AU2010201926A1

AU2010201926A1 - Retractable Rope Device

Info

Publication number: AU2010201926A1
Application number: AU2010201926A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Douglas Achilles; Kevin Wilkinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-13
Filing date: 2010-05-13
Publication date: 2010-12-02

Description

ORIGINAL AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention title: "RETRACTABLE ROPE DEVICE" Applicants: KEVIN WILKINSON AND DOUGLAS ACHILLES Associated Provisional Application No.: 2009902148 The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "RETRACTABLE ROPE DEVICE" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retractable rope device, and relates 5 particularly, though not exclusively, to such a device for use on a boat. Background to the Invention Ropes are constantly being used onboard boats, whether for the purpose of 10 mooring the boat to a jetty, or for tying down objects on the boat. However having ropes lying around on a boat can be a problem especially in smaller boats where it can become a safety issue. Even when coiled-up neatly, ropes can take up valuable space onboard a boat. Furthermore both during and after use they can easily become tangled or knotted, which is a nuisance when the 15 need to use them again arises. The present invention was developed with a view to providing a retractable rope device that ensures the rope is tucked away when not in use but can be easily deployed when it is needed free of tangles. Although the device was designed for use on boats, it will be appreciated that the same or a similar 20 device may also have many other applications, for example, on trailers, utility vehicle trays, The previous discussion of the background to the invention is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not to be taken as an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common 25 general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere as at the priority date of this application. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a 30 retractable rope device comprising: a rope; 3 a spool about which the rope is wound when in a retracted condition; a spool winding mechanism for retracting the rope by winding the spool; and a support bracket for rotatably mounting the spool and the spool winding mechanism on a structure wherein, in use, the rope can be unwound from the 5 spool by pulling on the rope and retracted after use by the spool winding mechanism. Preferably the spool winding mechanism is an automatic spool winding mechanism whereby the rope is automatically wound about the spool when it is released after use. Typically the spool winding mechanism comprises a 10 spring which is tensioned as the rope is unwound from the spool, and which acts to rotate the spool to rewind the rope about the spool when the rope is released. In the preferred embodiment the spring is a spiral torsion spring coupled to the spool and which is adapted to store energy as the rope is unwound from the spool and to release energy when the rope is returned to 15 the retracted condition. Preferably the device further comprises a cleat to which the rope can be tied, in use, to tie off a desired length of the rope. Advantageously the cleat is adapted to cooperate with the support bracket in mounting the device to a structure. Preferably the cleat is formed with a central aperture through which 20 the rope passes when it is being wound onto, or unwound from, the spool. Preferably the rope is attached at one end to the spool and its other free end is provided with a clip. Preferably the rope is provided with a stop at a spaced location from the one end attached to the spool wherein, in use, the rope cannot be extended all the way to its end, thus preventing a load from being 25 placed on the spool and the support bracket. It will be understood that the rope may be a flexible elongate member made of any suitable material, including a cable or line with a metal component. Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be 30 understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but 4 not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention. 5 Brief Description of the Drawings The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of a retractable rope device, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, 10 in which: Figure 1 is an exploded top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the retractable rope device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the retractable rope device of 15 Figure 1 in an assembled condition; Figure 3 is a section view through the retractable rope device of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section view through the retractable rope device through the line A-A in Figure 3; 20 Figure 5 is a side elevation of a spring retainer employed in the retractable rope device of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side elevation of a support bracket employed the retractable rope device of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a side elevation of a rope spool employed in the retractable 25 rope device of Figure 1, showing the rope with a stop; Figure 8 is a top perspective view of a boat to which three of the retractable rope devices of Figure 1 have been fitted; 5 Figure 9 is a top perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the retractable rope device of in an assembled condition according to the present invention; and Figure 10 is a side elevation of a support bracket employed the 5 retractable rope device of Figure 9. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments A preferred embodiment of a retractable rope device 10, as shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises a rope 12 (omitted for clarity in Figures 1 10 to 6) and a spool 14 about which the rope 12 is wound when in a retracted condition. The device 10 further comprises a spool winding mechanism 16 for retracting the rope 12 by winding the spool 14. A support bracket 18 is also provided (see also Figure 6) for rotatably mounting the spool 14 and the spool winding mechanism 16 on a structure such as a boat hull. In use, the rope 12 15 can be unwound from the spool 14 by pulling on the rope and retracted after use by the spool winding mechanism 16. The rope 12 may be a flexible elongate member made of any suitable material, including a cable or line with a metal component. The mechanical components of the device 10 can be manufactured from any suitable material. 20 In a marine environment plastics and stainless steel materials are preferred to minimise damage due to corrosion. In the illustrated embodiment the spool winding mechanism 16 is an automatic spool winding mechanism 16 whereby the rope 12 is automatically wound about the spool 14 when it is released after use. However a manual spool 25 winding mechanism may also be employed if desired. In this embodiment the spool winding mechanism 16 comprises an energy storage device which stores energy as the rope 12 is unwound from the spool 14, and which acts to rotate the spool 14 to rewind the rope 12 about the spool when the rope is released. As can be seen most clearly in Figures 1 and 3, the energy storage 30 device is a spiral torsion spring 20 coupled to the spool 14. The spiral torsion 6 spring 20 is adapted to store energy as the rope 12 is unwound from the spool 14 and to release energy when the rope is returned to the retracted condition. The spiral torsion spring 20 is made from a flat strip of spring steel which is wound into a spiral about a circular spring retainer 22 (see also Figure 5). The 5 spring retainer 22 is rotatably mounted on a boss 24 provided on the support bracket 18. The spring retainer 22 has an annular wall for enclosing the spring 20, and a series of drive dogs 26 which are adapted to engage with a series of matching recesses 28 provided on an inside periphery on one side of the spool 14 (see Figure 3). One end of the spring 20 is attached to the boss 24 in 10 a small slot 30, and the other end is attached to a lug 32 provided near the outer circumference of the spring retainer 22. A can be seen in Figure 1, the spool 14 is rotatably mounted on a stainless steel tube 36 which acts as an axle for the spool and is locked into position on the support bracket 18 by stainless bolt and nut 38. A plurality of flat washers 15 40 help to retain the spool 14 on the support bracket 18 in such a manner that it remains free to rotate on the support bracket. When the components are assembled as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the dogs 26 on the spring retainer 22 are received in the recesses 28 on the spool to rotationally lock the spool 14 and the spring retainer 22 together. Hence when the spool 14 is unwound, the 20 spring 20 is tensioned as the spiral coils are wound more tightly together about the boss 24. The torsional energy thus stored in the spring 20 is used to rewind the spool 14 when the rope 12 is released. Preferably the device further comprises a cleat 50 to which the rope 12 can be tied, in use, to tie off a desired length of the rope. In this embodiment the cleat 25 50 is adapted to cooperate with the support bracket 18 in mounting the device to a structure. As can be seen most clearly in Figures 1 and 3 the cleat 50 is formed with a central aperture 52 through which the rope 12 passes when it is being wound onto, or unwound from, the spool 14. The external mouth of aperture 52 has a rounded edge to permit to rope 12 to more easily slide over 30 the edge without risk of damage to the rope 12. Two additional holes 54 are provided in the cleat 50 for attaching the cleat to the support bracket 18.

