Technical field of the invention

This invention relates to a retainer for keeping a ski rope in place.

Background to the invention

The inventor is aware of the problem of ski ropes getting entangled or hooked onto the steering mechanism of outboard motors. Before the start of a ski run the ski rope is mostly slack and often falls and lies on top of the steering mechanism of the outboard engine of a boat, or worse, in the propeller. The rope first needs to be freed before power is applied to the engine to commence skiing to prevent damage to the rope or steering mechanism. This causes frustration and loss of ski time especially during sessions which requires frequent starts.

It is an object of the invention to provide a retainer for a ski rope which prevents the rope from getting in contact with the steering mechanism of an outboard fitted boat.

General description of the invention

According to the invention there is provided a retainer for retaining a ski rope, which retainer includes: an outboard cover attachment means for attaching to a cover of an outboard engine and an elastic line attachment means for attachment to an elastic line; and an elastic line attached to the line attachment means.

The ski rope retainer may include a means for attaching the free end of the elastic line to or about the ski rope, in use. Preferably by means of a free moving loop over the ski rope. The outboard cover attachment means may include a rubber suction cup. The suction cup may preferably have a diameter of more than 30mm. The suction cup may be provided with a release mechanism.

In another embodiment, instead of a suction cup, the outboard cover attachment means may include a magnet and a magnetic plate combination. Either the magnet or magnetic plate may be fastened to the cover of an outboard engine and the other part forms part of the attachment means.

In a preferred embodiment, instead of a suction cup, the outboard cover attachment means may include a plate provided with a fastening loop and double-sided adhesive sheet.

The elastic line may be of any suitable elastic line such as a silicon rubber line or braid covered shock cord. The elastic line should preferably be UV resistant. The elastic line may be between 300mm to 1100mm, preferably between 500mm and 1000mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the elastic line may be in the form of a resiliently deformable coiled rubber line, such polyurethane. A loop may then be formed, at each end by means of a tying, gluing, or crimping the line back on itself.

The means for attaching the free end of the elastic line to or about the ski rope may simply be a loop or ring which fits slidably over the ski rope. The end of the elastic line may also be splined into the ski rope and the elastic line may be provided with a stub or hook to secure the splined connection.

In use, the outboard cover attachment means will be attached on top of the outboard motor cover and the elastic line will extend therefrom to the ski rope, where it is attached to the ski rope. The ski rope is allowed to slip off the outboard motor cover but the elastic line prevents it from falling into the steering mechanism of the engine. The elastic nature of the elastic line and the free movement of the loop over the ski rope ensures that the elastic line does not interfere with the normal operation of the ski rope.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a retainer for retaining a ski rope, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows schematically another embodiment of a retainer for retaining a ski rope; and

Figure 3 shows schematically a retainer for retaining a ski rope fitted to a ski boat.

Referring now to the Figures 1 and 3, the retainer for retaining a ski rope 15, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The retainer 10 for retaining a ski rope includes an outboard engine cover attachment means 12, which has a rubber suction cup for attaching to a cover of an outboard engine 20 of a boat 18, at one end and a line attachment means 12 for attachment to a silicone rubber elastic line 14 at its other end. The retainer 10 also includes an elastic line 14 connected to the line attachment means of the retainer and a means for attaching the free end of the elastic line 14 about the ski rope 15 in the form of a ring. In this embodiment, the suction cup has a diameter of 50mm and the elastic line 14 has a length of 700mm.

Referring now to the Figure 2, a preferred embodiment, the retainer for retaining a ski rope, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The retainer 10 for retaining a ski rope 15 includes an outboard engine cover attachment means 12 in the form of a loop which can be tied to a loop provided one side of an attachment plate (not shown) provided with a double-sided adhesive sheet on the other side, for attaching to a cover of an outboard engine 20 of a boat 18. The retainer 10 is in the form of a resiliently deformable coiled polyurethane elastic line 14 and the elastic line has a length of 1000mm. The retainer further includes a line attachment means 12 in the form of a loop for slideable attachment to a ski rope, in use. It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.