Ballast boat chair for wake enhancement

[0002] The present invention relates to a multi-function device and technique for increasing the wake of a water vessel so as to improve wake boarding or water skiing activity therebehind.

[0003] Water skiing and wake boarding are popular summer time activities on many lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water. A powered motor vessel surges through the water creating a wake on which the proficient water skier or wake boarder may perform tricks or other activity. In general, the larger the wake, the more challenging and fun the activity is.

[0004] Powered water vessels typically create a wake based in large part on the displacement of water by the hull. One technique to increase the displacement of the hull is to include ballast on the powered water vessel, which causes the powered water vessel to sit lower in the water. In particular, it is often desirous to place the ballast near the rear of the vessel so as to maximize the wake created.

[0005] Numerous devices do exist which serve as ballast for water vessels, and some are particularly contemplated as being placed in the rear of the vessel to improve wake performance. An exemplary device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,835.

[0006] It is common for there to be a lack of adequate seating on the vessel during use. In particular, most powered water vessels designed to pull water skiers or wake boarders are sleek vessels with a minimum of seats available for people not water skiing or wake boarding. This may be especially true at the rear of the vessel. Sometimes it is desirable to have someone watching the towed individual so as to free the driver of the vessel to pilot the vessel in a safe manner. Since seats are at a premium, this may not always be possible.

[0007] Thus, there remains a need for a ballast device that may serve as a chair for passengers in a water vessel that further provides an increase in the wake behind the vessel.

[0008] The present invention comprises an inflatable chair that may be filled with a fluid such as water to serve as ballast in the rear of a water vessel such that the wake of the water vessel is enhanced for water skiing or wake boarding purposes. The chair may be positioned so that someone looks forward, or alternately, backward so as to view the towed individual, freeing the driver to steer the vessel in a safe manner. The fluid in the chair may double as a cushioning or resilient filler material. The placement in the rear of the vessel puts the weight approximate the motor or motors and thus enhances the wake created by the vessel as it maneuvers through the water.

[0009] FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of a wake enhancing, fluid fillable chair for use with a water vessel according the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 1B illustrates an alternate embodiment of the chair of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates the chair of FIG. 1B positioned in the rear of a water vessel;

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a water vessel without the present invention pulling a water skier; and

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a water vessel with the present invention pulling a water skier.

[0014] The present invention comprises a fluid fillable chair positioned in the rear of a water vessel to improve the wake therebehind. Turning now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1A and 1B, wherein a chair 10 according to the present invention is illustrated. Chair 10 comprises a seat 20, a pair of armrests 30, and a back 40.

[0015] Seat 20 comprises a hollow, inflatable bladder, accessed by relatively large valves 22. Herein “inflatable” means that the chair or a portion thereof is filled with a fluid such as water or a gas such as air. Large valves 22 are sized to accommodate a garden hose or other similar fluid conveying device and may comprise a screw top or other closure mechanism as is well understood. Top surface 26 is adapted for sitting thereon, and may include a plurality of corrugations 28 (FIG. 1B) such as are commonly found on pool floats. Valves 22 allow the seat 20 to be filled with a fluid or gas, thereby inflating the seat 20, and making the seat 20 weightier. However, it is contemplated that in most applications, the seat 20 will be filled with water or some other liquid. While the valves 22 are shown in one position in the accompanying figures, it should be appreciated that they may be positioned on the seat 20 during manufacturing as needed or desired. Corrugations 28 allow fluid such as water or sweat that falls upon the seat 20 to be channeled to a desired location. Corrugations 28 may also be associated with internal baffles if needed or desired.

[0016] Armrests 30 may comprise a cup holder 32, a valve 34, and a plurality of corrugations 38. Cup holder 32 comprises an indentation sized to fit a stadium cup or the like as needed or desired. While only one cup holder 32 per armrest 30 is illustrated, it should be appreciated that a plurality of cup holders 32 may be positioned in each armrest 30 as needed or desired. Corrugations 38 likewise may be associated with internal baffles as needed or desired.

