Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HARNESS SLING APPARATUS WITH PALM HOOKS FOR WATER-SKIERS
SPECIFICATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The sport of water-skiing has become widely known, especially to those who
frequent camps, summer
homes, and resorts on lakes. While water skiing is an individualistic sport,
in order to perform it the
individual requires a power speed boat with sufficient horsepower to bring the
water-skier to his feet in
the water and pull him about over the body of water. The power boat has to be
equipped with a tow
rope mount. The tow rope's leading end is connected to the mount. The rope's
trailing end is typically
bifurcated to define a pair of end portions that are made fast to opposite
ends of a crossbar handle to be
grasped by the water skier. The power boat is operated by the boat driver.
Common safety regulations
require that the boat also include an observer to watch the water skier and
act as a communicator
between the water-skier and the driver.
To start the run, the water-skier equips himself with a pair of water-skis,
and in an appropriate start
position at near shore or at dockside, wearing a life preserver, the skier
grasps the tow rope crossbar
handle. The water-skier may be at rest in an appropriate position in the water
awaiting pull up by the
power boat when it starts, or he may be standing on a pier or dock for a so-
called jump start when the
power boat gets under way. In any event, the forward movement of the boat as
it accelerates to towing
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speed brings the water skier into a water-skiing position in which he is
leaning rearwardly and his
skies are inclined upwardly against the water. As the pulling force of the tow
rope handle is transmitted
via the skier's arms and torso to his legs and the water-skis, it moves him
through the water. If the
water skier is a novice, the ski run ordinarily involves pulling the water-
skier behind the boat's wake at
a relatively slow speed. More advanced skiers will ride the wake on either
side of the boat at twenty
miles per hour or more, and eventually could learn to operate a single
"Slalom" ski.
Expert skiers will have learned the various water ski skills that are
concerned with such things as
barefooting (which involves no skies at all), Slalom course traversing for fun
or competition, which
involves using a single ski on which the water skier balances both feet in
order to enhance his steering
efforts, and jumping, which involves the use of two skis for jumping off an
elevated ramp. In most
instances, the water skier receives his forward movement thrust by gripping
with his hands a
conventional tow rope crossbar handle. Thus, the coupling that the water-skier
uses at the tow rope
crossbar handle is crucial. Except for some special water ski performances,
where, for instance, the tow
rope handle may be held between the skier's legs, the retention of the tow bar
in the water-skier's hands
is essential up until a fall into the water, in which case a release of the
bar is important to prevent the
skier from being injured or drowned by being dragged through the water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention relates to palm gripping assist devices and load
distributing waist harnesses.
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A number of different systems exist for securing a rider to a tow handle.
These systems generally fall
into one of two categories: those in which the tow handle is attached directly
to the hands or wrists of
the rider, and those in which the tow handle is attached directly to the waist
of the rider, usually at a
central point.
The first category, systems in which the tow handle is attached directly to
the hands or to the wrists of
the rider, tend to be unbalanced in the vertical plane, and the rider is
pulled downward as the boat starts
or accelerates. There is also a considerable amount of strain on the wrists,
the hands and the back, and
it requires considerable strength for riders to pull themselves up from the
water.
The second category comprises systems in which the handle is attached directly
to the waist of the
rider. These systems are suitable for beginners but they lack the direct
manual control that advanced
riders desire. The attachments in these systems also tend to be at only
central point on the waist of the
rider. This arrangement provides only minimal lateral stability as the boat
turns, causing the rider to
wobble from side to side.
