Retractable Tow Rope Apparatus

Abstract

A retractable tow rope apparatus according to the present invention includes a hollow spool mounted for rotational movement inside a casing. A retraction spring is positioned inside the spool and is coupled to the spool and to the casing for selectively moving the spool therein. One end of the spool includes a flange defining a plurality of grooves. A spool brake is mounted to the casing for selective engagement with a respective groove, whereby to selectively stop the spool from paying out or retracting the tow rope. A retractable handle is mounted to the casing and coupled to the spool, enabling a user to manually turn the spool. The casing includes a handle for carrying the device. A bracket may be attached to the casing for releasably mounting the device to a boat.

1 . A retractable tow rope apparatus for use with a boat, said retractable tow rope apparatus comprising:
 a hollow spool having opposed first and second ends and a first flange extending outwardly from said first end, said first flange defining a plurality of indentations;   an outer casing surrounding said hollow spool and having opposed first and second ends and a front side defining a front opening, said first end of said casing defining an aperture complementary to said plurality of indentations in said first flange;   a retraction spring inside said spool, said spring being coupled to said spool and said casing for selectively moving said spool relative to said casing;   a spool brake coupled to said outer casing and having a configuration for selectively passing through said outer casing aperture and engaging each said indentation in said first flange, respectively;   a drive screw coupled to said outer casing and extending along said outer casing front opening;   a moving fairlead coupled to said drive screw for relative movement therealong;   a drive assembly selectively associating said drive screw with said hollow spool, whereby movement of said hollow spool causes movement of said drive screw when said drive screw is associated with said hollow spool;   a tow rope passing through said moving fairlead and having one end coupled to said hollow spool; and   means for coupling said outer casing to said boat.   
     
     
         2 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said outer casing defines a plurality of holes for draining liquid from said outer casing. 
     
     
         3 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a squeegee guide coupled to said outer casing adjacent said front opening for cleaning said rope when said rope is passing through said front opening to said moving fairlead. 
     
     
         4 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said drive assembly includes:
 a clutch plate adjacent said hollow spool;   an engaging axle for selectively associating said clutch plate with said hollow spool; and   a drive belt associating said drive screw with said clutch plate.   
     
     
         5 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 4 , wherein said engaging axle has an outer end accessible outside said outer casing for selectively moving said engaging axle between engaged and released configurations. 
     
     
         6 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bearings between said hollow spool and said outer casing to enable said hollow spool to spin unfettered when tension is applied to said rope and said spool brake is at a released configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a retractable handle coupled to said hollow spool for selectively rotating said hollow spool relative to said outer casing to manually wind said rope about said hollow spool. 
     
     
         8 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to said outer casing for transporting said outer casing. 
     
     
         9 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said boat includes a vertical attachment pole; and   said means for coupling said outer casing to said boat includes a ring attached to said outer casing by a pair of ropes, said ring having a diameter complementary to a diameter of said attachment pole.   
     
     
         10 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 an imaginary center axis extends from said hollow spool first end to said hollow spool second end; and   said plurality of indentations extend radially outward at equally spaced apart intervals relative to said imaginary center axis.   
     
     
         11 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a squeegee guide is coupled to said outer casing adjacent said front opening for cleaning and squeezing liquid from said rope when said rope passes through said front opening to said moving fairlead;   said drive assembly includes:
 a clutch plate adjacent said hollow spool; 
 an engaging axle for selectively associating said clutch plate with said hollow spool; 
 a drive belt associating said drive screw with said clutch plate; 
   said engaging axle has an outer end accessible outside said outer casing for selectively moving said engaging axle between engaged and released configurations; and   said outer casing defines a hole for draining liquid from said outer casing.   
     
     
         12 . A retractable tow rope apparatus for watersports, said retractable tow rope apparatus comprising:
 an outer casing having a front side and opposed first and second ends, said outer casing first end defining a hole and said outer casing front side defining a front opening;   an internal spool mounted inside said outer casing for rotational movement relative to said outer casing, said internal spool having opposed first and second ends and said spool first end defining a plurality of grooves;   a retraction spring coupled to said spool and said outer casing for selectively rotating said spool relative to said outer casing;   a spool brake coupled to said outer casing for selectively passing through said hole in said outer casing first end and engaging a respective groove of said spool first end;   a drive screw coupled to said outer casing and extending adjacent said outer casing front opening;   a moving fairlead coupled to said drive screw;   a drive assembly selectively associating said drive screw with said spool, whereby movement of said spool causes movement of said drive screw when said drive screw is associated with said spool;   a tow rope passing through said moving fairlead, said tow rope having an end coupled to said spool;   a squeegee guide coupled to said outer casing adjacent said front opening for removing liquid from said tow rope and reducing an amount of liquid that would otherwise enter said outer casing; and   a mounting device coupled to said outer casing for selectively mounting said outer casing.   
     
     
         13 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said outer casing defines a hole for draining liquid from said outer casing; and   a handle is coupled to said outer casing for transporting said outer casing.   
     
     
         14 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein said drive assembly includes:
 a clutch plate adjacent said spool;   an engaging axle for selectively associating said clutch plate with said hollow spool; and   a drive belt associating said drive screw with said clutch plate.   
     
     
         15 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 14 , wherein said engaging axle has an outer end accessible outside said outer casing for selectively moving said engaging axle between engaged and released configurations. 
     
     
         16 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 15 , further comprising a retractable handle coupled to said spool and accessible outside said outer casing for manually rotating said spool relative to said outer casing and winding said tow rope about said spool. 
     
     
         17 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 16 , wherein:
 an imaginary center axis extends from said spool first end to said spool second end; and   said plurality of grooves extend radially outwardly at equal intervals from said imaginary center axis.   
     
     
         18 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein:
 said engaging axle has a configuration complementary to a configuration of said spool and a configuration of said clutch plate to associate said engaging axle with said spool and said clutch plate when said engaging axle is at said engaged configuration;   said outer casing defines a hole for draining liquid from said outer casing;   a handle is coupled to said outer casing for transporting said outer casing; and   a plurality of bearings are between said spool and said outer casing to enable said spool to spin unfettered when tension is applied to said tow rope and said spool brake is at a released configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The retractable tow rope apparatus as in  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of bearings between said spool and said outer casing to enable said spool to spin unfettered when tension is applied to said tow rope and said spool brake is at a released configuration. 
     
     
         20 . A retractable tow rope apparatus for use with a boat, said retractable tow rope apparatus comprising:
 an outer casing having a front side and opposed first and second ends, said outer casing first end defining a hole and said outer casing front side defining a front opening;   an internal spool mounted inside said outer casing for rotational movement relative to said outer casing, said internal spool having opposed first and second ends and said spool first end defining a plurality of grooves;   a retraction spring coupled to said spool and said outer casing for selectively rotating said spool relative to said outer casing;   a spool brake coupled to said outer casing for selectively passing through said hole in said outer casing first end and engaging a respective groove of said spool first end;   a tow rope having an end coupled to said spool, said tow rope passing through said front opening of said front side of said outer casing; and   a mounting device coupled to said outer casing for selectively mounting said outer casing to the boat.