The aerial performance characteristics of a performer using a water sport implement such as a wakeboard, and being towed by a vessel while maintaining stability of the vessel includes a first relatively rigid vertical support fitted to one side of the, a second relatively rigid vertical support fitted structure to an opposing side, and a horizontal bridging portion extending between upper extremities of the first and second vertically extending supports, at a height substantially above a level of the operator station for the vessel. A tow rope is attached to the horizontally extending bridging portion for towing the performer from the horizontally extending bridging portion while operating the vessel in a body of water. By pivotally attaching the first and second supports to the respective sides of the vessel, they can be rotated downwardly so that the vessel may pass underneath a bridge or into a boat house.
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22. A towing apparatus for improving aerial characteristics of a performance by a performer using a water sport implement, the towing apparatus comprising:
a vessel behind which the performer is to be towed, the vessel including a bow, a stern and an operator station positioned amidships between opposing sides; a first relatively rigid vertical support structure fitted between the sides of the vessel at a point forward of the operator station; a second relatively rigid vertical support structure fitted between the sides of the vessel aft of the first relatively rigid vertical support structure; a generally horizontal bridging portion extending between upper portions of the first and second vertically extending support structures, at a height substantially above the level of the operator station; and a tow rope attached to the horizontally extending bridging portion for towing the performer from the horizontally extending bridging portion while operating the vessel in a body of water.
39. The method for improving aerial characteristics of a performance by a performer using a water sport implement and being towed behind a vessel while maintaining the stability of the vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a vessel behind which the performer is to be towed, the vessel including a bow, a stern and an operator station between opposing sides; fitting a first relatively rigid vertical support structure to a first one of the sides substantially abeam the operator's station, and fitting a second relatively rigid vertical support structure to a second one of the sides substantially abeam the operator's station, and then extending an elevated, generally horizontal bridge portion between the first and second vertically extending support structures, at a height substantially above the operator station; attaching a tow rope to the horizontally extending bridging portion; and operating the vessel in a body of water while towing the performer from the horizontally extending bridging portion.
33. A towing apparatus for a performer using a water sport implement and being towed behind a vessel while maintaining the stability of the vessel, the vessel having a bow, a stern, opposing sides extending from the bow to the stern, and an operator station located amidships between the opposing sides, the towing apparatus comprising:
a first relatively rigid U-shaped support structure for fitting to the sides across the beam of the vessel at a point forward of the operator station and positioned amidships substantially above the level of the operator station; a second relatively rigid U-shaped support structure for fitting to the sides across the beam of the vessel and positioned amidships substantially above the level of the operator station; a plurality of bars extending between the U-shaped support structures so that the first and second U-shaped support structures in combination with the plurality of bars form a skeletal frame, and wherein the first U-shaped support structure is positioned forward of the second U-shaped support structure; and tow rope attaching means fitted to the upper portion of the skeletal frame for attaching a tow rope thereto.
38. A method for improving aerial characteristics of a performance by a performer using a water sport implement and being towed behind a vessel while maintaining the stability of the vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a vessel behind which the performer is to be towed, the vessel including a bow, a foredeck aft the bow, a stern, opposing sides extending from the bow to the stern, and an operator station positioned amidships between the bow and stern, aft of the foredeck; attaching a rigid vertical bridging support structure at attachment points on each side of the vessel adjacent and substantially abeam the operator station, with a generally horizontal bridging portion of the vertical bridging support structure positioned substantially directly above the operator station; attaching a tow rope to the bridging portion; imparting sufficient structural strength to the vessel sides, the vertical bridging support structure, the horizontal bridging portion, and the attachment points so as to maintain structural integrity while transferring those rearward forces generated towing the performer to the vessel sides; and operating the vessel in a body of water while towing the performer from the horizontal bridging portion.
1. A method for improving aerial characteristics of a performance by a performer using a water sport implement and being towed behind a vessel while maintaining the stability of the vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a vessel behind which the performer is to be towed, the vessel including a bow, a foredeck aft of the bow, a stern, opposing sides extending from the bow to the stern, and an operator station positioned amidships between the sides; fitting a first relatively rigid vertical support structure to a first one of the sides and fitting a second relatively rigid vertical support structure to a second one of the sides, and then extending a generally horizontal bridging portion between upper extremities of the first and second vertically extending support structures, amidships and at a height substantially above the operator station; pivotally attaching the first and second vertically extending support structures to the respective sides of the vessel and positioning the first and second vertically extending support structures for rotating to a generally horizontal position; attaching a tow rope to the horizontally extending bridging portion; and operating the vessel in a body of water while towing the performer from the horizontally extending bridging portion.
12. A method for towing a performer using a water sport implement and being towed behind a vessel while maintaining the stability of the vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a vessel behind which the performer is to be towed, the vessel including a bow, a foredeck aft of the bow, a stern, opposing sides extending from the bow to the stern, and an operator station positioned amidships; fitting a first relatively rigid U-shaped support structure across the beam of the vessel, amidships, and extending substantially above the level of the operator station; rearwardly angling the first U-shaped structure; fitting a second relatively rigid U-shaped support structure to the sides and across the beam of the vessel, amidships, and extending substantially above the level of the operator station, the first U-shaped support structure forward of the second U-shaped structure with the operator station located in an area between fittings of the first and second U-shaped structures at the respective sides; attaching a plurality of longitudinally extending bars between the U-shaped support structures so that the first and second support structures form a skeletal frame extending above the operator station; attaching a tow rope to an upper portion of the skeletal frame; and operating the vessel in a body of water while towing the performer.