In many sports activities, it is desirable for the participant to utilize
specially designed tools for aiding
in gripping, dispersing stress, and protecting the participant's hands from
unwanted effects from the
sport such as blisters or calluses. This is especially true for sports which
require gripping or holding an
implement of the sport for extended periods of time. An example of this is
U.S. Patent No. 5,898,944,
which discloses a glove for use in a sport which requires swinging a sports
implement which includes a
palm strap extending across the palm portion of the glove which is attached to
the glove by a first end
at the wrist area and extends to a second end which includes two openings for
inserting the wearer's
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fingers. A protrusion is attached transversely to the palm strap for wrapping
around the implement of
the sport. The combination of the palm strap and the protrusion is to transfer
forces from swinging of
the implement to the wrist of the wearer, and therefore, to allow the wearer
to use less force in gripping
the implement, thereby, helping to create a whipping action with the
implement. Another example of
this type of invention for use in any sport that involves gripping an object
that is subjected to a pulling
force, is U.S. Patent No. 5,809,570, which discloses a glove for securing a
grip around a roundish-like
object, such as a water skiing tow bar. The gripping device is an elongated,
flat, sliding, strap loop
having an anchor at one end in the form of a wrist cinching strap. The front
of the friction or gripping
pad continues in a loop which lays back over the gripping pad and extends to
the underside of the wrist
and attaches to a plastic sleeve which snugly fits around the user's wrist to
keep the top strap properly
located above the grip strap. The strap is to transfer the forces required to
secure the object to the wrist
strap, thereby, transferring a portion of forces required to gripping the
object. A glove with tow grip
assist straps specifically for water-skiing is shown in U.S. 4,400,831. It
discloses a glove arrangement
for water skiing for enabling the water skier to establish through his grip on
the tow rope crossbar
handle a finger controlled structural purchase that couples, through the glove
arrangement, the skeletal
structure of his arms to the tow rope handle in bypassing relation to the
muscles of his hands and
forearms, in which the glove for each hand is a hand cover of the usual finger
glove configuration and
includes a palm portion and a wrist portion in which a palm side strapping is
affixed to the glove on its
palm or gripping side that extends across the glove palm portion
longitudinally thereof and along and
between the glove finger portions and wrist portion on the palm side of same,
and has a protuberant rib
extending crosswise of the strapping and the finger portions adjacent the area
of the first finger joints
of the finger portions, which rib in use provides a finger controlled over
center type socket forming
purchase on the handle, and a wrist strapping anchored to the glove palm side
strapping adjacent the
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glove wrist portion at the palm side of same, and at one end of the wrist
strapping, with the wrist
strapping being proportioned to be wrapped firmly around the glove wrist
portion when the water skier
applies the glove to his hand, and with the other end of the wrist strapping
and the glove including self
adhering means for holding the glove wrist strapping in place while the skier
is using the glove.
Additionally, there are harness or jacket attachment means for assisting with
a bar grip. U.S. Patent No.
5,449,309 shows a belt harness with a central front strap for wrapping around
a water-ski tow bar. U.S.
Patent No. 4,745,870 shows a windsurfing jacket with sleeve straps and boom
hooks to transfer the
load of the windsurfer sail and boom through to the arm support braces and
across a shoulder brace.
None of the prior technology provides the features of the present invention.
There is a need for a
harness which may be attached around the waist of the wearer and which assists
in reducing the effort
required to hold onto a water-ski tow rope crossbar handle by transferring the
forces required to the
wearer's waist, yet enables quick easy, and safe disengagement from the tow
rope crossbar handle in
case of the user's falling down. The vertical and lateral instability of
present systems, and the difficulty
for the riders of pulling themselves out of the water and continuing on top of
the water over long
distances without excessive hand, wrist, arm and shoulder strain are common
problems for water sports
participants today.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a detachable grip apparatus for water-skiing. It
provides a water-ski harness
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with arm slings, palm hooks and loops arranged to give the water skier a
mechanical handhold assist on
a water-ski tow rope crossbar handle. The apparatus reduces fatigue in the
skier's hands and forearms,
and prevents loss of the water-skier's grip of the handle during high
acceleration pull-out from a beach,
dock, or an initial submerged position for the water-skier. The apparatus also
reduces hand callousing
problems that are commonly experienced by those who actively pursue the sport.
The apparatus passes acceleration forces to the waist via a harness to which
the slings are attached at
the rear. At: the other end of each sling is attached a palm hook. A loop
affixed to the back of each palm
hook is placed around a corresponding middle finger to secure the palm hook in
position. Upon the
water-skier falling, both palm hooks automatically unhook from the tow rope
crossbar handle.
