Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This is a Continuation In Part of Co-pending Application U.S. Ser. No. 11/331,601 filed Jan. 12, 2006, which is a Continuation In Part of application Ser. No. 10/751,218 filed Dec. 31, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,986,321, which is a Continuation In Part of application Ser. No. 10/401,644 filed Mar. 27, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,888. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to water sports to such as wakeboarding. More particularly, the invention concerns a 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.  
       DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     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 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.  
         [0004]     Typically, the prior art wake towers comprise a rather large and somewhat elaborate framework that is affixed to the boat deck. Such prior art wake towers are heavy and generally quite cumbersome to install and remove from the boat. Further, such towers may interfere with the boat&#39;s passage beneath bridges and other types of overpasses. Additionally, because of the complexity of the framework of several of the prior art wake towers, visibility of the operator of the boat can be impaired. Exemplary of prior art wake towers are those illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,350 issued to Larson, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,819 issued to Larson, et al.  
         [0005]     To accommodate the overhead clearance problem, certain of the prior art wake tower structures can be dismantled if necessary. However, such prior art structures often have questionable structural stability when erected and can present substantial safety hazards after being disassembled. For example, after the wake tower structures have been disassembled they can present a substantial tripping hazard to passengers on the boat especially when the boat is being rocked by waves. Further, in their dismantled configuration, the wake tower structures typically undesirably reduce the usable space on the boat deck.  
         [0006]     Another approach to accommodating overhead clearance problems has been to construct a wake tower assembly that is pivotally interconnected with the boat so that the wake tower can be moved from an elevated position to a lowered position. Exemplary of this prior art approach, it is a wake tower assembly sold by the Titan Company of Rancho Cordova, Calif.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     By way of summary, one form of the wake tower assembly of the present invention comprises a first base member that can be connected to the gunwale on one side of a power boat; a second base member that can be connected to the gunwale on the opposite side to of a power boat; a generally U-shaped, structural member having a first curved side connected to the first base member and a second curved side connected to the second base member, each of the sides having an upper portion and a lower portion each of which is generally oval in cross section, the lower portion of each of the sides having a first width and the upper portion of each of the sides having a second width less than the first width; and a bight portion interconnecting the upper portions of the sides, the bight portion being generally circular in cross section. In one form of the invention, the U-shaped structural member can be pivoted downwardly toward the bow of the powerboat and in another form of the invention the U-shaped structural member can be pivoted downwardly toward the stern of the boat.  
         [0008]     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.  
         [0009]     Another object of the present invention to provide a highly attractive unitary wake tower assembly of the aforementioned character that comprises a windshield component and a tower component that are formed as a single, integral unit. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a generally perspective view of one form of the wake tower of the present invention shown affixed to the gunwales of a powerboat.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view, partly in cross section, illustrating one form of the method of the invention for making the wake tower.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side-elevational view, partly in cross section, further illustrating the method of the invention for making the wake tower.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side-elevational view, partly broken away, to show internal construction, of the form of the wake tower shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is in enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is in enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a generally perspective, exploded view of one of the base members and one of the connecting segments of the wake tower of the invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the lower portion of one side of the wake tower of the invention illustrating the manner in which the wake tower pivots relative to the base member.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a generally perspective view of an alternate form of the tower of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a side-elevational view of the wake tower shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the wake tower shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the wake tower shown in  FIG. 12 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the wake tower of the embodiment of  FIG. 12  indicating the manner in which the wake tower can be pivoted from a first upright position shown in  FIG. 1  to a second lowered position illustrated by the phantom lines in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 17  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 18  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  18 - 18  of  FIG. 16 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 19  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 16 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  20 - 20  of  FIG. 16 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view, similar to  FIG. 16 , but showing wake tower being pivoted toward its second position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 22  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines  22 - 22  of  FIG. 21 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 23  is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view of the area designated in  FIG. 21  as “ 23 ”.  
         [0033]      FIG. 24  is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating the manner by which one side of the wake tower can be pivoted relative to the gunwale.  
         [0034]      FIG. 25  is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the area designated in  FIG. 24  as “ 25 ”.  
         [0035]      FIG. 26  is a generally perspective, exploded view illustrating one form of the connector means for interconnecting the wake tower to the gunwale.  
         [0036]      FIG. 27  is a generally perspective, exploded view illustrating the manner by which the various segments that make up the wake tower are interconnected.  
