Abstract:
An apparatus for connecting a towline from a watercraft, comprising a support structure of inverted U-shaped configuration comprising a pair of side supports. An overhead structure extends at upper ends of the side supports. The overhead structure includes fore and aft substructures. The support structure is adapted to be releasably mounted to a watercraft. A towline connector is provided on the aft substructure of the overhead structure for receiving a fore end of a towline. A protective cover is attached to the fore and aft substructures of the overhead structure.

Description:
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application of Eck et al., Ser. No. 60/458,367, filed Mar. 31, 2003, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated into the present application by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to watercraft and, more particularly, to watercraft adapted to tow a performer using water sport implements. 
   2. Background Art 
   The popularity of water sports in the form of, for instance, wakeboarding, has increased in recent years. Wakeboarding is relatively similar to its parent water sport, waterskiing, in that a performer is towed by a watercraft to skim the surface of the water with a water sport implement, a wakeboard in this case. However, in wakeboarding, there is some emphasis on the aerial performance of the performer. In wakeboarding, the performer towed by a watercraft is looking for as large a wake as possible from the watercraft, as the wake is used to launch the performer into the air. 
   Watercraft have been adapted for the aerial characteristics of wakeboarding by providing a connection point for the towline at a relatively high elevation above the deck of the watercraft. This adaptation will increase the air time of the performer as well as his launching height, as the towline will not transmit a downward force, as would be the case if the connection point between watercraft and towline were directly on the deck. Rather, the towline transmits an upward force, thereby increasing the air time of the performer. 
   U.S. Pat. No. RE37,823, reissued on Sep. 3, 2002 to Larson et al., discloses a water sport tower providing an elevated connection point for the towline. The water sport tower disclosed therein has a pair of inverted U-shaped members, with free ends of each inverted U-shaped member being oppositely connected port and starboard of the watercraft. The inverted U-shaped members thus connected to the watercraft are interconnected so as to provide a structure that will remain stable irrespective of the forces exerted by the maneuvers of the performer being towed. As mentioned previously, the connection point between the towline and the wakeboard tower is elevated with respect to the deck of the watercraft so as to ease the launching of the performer into his aerial performance. 
   Water sport towers, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. RE37,823, have been used as supports for tops. Such tops, also referred to as bimini tops, come in the form of soft panels stretched by a framing structure, the framing structure being releasably securable to the water sport tower by way of various fasteners. Amongst the various factors influencing the design of tops for water sport towers is the fact that the tops, and their framing structures, must not impede the towline pulling the performer. Thus far, the tops have been provided separately from the water sport towers, whereby they must be stored individually and thus represent a bulky nonoptimal solution. Moreover, as they must not impede the movement of the towline, the tops are relatively close to the passenger seating area of the watercraft, thus procuring a feeling of confinement. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   Therefore, one aspect of embodiments of the present invention provides a water sport tower combined with a top. 
   An additional aspect of the present invention provides a water sport tower/top combination where the top can be moved between a retracted and a covering position. 
   A further aspect of the present invention provides a watercraft having a water sport tower/top combination. 
   Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for installing the top with respect to the water sport tower of the present invention. 
   Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a water sport tower for connection to a watercraft. The tower comprises a support structure having an inverted generally U-shaped configuration. The support structure comprises a pair of side supports and an overhead structure extending between the side supports. The overhead structure comprises first and second substructures. A towline connector for receiving an end of a towline is provided on the first substructure. A protective cover extends between the first and second substructures. 
   Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provide a method for covering a passenger area of a watercraft having a water sport tower. The water sport tower has an inverted generally U-shaped configuration having a pair of side supports. An overhead structure extends at upper ends of the side supports and has a towline connector thereon adapted to receive an end of a towline. A structural member has a first end of a cover secured thereto. The method comprises the steps of i) positioning the structural member in a spaced and parallel position with respect to the overhead structure; ii) securing a second end of the cover to the overhead structure; and iii) tensioning the cover by biasing the structural member away from the overhead structure so as to at least partially cover a passenger area of the watercraft with the cover. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a watercraft supporting a water sport tower in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the water sport tower of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the water sport tower of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the water sport tower combined with a retractable top in accordance with the present invention and shown in a retracted position thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the retractable top in the retracted position with respect to the water sport tower; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the retractable top detached from the retracted position with respect to the water sport tower; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of the retractable top in an extended covering position with respect to the water sport tower; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of an aft end of the retractable top in its extended covering position; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing part of an underside of the retractable top in the covering position with respect to the water sport tower; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the water sport tower and top combination in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the water sport tower and top combination of the present invention mounted to a watercraft. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a watercraft supporting a water sport tower in accordance with the present invention is generally shown at  10 . The watercraft  10  includes a bow B, a stern S, a port P and a starboard D. The watercraft  10  has two main parts, namely hull  12  and deck  14 . The hull  12  buoyantly supports the watercraft  10  in the water. The deck  14  has a recessed passenger area  16  designed to accommodate a driver and passengers. The hull  12  and the deck  14  meet at bond line  18 . An engine (not shown) is disposed between the hull  12  and the deck  14 . The engine is operatively coupled to a propulsion unit (not shown) to propel the watercraft  10 . 
