Modular Ski Tower

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/663,408, entitled “MODULAR SKI TOWER,” filed on Jun. 24, 2024, in which the entire disclosure is incorporated herein.

The present invention relates to a modular ski tower, and in particular to a ski tower that includes various modular components comprising foam-reinforced, composite material components configured to allow use with boat platforms of varying configurations and dimensions, as well as towing arrangements that include primary and secondary attachments.

The principal objects of the embodiments of the modular ski tower as disclosed and described herein provide a lightweight and durable modular ski tower that includes common components that may be used across a variety of boats with differing dimensions and configurations, is efficient in use, capable of a long operating life, and towing arrangements that inherently increases the associated safety by providing primary and secondary attachments, and where each are particularly well adapted for the proposed uses.

One embodiment as shown and described herein includes modular ski tower that includes a first leg member including a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end where the first end is configured to be secured to a boat structure of a boat via a mounting assembly, the housing comprising a composite material and defining an interior space, and wherein the interior space is at least partially filled with a structural foam, and a second leg member including a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the second leg member where the first end of the second leg member is configured to be secured to the boat structure of a boat via a mounting assembly, the housing of the second leg member comprising a composite material and defining an interior space, wherein the interior space of the housing of the second leg member is filled with a structural foam. The modular ski tower further includes a crossmember including a housing having a first end and second end opposite the first end of the crossmember, the crossmember comprising a composite material and defining an interior space, wherein the interior space of the housing of the crossmember is at least partially filled with a structural foam, wherein the second end of the first leg member is coupled to the first end of the crossmember and the second end of the second leg member is coupled to the second end of the crossmember via respective slip fit couplers, and wherein the each of slip fit couplers are permanently secured via an adhesive.

Another embodiment as shown and described herein may further or alternatively include a method for constructing a modular ski tower that includes providing a first leg member including a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end where the first end is configured to be secured to a boat structure of a boat via a mounting assembly and the second end includes a first portion of a first slip fit coupler, the housing comprising a composite material and defining an interior space, providing a second leg member including a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the second leg member where the first end of the second leg members is configured to be secured to the boat structure of a boat via a mounting assembly and the second end of the second leg includes a first portion of a second slip fit coupler, the housing of the second leg member comprising a composite material and defining an interior space, and providing a crossmember including a housing having a first end that includes a second portion of the first slip fit coupler and second end opposite the first end of the crossmember and that includes a second portion of the second slip fit coupler, the crossmember comprising a composite material and defining an interior space. The modular ski tower further includes at least partially filling the interior space of each of the first leg, the second leg, and the crossmember with a structural foam, applying an adhesive to at least one of the first and second portions of the first slip fit coupler, and to at least one of the first and second portions of the second slip fit coupler, and coupling the first portion and second portions of the first slip fit coupler with one another and the first and second portions of the second slip fit coupler with one another.

Yet another embodiment as shown and described herein may further or alternatively include modular ski tower that includes a first leg member including a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end where the first end is configured to be secured to a boat structure of a boat via a mounting assembly and the second end includes a first portion of a first coupler, and a second leg member including a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the second leg member where the first end of the second leg member is configured to be secured to a boat structure of the boat via a mounting assembly and the second end of the second leg member includes a first portion of a second coupler. The modular ski tower further includes a crossmember including a housing having a first end that includes a second portion of the first coupler and second end opposite the first end of the crossmember and that includes a second portion of the second coupler, wherein the second end of the first leg member is coupled to the first end of the crossmember via the first coupler and the second end of the second leg member is coupled to the second end of the crossmember via the second coupler, wherein the each coupler includes a longitudinal axis that is configured to extend substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the boat, wherein the first and second portions of the first coupler and configured to be coupled to one another by moving at least one of the first and second portions relative of the first coupler to one another along the longitudinal axis of the first coupler and the first and second portions of the second coupler are configured to be coupled to one another by moving at least one of the first and second portions of the second coupler relative to one another along the longitudinal axis of the second coupler, and wherein the first leg member and the second leg member are each permanently coupled to the crossmember.