[0017] Back 40 similarly may comprise corrugations 48, comparable to corrugations 28, 38. In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, armrests 30 and back 40 are an integral unit, namely upper 45 with a single valve 34 to inflate the upper 45. Valve 34 may be a small air valve with a check flap, such as are commonly found in pool floats.

[0018] In the alternate embodiment of FIG. 1B, armrests 30 and back 40 are distinct elements, each having a respective valve 34 or 44. Armrests 30 may be connected to back 40 by living hinges 50 as needed or desired. While it is expected that armrests 30, back 40 or upper 45 will be inflated with a gas such as air, it is also possible to fill these elements with a fluid such as water if desired. Likewise, it is possible to position a small valve 24 on the seat 20 if desired. In the alternate embodiment, it is possible to fill seat 20 and back 40 with water, while inflating armrests 30 with air. Alternatively, seat 20 and one armrest may be fluid filled and the rest inflated with air. Other permutations are also possible, but this versatility allows the weight of the chair 10 to be varied somewhat. While these variations may be utilized, in most applications it is contemplated that the seat 20 will be filled with water and the armrest and back will be filled with air. However, it is certainly contemplateable that the seat, armrest and back could all be filled with a liquid such as water.

[0019] Chair 10 may be made from a plastic or polymeric impermeable material with seat 20 attached to armrests 30 and back 40 or upper 45 by living hinges or other non-inflatable portions. In the illustrated embodiments, chair 10 accommodates two individuals thereon. In other embodiments, the number of persons able to sit thereon may be varied. For example, the chair 10 of the present invention can be designed such that it simply accommodates a single person. It should be appreciated that in a deflated state, the material of the chair 10 may be folded so as to minimize the amount of space required to house the chair 10. However, inflated, chair 10 may be heavy and is designed to add ballast to a water vessel 100 (FIG. 2).

[0020] Water vessel 100 may include a rear section 102, a front section 104 and a driver 106. Chair 10 may be positioned in the rear section 102 facing forward (as illustrated in FIG. 2) or backward (as illustrated in FIG. 4).

[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the water vessel 100 may tow a skier 108 via a rope 110. While not shown, skier 108 may alternatively be a wake boarder, a tuber, or other towed individual. Driver 106 steers the water vessel through the water 200. In FIG. 3, no chair 10 is present in water vessel 100 and water vessel 100 sits normally, having water line 202. Additionally, a normal wake 204A is created.

[0022] In contrast, in FIG. 4, the water vessel 100 has chair 10 positioned and facing rearwardly. Alternatively, chair 10 may be forwardly facing (FIG. 2). An individual may sit upon chair 10 providing further ballast to the rear section 102. Water vessel 100 now sits differently in water 200, having more of the water vessel 100 below the water line 202 in the rear section 102 and more above the water line 202 in the front section 104. This creates a larger wake 204B creating a more exciting towed activity for the skier 108, an equivalent wake boarder, tuber, or other towed individual.

[0023] It should be appreciated that it may be easiest to place the chair 10 in the water vessel 100 and then fill the seat 20 with a fluid such as water after positioning. This is not a requirement. Chair 10 may be filled with the ballast inducing fluid prior to positioning. This just makes the chair 10 heavier and more difficult to transport. Furthermore, there may be occasions when a water vessel 100 is equipped with seats or chairs in the rear portion 102 of the water vessel 100. However, these chairs or seats may not provide the desired ballast for the water vessel 100. To that end, those seats or chairs may be removed and replaced with the chair 10 of the present invention that has a variable ballast capability to create the desired wake 204B.

[0024] The terms “larger wake” or “enhanced wake” are used herein to describe a wake produced by a boat having the chair 10 of the present invention positioned therein, as contrasted to a wake produced by a boat that does not include such a chair or any other added weight to the rear portion of the boat.

[0025] The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and the essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.