41. A vessel and towing tower for permitting a towed performer to achieve improved aerial characteristics while transmitting rearward towing forces amidships to spaced sides of the vessel, comprising:
a vessel having a bow, a stern, opposing sides extending between the bow and the stern, a vessel operator station located amidships between the bow and the stern and a windshield forward of the operator station, a first portion of the windshield extending laterally across the vessel between the opposing sides; a rigid towing tower including at least four spaced, generally vertically-extending legs, two of the legs comprising a forward leg pair, each leg of the forward leg pair removably attached to a corresponding side of the vessel at an attachment point forward of the laterally-extending first windshield portion, the other two legs comprising a rearward leg pair each of which is removably attached to a corresponding side of the vessel at an attachment point aft of the laterally-extending first windshield portion; an overhead tow structure fitted with and supported by the forward and rearward leg pairs substantially above the operator station, the overhead tow structure including lateral and longitudinal members forming a rigid overhead frame; a tow rope receiver fitted to an aft one of the lateral members of the overhead frame; and wherein the first and second leg pairs, the respective attachment points and the overhead tow structure are imparted with sufficient structural strength so as to maintain structural integrity while transferring rearward forces generated by towing the performer to the vessel's sides. 2. The method according to
providing each of the first and second vertical support structures with a forward vertical support element and an aft vertical support element; and fixedly attaching a longitudinally extending bar between each of the forward and aft vertical support elements for forming a skeletal frame.
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other windshield portions extending along the sides; and wherein each attachment point for the rearward leg pair is adjacent a corresponding one of the other windshield portions. 43. The vessel and towing tower according to
each side of the vessel having a generally horizontal deck portion forward of the laterally-extending windshield portion; and wherein each attachment point of the forward leg pair is positioned on the horizontal deck portion of the corresponding side. 44. The vessel and towing tower according to
45. The vessel and towing tower according to
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The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited by the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Referring now initially to
It is to be noted that various sized vessels will have varying length ballast tanks for extending the tank from the transom area to toward amidships to provide a desirable wake. Simply weighting down the vessel stern only proximate the transom leads to excess plowing of the vessel and an undesirable wake. Further, displacement boats having ballast from stern to bow, typically do not permit planing, desirable in a sports towing vessel. As a result, a certain amount of planing is to be maintained. By extending the ballast tank as herein described, an effective vessel performance and wake is achieved. Without deviating from the invention, alternate embodiments are now herein described.
With regard to the vertical support unit 100, reference being made again to
In yet another embodiment, and with reference to
The skeletal frame is an improvement over the pylon by providing a generally more rigid unit 100 secured to four mounting locations 122 at sides 24, 26 of the vessel 16. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical support unit 100, as illustrated with reference again to
Trailering of the vessel is made more convenient with this rotating feature. In the event the overall height of the unit 100 needs to be reduced for trailering, for example, the unit 100 is rotatable to a position 134 shown in dotted lines in
In addition, it is convenient to use portions of the unit 100 to stow various pieces of equipment such as a life vest 40 or wakeboard 42 and other equipment as illustrated with reference again to FIG. 6 and FIG. 9. Further, the convenient mounting of stereo speakers is also accomplished. Such equipment is also conveniently stowed out of the way when unit 100 is in the erect position 136 as earlier described with reference to
As illustrated with reference to
As illustrated with reference again to
In preferred embodiments of the ballast tanks 202, 204 and with reference again to
As illustrated with reference again to
As illustrated again with reference to
To remove the water 208 from the tanks 202, 204, the vessel comes to a stand still in a preferred method of dumping the ballast water. The shutoff valve 223 is then opened, with the opening of the air control valve 218 for allowing air into the air lines 214, 216. Through the forces of gravity, the water 208 flows out of the tanks 202, 204 through the intake line 221 and out through the opened shutoff valve 223 to the surrounding body of water 30.
Since the operator sitting in seat 45 has easy access to both valves 218, 223, the amount and shape of the wake 32, illustrated with reference again to
Accordingly, many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
Todd, Robert, Larson, Borden M., Snook, William N.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Apr 25 2000 | LARSON, BORDON M | CORRECT CRAFT, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 011014 | /0894 | |
Apr 25 2000 | SNOOK, WILLIAM N | CORRECT CRAFT, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 011014 | /0894 | |
Jun 23 2000 | LARSON, BORDEN | CORRECT CRAFT, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 011032 | /0668 | |
Jun 23 2000 | SNOOK, WILLIAM N | CORRECT CRAFT, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 011032 | /0668 | |
Jun 26 2000 | TODD, ROBERT | CORRECT CRAFT, INC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 011032 | /0668 | |
Jun 30 2000 | Correct Craft, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Feb 05 2008 | CORRECT CRAFT, INC | Correct Craft IP Holdings, LLC | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 020497 | /0644 |
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