Patents by Inventor David S. Fleming, Jr.

David S. Fleming, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5632219
    Abstract: A multiple-spool waterski tow rope retriever for reeling in a plurality of waterski tow ropes either together or independently. The device may include a housing for outboard mounting on the back of a ski boat, or it may be mounted inboard whereby the tow ropes would extend through holes in the transom of the boat. A motor drives a driveshaft inside a plurality of tow rope spools. The motor may drive the shaft directly or indirectly via a gear, chain, or belt apparatus. The driveshaft transfers rotational power to each spool through a fluid drive apparatus. For each spool, a sleeve is immovably mounted around the shaft within the center section of the spool. The spools rotate around the sleeve and shaft on bearings and are held in place longitudinally by thrust washers. A sealed void surrounding the sleeve within the center of the spool is filled with a high viscosity oil or other high viscosity fluid. When the shaft rotates at high RPM's, the high viscosity oil transfers the rotational force to the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: David S. Fleming, Jr.