Still yet another embodiment shown and described herein may further or alternatively include method for providing a kit for a modular ski tower that includes providing a first leg member including a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end where the first end is configured to be secured to a boat structure of a boat via a mounting assembly and the second end includes a first portion of a first coupler, and providing a second leg member including a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the second leg member where the first end of the second leg member is configured to be secured to a boat structure of the boat via a mounting assembly and the second end of the second leg member includes a first portion of a second coupler. The method further includes providing a selected crossmember as selected between a first crossmember and a second crossmember, the first crossmember and the second crossmember each including a housing having a first end that includes a second portion of the first coupler and second end opposite the first end of the crossmember and that includes a second portion of the second coupler, wherein the first crossmember has a first length and the second crossmember has a second length that is different from the first length, providing a tow mount supported by the crossmember, and coupling the second end of the first leg member to the first end of the selected crossmember via the first coupler and the second end of the second leg member to the second end of the selected crossmember via the second coupler, wherein the first crossmember and the second crossmember are configured such that a location of the tow mount along a longitudinal axis of the boat remains substantially consistent between the first crossmember and second crossmember subsequent to the selected crossmember being coupled to the first and second legs, and wherein the first and second leg members are permanently coupled to the crossmember.

Still, yet another embodiment as shown and described herein may further or alternatively include ski tow mount that includes a tow bolt having a distal end, a proximal end, and a body portion located therebetween where the body portion is configured to support a ski tow rope, a mounting portion secured to the distal end of the tow bolt, a first coupling member configured to be secured to the mounting portion via at least one first mechanical fastener such that a first portion of boat structure of a boat is located between the mounting portion and the first coupling member, and a coupling member configured to be secured to the tow bolt via at least one second mechanical faster such that a second portion of the boat structure is located between to the tow bolt and the coupling member.

Yet another embodiment as shown and described herein may further or alternatively include ski tow mount that includes a tow bolt having a distal end, a proximal end, and a body portion located therebetween where the body portion is configured to support a ski tow rope, a first attachment configured to secure the tow bolt to an upper surface of a boat structure from a location above the boat structure, and a second attachment configured to secure the tow bolt to the upper surface of the boat structure from a location below the boat structure, wherein the second attachment arrangement secures the tow bolt to the boat structure discretely from the first attachment arrangement.

These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.

The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a modular ski tower. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements. The orientation will be as shown in.

The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

The reference() generally designates a modular ski tower embodying aspects of the present invention. In the illustrated example, the ski towerincludes a pair of leg members, including a first leg member, a second leg member, a crossmemberextending between the first and second leg members,, a ski tow mountsupported by the crossmember, and a pair of mounting assembliesconfigured to support the overall ski towerfrom a boat structure, such as a boat deck or gunnels, between an upright or in use position A as shown in, and a lowered or storage position B as shown in. In the illustrative example, the mounting assembliesare motorized so as to allow powered movement of the leg members,and crossmemberbetween the raised position A and lowered position B, however, it is noted that mounting assemblies providing manual adjustment may also be utilized.

As best illustrated in, the first leg member, the second leg memberand the crossmembereach include an outer shell or housing,,, respectively. Each housing,,includes a pair of shell members that are secured together to form each housing. In the illustrated example, the first leg member housingincludes a first shell memberand a second shell member, the second leg housing memberincludes a first shell memberand a second shell member, and the crossmember housingincludes a first shell memberand a second shell member. Each shell member,,,,,comprises a composite material, and preferably comprises carbon fiber. The shell members of each of the housings,,are respectively coupled to one another via an adhesive, however, other suitable coupling and attachment mechanisms and processes may be utilized including but not limited to mechanical fasteners, sonic welding, heat welding, and the like. The housings,,are each configured to define and interior space,,, respectively. Subsequent to the members,,,,,of the housings,,being coupled to the matching shell member, the respective interior space,,is filled with a structural foam. In the example, the structural foamcomprises a polypropylene foam, however, other suitable foam materials may be utilized.

The first leg memberincludes a first or proximal endand a second or distal end, the second leg memberincludes a first or proximal endand a second or distal end, and the crossmemberincludes a first endand a second end. The first endof the first leg memberand the first endof the second leg memberare each operably coupled to the associated mounting assemblyto pivot between the raised position A () and the lower position B ().