7 As can be seen in Figure 1, the support bracket 18 has a matching aperture 56 and matching holes 58 which are respectively aligned with the central aperture 52 and holes 54 on the cleat 50. The internal mouth of matching aperture 56 also has a rounded edge to permit the rope 12 to more easily 5 slide over the edge without risk of damage to the rope 12. Two sets of bolts and nuts, received in holes 54 and 58, are used to fasten the cleat 50 to the support bracket, with a wall of the structure on which the device is mounted therebetween. A yacht or other boat may already have a suitable cleat fixed to the deck or 10 some other part of the boat. In that case, the retractable rope device 10 of the invention may be retrofitted to the boat adjacent to an existing cleat. An aperture would still need to be drilled through the deck adjacent the cleat, through which the rope passes from the spool 14. A grommet (not shown) may be provided in the aperture to cover any sharp edges and provide a 15 smooth surface over which the rope 12 slides as it is unwound or retracted. Preferably the rope 12 is attached at one end to the spool 14 and its other free end is provided with a clip or hitch 60 (see Figure 7). Preferably the rope 12 is between 2 metres to 10 metres in length, more typically the rope 12 is about 6 metres in length. Preferably the rope 12 is provided with a stop at a spaced 20 location from the end attached to the spool 14. In the illustrated embodiment a plastic bead 62 is provided threaded on the rope 12, the bead 62 having a larger diameter than the apertures 52 and 56. An aluminium crimp 64 is fixed to the rope 12 about 250mm from the end attached to the spool 14. The crimp 64 cannot pass through bead 62. Therefore, the bead 62 together with the 25 crimp 64 acts as a stop wherein, in use, the rope 12 cannot be extended all the way to its end. In this way any load on the rope 12 is prevented from being placed on the spool 14 and the support bracket 18. A preferred method of mounting the retractable rope device 10 to a structure will now be described with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 8. The structure in 30 this example is a light weight watercraft (boat) 66. The support bracket 18, with spool 14 attached, is located in a position on the boat 66 where the rope 8 will not foul on anything, both on the underside where the unit is mounted and on the top side where the cleat will be positioned. Three different positions are illustrated in Figure 8: a bow-mounted position 68 below the decking at the fore of the boat; a gunnel-mounted position 70 on a gunnel (gunwale) of the 5 boat; and a gusset-mounted position 72 on a gusset provided aft of the boat. The support bracket 18 can be mounted on any solidly constructed part of the vessel in a location where access to a rope may of use. When a suitable position has been selected, the cleat 50 is used as a template to mark three holes on the section of the boat 66 where the device 10 10 is to be mounted. Then three holes are drilled and any sharp edges removed. The support bracket 18 is then placed into position and secured together with the cleat 50 onto the boat with two stainless steel bolts that pass through the holes 54 in the cleat and holes 58 in the bracket 18. The rope 12 is threaded through the rope guide aperture 56 in the bracket 18, and also 15 through the central aperture 52 of the cleat 50, and the clip 60 is then fastened to the end of the rope. The device 10 is then ready for use. In an alternative arrangement shown in Figures 9 and 10, the retractable rope device 80 has a support bracket 88 with a pair of holes 90 suitable for attaching the device horizontally, for example to a horizontal surface of the 20 boat such as the underside of the bough. The advantage of fixing the device in this way is that the thickness of the device in the horizontal orientation is slimmer than in the vertical position so that the device takes up less space on a boat where space is often limited. The device is fixed appropriately by way of a pair of spacers 92 usually made of plastic. The spacers are typically about 25 20mm in outside diameter, about 11mm in internal diameter, and about 14mm in thickness. The holes 90 on the bracket are typically about 11mm in diameter and offset from a first side edge 94 of the bracket 88 by about 12mm to the central point of the hole; and by about 22mm from a second side edge 96 of the bracket 88. 30 9 Now that preferred embodiments of the retractable rope device have been described in detail, it will be apparent that the embodiments provide a number of advantages over the prior art, including the following: (i) The device can be easily retrofitted to any lightweight to medium 5 weight watercraft or other structure. (ii) The device provides immediate access to up to 6 metres of tangle free, retractable rope, which can be lengthened or shortened and locked off at any desired length. (iii) The device is of simple design with minimum moving parts. 10 (iv) The device is easy to install requiring no specialised equipment. (v) By making minor modifications to the bracket of the device, the device may be fitted in a variety of ways to an appropriate location on a boat. It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various 15 modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. For example, the spiral torsion spring could be mounted directly onto the spool without the spring retainer. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to 20 the specific embodiment described.