   A water sport tower in accordance with the present invention is generally shown at  20 . The water sport tower  20  has a main frame member  22 . The frame member  22  consists of a generally inverted U-shaped body, having a pair of legs  24  interconnected by horizontal member  26 . It is pointed out that letters “D” and “P” will be affixed to like elements of the tower  20  in the figures, “D” and “P” respectively specifying whether the element is on the starboard side D or the port side. P of the watercraft  10 . Connector portions  28  (only one of which is shown in  FIG. 1 ) are provided at lower free ends of the legs  24 , for releasable engagement with corresponding connector portions on the watercraft  10 . The horizontal member  26  is transversely positioned with respect to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft  10 , this longitudinal axis extending from bow B to stern S. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tower  20  has a pair of support members  30 , each connected to a respective one of the legs  24  of the frame member  22 . Lower free ends of the support members  30  are provided with connector portions  32  (only one of which is shown in FIG.  1 ), so as to be releasably engaged to corresponding connector portions on the watercraft  10 . The support members  30  cooperate with the frame member  22  to form a self-standing structure, having four contact points (at connector portions  28  and  32 ) by which it will be releasably secured to the watercraft  10 . 
   A secondary frame member  34  has an inverted U-shaped body, having a pair of legs  36  interconnected by horizontal member  38 . Lower free ends of the legs  36  are fixed to respective ones of the support members  30 . The horizontal member  38  of the secondary frame member  34  is generally parallel to the horizontal member  26  of the main frame member  22 , and spaced apart therefrom by spacers  40  (as best seen in FIG.  3 ). A central one of the spacers  40  supports towline connector  42 . The towline connector  42  protrudes upwardly from the central spacer  40 , and has a pair of flanges defining therebetween an annular groove  44  in which a connector end of a towline will be attached. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , support struts  46  interconnect the legs  24  of the frame member  22  and the support members  30 , whereas support plates  48  interconnect the support members  30  with the legs  36  of the secondary frame member  34  and/or with the legs  24  of the frame member  22 . The support struts  46  and support plates  48  strengthen the tower  20 . The overall structural configuration of the tower  20 , with the various components forming a horizontal structural member (e.g., the horizontal members  26  and  38 , etc.) and a vertical structural member (e.g., the legs  24 , the support members  30 , etc.), ensures that the tower  20  will remain rigid through any force exerted thereon by the performer. It should be noted that other structural configurations of tower  20  are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention. For example, support plates  48  could be replaced by support struts, or the tower  20  could be made of a fore frame member and an aft frame member, each having an inverted U-shaped body, with support struts between the two frame members. 
   The tower  20  is optionally provided with additional features. For instance, the support members  30  may be detached from legs  24 , as shown by connector  50  of  FIG. 2 , so as to reduce the height of the tower  20  when not in use thus preventing to have to completely remove the tower  20  from the watercraft  10 . The connector portions  28  and  32  are preferably part of quick-release connectors that will facilitate the removal or the installation of the tower  20  on the watercraft  10 . Other features may be added, as long as the tower  20  can withstand the forces exerted by the performer being towed. 
   According to the present invention and as shown in  FIGS. 1  to  3 , pivot brackets  52  are provided on each of the legs  24 , and are positioned slightly below the junction of the support members  30  with the legs  24 . The pivot brackets  52  consist of pairs of spaced apart plates having bores in register so as to receive a pivot. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a retractable top is generally shown at  100 . The retractable top  100  has an inverted U-shaped member  102 , which represents a top structural member. The U-shaped member  102  has legs  104 , which are pivotally connected to the respective pivot brackets  52 , such that the retractable top can pivot about the pivot brackets  52 . In a retracted position thereof, the retractable top  100  has the member  102  superposed with the main frame member  22 . A soft (i.e., flexible) panel, not yet visible in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as it is optionally concealed in envelope  106 , is wrapped around a horizontal portion of the U-shaped member  102 . The envelope  106  has straps  108 , preferably made of Velcro™, by which the U-shaped member  102  is securable to the main frame member  22  in the retracted position. The retractable top  100  is kept in the retracted position, for instance, when passengers of the watercraft  10  want to be exposed to the sun, or when the tower  20  is removed from the watercraft  10  and stored away. The straps  108  are preferably an integral part of the envelope  106 . 
