Patent Application
20050263059
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The present invention is directed toward boats for skiing and wake boarding, and particularly toward controlling the wake generated by, and enhancing the maneuvering of, boats.
Water sports are popular recreation, exercise and, in some cases, competitive activities which are enjoyed virtually anywhere which has reasonably warm weather and a body of water. Among the most popular of water sports using a boat are water skiing and, to a growing degree, wake boarding. Wake boarders ride a device known as a wake board while being pulled by a tow line or rope behind a suitable power boat (in the same manner that a water skier is pulled behind a boat). Both wake boarders and water skiers will often maneuver laterally across the wake produced by the moving boat in a slalom-like fashion, with the passage of the wake board or skis over the wake lifting the participant into the air, allowing the wake boarder or skier the opportunity, if desired, to perform various flips or other tricks prior to landing back onto the surface of the water.
Obviously, the ride of the wake boarder or skier will in large part be dependent on the level of the wake of the boat being pulled. Moreover, different level wakes may be desirable for different types of tricks. Thus, depending on the combination of tricks which a wake boarder or water skier may desire to perform, varying wake levels may be desirable during a single ride.
Some adjustments to the wake level of a boat having an outboard motor may be accomplished by changing the orientation of the propeller within the water. However, such adjustments are somewhat limited and not easily obtainable with boats that include inboard motors.
A variety of devices have heretofore also been provided to assist in creating a desired wake in such uses. Some devices change the trim of the boat through the provision of ballast in the boat, such as pumping water into or out of bladders to cause the rear of the boat to sit lower or higher in the water, or to simply add weight such as concrete blocks to the boat. However, such devices may only change the boat trim slowly, and therefore quick changes to the wake level may not be quickly accomplished. This may not only generally frustrate the wake boarder or skier, but also may make a quick succession of different tricks requiring different wake levels impossible. Further, devices of this type may be dangerous if not used correctly as they may cause the boat to sit too low in the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,384 discloses a hydrofoil which is pivotably secured to the transom of a boat, and which may be pivoted to adjust the wake provided by the boat. However, boats using this device and others such as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,071 may not be ideally maneuvered. Moreover, while such devices may assist in controlling the boat wake, it is necessary for the wake boarder or skier being towed to communicate the desired wake to the boat driver, or for the boat driver to anticipate the desires of the wake boarder or skier, or for the wake boarder or skier to adjust what he or she does in response to the wake level selected by the boat driver.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one aspect of the present invention, a wake control device for a boat having an aft is provided, including a mounting member pivotally securable to the boat aft for pivoting about a first axis substantially transverse to the boat aft, a rudder member secured to the mounting member for pivoting about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, a drive selectively controlling the pivotal position of the mounting member about the first axis, and a fin extending laterally relative to the rudder member.
In a form of this aspect of the invention, the first and second axes are non-intersecting.
In another form of this aspect of the invention, the second axis is fixed relative to the mounting member.
In still another form of this aspect of the invention, the device is in combination with a boat having a water propulsion drive generating a water stream, wherein the second axis extends through the water stream. In further forms, the water propulsion device is an inboard motor on the boat, or an outboard drive on the boat, or the fin is positioned in the water stream. In another further form, there is a controller for the pivotal position controlling drive, a tow rope is secured to the boat at one end and has a securement for a skier or wake boarder remote from the one end, with a manually operable control for the controller located at the tow rope securement. In further forms, a wire connection is along the tow rope connecting the controller and the manually operable control, the manually operable control includes a wireless connection to the controller, or the fin is pivotable about the first axis between a normal position aligned with the bow of the boat and a maximum wake assisting position (where, in a still further form, the normal position and the maximum wake assisting position are pivotally spaced about 12° apart around the first axis.
In yet another form of this aspect of the present invention, the fin is curved upwardly on opposite lateral ends and centered on the rudder member.
In still another form, the pivotal position controlling drive comprises at least one selectively expandable drive member having one end pivotally securable to the boat aft and the other end pivotally secured to the mounting member. In a further form, the drive member is a first piston and cylinder and, in a still further form, includes a second piston and cylinder where the first and second pistons and cylinders are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the mounting member.
