Apparatus and method for overhead cable towed sports

Abstract

An elevated loop of cable or other flexible traction member extends suspended above a surface over which a sport participant is to be towed. The loop includes upper and lower legs which run between a pair of pulleys which are mounted for rotation in substantially vertical planes atop respective ones of a pair of mutually separated support structures. At least one of the pulleys is coupled to a reversible, variable speed drive. A carrier is coupled to one leg of the loop and in response to rotation of the drive, unit travels along according to a reversible variable speed velocity profile.

1 . A towed sports apparatus for towing a sports participant over a surface, said apparatus, comprising:
 a first support structure and a second support structure, said first support structure and said second support structure being mutually separated from one another by at least a portion of the surface over which the participant is to be towed;   a first pulley supportably mounted to said first support structure, said first pulley being mounted for rotation in a first substantially vertical plane about a first substantially horizontal rotational axis;   a second pulley supportably mounted to said second support structure, said second pulley being mounted for rotation in a second substantially vertical plane about a second substantially horizontal rotational axis;   a flexible traction member driveably coupled said first pulley and said second pulley to form an elongated loop having upper leg and a lower leg, said upper leg extending between an upper portion of said first pulley and an upper portion of said second pulley and said lower leg being suspended between said first support structure and said second support structure, at least a portion of said upper leg and said lower leg passing overhead of said portion of said surface;   a drive coupled to said loop by way of at least one of said first pulley and said second pulley, for selectively driving said elongated loop in either a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction and effecting said rotation of said first pulley about said first substantially horizontal rotational axis and effecting said rotation of said second pulley about said second substantially horizontal rotational axis;   a carrier mounted to said elongated loop with for travel along at least a portion of said elongated loop, said carrier travelling in a first linear direction in response to said driving of said elongated loop in said first rotational direction and travelling in a second linear direction in response to said driving of said elongated loop in said second rotational direction, and   a tow line having an upper end coupled to said carrier and a lower end for towing the participant.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first support structure and said second support structure comprises a tower having a pair of legs which form an A-frame tower. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said A-frame tower comprises at least one brace member connected between said legs. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said legs comprises a pair of side rails which are connected to one another by way of a plurality of mutually spaced rungs to form a ladder. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one guy line coupled between said tower and an anchor location for stabilizing said tower. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive comprises a motor. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said drive further comprises a gearbox operably interposed between said motor and said first pulley. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said drive further comprises a clutch operably interposed between said motor and said first pulley. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first substantially vertical plane and said second substantially vertical plane are substantially co-planar with one another. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first substantially vertical plane is a plane which deviates from vertical by no more than about fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first substantially vertical plane is a plane which deviates from vertical by more than about five degrees. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second substantially vertical plane is a plane which deviates from vertical by more than about fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second substantially vertical plane is a plane which deviates from vertical by more than about five degrees. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first substantially vertical plane and said second substantially vertical plane are tilted relative to one by more than about fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first substantially vertical plane and said second substantially vertical plane are not tilted relative to one another by more than about five degrees. 
     
     
         16 . A method for towing a sport participant over a surface, said method comprising the steps of:
 forming a flexible traction member into a loop extending drivably between a first pulley and a second pulley, said first pulley being mounted for rotation in a first substantially vertical plane, said second pulley being mounted for rotation in a second substantially vertical plane, at least a portion of said loop extending above said surface;   coupling a tow line to said loop;   rotatably driving at least one of said first pulley and said second pulley to cause said loop to rotate; and   towing said participant over said surface by way of said tow line.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of controlling said rotatable driving according to a velocity profile which includes at least one increase and at least one decrease in rotational speed. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said velocity profile further includes at least one reversal of direction of said rotatable driving of said loop. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein each said reversal of direction is preceded by a dwell interval during which a speed of rotation of said loop is maintained below a limit.