US 6,374,762 B1 · Water sport towing apparatus

Abstract

The aerial performance characteristics of a performer using a water sport implement such as a wakeboard is enhanced by a towing apparatus which includes vertical supports rigidly attached starboard and port side gunwales of the vessel at a location generally outboard an operator station. A frame including rigid U-shaped bridging supports transversely extends across the beam of the vessel. The frame is pivotally fitted to a forward portion of the vertical supports for rotation from an operating position to a stored position on the deck of the vessel. The U-shaped bridging supports extend substantially above the level of the operator station. One of the U-shaped bridging supports is readily removably attached to the vertical support. A ball assembly is carried by detachable ends of the frame, while a socket assembly is carried by the vertical support. A shaft extends through the socket and has one end threaded for engaging a threaded bore of the ball. An opposing end of the shaft includes a knob for manipulating the shaft into and out of engagement with the ball for readily removable attachment of the ball with the socket and thus the frame with the vertical supports. As a result, the frame can be rotated downwardly onto the deck of the vessel, reducing the elevation of the vessel for passing underneath a bridge or into a garage when being carried by a trailer. A tow rope is attached to a horizontally extending bridging support portion for towing the performer.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for providing a sports towing vessel and towing a wakeboard performer on a body of water with the sports towing vessel so as to improve the ability of the performer to achieve greater height during towing while maintaining the stability of the vessel, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the sports towing vessel having a bow, a stern, opposing starboard and port gunwales, an operator's station forwardly from amidships toward the bow and a windshield mounted between the gunwales in front of the operator's station;
fitting a rigid skeletal towing frame to the vessel for elevating a tow rope attachment point substantially above a level of the operator station, the skeletal towing frame fitting step including:
a) attaching a first support to the starboard gunwale forward of the windshield;
b) attaching a second support to the port gunwale forward of the windshield;
c) forming each of the first and second supports in an angular relationship with the respective gunwales so as to extend vertically and rearwardly toward the stern;
d) providing the first and second supports with sufficient length so that the vertical extremities thereof extend rearwardly across and over the windshield;
e) attaching a third support to the starboard gunwale aft of the first support;
f) attaching a fourth support to the port gunwale aft of the second support;
g) spacing the third support from the first support, and the fourth support from the second support a sufficient distance to impart stability to the skeletal towing structure;
and
h) providing mechanical coupling means for coupling the upper portions of the first, second, third and fourth supports rigidly together;
fitting the tow rope attachment point with the mechanical coupling means;
and
towing the wakeboard performer with the sports towing vessel by a tow rope attached to the tow rope attachment point.

11 more elements

providing the sports towing vessel having a bow, a stern, opposing starboard and port gunwales, an operator's station forwardly from amidships toward the bow and a windshield mounted between the gunwales in front of the operator's station;
fitting a rigid skeletal towing frame to the vessel for elevating a tow rope attachment point substantially above a level of the operator station, the skeletal towing frame fitting step including:
a) attaching a first support to the starboard gunwale proximate the windshield;
b) attaching a second support to the port gunwale proximate the windshield;
c) forming each of the first and second supports in an angular relationship with the respective gunwales so as to extend vertically and rearwardly toward the stern;
d) providing the first and second supports with sufficient length so that the vertical extremities thereof extend rearwardly across and over the windshield;
e) attaching a third support to the starboard gunwale aft of the first support;
f) attaching a fourth support to the port gunwale aft of the second support;
g) spacing the third support from the first support, and the fourth support from the second support a sufficient distance to impart stability to the skeletal towing structure;
and
h) providing a mechanical means for coupling the upper portions of the first, second, third and fourth supports rigidly together;
fitting the tow rope attachment point with at least one of the first, second, third and fourth supports;
attaching a tow rope to the tow rope attachment;
and
operating the sports towing vessel for towing the wakeboard performer.

12 more elements

providing a sports towing vessel having a bow, the stern, opposing starboard and port gunwales, an operator's station forwardly from amidships toward the bow and a windshield mounted between the gunwales in front of the operator's station;
fitting a rigid skeletal towing frame to the vessel for elevating a tow rope attachment point substantially above a level of the operator station, the skeletal towing frame fitting step including:
a) extending a first elongate member forward to aft along the starboard gunwale, proximate a starboard portion of the windshield, and fixedly attaching opposing ends thereof to the sports towing vessel;
b) extending a second elongate member forward to aft along the port gunwale, proximate a port portion of the windshield, and fixedly attaching opposing ends thereof to the sports towing vessel;
c) rotatably attaching a first support to the first elongate member;
d) rotatably attaching a second support to the second elongate member;
c) forming each of the first and second supports in an angular relationship with the respective gunwales so as to extend vertically and rearwardly toward the stern;
e) providing the first and second supports with sufficient length so that the vertical extremities thereof extend rearwardly across and over the operator station;
f) removably attaching a third support to the first elongate member aft of the first support;
g) removably attaching a fourth support to the second elongate member aft of the second support;
h) spacing the third support from the first support, and the fourth support from the second support a sufficient distance to impart stability to the skeletal towing structure;
and
i) providing mechanical coupling means for coupling the upper portions of the first, second, third and fourth supports rigidly together;
fitting the tow rope attachment point with the mechanical coupling means;
and
towing the wakeboard performer with the sports towing vessel by a tow rope attached to the tow rope attachment point.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water sport towing apparatus

Life of this patent

Water sport towing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30