         [0037]      FIG. 27A  is an enlarged, generally perspective view of one of the interconnection segments shown in  FIG. 27 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0038]     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1, 4  and  5 , one form of the wake tower of the invention is shown interconnected with a powerboat  30  of conventional construction having a bow portion  30   a  and a stern portion  30   b.  As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the powerboat also has first and second spaced-apart gunwales  32  and  34  respectively to which the wake tower is connected. In the present form of the invention the wake tower includes an upwardly extending first base member  36  connected to the first gunwale  32  and an upwardly extending second base member  38  connected to said second gunwale  34 . The base members  36  and  38  are of a curved configuration and are preferably cast from a lightweight metal such as aluminum.  
         [0039]     Interconnected with the base members is a generally U-shaped, upwardly extending structural assembly generally designated by the numeral  40 . The structural assembly  40  includes a generally “L”-shaped structural member  42  having a first curved side  42   a  and a cast aluminum first connector segment  44 . Structural member  42  is connected to aluminum first connector segment  44  by any suitable means such as welding. In a manner presently to be described, connector segment  44  is, in turn, pivotally connected to first base member  36 . Structural assembly  40  also includes a second generally “L”-shaped structural member  46  having a curved side  46   a  and a second, cast aluminum connector segment  48  that is connected to second curved side  46   a  by any suitable means such as welding. Connector segment  48  is, in turn, pivotally connected second base member  38 .  
         [0040]     As will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, each of the sides of structural assembly  40  is first swaged into the desired configuration and then is strategically formed to create a curved, tapered portion having an oval shape. More particularly, as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , each of the sides of the structural assembly  40  includes a lower portion  51  having a first width W and an upper portion  53  having a second width W- 1  that is substantially less than said first width W. Structural assembly  40  further includes a bight portion  54  interconnecting upper portions  53  of the sides. As indicated in  FIG. 4 , bight portion  54  is generally circular in cross section.  
         [0041]     In the form of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 through 11 , the wake tower further includes a tow rope connector member  56  that is connected to and spans upper portions  53  of the sides  42  and  46 . Connected to the connector member  56  is a conventional type of connector  58  to which the tow rope “TR” can be connected.  
         [0042]     Turning next to  FIGS. 6, 7  and  8 , a portion of one side of the wake tower of the invention is there shown. It is to be understood that the other side of the wake tower is of a similar construction, but is not shown in the drawings in order to simplify the description. Each of the base members is provided with a cavity  60  and each of the connector segments is provided with a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly extending ears  62  and  64  that are receivable within the base member cavities. As shown in  FIG. 6 , downwardly extending ear  62  has a bore  62   a  formed therein and, similarly, downwardly extending ear  64  has a bore  64   a  formed therein. Receivable within bore  62   a  is a pivot pin  66  about which side  46  and connector segment  48  can pivot in the manner shown in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0043]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , pivot pin  66  extends through aligned bores  69  formed in base member  38 . Similarly, a locking pin  72  is receivable within bore  64   a  formed in ear  64 . Locking pin  72  extends through aligned bores  73  formed in base member  38  and, when in position within these openings in the manner shown in FIGS.  6  in  9 , prevents pivotal movement of side  46  and connector segment  48  about pivot pin  66 . As indicated by the phantom lines in  FIG. 7 , when the locking pin  72  is removed from the base member, the combination of side  46  and connector segment  48  is free to pivot about pivot pin  66  in the manner shown in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0044]     In accordance with one form of the method of making the wake tower illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 11 , the first and second base members  36  and  38  are cast in a conventional manner from a suitable lightweight castable material such as aluminum and are appropriately finished. This done, the base members are interconnected with the powerboat by a plurality of threaded connectors  76  in the manner shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0045]     The side members  42   a  and  46   a  are each formed individually by first heating a first length of tubing to an elevated, annealing temperature. This first length of tubing, which by way of example can be 6061-T6 aluminum tubing that has a diameter of approximately 5 inches, a first end  80   a  and a second end  80   b.  In the manner illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the heated length of tubing is swaged in a conventional manner well known to those skilled in the art to form a first swaged tube  80  having a tapered swaged portion  82  having a first end  84  of first diameter D- 1  and a second end  86  of a second lesser diameter D- 2  and a uniform diameter portion  86  having a diameter D- 3  substantially equal to said second lesser diameter D- 2 .  
         [0046]     Using an appropriate forming dye, the tapered swaged portion  82  of the swaged tube  82  is strategically formed to produce a tapered swaged portion  82   a  and an elongated uniform diameter portion  86   a  ( FIG. 3 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , swaged portion  82   a  is generally oval-shaped in cross section and has a thickness “E”. Swaged portion  82   a  has a width W- 1 , while uniform diameter portion  86   a  has a lesser width W- 2 . This swaging step is done in a conventional manner using conventional tooling that is of the character well understood by those skilled in the art.  
         [0047]     Following the swaging step, the swaged first tube  80  is strategically bent into the desired shape to form a first bent tube that is generally “L”-shaped in configuration and generally corresponds to the shape of member  42   a.    
