,820 Primary Examiner-Stanley N.Gilreath Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacobson [52] 11.8. C1. ..242/l06, 242/865 A [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ....B65h 75/38, B65h 75/40 [58] Field of Search ..242/106, 104, as, 86, 86.5, A winding reel assembly including a rotatable winding 242/865 A 1OO,H5;114/235 ws member including appreciably difierent major and minor dimensions in right angularly disposed directions in a plane ex- 56] References Cited tending generally normal to the axis of rotation of the winding member and a mountmg assembly for the wmdmg member UNITED STATES PATENTS whereby its axis of rotation may be angularly displaced approximately 90 or a greater or lesser amount as desired. 1,564,985 12/1925 Stomberg ..242/86 1 .726.084 8/ 1929 Montgomery ..242/86 UX 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures M 36' 22 g I Q /6 l0.h I

I 62 1 30 t 3 A l I 5 Q 32 80 Q 3 44 74 52 78 -ms 4 WATER SKI TOWROPE REEL This invention relates to a novel and useful winding reel assembly and more specifically to a reel assembly adapted to be utilized in a boat for the purpose of readily winding and storing a water ski towrope or the like. Although the winding reel assembly of the instant invention could be utilized in conjunction with other elongated flexible members such as anchor ropes and also elongated flexible members utilized in difierent environments, the winding reel of the instant invention is believed to have particular adaptation for use in winding and storing a water ski towrope.

The winding reel assembly includes a rotatably mounted winding member comprising only a pair of opposite side elongated members extending generally diametrically of the axis of rotation of the winding member and having cross brace members secured between the opposite end portions thereof on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the winding member about which the associated elongated flexible member may be wound upon rotation of the winding member. The winding member is rotatably supported by means of a pivot shaft journaled through the opposite side longitudinal members centrally intermediate their opposite ends and the pivot shaft, comprising a support member from which the winding member is journaled, is supported from any suitable form of base member for angular displacement relative thereto between two limit positions. Further, means is operatively connected between the pivot shaft and the base member for selectively urging the pivot shaft toward its limit positions of angular displacement upon angular displacement of the pivot shaft toward either limit position from a center position disposed intermediate the limit positions.

The main object of this invention is to provide a winding reel assembly specifically adapted for use in winding and storing water ski towropes and which may be utilized to quickly reel in and pay out a water ski towrope and also to store the water ski towrope in a compact manner after the towrope has been reeled in.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a winding reel assembly constructed in a manner whereby it may be conveniently mounted in numerous locations within a boat.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a winding reel assembly in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary elevational view of one side of a boat illustrating the manner in which the winding reel assembly of the instant invention may be operatively mounted from a sheer coaming;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane designated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 2 as seen from the right side thereof;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 but illustrating a modified form of winding reel assembly;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 as seen from the right side thereof and with portions of the pivot shaft and winding member being broken away and illustrated in vertical section and the trim cover of the assembly illustrated in phantom lines; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a second modified form of winding reel assembly of the instant inventron.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a boat hull including an upstanding side 12 and a sheer coaming 14. The winding reel assembly of the instant invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 16 and includes a mounting bracket or base referred to in general by the reference numeral 18. The base 18 includes a pair of upstanding generally parallel and vertically disposed plates 20 having corresponding upper longitudinal edge portions suitably fixed to a horizontally elongated and vertically disposed cross plate 22 at points spaced longitudinally therealong and inwardly of the opposite ends thereof. Further, an L-shaped plate member 24 including a large vertical flange 26 and a short horizontal flange 28 is provided. The lower portions of the longitudinal edge portions of the plates 20 secured to the cross plate 22 are secured along the opposite side edge portions of the vertical flange 26 in any convenient manner and the horizontal flange 28 projects outwardly sway from the side of the vertical flange 26 remote from the plates 20 and is generally horizontally aligned with the lower ends of the plates 20.

A suitable pivot shaft 30 is secured between the lower ends of the plates 20 in any convenient manner and in spaced relation to the lower end of the vertical flange 26 on the side thereof remote from the horizontal flange 28 and the hooked end 32 of a pivot shaft 34 is rotatably journaled on the pivot shaft 30 and swingable between the operative position illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings with the shaft 34 abutting the undersurface of the horizontal flange 28, and an inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings and by phantom lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

A transverse anchor pin 36 is secured across the vertical edge portions of the plates 20 remote from the cross plate 22 in any convenient manner such as by welding and the opposite ends of the anchor pin 36 project outwardly beyond the corresponding plates 20 and are provided with circumferential grooves 38 in which the hooked ends 40 of a pair of elongated expansion springs 42 are removably seated. A similar anchor pin 44 is carried by the pivot shaft 34 adjacent the hooked end 32 and also includes opposite end portions which are provided with circumferential grooves 46, the other pair of hooked ends 48 of the expansion springs 42 being removably seated in the grooves 46.

