Apparatus for overhead cable towed sports

Abstract

An apparatus for propelling a towed sports participant back and forth one or more times over a surface of land and/or water via a tow line, includes a pair of mutually spaced support structures. An end of the tow line is coupled to a movable carrier mounted to an elevated, reversibly drivable, closed elongated loop having vertically separated upper and lower legs which extend between a pair of mutually-spaced, pulleys which are supported by way of the support structures and mounted for rotation in substantially vertical planes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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 separated from one another by at least a portion of the surface over which the sports 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 coupled to said first pulley and said second pulley, said traction member forming at least a portion of a closed elongated loop having an upper leg and a lower leg, said upper leg and said lower leg being separated from one another vertically and extending between said first pulley and said second pulley, 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 traction member by way of at least one of said first pulley and said second pulley, for selectively rotating 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 traction member for travel along at least a portion of said elongated loop, said carrier travelling in a first direction headed generally away from said first support structure and toward said second support structure in response to said rotating of said elongated loop in said first rotational direction, said carrier travelling in a second direction headed generally away from said second support structure and toward said first support structure in response to said rotating of said elongated loop in said second rotational direction, and   a tow line having an upper end which is coupled to said carrier for towing the sports participant over the surface;   said carrier including a pair of mutually spaced plates between which are mounted at least one roller which engages said upper leg of said carrier further including a pair of mutually spaced members connected to each of said plates, at least a portion of each of said members being mounted between said plates, said members each including a passage through which passes a respective one of a pair of end portions of said flexible traction member.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said carrier further comprises
 an element to which said end portions of said flexible traction member are secured, said element being mechanically coupled to said plates in a manner permitting said element to pivot relative to said plates.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said element is mechanically coupled to said plates by way of a shaft which supports said tow line. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said shaft supports said tow line by way of a swivel. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive comprises a motor. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said drive further comprises a gearbox operably interposed between said motor and said first pulley. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said drive further comprises a clutch operably interposed between said motor and said first pulley. 
     
     
         8 . 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 second substantially vertical plane is a plane which deviates from vertical by no more than about fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first substantially vertical plane and said second substantially vertical plane are tilted relative to one another by no more than about fifteen degrees. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is supported by both said upper leg and said lower leg. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mechanical guard physically interposed between said carrier and each respective one of said first pulley and said second pulley to act as a barrier to prevent said carrier from coming into contact with either said first pulley and said second pulley in the event of said carrier encountering said at least one mechanical guard.