         [0048]     Next, first connector segment  44  is cast in a conventional manner from a light weight castable material such aluminum and is connected by any suitable means such as welding to the bent tube formed by the swaging step to form a first wake tower subassembly  42 , which generally corresponds to one-half of the structural assembly  40 .  
         [0049]     Following the forming of the first wake tower subassembly, a second length of aluminum tubing is swaged and formed in the identical manner described in the preceding paragraphs to produce a second side  46   a.  This done, second connector segment  48  is suitably cast from a light weight metal such as aluminum and is interconnected as by welding with second side  46   a  to form assembly  46  that generally corresponds to the second half of the structural assembly  40 .  
         [0050]     Next, the elongated, uniform diameter portions of the first and second wake tower subassemblies  42  and  46  are interconnected at their ends as by welding to form the structural member  40 .  
         [0051]     After completion of the construction of the structural member  40  in the manner described in the preceding paragraphs, the structural member is pivotally interconnected with the base members  36  and  38  in the manner depicted in  FIGS. 6 through 10  of the drawings to form the construction shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . More particularly, the ears formed on each of the connector segments are inserted into the base cavities, the pivot pins  66  are inserted into bores  69  and  62   a  and the locking pins are inserted into bores  73  and  64   a.  With this construction, when it is desired to pivot the structural member into the forwardly stowed position in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 11 , locking pins  72  are removed from bores  73  and  64   a  to permit the structural member to pivot about pivot pin  66 .  
         [0052]     Turning next to  FIGS. 12 through 27 A, an alternate form of the wake tower unit of the invention is shown and generally designated by the numeral  101 . This embodiment is similar in some respects to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 11  and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 12 through 21  to identify like components. The main difference between this latest form of the invention and the earlier described form resides in the totally differently configured, unitary wake tower unit  101 . More particularly, in the wake tower unit of this latest form of the invention comprises a windshield component and a tower assembly that are integrally formed as a single, unitary structure.  
         [0053]     As before, and as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , wake tower apparatus  100  is specially designed to be interconnected with a powerboat  30  of conventional construction having a bow portion  30   a  and a stern portion  30   b  and first and second spaced-apart gunwales  32  and  34  respectively to which unit  100  is connected. In the present form of the invention the wake tower unit  101  comprises forwardly extending windshield portions  102  and  104  and a wake tower assembly generally designated by the numeral  106 . Portion  102  comprises a curved frame  102   a  and a substantially transparent windshield  102   b  mounted within the curved frame. Similarly, portion  104  comprises a curved frame  104   a  and a substantially transparent windshield  104   b  mounted within the curved frame. As indicated in  FIG. 12 , assembly  106  is uniquely integrally formed with the windshield portions  102  and  104 .  
         [0054]     Wake tower assembly  106  is somewhat similar in construction to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 12  and here comprises an upwardly extending first base connector  110  that is pivotally connected to the first gunwale  32  of the sports boat by means of a plurality of spaced-apart pivot connector assemblies  114  and an upwardly extending second base connector  112  that is pivotally connected to the second gunwale  34  of the sports boat by means of a plurality of substantially identically constructed pivot connector assemblies  114  ( FIGS. 16 and 17 ). Pivotally connected to the first and second base connectors is a novel wake tower structure  108 , the construction of which will presently be described. For reasons to be discussed in the paragraphs that follow, each of the base connectors is provided with an upper, generally vertical, slot-like cavity  116  and an elongated, lower cavity  117  that is generally semicircular in cross section (see  FIGS. 16 and 17 ).  
         [0055]     Affixed to each gunwale of the sports boat and forming a part of the apparatus of the invention is an elongated pivot support rail  118  that is generally semicircular in cross section. First and second base connectors  110  and  112 , as well as part of the windshield portions of the wake tower unit, rest upon and are supported by support rails  118 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 16, 17 ,  19  and  25  rails  118  are closely received within the lower cavities  117  formed in the support members.  
         [0056]     As best seen in  FIGS. 16, 17  and  19 , each of the pivot connector assemblies  114  comprises a threaded shaft  122  having first and second ends  122   a  and  122   b  and a generally spherical-shaped member  124  disposed intermediate ends  122   a  and  122   b.  Generally spherical-shaped members  124  are closely received within cavities  126  formed in rails  118 . As indicated in  FIG. 17 , each of the rails  118  is also provided with spaced-apart bores  118   a  that have a diameter greater than the diameter of the upper portion of threaded shafts  122 , which, as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 19 , extend through bores  118   a.    