The first leg memberand the second leg memberare coupled to the crossmembervia a first couplerand a second coupler, respectively. In the illustrated example, the first and second coupler,each include a slip fit coupler. The first endof first leg memberincludes a first portionof the first coupler, the first endof the crossmemberincludes a second portionof the first coupler, the first endof the second leg memberincludes a first portionof the first couplerand the second endof the crossmemberincludes a second portionof the second coupler. As best illustrated in, and by way of example, the first portionof the second coupleris telescopically received within the second portionwithin the second couplerin a slip fit-type connection. A waterproof or water-resistant adhesive is utilized to permanently secure the first portionand the second portionof the second couplerto one another. Alternatively or in addition to the adhesive, a snap-fit type connectionmay be utilized where the first portionof the second couplersnappingly engages the associated second portion, thereby temporarily securing the second leg memberto the crossmember. The first couplerand the second couplerare configured such that the first leg memberand the crossmemberand the second leg memberand the crossmemberare moved relatively to one another in the directions,, respectively, where the directions,are substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal accessof the associated boat (). In the illustrated example, the first couplerand the second couplereach have a longitudinal access,, respectively, that is substantial parallel with the directions,thereby allowing for the first and second portions,and the first and second portions,to be coupled to one another via the associated slip fit connection by movement in the directions,.

In assembly, each of the leg members,and the crossmemberare constructed by attaching the respective shell members,,,,,to one another as described above. The respective interior space,,of the leg members,of the crossmemberis then filled with the structural foamthrough one of the open ends thereof with air escaping through the opposite end as the foamfills the interior space,,. The first leg memberand the second leg memberare the attached to the crossmemberby coating at least one of the first portionand the second portionand at least one of the first portionand the second portionwith an adhesive, subsequent to which the leg members,and the crossmemberare moved relative to one another in the directions,until the first portionof the first coupleris received within the second portionand the first portionof the second coupleris received within the second portion. The laterally oriented coupling directions,allow crossmembers of varying lengths to be utilized with common leg members,to allow similar components to be utilized for boat platforms of varying beam widths. This configuration further allows crossmembers of varying lengths to be utilized with common leg members,without varying the relative location of the ski tow mountalong the lengths of the longitudinal accessof the associated boat.

As best illustrated in, the ski tow mountis configured to be secured to the crossmembervia a first attachmentand a second attachment. In the illustrated example, the ski tow mountincludes a tow bolthaving a distal end, a proximal end, and a body portionlocated therebetween and configured to support a ski tow rope. The first attachmentincludes a mounting portion affixed to and extending outwardly from the tow boat, where the mounting portion is configured to abut an upper serviceof the crossmember. The first attachmentfurther includes a first coupling membersecured to the mounting portion via a plurality of mechanical fasteners such as screwssuch that a first portionof the crossmemberis positioned between the first coupling memberand the mounting portion. The first coupling membermay be in-molded within the crossmember, and further may be configured within or with respect to crossmembersuch that the first coupling memberabuts the mounting portionupon assembly. The second attachmentincludes a second coupling memberpositioned beneath a second portionof the crossmemberand that is secured to the tow boltvia a mechanical fastener such as a screwthat is received through the coupling memberand threadably received within a threaded boreof the tow bolt, such that the second portionof the crossmemberis located between the second coupling memberand the tow bolt. In the configurations illustrated, the first attachmentand the second attachmentindependently and discreetly secure the tow boltto the crossmember.

The ski tow mountmay further include an electrical receiverhaving a housingreceived within a central boreof the tow bolt, where the housingincludes an upper flangeconfigured to abut an upper surfaceof the tow bolt. The electrical receiverfurther includes an electrical pluglocated within the housingand configured to provide electrical power to a removable lighting element (not shown). A covermay be provided to cover seal the housingform the elements when the electrical receiver is not in use.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those building the art and modifications made to the embodiments disclosed in the described herein without departing from those concepts. Such modifications should be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiment(s) only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.