   The straps  108  are detached to allow the retractable top  100  to be pivoted away from the main frame member  22 . This is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , wherein the straps  108  hang loosely, and the member  102  is away from the retracted position. In this position, the envelope  106  can be removed to uncover the panel that is concealed thereby. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the soft panel is generally shown at  110  in a covering position of the retractable top  100 . In this position, the soft panel  110  is stretched between the member  102  and the secondary frame member  34 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a slit  112  is provided in the soft panel  110 , such that the towline connector  42  can pass therethrough. This enables the soft panel  110  to be wrapped around the horizontal members  26  and  38  of the main frame member  22  and the secondary frame member  34 , respectively, as shown in FIG.  9 . The soft panel  110  has suitable connection means such that the aft end thereof can be rigidly secured to the horizontal members  26  and  38 . More precisely, once the soft panel  110  conceals the horizontal members  26  and  38 , its aft end is attached to its bottom face. Various systems can be used for securing the free aft end of the soft panel  110  to the bottom face thereof in the manner shown in  FIG. 9 , such as snap-fasteners preferably made of stainless steel, a zipper line, etc. On the other hand, the fore end of the soft panel  110  permanently defines a tubular portion  113 , into which the member  102  has been slipped into, before being connected to the main frame member  22 . 
   Once the aft end of the soft panel  110  is secured to the horizontal members  26  and  38 , the soft panel  110  is tensioned, by way of tensors  114  ( FIG. 7 ) biasing the U-shaped member away from the horizontal member  26  of the main frame member  22 . The tensors  114 , or other suitable biasing means, must provide suitable tension such that the soft panel  110  remains stretched irrespective of the air resistance when the watercraft  10  is operated. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the tensors  114  may be adjusted in length so as to modify the amount of tension they will exert on the soft panel  110 . The tensors  114  are hooked to loops  116  on the legs  24  of the main frame member  22 , and are preferably sewn to the soft panel  110 . Other mechanisms could be used to stretch the soft panel  110 . For instance, locking devices or other similar mechanisms may be provided at the pivot between the U-shaped member  102  and the main frame member  22 . Such mechanisms have the advantage of being discrete, as visible from  FIG. 11 , where the soft panel  110  is tensioned without visible tensors. 
   To cover the passenger area  16  with the retractable top  100 , the following steps are taken. Firstly, the retractable top  100  is displaced from its retracted position illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . More precisely, the retractable top  100  is pivoted away from horizontal member  26 , so as to be separated therefrom, as illustrated in FIG.  6 . In the preferred embodiment, the straps  108  of the envelope  106  must be undone. 
   The soft panel  110 , rolled on the U-shaped member  102 , must be unwrapped therefrom. In the preferred embodiment, the soft panel  110  is concealed in the envelope  106 , which must be removed. 
   The soft panel  110  is then secured to the horizontal members  26  and/or  38 . In the preferred embodiment, the aft end of the soft panel  110  surrounds both the horizontal members  26  and  38 , to then be secured to a bottom face thereof, by suitable connection means, as best shown in FIG.  9 . In order to do so, the slit  112  defined in the soft panel  110  accommodates the towline connector  42 , as best shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 . 
   The soft panel  110  is then tensioned, so as to have the stretched shape illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In the preferred embodiment, the tensors  114  are connected to the loops  116  to bias the U-shaped member  102  of the retractable top  100  away from the horizontal members  26  and  38 . 
   The soft panel  110  may be any type of fabric or polymer offering the various following characteristics: a suitable rigidity to keep its integrity irrelevant of the air resistance, resistance to the sunlight and to the UV rays (e.g., the soft panel must not prematurely change colors under sun exposure), impermeability, etc. Moreover, although preferable, the panel  110  does not need to be flexible. The main advantage of the soft panel  110  is that it may be wrapped around the U-shaped member  102  when the retractable top  100  is in its retracted position, and does not require additional storage space. It is also advantageous that the top  100  be retractable, as passengers of the watercraft  10  may selectively cover the passenger area  16  with the top to provided a shaded area, or to get protection from rain. 
   The present invention uses the horizontal structural member (i.e., the horizontal members  26  and  38  and spacers  40  supporting the towline connector  42 ) of the water sport tower  20  as support for the top  100 . Accordingly, the retractable top  100  will not create the sensation of confinement typical of tops connected below the horizontal structural member. 
   Although the above description contains specific examples of the present invention, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.