The waist belt harness should have two length adjustable slings adjoined by
carabiners to the back of
the waist harness. This enables water-skiers to adjust the apparatus for
individual fit.
A key aspect of the invention are the palm hooks that are shaped and curved so
as to allow capture of
the tow rope crossbar handle, but to not continue gripping in the event of the
water-skier releasing
pressure on the handle when falling. A finger attachment loop is attached to
the elongated support
which enables one or more fingers to be secured to the hook support, the
finger attachment enabling
rearward flexing of the hook support by a hand movement created by rearward
bending at the wrist,
and creating a pulling motion instantly disengaging the hook shaped end
portion from the tow rope
crossbar handle. The finger attachment loop is made of strong but stretchable
material, and is sized to
be snugly attached around a finger of the user in order to keep the palm hook
on the hand of the user.
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The apparatus pulls the water-sport rider substantially from the waist which
reduces strain on the
rider's arms and reduces the tendency of the rider to be pulled down as the
boat accelerates forward.
The present invention solves both the vertical and the lateral stability
problems inherent in other
systems while making it easier for riders to pull themselves out of the water
and reducing strain on the
arms and upper body. It does so because the hooks and the straps are arranged
so as to pull the rider
from both sides of the waist and by both wrists simultaneously. Because the
nylon strap arm slings
extend from both hand grips and attach to clips around opposing sides of the
waist harness, the
apparatus provides better lateral stability than other tow systems which only
attach to the waist at one
point. Thus the rider's entire body is pulled synchronously and smoothly
without vertical or lateral
instability and without undue strains on any one part of the body.
Additionally, because of the palm
hooks, the rider maintains a solid manual grip on the tow handle and can
easily steer with minimal arm
strain.
The palm hooks are shaped with an overall crossbar overlapping curvature of
greater than ninety
degrees but less than 180" degrees of rotation. The palm hooks thus have an
appropriately narrow
range of effectiveness for grabbing the tow crossbar, which facilitates a
release when the rider flexes
his wrists away from the gripping orientation of the palm hooks on the
crossbar. Each palm hook is
thus shaped and curved with an overall crossbar overlapping curvature of
greater than ninety degrees
but less than 180" to fit around almost half the circumference a ski tow
crossbar, to allow capture of
the crossbar and pulling of the palm hook by the crossbar, yet to enable
release by the palm hook of the
crossbar upon pulling the palm hook away from the crossbar substantially
perpendicular to a direction
of pulling by the crossbar.
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To summarize, the detachable harness and sling bar-gripping apparatus should
comprise:
a) a waist harness that can be fastened about a waistline of a user;
b) one or more one arm slings joined to the waist harness, each arm sling
being extendable from
the waist harness to a hand of the user;
c) a palm hook joined to each arm sling, the palm hook extending from the arm
sling into a
curvate portion to fit partially around a crossbar to be gripped by the user.
Each palm hook is made of strong, rigid material.
The device could provide some of its advantages with just one such arm sling;
however, a symmetry of
balance and distribution of pulling force is optimally achieved by having a
matching pair of such arm
slings, one for the left arm and one for the right arm, joined to each other
and the waist harness at its
rear area, the left arm sling passing through a left rear loop affixed to the
waist harness and the right
arm sling passing through a right rear loop affixed to the waist harness. The
waist harness should have
padding built in to distribute pressure and protect a user's back and sides
from excess pressure from
the arm slings. The apparatus is thus symmetrical with regard to the left arm
sling to and the right arm
sling, joined at a central rear area of the waist harness, and can
symmetrically distribute pulling force
on a left side, rear, and a right side of the waist harness. The rear end of
each arm sling can be sewn
over into a loop and attached to the other by means of one or two carabiners.
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The arm slings should be length adjustable, to fit multiple body sizes among
water sports enthusiasts,
by means of a buckle through which a strap can be slid when pressure on the
strap is lessened, each
harness end strap fitting through a buckle and then being secured by
complementary mechanically
adhesive patches.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus of the invention before it is
strapped to a water-skier.
Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus strapped to a user.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the apparatus strapped to a user.
Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus strapped to a user.
