Railways – Traction – Cable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2001-10-02
Le, Mark T. (Department: 3617)
Railways
Traction
Cable
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295936
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to portable ski lift devices and, more particularly, to a portable hand-held rope tow device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Back country or out of bounds skiing, such as telemarking, is a growing aspect of outdoor activities. In certain areas, back country skiers may have set up a well-known rope tow that includes an endless rope strung between two pulleys and extending along the slope of a hill. Typically, one of the pulleys is connected to a motor, wherein the motor drives the rope between the two pulleys. In operation, a skier approaches the lower end of the rope tow located near the bottom of the hill and physically grabs onto the rope, thereby propelling the skier up the hill. Although such an arrangement is effective at propelling a skier along the slope of a hill, it is not without its problems.
First, because the skier must grab onto the moving rope with either their bare or gloved hand, the friction associated with grabbing a moving rope oftentimes results in premature wear of the glove or burns to the hands. Additionally, because the skier is forced to hold onto the rope with their hand to propel themselves up the hillside, the entire drag load associated with being propelled by the tow rope is carried by the skier's hands. As a result, the skier's hands are often prematurely fatigued. Also, because the rope used in most common rope tows is large in diameter, it is not easily transportable. Further, when the skier grabs onto the rope, there is a sudden jerking motion. This is undesirable because such a motion may cause the skier to fall. Finally, permanently attaching a well-known T-bar to the tow rope to propel a skier up the hillside is often impractical in the back country location due to the remoteness of the location and because such an apparatus requires large structure.
Thus, there exists a need for a relatively simple portable rope tow device for back country skiers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a portable rope tow device for selective attachment to a tow line having a length is provided. The portable tow device includes a handle and a locking member attached to the handle. The locking member is selectively actuatable between a locked position, wherein a portion of the tow device is clamped to the tow line for propelling a person along a surface, and an unlocked position, wherein the tow line passes freely through the tow device.
In accordance with other aspects of this invention, the portable tow device also includes a lever arm attached to the locking member to selectively rotate the locking member between the locked and unlocked positions. The locking member includes first and second bearing members and an elongate slot.
In accordance with additional aspects of this invention, the elongate direction of the slot extends substantially parallel with the length of the tow line when the tow device is in the unlocked position. The elongate direction of the slot extends substantially normal to the length of the tow line when the tow device is in the locked position.
In accordance with still other aspects of this invention, the first and second bearing members are elongate cylinders and are held in spaced parallel disposition on opposite sides of the elongate slot, such that the elongate direction of each bearing member is substantially normal to the elongate direction of the slot. The first bearing member rotates about the second bearing member to clamp the tow line between the first and second bearing members when the tow device is actuated into the locked position.
In accordance with still yet other aspects of this invention, the portable tow device further includes a coupling member having a first end removably fastened to the handle and a second end selectively attachable to the person to assist in propelling the person along the surface.
A portable tow device formed in accordance with the present invention has several advantages over such devices used in the past. First, because the device is portable, it may be easily stored within a backpack carried by a skier. Further, such a device provides for a convenient method of clamping onto a tow line, thereby minimizing damage to either the gloved hand or bare hand of the skier due to frictional contact with the tow line. Additionally, such a device is adaptable by slowing increasing friction to minimize the jerking motion associated with most common tow ropes. Therefore, a portable tow device formed in accordance with the present invention is safer, more convenient and simpler to use than those currently available.
REFERENCES:
patent: 495843 (1893-04-01), Shipp
patent: 2458786 (1949-01-01), Lagergren
patent: 2764949 (1956-10-01), Guthrie
patent: 3110268 (1963-11-01), Allsop
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness PLLC
Le Mark T.
Thin Line Concepts, Inc.
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