         [0057]     The lower portion of each of the threaded shafts  122  extends through spaced-apart bores  128  formed in the gunwales  32  and  34 , which bores have a diameter greater than the diameter of the lower portion of threaded shafts  122  (see  FIG. 16 ). To secure the wake tower unit in position on the powerboat, the upper portion of each of the threaded shafts  122  is received within a threaded bore  131  formed in the base connectors  110  and  112  of the wake tower unit. Similarly, threaded nuts  132  are threadably connected proximate the lower ends of the threaded shafts  122  which extend through the gunwales, and are appropriately cinched down against the lower surface of the gunwales in the manner shown in  FIG. 16 . To better secure the threaded shafts in position within the enlarged diameter bores  128 , semicircular-shaped shims  133  circumscribe the lower portions of the threaded shafts and are received within bores  128  in the manner best seen in  FIGS. 25 and 26 . With the construction thus described, the wake tower unit can be laterally adjusted in a manner depicted in  FIGS. 24 and 25  as may be required to permit precise centering of the wake tower unit as the tower structure  108  is moved from the upraised position shown in the solid lines in  FIG. 13  into the rearward, lowered position illustrated by the phantom lines in  FIG. 13 . More particularly, by holding the squared ends  122   b  of threaded members  122  with an appropriate wrench “W” ( FIG. 26 ) the nuts  132  can be loosened and the position of the wake tower unit can be laterally adjusted from the position shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 24  to the position shown by the solid lines in  FIG. 24 . This lateral adjustment of the wake tower unit is possible because of the swivel-like interaction between the base connectors  110  and  112  and the support rails  118  and because of the clearance between the threaded members  122  and the enlarged diameter bores  118   a  and  128  formed in members  118  and in the gunwales respectively.  
         [0058]     Referring once again to  FIG. 12  of the drawings, it can be seen that the wake tower structure  108  comprises first and second side members  140  and  142  that are pivotally connected to first and second base connectors  110  and  112  respectively. Wake tower structure  108  also includes a generally U-shaped bight portion  143  that is connected to and spans first and second side members  140  and  142  in the manner best seen in  FIGS. 12 and 14  of the drawings.  
         [0059]     Each of the first and second side members  140  and  142  includes a connector segment  145  having a pair of spaced-apart, downwardly extending ears  145   a  and  145   b  that are receivable within the upper cavities  116  of the base members (see  FIG. 13 ). Each connector segment is also provided with first and second spaced-apart bores  146  and  148 . The connector segment of first side  140  is received within the upper cavity  116  formed in first base connector  110 , while the connector segment of second side  142  is received within the upper cavity  116  formed in second base connector  112 . Because of the similar manner in which the connector segments are connected to the first and second base connectors and to avoid duplication, only the manner of interconnection of the connector segment of the second side member  142  with the second base connector  112  will be described in the paragraphs that follow. Interconnection of the connector segment of the first side member  140  with the first base connector  110  is accomplished in a substantially identical manner and will not be described in detail. It is also to be understood that in  FIG. 16, 17  through  22  and  21 , only one side of the wake tower is shown. The other side of the wake tower, which is of a similar construction, is not shown in the drawings in order to avoid duplication.  
         [0060]     As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , a pivot pin  150  about which side member  142  can pivot in the manner shown in  FIG. 21  is received within bore  148  and extends through aligned bores  152  formed in base member  112 . Similarly, a locking pin  154  is receivable within bore  146  and extends through aligned bores  156  formed in base member  112  ( FIG. 17 ). When the locking pin is in position within these openings in the manner shown in  FIG. 20 , pivotal movement of side member  142  and connector segment  145  about pivot pin  152  is prevented. As indicated by the phantom lines in  FIG. 13  and the solid lines in  FIG. 21 , when the locking pin  146  is removed from the base member, the combination of side member  142  and connector segment  145  is free to pivot about pivot pin  152 .  
         [0061]     Turning to  FIGS. 27 and 27 A, for ease of manufacture, the tower structure  108  of this latest form of the apparatus uniquely comprises a plurality of interconnected bight segments  162 ,  164  and  166 . Bight segment  164  is hollow and is provided at its extremities with tongue receiving openings  164   a  and  164   b.  Opening  164   a  closely receives a tongue  162   a  provided proximate one end of bight segment  162 , while opening  164   b  closely receives a tongue  166   a  provided proximate one end of bight segment  166  ( FIG. 27A ). In similar fashion, side  140  is provided at its upper extremity with a tongue receiving opening  168  which closely receives a tongue  162   b  provided proximate the other end of bight segment  162 . Similarly, side  142  is provided at its upper extremity with a tongue receiving opening  170  which closely receives a tongue  166   b  provided proximate the other end of bight segment  166 . Following the assembly of the tower  108 , the various tongues can be secured in place within their mating components by welding, adhesive bonding, or the like.  
         [0062]     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.

Technology Category: 7