Retractable Wake Surfing Tether with Spring Reel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wake surfing methods require manual retrieval of the tow rope after a surfer falls, which is cumbersome due to the boat's limited maneuverability with side-weighted ballast, making it difficult and time-consuming to reposition for another ride.
Innovation Solution
A retractable wake surfing tether system with a harness, power spring, and reel apparatus that automatically retracts the tether back to the boat when the surfer falls, allowing hands-free maneuvering and enabling quick repositioning for resumed surfing, featuring safety breakaway clips and an audible alert mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the boat uses side-weighted water ballast to create a bigger wake, then the wake size is improved, but the boat's maneuverability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ballast weight from the boat system, placing it in separate removable weights that can be transferred between sides. This allows the wake shape to be optimized for surfing while the ballast can be quickly repositioned to restore boat balance and maneuverability after a fall.
2Ease of operation
If the driver manually retrieves the tow rope after the surfer falls, then the tether retrieval is completed, but the time and effort required to restart surfing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the reel automatically reels in the tether after the surfer falls. The spring-loaded reel engages when the tether goes taut, automatically retrieving the line without requiring manual intervention from the driver or spotter, thus reducing restart time and effort.
3Productivity
If the spotter throws the wake surfing rope to the surfer after repositioning the boat, then the surfer can resume surfing, but the process remains manual and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the manual rope throwing operation from the restart process. The automatic reel system handles tether retrieval, and the breakaway clip mechanism automatically detaches and returns the tether to the reel, eliminating the need for manual rope handling and throwing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service through the automatic reel engagement and breakaway clip mechanism. When the surfer falls, the reel automatically reels in the tether, and the breakaway clip releases the tether from the harness, allowing the tether to be automatically returned to the reel without human intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and safe retraction of the tether back to the boat, reducing the time and effort required to restart surfing, enhancing the overall wake surfing experience by keeping the surfer's hands free and improving safety with automatic reeling and breakaway features.
Implementation Method 1
the spring tensioned tether and reel apparatus unreels the line
Implementation Method 2
the power spring pulls the tether which is attached to the surfer back to the boat
Data Source
AI summary
An retractable tether device is used to alert the driver of a fallen athlete and to return the athlete, primarily a wake surfer, back to position behind the watercraft. The tether consists of a coil spring with a storage reel for the line and an audible alert notification. When a wake surfer falls off the surfboard, the tether will pull out from the device. Simultaneously, the boat stops and the coil spring will retract the tether to reposition the wake surfer behind the boat. As the tether is reeled out, an alert such as an audible noise and/or vibratory signal will cue the driver that the wake surfer has fallen. To further ensure safety, each end of the apparatus would have break away clips. The safety break away clips would release in the case where the driver did not stop the boat. The tether could be connected to the tower, pylon or back of the boat's towable hook. As a result of this device, the surfer can efficiently engage in an increased number of wake surfing sessions.