Figure 5A is a perspective front view of the palm hook attached to a finger
loop on the hand of the
user.
Figure 5B is perspective rear view of the palm hook of Figure 5A being placed
over a tow crossbar.
Figure 6 is a perspective rear view of the palm hook of Figure 5B.
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Figure 7 is a perspective side view of the palm hooks of the apparatus being
released from the tow
crossbar.
DETAILEI) DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3 the waist harness 1 can be attached around a
user's waist by means of a
buckle (unshown in Figure 1- shown as 20 in Figure 2) on the front of left
harness end 34 and right
harness end strap 32 which fits through the buckle and is then secured by
complementary mechanical
adhesive patches 31 and 32, leaving area 34 on the front of the waist harness.
At the back of waist
harness 1 are sewn two loop straps 2 and 3, through which harness sling ends
35 and 36 are passed and
joined via carabiners 6 and 7. The left arm sling 4 is adjustable to fit
alongside the individual user's
arm by means of the left length adjustment buckle 8. Likewise, the right arm
sling 5 can be adjusted as
to its length by means of the right length adjustment buckle 9. The leading
sling ends 37 and 38 pass
through aperature 16 and 17 in palm hooks 12 and 13 respectively. The palm
hooks can be retained in
the proper position in the user's palms by means of finger loops 14 and 15,
enabling each palm hook
end to rest on a tow crossbar.
In Figure 2, the apparatus has been donned by a user 22 around his waist 21.
Referring to Figure 3, the
rear of the waist harness 1 is shown below a back area 31 around the waist of
the user 22. The right
finger loop 15 has been placed on the user's right middle finger 41 and the
left finger loop 16 has been
placed on his left middle finger 42.
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The finger loops can be made of strong but stretchable material such as nylon
reinforced elastic. The
waist harness can be made of durable nylon layers enclosing padding. The arm
slings can be made of
ballistic nylon. The palm hooks can be made of any suitable rigid material
such as aluminum or strong
plastic.
Referring to Figure 4, the sling apparatus has been adjusted for the length of
the arms 52 of the user 22,
such that the tow crossbar 51 can be gripped by the palm hook ends 18 and 19
while the arm slings 4
and 5 transfer pressure to the waist harness 1 and thereby to the waist area
below the back area 31.
In Figures 5a and 5b the right palm hook 13 is shown position on the palm 23
of the user. The finger
loop 15 is crucial in positioning the palm hook correctly, in order to enable
gripping of the tow
crossbar 51 via the palm hook end 19. In Figure 6, the finger loop apertures
61 and 62 are shown
through which the finger loop 15 is sewn to secure it to the palm hook 13.
When the water-skiing user falls, as shown by Figure 7, his wrists 71 and 72
flex, causing the finger
loops 14 and 15 to pull the palm hooks 12 and 13 off the tow crossbar 51.
The extent and curvature of the palm hooks should be less than semi-circular,
such that the palm hook
ends 18 and 19 do not extend more than half way around the circumference of
the tow crossbar 51.
This assists in the release of the tow crossbar 51 upon the water-skiing user
falling. But he curvature of
the palm hooks should extend at least a quarter-turn around the tow crossbar
51, in order to enable the
user to grip the crossbar 51 with the palm hooks 12 and 13 during towing.
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In the drawings, a smoothly curved palm hook has been shown, which fits a
typical tow crossbar.
However, the apparatus could use palm hooks having a series of straight
segments that are each bent
with respect the next, in order to achieve the desired overall curvature,
particularly if the tow crossbar
were likewise faceted.
It will be apparent that the apparatus can be used for other sports or
situations in which it is desired to
assist gripping of a bar while diffusing strain associated therewith, yet
enable easy release of the bar
upon the user falling or simply deciding to let go, such as wakeboarding,
windsurfing, kite-surfing or
similar sports. The apparatus could be integrated into a water-skiing
flotation vest or life jacket.
The within-described invention may be embodied in other specific forms and
with additional options
and accessories without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The presently
disclosed embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, the
scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by
the foregoing description,
and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the
claims are therefore
intended to be embraced therein.
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