Watersports adjustable position towing apparatus and method

Abstract

A three legged tripod tower is suitable for attaching to a tow rope using fixed or rotating joints and universal joint structures of various sizes and which may be fixed a various locations for the purposes of towing persons engaged in watersports or for towing objects safely. The structure has only three fixing points on a vessel, namely, one on the bow or stern, and one on each side of the beam, with two mounted to pivot in parallel to enable rapid deployment and stowage. The advantages of this structure include (1) the tripod tower apex will adjust in both forward and rearward directions, and in height, and will fit a variety of vessels of different size, (2) a safety and facilitative feature in having a main pin in the bow or stern leg which will handle the stress of towing and yet enable stowage to a flat position or deployment to a full working position in just moments, and (3) the ability to perform other functions, such as tying up other structures, or “tenting” the cloth top of a boat cover by providing a ridge to prevent pooling of water.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A towing support system comprising: 
 an overall “U” shaped structure having a pair of oppositely extending legs including a first leg and a second leg, each terminating in an end;    a third leg having a first end pivotably connected to said overall “U” shaped structure between said first leg and said second leg, and a second end; and    a first pivot support for supporting said end of said first leg from a first surface;    a second pivot support for supporting said end of said second leg from a second surface, said first and said second legs to pivot simultaneously about a first axis; and    a support for said second end of said third leg for attachment to a third surface.    
     
     
         2 . The towing support system as recited in    claim 1    and wherein said third leg separates into two portions between said first and said second end, in order to facilitate stowage and deployment.  
     
     
         3 . The towing support system recited in    claim 1    wherein said third leg is attached to said overall “U” shaped structure by a pivoting member setting said third leg in a spaced apart relationship from said overall “U” shaped structure.  
     
     
         4 . The towing support system recited in    claim 1    wherein said pivoting member further comprises: 
 a first member surrounding and rotatable around at least a portion of said overall “U” shaped structure;  
 an intermediate member having a first end attached to said first member and a second end, said second end attached to said third leg.  
 
     
     
         5 . The towing support system recited in    claim 1    wherein said overall “U” shaped structure further comprises a first angled leg having a first end attached to said first pivot and a second end, a second angled leg having a first end attached to said second pivot and a second end; 
 an insert for attachment to said second ends of said first and second angled legs for setting a spacing between said second ends of said first and second angled legs and for securing said first and second angled legs with respect to each other and for facilitating pivoting attachment of said third leg with respect to said overall “U” shaped structure.  
 
     
     
         6 . The towing support system recited in    claim 1    wherein said first and second pivot supports further pivot to enable attachment to said first and said second surfaces angled from parallel and coplanar to each other to both being horizontal and parallel spaced apart from each other.