Adjustable Boat Tower for Wakeboarding and Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boat towers for watersports do not efficiently adjust height to optimize wakeboarding performance and storage, as they lack a mechanism for easy height adjustment and compact storage.
Innovation Solution
A boat tower with pivotally connected side supports and an actuation assembly, including a flexible tether and actuator, allows the tower to be raised and lowered between multiple heights, facilitating improved wakeboarding performance and reduced storage height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tower height is increased to improve wakeboarding performance, then the wakeboarding performance is improved, but the storage and transportation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The tower is designed with dynamically adjustable height through pivotally connected side supports that can be rotated between raised and folded positions. This allows the tower to transition between a high operational configuration for wakeboarding performance and a compact folded configuration for storage, resolving the contradiction between performance height and storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The tower structure is segmented into multiple parts including side supports, a center section, and a base, connected by pivots. This segmentation enables the tower to be folded into a compact configuration for storage while maintaining the ability to extend to full height for wakeboarding operations, effectively addressing the storage volume issue.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed height tower is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different wakeboarding conditions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tower incorporates dynamic adjustment capability through pivotally connected side supports that can be rotated to change the tower height. This dynamic structure provides adaptability to different wakeboarding conditions and performer preferences while maintaining relatively simple construction through the use of basic pivot joints and linkage mechanisms.
3Volume of moving object
If the tower is made compact for storage, then the storage height is reduced, but the wakeboarding performance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The tower uses dynamically adjustable side supports that can be rotated between folded and raised positions. When raised, the tower achieves full height for optimal wakeboarding performance. When folded, the tower compacts to minimal height for storage. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between storage height and wakeboarding performance by allowing the structure to adapt its height to the operational requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus may include a tower configured to be mounted to a boat. The apparatus may further include an actuation assembly, wherein the actuation assembly may include a linkage extending between a folding portion of the tower and at least one respective base for moving the tower between a first position and a second position.