AU2010100573B9 - Clamp fitting for wakeboard tower accesories - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided a universal clamp fitting for accessories for a wakeboard tower including: 5 a first portion being the top half of the clamp fitting a second portion being the bottom half of the clamp fitting a third portion being a fastening plate or area made of metal or other suitable material or being a part of the accessory to be attached to the clamp fitting with various machined areas and shapes 10 wherein the first and second portions are attached and fastened to a wakeboard tower frame, also with the possible addition of padding inserts or sheets made of rubber or other suitable material, and the third portion is attached and fastened to the second portion and an accessory, to provide a universal clamp fitting for affixing any accessory to a wakeboard tower, and allow for any angle of adjustment or rotation of an accessory, 15 without the need for cutting, drilling, or manual adjustment involving specialized equipment. 20 James Odell 22 June 2011

Description

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT CLAMP FITTING FOR WAKEBOARD TOWER ACCESSORIES 5 The present invention relates to a clamp fitting that can be used to fasten any accessory to a wakeboard tower for boats. In the past, various tools and fittings have been used to enable the fitting of accessories to wakeboard towers, which include board racks, speakers, and lights. 10 Until the present invention, clamps for wakeboard towers have always been required to be drilled, fixed and adjusted manually with limited rotational capabilities, often damaging the wakeboard tower. 15 The present invention allows for fitting accessories to wakeboard towers without the need for drilling, cutting or manual adjustment of the fastening clamp, towers legs or pipes and without involving specialized equipment, and unlike other inventions, enables attachments to rotate after attachment or be adjusted and affixed at exact angles. 20 According to the present invention there is provided a universal clamp fitting for wakeboard tower accessories including: a first portion being the top half of the clamp fitting a second portion being the bottom half of the clamp fitting a third portion being a fastening plate to be attached to the clamp fitting with 25 various machined areas and shapes wherein the first portion and second portions are fastened to a wakeboard tower frame, and the third portion is attached and fastened to the second portion and an accessory. 30 It is possible for the addition of padding sheets made of rubber or other suitable material to a wakeboard tower frame allowing for the first and second portions to provide a tight fit around a wakeboard tower frame. The portions may be made of any suitable material such as aluminium and stainless 35 steel for bolts and joints. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 40 Fig. 1 shows a front perspective cross sectional view of a clamp fitting Fig. 2 shows a side perspective cross sectional view of a clamp fitting Fig. 3 shows a top perspective cross sectional view of a clamp fitting 45 Fig. 4 shows a bottom perspective cross sectional view of a clamp fitting 1 Fig. 5 shows a left side perspective cross sectional view of a fastening plate Fig. 6 shows a top perspective view representation of Fig. 5 5 Fig. 7 shows a left side perspective cross sectional view of a clamp fitting and fastening plate with the fastening combination shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 Fig. 8 shows a front perspective cross sectional view of a fastening plate 10 Fig. 9 shows a top perspective cross sectional view of Fig. 8 Fig. 10 shows a right side perspective cross sectional view of a clamp fitting and fastening plate with the fastening combination shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 15 It is preferred that the present invention includes first portion 1 being one half of the clamp fitting, a second portion 2 being a second half of the clamp fitting, and a third portion 12 and 14 being a fastening plate or area (Fig. 5, Fig. 8). It is preferred that the first portion 1 and second portion 2 clamp onto a wakeboard tower 20 frame tubing, with surface area 4 clamping onto the tube, and rotated to the suitable angle, and bolts 6 securing the first portion 1 and second portion 2 together using threaded hole 7. While it is possible to have any number of differently shaped third portions, it is preferred 25 that the third portion include one of two basic shape formations, namely, fastening plate 12 and14. In the case of fastening plate 12, it is preferred that fastening plate 12 be used for accessories that do not require rotation in use and require additional stability during use, 30 such as racks for water sports equipment. In the case of fastening plate 12, it is preferred that a hole 16 is provided for the guiding of a bolt 15, and a threaded hole 17 be used for securing a smaller bolt 18 to stabilize and secure an accessory to second portion 2. 35 It is preferred that raised area 5 of second portion 2 is inserted into the sunken area 11 of fastening plate 12 which is attached to an accessory 20. It is preferred that second portion 2 have a central threaded area 4 to allow for a bolt 15 40 to fasten fastening plate 12. In the case of fastening plate 14, it is preferred that fastening plate 14 be used for accessories that may require rotation in use, such as speakers. 45 In the case of fastening plate 14, it is preferred that there be two kidney shaped areas 15 to hold bolts 19 in place while allowing rotation and adjustment of an accessory in any angle or direction. It is preferred that raised area 5 of second portion 2 is inserted into the sunken area 22 50 of fastening plate 14 which is attached to an accessory 21. 2 It is preferred that second portion 2 has two threaded areas 13 to allow for bolts 19 to attach fastening plate 14. It is preferred that centre hole 23 of fastening plate 14 align with threaded hole 4 of 5 second portion 2 for the passage of wiring. It will be understood by persons skilled in the art of the present invention that many modifications or applications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described above, including various machined area shapes and fastening 10 plates enabling for the attachment of differing accessories as appropriate. 15 James Odell 22 June 2011 3

Claims (2)

1. 2. A clamp fitting for wakeboard tower accessories according to claim 1, wherein 20 the portions work together, with the circular raised and sunken area of the join between the second and third portion allowing for any exact angle of the accessory plate to be achieved, combined with the stabilizing bolt which is threaded through the offset hole and tightened against the flat surface area outside the raised area of the second portion, with the tightening of the stabilizing bolt pushing the fastening plate against the centre 25 bolt and locking the portions into position so as to resist movement.
2. 3. A clamp fitting for wakeboard tower accessories according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the portions work together to provide a universal clamp fitting that allow for the adjustment of an accessory to any angle of rotation off the third portion. 30 35 James Odell 22 June 2011 4