Wake tower
An improved wake tower assembly that can be readily mounted on powerboats of various constructions that includes a novel navigation and tow module that is carried on the upper portion of the wake tower and includes both a tow rope connector element and a light that can be positioned for use as a running light, or alternatively can be positioned for illuminating the cabin of the powerboat.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to water sports such as wakeboarding. More particularly, the invention concerns an improved wake tower of novel construction for use with powerboats for towing a performer behind the boat using a tow rope that is connected to the wake tower, the improved wake tower including a navigation and tow module connected to the top portion of the wake tower for movement between a first position and a second position.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In recent years the sport of wakeboarding has become very popular. As the name implies, the wake boarder intentionally rides the wake of the boat and prefers to have as large a wake as possible generated behind the boat. Experience has shown that to take full advantage of the wake generated by the boat, it is preferable to anchor the towline used to tow the wake boarder at a relatively high elevation above the deck of the boat. Accordingly, a large number of elevated wake towers of various constructions have been suggested in the past.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,350 issued to Larson, et al. illustrates and describes a typical type of prior art wake tower and illustrates a typical type of towline anchor that consists of a tow rope connector element that is fixedly mounted proximate the central portion of the top of the wake tower.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBy way of summary, one form of the improved wake tower assembly of the present invention for use in combination with a sports boat having first and second spaced-apart gunwales and a wake tower, comprises a first side connected to the first gunwale, a second side connected to the second gunwale and a top portion connected to and spanning the first and second sides, the improvement comprising a navigation and tow module that is connected to the top portion of the wake tower for movement between a first position and a second position and uniquely comprises both a light and a tow rope connector element. When the module is in a first position the tow rope connector is in a stowed position and the light extends upwardly to function as a running light. Conversely, when the module is in the second position, the tow rope connector is accessible and the light extends downwardly to illuminate the interior of the sports boat.
With the foregoing summary in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly attractive wake tower assembly of a unique, generally U-shaped configuration that can be readily mounted on powerboats of various constructions.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wake tower assembly of the aforementioned character that includes a novel navigation and tow module that comprises both a tow rope connector element and a light that can be positioned for use as a running light, or alternatively can be positioned for illuminating the cabin of the powerboat.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wake tower assembly as described in the preceding paragraphs that includes a novel navigation and tow module that is of a compact design and is of a simple construction.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wake tower assembly that includes a novel navigation and tow module that is easy to install, is easy to use and is reliable in operation.
The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention will be achieved by the novel wake tower assembly, the details of construction of which are described in the paragraphs which follow.
FIB. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 1B-1B of
As used herein the following terms have the following meanings:
“Tow rope connector” means a connector element that is disposed proximate the top of the wake tower and is readily accessible so that the tow rope can be readily connected thereto.
“Module” means a self-contained component of the wake tower of the sports boat, which has a well-defined interface to the other components of the wake tower and can be interchanged as a unit without disassembly of the module.
“Detent” means a catch which upon being removed initiates motion of a mechanism
Referring to the drawings and particularly to
Connected to shaft 50 for rotation relative thereto between the first position shown in
A tow rope connector element 60 is connected to a first end portion 54a of body portion 54 and a light assembly 64 is connected to a second end portion 54b of body 54. More particularly, tow rope connector element 60 includes a head portion 62 to which a tow rope “TR” can be interconnected (
Forming another important feature of the improved wake tower of the present invention is a locking mechanism for releasably locking the body portion 54 of the navigation and tow module in the first position shown in
As illustrated in
Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. In combination, a sports boat having first and second spaced-apart gunwales and a wake tower, said wake tower comprising a first side connected to said first gunwale, a second side connected to said second gunwale and a top portion connected to and spanning said first and second sides, the improvement comprising a navigation and tow module connected to said top portion of said wake tower for movement between a first position and a second position, said navigation and tow module comprising a light and a tow rope connector.
2. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which said top portion of said wake tower comprises a generally centrally located interface block having first and second end portions and a central portion.
3. The combination as defined in claim 2 further including a shaft connected to and spanning said first and second first and second end portions of said interface block.
4. The combination as defined in claim 3 in which said navigation and tow module further includes a body portion rotatably connected to said shaft for movement relative thereto between a first position and a second position.
5. The combination as defined in claim 4 in which said body portion has a first end portion and a second end portion, said tow rope connector being connected to said first end portion and said light being connected to said second end portion.
6. The combination as defined in claim 5, further including a locking mechanism carried by said central portion of said interface blocked for releasably locking said elongate body in said first position.
7. The combination as defined in claim 6 in which said locking mechanism comprises a detent.
8. In combination, a sports boat having first and second spaced apart gunwales, a bow portion and a stern portion a wake tower, said wake tower comprising:
- (a) a first curved side connected to said first gunwale,
- (b) a second curved side connected to said second gunwale;
- (c) a top portion connected to and spanning said first and second curved sides, said top portion including a generally centrally located interface block having first and second end portions and a central portion and a shaft connected to and spanning said first and second end portions thereof; and
- (d) a navigation and tow module rotatably connected to said shaft for rotation relative thereto between a first position and a second position, said navigation and tow module comprising a light and a tow rope connector.
9. The combination as defined in claim 8 in which said navigation and tow module further includes a body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, said tow rope connector being connected to said first end portion and said light being connected to said second end portion.
10. The combination as defined in claim 9, further including a locking mechanism carried by said central portion of said interface block for releasably locking said elongate body in said first position, said locking mechanism comprising a detent.
11. In combination, a sports boat having first and second spaced apart gunwales, a bow portion, a stem portion and a wake tower, said wake tower comprising:
- (a) a first curved side connected to said first gunwale,
- (b) a second curved side connected to said second gunwale;
- (c) a top portion connected to and spanning said first and second curved sides, said top portion including a generally centrally located interface block having first and second end portions and a central portion and a shaft connected to and spanning said first and second end portions thereof;
- (d) a navigation and tow module rotatably connected to said shaft for rotation relative thereto between a first position and a second position, said navigation and tow module comprising: (i) a body portion having a first end portion having a threaded bore and a second end portion having a cavity; (ii) tow rope connector having a head portion and a threaded shaft, said threaded shaft being receivable within said threaded bore of said first end portion of said body portion; and (iii) a light having a base portion and a dome portion interconnected with said base portion, said base portion being receivable within said cavity of said second end portion of said body portion.
12. The combination as defined in claim 11, further including a locking mechanism carried by said central portion of said interface block for releasably locking said elongate body in said first position, said locking mechanism comprising a detent.
13. The combination as defined in claim 12 in which said central portion of said interface block is provided with a bore and in which said detent comprises:
- (a) a locking member telescopically movable within said bore between a first extended position and a second retracted position; and
- (b) a spring disposed within said bore for yieldably resisting movement of said locking member between said first extended position and said second retracted position.
14. The combination as defined in claim 13 in which each of said first and second ends of said body portion of said navigation and tow module assembly is provided with a recess for receiving said locking member of said detent.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 24, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2009
Inventor: Robert Metcalf (Sylmar, CA)
Application Number: 12/215,089
International Classification: B63B 21/56 (20060101);