Marine folding tower

Abstract

A system that will result in less physical effort in the lowering or raising of a marine folding tower, spotting station, driving station, fishing tower, or tuna tower. The system will be installed on a fishing boat, pleasure boat, or other marine vessel. The system comprises at least one gas spring, or hydraulic or electric ram or shock absorber of any size or style that attaches to both the upper frame assembly and lower frame assembly of the tower or other station.

1 . A folding tower attached to a marine vessel, said tower comprising:
 A lower frame assembly held in fixed relation to the vessel and including
 a plurality of spaced apart forward support legs and aft support legs with lower ends or footers fixably attached to the deck of the vessel and with upper ends fixably connected to pairs of longitudinal rails and transverse rails which provide support for the upper frame assembly when the tower is in the upright position; 
   An upper frame assembly in rotational relation and pivotably connected to the lower frame assembly including
 spaced apart lower side rails, spaced apart upper side rails, spaced apart lower transverse rails, and spaced apart upper transverse rails, with such rails attached to spaced apart support posts; 
 pivotal connections at port and starboard pivot points between the lower frame assembly and the upper frame assembly, accommodating rotational movement of the upper frame assembly between an upright position over the deck of a vessel and a lowered or folded position; 
   A gas spring or shock absorber attached at its upper end by side mount to a forward support post of the tower's upper frame assembly and at its lower end by side mount to a forward support leg of the tower's lower frame assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a means for releasably securing the upper frame assembly in the upright position. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further including a means for locking said means for releasably securing. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a means for releasably securing the upper frame assembly in the folded position. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further including a means for locking said means for releasably securing. 
   
   
       6 . A folding tower attached to a marine vessel, said tower comprising:
 A lower frame assembly held in fixed relation to the vessel and including
 a plurality of spaced apart forward support legs and aft support legs with lower ends or footers fixably attached to the deck of the vessel and with upper ends fixably connected to pairs of longitudinal rails and transverse rails which provide support for the upper frame assembly when the tower is in the upright position; 
   An upper frame assembly in rotational relation and pivotably connected to the lower frame assembly including
 spaced apart lower side rails, spaced apart upper side rails, spaced apart lower transverse rails, and spaced apart upper transverse rails, with such rails attached to spaced apart support posts; 
 pivotal connections at port and starboard pivot points between the lower frame assembly and the upper frame assembly, accommodating rotational movement of the upper frame assembly between an upright position over the deck of a vessel and a lowered or folded position; 
   A plurality of gas springs or shock absorbers attached at their upper ends by side mounts to forward support posts of the tower's upper frame assembly and at their lower ends by side mounts to forward support legs of the tower's lower frame assembly.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further including a means for releasably securing the upper frame assembly in the upright position. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further including a means for locking said means for releasably securing. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further including a means for releasably securing the upper frame assembly in the folded position. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further including a means for locking said means for releasably securing. 
   
   
       11 . A folding tower attached to a marine vessel, said tower comprising:
 A lower frame assembly held in fixed relation to the vessel and including
 a plurality of spaced apart forward support legs and aft support legs with lower ends or footers fixably attached to the deck of the vessel and with upper ends fixably connected to pairs of longitudinal rails and transverse rails which provide support for the upper frame assembly when the tower is in the upright position; 
   An upper frame assembly in rotational relation and pivotably connected to the lower frame assembly including
 spaced apart lower side rails, spaced apart upper side rails, spaced apart lower transverse rails, and spaced apart upper transverse rails, with such rails attached to spaced apart support posts; 
 pivotal connections at port and starboard pivot points between the lower frame assembly and the upper frame assembly, accommodating rotational movement of the upper frame assembly between an upright position over the deck of a vessel and a lowered or folded position; 
   A gas spring or shock absorber attached at its upper end by front mount to a forward support post of the tower's upper frame assembly and at its lower end by front mount to a forward support leg of the tower's lower frame assembly.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further including a means for releasably securing the upper frame assembly in the upright position. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further including a means for locking said means for releasably securing. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further including a means for releasably securing the upper frame assembly in the folded position. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further including a means for locking said means for releasably securing. 
   
   
       16 . A folding tower attached to a marine vessel, said tower comprising:
 A lower frame assembly held in fixed relation to the vessel and including
 a plurality of spaced apart forward support legs and aft support legs with lower ends or footers fixably attached to the deck of the vessel and with upper ends fixably connected to pairs of longitudinal rails and transverse rails which provide support for the upper frame assembly when the tower is in the upright position; 
   An upper frame assembly in rotational relation and pivotably connected to the lower frame assembly including
 spaced apart lower side rails, spaced apart upper side rails, spaced apart lower transverse rails, and spaced apart upper transverse rails, with such rails attached to spaced apart support posts; 
 pivotal connections at port and starboard pivot points between the lower frame assembly and the upper frame assembly, accommodating rotational movement of the upper frame assembly between an upright position over the deck of a vessel and a lowered or folded position; 
   A plurality of gas springs or shock absorbers attached at their upper ends by front mounts to forward support posts of the tower's upper frame assembly and at their lower ends by front mounts to forward support legs of the tower's lower frame assembly.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further including a means for releasably securing the upper frame assembly in the upright position. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further including a means for locking said means for releasably securing. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further including a means for releasably securing the upper frame assembly in the folded position. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further including a means for locking said means for releasably securing.