The cross plate 22 has a pair of threaded apertures 50 formed in its opposite ends and the upper end of the vertical flange 26 has a threaded aperture 52 formed therein, see FIG. 4. A pair of headed threaded fasteners 54 are secured through the coaming I4 and threadedly engaged in the apertures 50 while a single fastener 56 is also secured through the coaming l4 and threadedly engaged in the threaded aperture 52 thus securing the base or bracket 18 to the coaming 14.

The expansion springs 42 may be of the type including abutting convolutions when fully retracted so as to enable the springs 42 to establish a limit position of movement of the pivot shaft 34 to the inoperative or stored position thereof illustrated in phantom lines in F IG. 2 of the drawings.

A winding member generally referred to by the reference numeral 60 is provided and includes a pair of elongated generally parallel opposite side members 62 which may be formed of any suitable bar stock. The opposite side members 62 are interconnected at corresponding opposite end portions by means of

transverse brace members

64 and 66 extending and secured between the opposite side members 62. The pivot shaft 34 is rotatably received through a pair of aligned bores 68 formed through the opposite side members 62 centrally intermediate their opposite ends and the winding member 60 is retained on the pivot shaft 34 by means of a suitable threaded fastener 70 threadedly engaged with the externally threaded terminal end portion 72 of the pivot shaft 34, the latter including a stop washer 74 adjacent the anchor pin 44.

From FIG. 2 of the drawings it may be seen that the pivot shaft 34 may be acted upon by the springs 42 in a manner urging the pivot shaft 34 to either the limit position thereof illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings or the limit position thereof illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Accordingly, when it is desired to wind a water ski towrope such as towrope 76, see FIG. 1, on the winding member 60, the towrope 76 may be engaged with the winding member 60 when the latter is either in its operative position or its stored position. Thereafter, the pivot shaft 34 may be swung to the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings and the handle member 78 mounted on an extended end portion of a further transverse brace member 80 secured between the end portions of the longitudinal members 62 remote from the transverse brace member 64 may be grasped to crank the winding member 60 about the pivot shaft 34. Of course, this will cause the water ski towrope 76 to be wound about the

transverse members

64 and 80. After the towrope 76 has been fully wound on the winding member 60, the pivot shaft 34 may be pivoted to the dotted line position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings so as to store the winding member, having the towrope 76 wound thereon, in position generally paralleling and closely adjacent the inner surface of the side 12 of the boat 10.

If it is desired, one end of the water ski towrope 76 may be semipermanently anchored to the transverse brace member 64 and the towrope 76 may be provided with a suitable stop member or the like spaced from the winding member 60 for abutting engagement with a bridle assembly or the like carried by the rear end of the boat whereby the pull of the water skier on the free end of the water ski towrope will not be transferred to the boat through the winding member 60 but through the stop member and the aforementioned bridle member. Still further, the end of the towrope 76 may be readily releasably engaged with the winding member 60 and provided with any suitable means for ready attachment to a suitable anchor or bridle assembly carried by the rear end of the boat when the towrope 76 is in use.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings there will be seen a modified form of winding reel assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 86 including a base or mounting bracket generally referred to by the reference numeral 88. The mounting bracket 88 includes a baseplate 90 which may be secured to any suitable supporting surface 92 by means of threaded fasteners 94 and which has a pair of perpendicularly outstanding and generally parallel plates 96 secured thereto corresponding to the plates 20. A pivot shaft 98 corresponding to the pivot shaft 30 is secured between the plates 96 and a joining strip 100 is secured over the outer edges of the plates 96 in any convenient manner such as by welding and to the upper edge portion of the plate 90 which is notched as at 102 to receive the upper end of the joining strip 100. Further, a lower joining strip 104 is secured between the lower marginal edge portions of the plates 96 and to the lower edge of the baseplate 90, the latter being notched as at 106 to receive the lower end of the joining plate 104. The adjacent ends of the

plates

100 and 102 define a throat 108 therebetween and a pivot shaft 110 corresponding to the pivot shaft 34 and having a winding member generally referred to by the reference numeral 112 and corresponding to the winding member 60 journaled thereon is pivotally supported from the pivot shaft 30, the ad jacent ends of the

joining strips

100 and 104 defining abutment edges with which the pivot shaft 110 is engageable to define the limit positions of angular displacement thereof illustrated in solid and phantom lines in FIG. 6 of the drawings. Of course, the pivot shaft 110 includes an anchor pin 114 corresponding to the anchor pin 44 and the base or bracket 88 includes an anchor pin 116 secured through the plates 96 corresponding to the anchor pin 36, a pair of expansion springs 118 corresponding to the expansion springs 42 being secured between corresponding end portions of the

anchor pins

114 and 116.