In yet another form of this aspect of the invention, the fin is centered on the rudder member. In a further form, the fin is fixed to the bottom end of the rudder member.
In another aspect of the present invention, a wake control device is provided for a boat propelled by an outboard drive having a propeller drive, including a rudder member securable to a position spaced behind the outboard drive, where the rudder member is pivotable about a lateral axis relative to the outboard drive when secured thereto. The lateral axis is substantially transverse to the outboard drive and perpendicular to the propeller axis. A drive selectively controls the pivotal position of the rudder member about the first axis, and a fin extends laterally relative to the rudder member and defines a surface substantially aligned with the propeller axis.
In one form of this aspect of the invention, the rudder member is also pivotable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
In another form of this aspect of the present invention, the wake control device is in combination with the outboard drive and propeller, wherein the propeller is adapted to generate a water stream and propel the boat and the fin is positioned in the water stream. In one further form, a controller is provided for the pivotal position controlling drive associated with the rudder and fin, and a remote control for the controller is manually operable by a skier or wake boarder remote from the boat. In another further form, the fin is pivotable about the lateral axis between a normal position aligned with the propeller axis and a maximum wake assisting position where, in a still further form, the normal position and the maximum wake assisting position are pivotally spaced about 12° apart around the lateral axis.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the fin is curved upwardly on opposite lateral ends and centered on the rudder member.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the pivotal position controlling drive includes at least one selectively expandable drive member having one end pivotally securable to the boat aft and the other end pivotally secured to the mounting member. In one further form, the drive member is a first piston and cylinder, and in a still further form, there is a second piston and cylinder, where the first and second pistons and cylinders are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the mounting member.
In still another form of this aspect of the present invention, the fin is centered on the rudder member and, in a still further form, the fin is fixed to the bottom end of the rudder member.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a device for controlling the wake of a boat includes a wake assisting device securable to the rear of the boat, a controller for the wake assisting device, and a manually operable control remotely operable by a skier or wake boarder being pulled by the boat.
In one form of this aspect of the present invention, a tow rope is securable to the boat at one end and includes a securement for a skier or wake boarder remote from the one end, wherein the manually operable control is located at the securement. In further forms, a wire connection along the tow rope connects the controller and the manually operable control, and/or the manually operable control includes a wireless connection to the controller.
As is known, exhaust ports 22 for the inboard motor are seen in
The wake control device 10 includes a mounting bracket 24 which may be suitably secured to the boat transom 14, for example by rivets, screws or bolts 26 through suitable holes 28 in the bracket 24.
The bracket 24 defines a first pivot axis 30 which is lateral or transverse to the boat 16 and, when the boat 16 is level, extends substantially horizontal. It should be understood, however, that the first pivot axis 30 is fixed relative to the boat 16 so that when the boat 16 leans (e.g., when turning), the first pivot axis 30 will similarly lean away from a horizontal orientation.
In the embodiment illustrated in
It should be appreciated that the bracket 24 illustrated is merely one suitable structure which may be used. Once an understanding of the present invention is had, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the bracket may take virtually any form which will suitably provide a secure pivot with the pivot axis 30 oriented as described herein. For example, the plate 34 and flanges 36 could be formed of two separate “L” members, or of a base plate having the flanges suitably secured thereto by welding or the like. Moreover, it should be understood that the components of the present invention may be formed of any material suitable for use in water environments and having sufficient strength to maintain their structural integrity while encountering the stresses and forces which can be expected during use. For example, stainless steel and/or aluminum may advantageously be used.
A mounting link 44 is suitably secured between the bracket mounting plates 34 for pivoting about the first pivot axis 30, for example by a pivot sleeve 46 axially aligned with the first pivot axis 30 and extending through, and suitably secured in, aligned openings in the mounting plates 34 and the mounting link 44. It should be understood, however, that still other pivotal linkages could be used within the scope of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the illustrated connection will advantageously limit the downward pivoting of the mounting link as a result of abutment of the bottom (forward) corner of the mounting link 44 with the mounting plate 34, and thereby ensure a reliable lowered position of the wake control device 10 as described in further detail hereafter.
