Water sports boat with retractable speakers

Abstract

A wake boarding or other water sports power boat having retractable rear facing speakers for transmitting an audio signal to a water sports participant towed behind the boat. The power boat has storage compartments on the sides of the boat at the rear of the cockpit. The storage compartments have at least one generally horizontal cover panel having a rear portion that is raisable. The rear facing speakers are mounted under the raisable rear portion, such that the speakers are extended from the compartments when the rear portion is raised.

1 . In a power boat of the type used for wake boarding, wake skating, water skiing, kite tubing, or the like wherein a water sport participant is towed behind the boat, the improvement comprising a retractable, rear-facing speaker system for transmitting an audio output signal to the water sport participant, the system including at least one rear facing speaker movably mounted in an open interior of a compartment in a rear portion of the boat, the compartment being covered by a cover panel movably mounted for movement between a closed position, wherein the cover panel is closed and conceals the interior of the compartment, and an open position, wherein at least a rear side of the cover panel is raised above an adjacent portion of the boat deck, the speaker being movably mounted in the compartment for movement between a retracted position, wherein the speaker is positioned completely inside the compartment when the cover panel is closed, and an extended position, wherein the speaker is at least substantially raised out of the compartment such that the speaker has a transmission path rearwardly of the boat to the water sports participant being towed behind the boat. 
     
     
         2 . A retractable rear facing speaker system for a power boat, as in  claim 1 , wherein the cover panels are cushioned seats that are positioned at a rear portion of the boat, the cushioned seats concealing the existence of a compartment thereunder, such that the existence of speakers is concealed when the cover panels are closed. 
     
     
         3 . A retractable rear facing speaker system for a power boat, as in  claim 2 , wherein the speaker is mounted on an underside of the cover panel such that the speaker is raised to its extended position when the panel is opened and is lowered to its retracted position when the cover panel is closed. 
     
     
         4 . A retractable rear facing speaker system for a power boat as in  claim 1 , wherein the cover panel is pivotally mounted to the boat at a front edge and a rear portion of the cover panel is raisable to create a rearward facing opening for the extended speaker. 
     
     
         5 . A retractable rear facing speaker system for a power boat as in  claim 1  and further including a powered actuator that, upon actuation, raises the cover panel to its open position and extends the speakers to its extended position. 
     
     
         6 . In a power boat of the type used for wake boarding or waterskiing or the like wherein a water sports participant is towed behind the boat, the improvement comprising a retractable rear facing speaker system comprising at least one rear facing speaker mounted in an open interior of a speaker compartment under a raisable cover panel at a rear portion of the boat, the cover panel being pivotally mounted to the boat at a forward side of the panel, such that a rear side of the panel pivots upwardly between a closed position, wherein the panel is generally horizontal, and an open position wherein the panel is inclined, a rear facing speaker being movably mounted in the compartment for movement between a retracted position, wherein the speaker is completely inside the compartment such that the panel can be closed, and an extended position, wherein the speaker is at least substantially raised out of the compartment such that the speaker has an unobstructed transmission path rearwardly of the boat toward a person being towed behind the boat, the speaker and panel being releasably urged to remain in their open and extended positions when the speaker assembly is extended, the speaker assembly being in electronic communication with a source of electronic audio output that is to be transmitted aft to the water skier. 
     
     
         7 . In a wake boarding power boat wherein an engine compartment is positioned adjacent a rear end of the boat and storage compartments are positioned on the sides of the engine compartment, with each storage compartment having a cover panel pivotally mounted thereon for providing access to the interior of the storage compartments, the improvement wherein the storage compartment cover panel comprises a rear portion and a forward portion, the rear portion being movably mounted so a rear edge thereof can be positioned above the compartment when opened and can close the compartment when closed, the forward portion of the cover being movably mounted for opening and closing movement independent of the rear portion of the cover panel, loudspeakers being mounted below the rear portion for movement with the rear portion so as to extend at least partially above the compartment when the rear portion is opened. 
     
     
         8 . A wake boarding power boat having retractable rear facing speakers for transmitting an audio signal to a wake boarder towed behind the boat, the power boat having an engine compartment adjacent a rear portion of the boat, with storage compartments on the sides of the engine compartment, the storage compartments having generally horizontal covers raisably mounted thereon, the cover on at least one side of the boat including a rear portion and a front portion, the rear portion being raisable, the rear facing speakers being mounted under the raisable rear portion, such that the speakers are extended from the compartments when the rear portion is raised.