In order to provide the winding reel assembly 86 with a more pleasing appearance, any suitable cosmetic cover such as that generally designated by the reference numeral 120 may be provided and secured to the surface 92 by means of suitable fasteners 122.

With reference now more specifically to FIG. 8 of the drawings there will be seen a further modified form of winding reel assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 126 and which includes a base or mounting bracket generally referred to by the reference numeral 128. The bracket 128 includes a pair of parallel plates 130 corresponding to

plates

20 and 96 and which are secured to and project outwardly from one side of a base member 132 adapted to be secured to any suitable supporting surface. The plates 130 have a pivot shaft 134 corresponding to

pivot shafts

30 and 98 secured therebetween and a pivot shaft 136 corresponding to

pivot shafts

34 and 110 is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft 134.

An anchor pin 138 is secured through and projects from the remote sides of the plates 130 and corresponds to the

anchor pins

36 and 116 and a second anchor pin 140 corresponding to the anchor pins 44 and 1 14 is carried by the pivot shaft 130, a pair of expansion springs 142 being connected between pairs of corresponding end portions of the

abutment pins

138 and 140. A joining plate 144 corresponding to the joining plate or strap 100 is secured between the free edge portions of the plates 30 and defines an abutment face 146 which is engageable by the pivot pin 136 to limit movement of the latter in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8 of the drawings to the solid line position thereof and the anchor pin 141) is abuttingly engageable with the end edges 130 of the plates 130 to limit swinging movement of the pivot shaft 36 to the dotted line position thereof illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A winding reel assembly for elongated tension members such as ropes, said reel assembly comprising a support member, a winding member rotatably journaled from said support member for rotation about an axis stationarily positioned relative to said support member, a base, means movably mounting said support member from said base for angular displacement of said axis relative to said base, said support member and said base including means establishing limits of movement of said support member and thus angular displacement of said axis relative to said base, rneans operatively connected between said support member and said base operative to yieldingly urge said support member toward the corresponding limit position on either side of a center position of movement of said support member in response to movement of said support member in either direction from said center position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means supports said support member from said base for angular displacement relative to the latter through an arc of at least 90. I

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said winding member includes a pair of elongated generally parallel side members transversely of whose central portions said axis extends, corresponding pairs of opposite end portions of said elongated side members being interconnected by means of elongated transverse brace members extending therebetween and including remote surface portions spaced generally equally from and disposed on opposite sides of said axis.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a boat provided with a planar inner surface, said base being supported from said boat in a position in which said axis, when said support member is in one limit position, is disposed adjacent and generally parallels said surface and is swung at least toward a position disposed generally normal to said surface when said support member is in the other limit position.

5. A winding reel assembly for elongated tension members such as rope, said reel assembly including a support member and a winding member rotatably journaled from said support member about an axis stationarily positioned relative to said support member, said winding member being in the form of a thin rectangular frame of a length at least twice its width, said axis of rotation being disposed centrally intermediate the opposite ends of said frame and extending transversely of the latter with said axis generally contained in the central medial plane of the frame, a base, means movably mounting said support member from said base for angular displacement of said support member about a second axis disposed normal to the first axis and spaced slightly outwardly of one side of said frame, said support member and said base including means establishing limits of movement of said support member and thus angular displacement of said axis relative to said base, means operatively connected between said support member and said base operative to yieldingly urge said support member toward the corresponding limit position on either side of a center position of movement of said support member in response to movement of said support member in either direction from said center position.

Claims

1. A winding reel assembly for elongated tension members such as ropes, said reel assembly comprising a support member, a winding member rotatably journaled from said support member for rotation about an axis stationarily positioned relative to said support member, a base, means movably mounting said support member from said base for angular displacement of said axis relative to said base, said support member and said base including means establishing limits of movement of said support member and thus angular displacement of said axis relative to said base, means operatively connected between said support member and said base operative to yieldingly urge said support member toward the corresponding limit position on either side of a center position of movement of said support member in response to movement of said support member in either direction from said center position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means supports said support member from said base for angular displacement relative to the latter through an arc of at least 90*.