US 4,374,638 AGranted

Water ski handle and tow rope arrangement

OwnerDwight W. Presserinventor

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Abstract

A ski tow arrangement for water skiing comprising an elongated handle having a pair of transverse openings and a tow line having free ends terminating in a loop extending into each of the openings. A flat T-shaped retainer is engaged by each of the loops and includes a central portion extending into the handle with laterally projecting barbs engaging opposing wall surfaces of the handle openings for resisting removal. The head portions of the T-shaped retainers abut an external rearward edge of the handle. The handle itself comprises a wooden core into which the retainer barbs are embedded, an aluminum sleeve surrounding the core and a casing of resilient friction material molded over the core. A pair of sleeves are formed integrally with the casing and project forwardly of the handle coaxially with the core openings for embracing the tow line and protecting a skier's hands from abrasion thereagainst.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A ski tow arrangement for water skiing comprising an elongated handle having a handle axis, at least one opening extending through said handle transversely of said axis from a forward edge of said handle to a rearward edge and a surface pocket at said rearward edge continuously adjacent to said opening, a tow line of hollow braided construction terminating in a free end interwoven into itself to form a self-tightening closed loop extending into said opening from said forward edge to said rearward edge, and a T-shaped retainer element of flat planar construction having uniform thickness disposed within said loop and comprising a central leg portion extending into said opening and a head portion with a pair of wings coplanar with said leg portion received in said pocket externally of said opening and projecting oppositely transversely of said axis within said pocket for holding said retainer element in an orientation perpendicular to said axis and preventing removal of said loop forwardly through said opening.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.