Importance

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Abstract

A portable snow skier rope towing system comprises: an endless loop of flexible tow rope; a series of pulleys supporting the endless loop of tow rope for driving about an elongated enclosed path, the elongated path having opposed extreme ends, each extreme end being defined by at least one pulley; a supporting frame; a motor operably mounted relative to the supporting frame, the motor having an output drive; and a winch apparatus operably connected with the motor output drive and relative to the supporting frame, the tow rope passing through the winch at a location within the enclosed path which is displaced from each of the extreme end pulleys, the winch apparatus comprising: a drive wheel mounted for rotation and engagement with the output drive, the drive wheel having a circumference with a tapered groove formed thereabout which receives the tow rope; a rope inlet wheel mounted for rotation adjacent the drive wheel, the inlet wheel having a circumferential groove which receives the tow rope; and a rope outlet pinch wheel mounted for rotation adjacent the drive wheel, the tow rope being received about the pinch wheel, the pinch wheel being mounted for selective movement relative to the drive wheel to urge the tow rope into the tapered circumferential drive wheel groove; the drive wheel, inlet wheel, and pinch wheel being positioned relative to one another such that the tow rope is received about at least 180.degree. and less than 360.degree. of the drive wheel circumference.

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First Claim