This invention relates to boat towers and especially to a ventilation system for boat towers having windshields isolating the cockpit area in the tower.
Many boats have frames extending above the hull of the boat. Such structures are generally attached to the boat and referred to as boat towers. Boat towers may be in the form of wake towers, T-top frames, fishing towers, conventional fishing platforms, biminis or racks. Many boat towers also have windshields and side windows made of glass or a polymer material to protect against sea spray, rain and wind. Such towers commonly have tops or covers further isolating the cockpit area of the tower.
Boat towers with windshields tend to isolate the cockpit area of the boat which allows for the build up of heat and can allow condensation to build up in the cockpit area. What is needed is an effective ventilation system to ventilate the area behind the windshield and to cool the person in the cockpit area of the boat.
The present invention is for a boat tower on a boat which has ventilation units integral to the boat tower frame members which can be manually or automated to open or close to let air flow in a predetermined direction into the boat cockpit area.
An air ventilation system for a boat tower has an air ventilation body fitted into an extruded or cast boat tower frame member which air ventilation body is shaped to fit into the extruded or cast boat tower frame member. The air ventilation body has a passageway therethrough. A passageway cover is hinged to the air ventilation body and has a closed position to block the passage of air therethrough and an open position to open the passageway to the flow of air therethrough. The air ventilation body is elongated and each end has a shaped end portion which can be press fitted into the extruded upright tower frame member extrusion or casting channel between two sections of the frame. An air ventilation system for a boat tower is thus integrated into a boat tower frame member. The air ventilation body has a stop ledge in the passageway for positioning the cover in a closed position. The air ventilation body has a cover seal to seal the cover over said passageway when the cover is closed. The air ventilation body passageway is curved to direct air in a predetermined area into the cockpit of a boat.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification and illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
In the drawings:
The present invention is for an air ventilation system for a boat tower on a boat having a windshield isolating the cockpit area in the boat.
Referring to the drawings
The boat tower 11 frame upright members 15 and 16 are made up of two extrusion members 21 and 22, such as aluminum extrusions, each having extrusion channels 23 running through the center thereof as seen in
A tower ventilation unit 24 is mounted in each tower front upright frame member 15 and 16 between the extrusion members 21 and 22. Each tower ventilation unit 24 has a body 19 having a passageway 25 shaped to direct air therethrough as seen in
An alternate embodiment is illustrated in
It should be clear at this time that a boat tower ventilation system which is integral to the boat tower frame has been provided. However the present invention is not to be considered limited to the forms shown which are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6712689 | Clarkson | Mar 2004 | B2 |
7954443 | Mason | Jun 2011 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210188414 A1 | Jun 2021 | US |