FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a tower or arch like structure that may be mounted to a boat. More particularly, the tower may be used for towing an individual participating in watersports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wakeboarding is one of the most popular water sports in the world. By anchoring the towline at a high elevation above the boat deck, there is a greater ability of the performer to be lifted higher into the air, whether with a ski or wakeboard. Wakeboarding performance may be improved by using a vessel which is fitted with a towing structure having spaced supports attached on opposite sides of the vessel while coupling upper extremities of the supports with a bridging portion, to which a towrope attachment point is fitted.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

In one example implementation, an apparatus may include a tower configured to be mounted to a boat. The tower may include a first side support and a second side support. Each of the first side support and second side support may be pivotally connected at a respective base. The apparatus may also include an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly may include a linkage extending between a folding portion of the tower and at least one of the respective bases for moving the tower between a first position and a second position.

One or more of the following example features may be included. The first side support and the second side support may be respectively positioned at opposing ends of a center section of the tower. The actuation assembly may be disposed in at least one of the first side support and the second side support. The actuation assembly may further include an actuator coupled to the folding portion of the tower. The coupling between the actuator and the folding portion may provide pivotal movement between the actuator and the folding portion as the tower moves between the first position and the second position. The linkage may include a flexible tether coupled to and extending between the actuator and the respective base of the tower. The center of gravity of the tower may be longitudinally displaced from the pivotal connection toward a direction of movement of the tower between the first position and the second position. The linkage may extend on a longitudinally opposed side of the pivotal connection relative to the center of gravity of the folding portion of the tower. The folding portion of the tower may be positioned in a raised configuration in the first position. The folding portion of the tower may be positioned in a folded configuration in the second position. The first side support and the second side support may be configured to position the center section at a first height above a deck of the boat in the first position, and at a second height above the deck of the boat in the second position. The first height may be a greater distance from the deck of the boat than the second height. The first side support and the second side support may be configured to position the center section at a plurality of heights relative to the deck of the boat as the tower moves between the first position and the second position.

In another example implementation, an apparatus may include a tower configured to be mounted to a boat. The tower may include a first side support and a second side support. Each of the first side support and second side support may be pivotally connected to a respective base. The apparatus may include an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly may include a linkage extending between a folding portion of the tower and at least one of the respective bases for moving the tower between a first position and a second position. The actuation assembly may further include an actuator coupled to the folding portion of the tower. The coupling between the actuator and the folding portion may provide pivotal movement between the actuator and the folding portion as the tower moves between the first position and the second position.

One or more of the following example features may be included. The linkage may include a flexible tether coupled to and extending between the actuator and the respective base of the tower. A center of gravity of the tower may be longitudinally displaced from the pivotal connection toward a direction of movement of the tower between the first position and the second position. The flexible tether may extend on a longitudinally opposed side of the pivotal connection relative to the center of gravity of the folding portion of the tower. The folding portion of the tower may be positioned in a raised configuration in the first position. The folding portion of the tower may be positioned in a folded configuration in the second position.

In another example implementation, an apparatus may include a tower configured to be mounted to a boat. The tower may include a first side support and a second side support. Each of the first side support and second side support may be pivotally connected to a respective base. The tower may also include an actuation assembly for moving the tower between a first position and a second position. The actuation assembly may include an actuator coupled to a respective base. The actuation assembly may also include a linkage extending between the actuator and a folding portion of the tower.

One or more of the following example features may be included. The linkage may include a flexible tether coupled to and extending between the actuator and the folding portion of the tower. A center of gravity of the tower may be longitudinally displaced from the pivotal connection toward a direction of movement of the tower between the first position and the second position.

The details of one or more example implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other possible example features and/or possible example advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Some implementations may not have those possible example features and/or possible example advantages, and such possible example features and/or possible example advantages may not necessarily be required of some implementations.