Claims

1. A retractable rope device comprising: a rope; 5 a spool about which the rope is wound when in a retracted condition; a spool winding mechanism for retracting the rope by winding the spool; and a support bracket for rotatably mounting the spool and the spool winding mechanism on a structure wherein, in use, the rope can be unwound from the spool by pulling on the rope and retracted after use by the spool winding 10 mechanism.

2. A retractable rope device according to claim 1, wherein the spool winding mechanism is an automatic spool winding mechanism whereby the rope is automatically wound about the spool when it is released after use. 15

3. A retractable rope device according to claim 2, wherein the spool winding mechanism comprises a spring which is tensioned as the rope is unwound from the spool, and which acts to rotate the spool to rewind the rope about the spool when the rope is released.

4. A retractable rope device according to claim 3, wherein the spring is a 20 spiral torsion spring coupled to the spool and which is adapted to store energy as the rope is unwound from the spool and to release energy when the rope is returned to the retracted condition.

5. A retractable rope device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device further comprises a cleat to which the rope can be tied, in 25 use, to tie off a desired length of the rope.

6. A retractable rope device according to claim 5, wherein the cleat is adapted to cooperate with the support bracket in mounting the device to a structure. 11

7. A retractable rope device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the cleat is formed with a central aperture through which the rope passes when it is being wound onto, or unwound from, the spool.

8. A retractable rope device according to any one of the preceding claims, 5 wherein the rope is attached at one end to the spool and its other free end is provided with a clip.

9. A retractable rope device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rope is provided with a stop at a spaced location from the one end attached to the spool wherein, in use, the rope cannot be extended all the way 10 to its end, thus preventing a load from being placed on the spool and the support bracket.

10. A retractable rope device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rope is a flexible elongate member made of any suitable material, including a cable or line with a metal component. 15

11. A retractable rope device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 13 th day of May 2010 20 Kevin Wilkinson and Douglas Achilles by their Patent Attorneys Janet Stead & Associates