Back to results
US 5,732,648 AGranted
Line-Handling device
OwnerErnest Quesada Aragoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
OwnerErnest Quesada Aragoninventor
Estimating the term…
A line-handling device mountable to an object such as a boat is disclosed. The device comprises a driven spool (3) on which a line may be stored coupling structure for coupling the line and the spool, and quick-connect structure disposed on the coupling structure for enabling the line and the spool to be quickly coupled or uncoupled at a distance from the spool. Coupling structure may include an elongated, flexible lead segment attached to the spool such that it may be wound thereon. The lead segment has the quick-connect structure disposed at its free end. The quick-connect structure enables the line and the lead segment to be quickly connected and disconnected, allowing the line to be quickly removed from the device so that it may be used independently. In one embodiment, a motor (10) is mounted within the spool's hub (83) and a slipping clutch (11) is connected between the motor and the spool.
A line handling device for storing a water ski line, comprising a rotatable spool, mounting means for supporting said spool within a boat having an aperture in its hull through which the line may pass, an elongated, flexible lead segment, a proximal end of said lead segment being attached to said spool such that said lead segment may be wound onto said spool, and quick connect means disposed at a distal end of said lead segment by which the line and said lead segment quickly disconnected from one another after unwinding of the line from said spool, so as to free the line for use in the towing of a water skier, said quick connect means also enabling the line in its unwound state and said lead segment to be quickly connected to one another from a location outside of the boat hull so as to position the line for winding upon said spool.
A line handling device for storing a line, comprising a rotatable spool, mounting means for supporting said spool, an elongated, flexible lead segment, a first fastening element and a second fastening element, said fastening elements being releasably fastenable to one another, a proximal end of said lead segment being attached to said spool such that said lead segment may be wound onto said spool, said first fastening element being mounted to a distal tip of said lead segment, said second fastening element being mounted to an area of said lead segment separated from the distal tip by a distance such that the joining of said fastening elements creates a loop in said lead segment of a size so as to be able to retain a loop that is disposed on the line, whereby said first fastening element may be passed through the loop that is disposed on the line and fastened to said second fastening element so as to releasably connect the line to said lead segment, said lead segment and said fastening elements enabling the line in its unwound state and said spool to be quickly coupled and uncoupled from one another at a distance from said spool.
A line handling device for mounting within a boat having an aperture in its hull through which a line may pass, comprising a rotatable spool, mounting means for supporting said spool, an elongated, flexible lead segment, a first fastening element and a second fastening element, said fastening elements being releasably fastenable to one another, a proximal end of said lead segment being attached to said spool such that said lead segment may be wound onto said spool, said first fastening element being mounted to a distal tip of said lead segment, said second fastening element being mounted to an area of said lead segment separated from the distal tip by a distance such that the joining of said fastening elements creates a loop in said lead segment of a size so as to be able to retain a loop that is disposed on the line, whereby said first fastening element may be passed through the loop that is disposed on the line and fastened to said second fastening element so as to releasably connect the line to said lead segment, said lead segment and said fastening elements enabling the line in its unwound state and said spool to be quickly coupled and uncoupled from one another at a location outside of the boat hull.
A method of managing the use of a line that is stored onto a line handling device such that a distal end of the line is accessible to an operator for grasping of the line, said device having a rotatable spool mounted so as to be inaccessible to the operator for the purpose of removing the line from said spool after unwinding of the line, said device having an elongated, flexible lead segment wound upon said spool, one end of said lead segment being connected to said spool, and a quick connect means disposed at the opposite end of said lead segment by which a proximal end of the line is removably connected to said lead segment, comprising the steps of:
A method of managing the use of a water ski tow line that is stored onto a line handling device mounted within the hull of a boat such that a distal end of the line is disposed outside of the boat hull through an aperture in the hull, said device having a rotatable spool mounted within the boat hull, an elongated, flexible lead segment wound upon said spool, one end of said lead segment being connected to said spool, and a quick connect means disposed at the opposite end of said lead segment by which a proximal end of the line is removably connected to said lead segment, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.