Ships – Towing or pushing – Towing by means of cable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2001-10-02
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Towing or pushing
Towing by means of cable
C114S242000, C114S249000, C441S069000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295943
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to recreational marine equipment and pertains, more specifically, to towing apparatus for towing a personal watercraft behind a tow boat.
Personal watercraft, referred to as PWC, have become increasingly popular, and it has become common to tow one or more of these watercraft behind a larger powerboat or sailboat so as to have the personal watercraft available for use once the larger tow boat is moored. Because these personal watercraft are relatively small and are less stable in the water than are dinghies, inflatable boats and other small craft which usually are towed by a larger tow boat, a need has arisen for towing apparatus which will couple a towed personal watercraft to the larger boat for appropriate towing and other maneuvering without mishap.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides such towing apparatus and, as such, attains several objects and advantages, some of which are summarized as follows: Enables a personal watercraft to be attached to a tow boat with the range of movements of the personal watercraft being controlled relative to the tow boat for preventing mishaps, such as capsizing of the personal watercraft or collision of the personal watercraft with the tow boat or with other boats and structures in the vicinity; facilitates maneuvering of the tow boat with the personal watercraft attached, during towing over open water and while making way in more confined waters, such as in channels and harbors; allows for convenient selective attachment and detachment of a personal watercraft and a tow boat; enables appropriate movements of a towed personal watercraft relative to a tow boat during towing, while precluding excessive movements which could upset or otherwise damage the personal watercraft or damage the tow boat; controls movement of the towed personal watercraft relative to the tow boat during docking and mooring maneuvers of the tow boat for facilitating docking and mooring operations; provides a relatively simple and inexpensive towing apparatus for personal watercraft, adapted for use in connection with a wide variety of tow boats; protects against damaging or marring the personal watercraft, the tow boat, or structures in the vicinity during towing and mooring; provides towing apparatus of the type described having a rugged and durable construction for exemplary performance over an extended service life.
The above objects and advantages, as well as further objects and advantages, are attained by the present invention, which may be described briefly as towing apparatus for towing a personal watercraft at a desired towing distance behind a tow boat, the personal watercraft having a bow and a coupler adjacent the bow, and the tow boat having a stern, the towing apparatus comprising: first and second elongate towing units, each towing unit having a first end, and a second end spaced longitudinally from the first end; a linking member linking together the first ends of the elongate towing units, the linking member being linked to the first ends so as to enable the towing units to be spaced apart laterally from one another at the second ends; a first coupling adjacent the linked first ends of the towing units for coupling the towing units with the coupler of the personal watercraft; and a second coupling adjacent the second end of each of the towing units for coupling each second end to the stern of the tow boat, with the second ends being spaced apart laterally; each towing unit including a tow line extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end of the towing unit; a tensioning member extending longitudinally along the tow line from the first end to the second end of the towing unit, the tensioning member including a wall having longitudinally opposite ends, the wall being laterally flexible and longitudinally resistant to compression for enabling managed flexion of the tensioning member, the managed flexion allowing controlled flexing in lateral directions while resisting compression in longitudinal directions; and a securing arrangement at each end of the wall for securing the tow line at each end of the wall, with the tow line maintained in tension and the wall in compression for enabling the managed flexion; such that upon coupling the first coupling with the personal watercraft and coupling the second coupling with the tow boat, the managed flexion of the wall of each towing unit enables controlled lateral and altitudinal movements of the personal watercraft relative to the tow boat while maintaining the desired towing distance between the personal watercraft and the tow boat.
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Brushaber Donald
Brushaber Donald O.
Jacob Arthur
Olson Lars A.
Stormer Russell D.
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