At least one drive 50 is provided to control the pivotal position of the mounting link 44 about the first pivot axis 30. As illustrated in
Pivotally secured to the rear end of the mounting link 44 about a substantially vertical second pivot axis 58 (when the boat 16 is level) is a rudder member 60, which is also generally vertically oriented. A suitable pivot 64 is provided between the mounting link 44 and the rudder member 60 may advantageously freely pivot from side to side as it passes through the water, depending on the flow of the water as described further below.
(While the first and second pivot axes 30, 58 do not intersect and, therefore, do not form a right angle, they are generally oriented perpendicularly to one another in the same sense that non-intersecting horizontal and vertical axes are perpendicular to one another. Since the boat will not remain level at all times, and therefore the first and second pivot axes 30, 58 will not remain horizontal and vertical at all times, reference herein will be made to the axes 30, 58 being perpendicular to one another in this same sense [i.e., where each axis 30, 58 lies in one plane which is perpendicular to the other axis]. As such, references herein to the axes 30, 58 being perpendicular should not be taken to indicate that the axes 30, 58 are required or intended to intersect.)
A laterally extending fin 70 is secured to the bottom of the rudder member 60, which fin 70 may advantageously be symmetrically arcuate as illustrated in
The rudder member 60 and fin 70 are, in accordance with the present invention, advantageously supported so as to be positioned in the water stream of the propulsion drive 18 as illustrated in
The pivoting of the rudder member 60 may advantageously be limited, for example to prevent pivoting beyond 45° to either side of the mounting link 44, to prevent the rudder member 60 and attached fin 70 from pivoting too far to a position in which the fin 70 and/or rudder member 60 may inadvertently bump other components at the rear of the boat 16, such as the propeller, particularly when the boat 16 is out of the water.
In use, from the lowered position (
A limited range of pivotal motion of the mounting link 44 of about 12° up (counterclockwise in
Moreover, it has been found that the device 10 positioned and oriented as described herein will not only assist in controlling the boat wake, but will also significantly enhance tracking and maneuverability of the boat by, for example, enabling the boat to be turned at higher speeds through significantly smaller turning radii than could be safely accomplished with a similar boat which does not have the wake control device 10 of the present invention. Further, this may all be accomplished without dangerously adding ballast or ruining gas efficiency.
As illustrated in
It should be understood that the remote input/control device 88 illustrated in
It should be appreciated that by using a remote input/control device 88 which may be controlled by the wake boarder or skier as they wake board or ski, the wake boarder or skier may ideally control the wake in which they are performing. Thus, the need for the wake boarder or skier to somehow communicate to someone on the boat when wake changes are desired can be avoided, as can the frustration of missed or misunderstood communications. Further, this remote input device 88 will make it much easier for the wake boarder or skier to adjust the wake to exactly the wake they desire, without the yo-yo wake adjustments which can result when a person on board the boat reacts slowly to the wake boarder's or skier's communications to increase or decrease the wake (and thereby increases the wake too much, then decreases it too much, back and forth, until the desired wake is finally achieved). Moreover, it is conceivable that, in certain water conditions, the maximum height wake may be obtained at an intermediate pivoted position of the rudder member 60 and fin 70. In those situation, the use of the remote input/control device 88 enables the wake boarder or skier (who are in the best position to determine the wake height at their location) to readily adjust the device 10 to provide maximum wake height (as is often desired) in conditions where observers on the boat may not be able to determine that proper adjustment.
In the
Inasmuch as the device 10′ will typically pivot or turn with the outboard motor 100 as it turns, it would be within the scope of the present invention to secure the rudder member 60′ for only pivoting about the horizontal first pivot axis 30′ (as the rudder member 60′ and fin 70′ will move with the water stream as the motor 100 turns to change direction of the stream). However, it should be understood that a pivotal connection 64′ (shown in phantom in
It should be understood that the wake control device 10′ of
It should also be appreciated that the wake control device 10 according to the present invention which may be not only be provided as original equipment on a boat, but may also be readily retrofitted to an existing boat.
Still other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the specification, the drawings, and the appended claims. It should be understood, however, that the present invention could be used in alternate forms where less than all of the objects and advantages of the present invention and preferred embodiment as described above would be obtained.
