# US 10,246,169 B1 · Method and apparatus for wake enlargement system

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- Number: US 10,246,169 B1
- Document ID: US10246169B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/618,077
- Filed: 2017-06-08
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-27
- Applicants: Michael Murphy
- Inventors: Michael Murphy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246169B1

## CPC

- B63B 32/70: Accessories not specially adapted for a particular type of board, e.g. paddings or buoyancy elements
- B63B 1/34: by reducing surface friction
- B63B 71/00: Designing vessels; Predicting their performance
- B63B 34/70: Arrangements on vessels specially adapted for generating waves for surfing, wakeboarding or the like, e.g. ballast tanks
- B63B 2207/02: Variable ballast or buoyancy
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

A Method and Apparatus for Wake Enlargement System have been disclosed. By using water pick ups that are mounted on a boat controlled filling of ballast tanks is possible without the use of pumps.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wake enlargement system for improving a wake generated by a boat, the system comprising:
the boat having a hull, the hull having a bow, a stern, a bottom surface, and a transom;
a water pick-up having an input and an output, the water pick-up mounted on the bottom surface of the hull;
one or more ballast tanks having a water input, an air output, and a water output;
wherein the one or more ballast tanks ballast water input is in operative communication with the water pick-up output;
wherein the one or more ballast tanks air output is in operative communication with one or more air vents; and
wherein the one or more ballast tanks water output is in operative communication with one or more openings in the transom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the water pick-up extends beyond an outer surface of the bottom surface of the hull.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the water pick-up is flush mounted with an outer surface of the bottom surface of the hull, the bottom surface of the hull not a transom, and the water pick-up in operative communication with a hole through the bottom surface of the hull not the transom.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more air vents are through openings in the hull.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4 wherein the water pick-up is centered about the centerline running from the stern to the bow of the hull.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more ballast tanks water input in operative communication with the water pick-up output is a direct connection without any intervening valves.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more ballast tanks water input in operative communication with the water pick-up output has one or more intervening valves.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more ballast tanks water output in operative communication with the one or more openings in the transom has one or more intervening valves.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the water pick up mounted on the bottom surface of the hull extends beyond the bottom of the hull.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein one or more intake values are disposed between the water pick-up output and the one or more ballast tanks water input.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more intake values are located between a floor board and the bottom surface of the hull.