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The invention provides an apparatus that attaches to a hull of a boat to disrupt water flow around the hull such that a wake created behind the boat is larger, differently positioned, and/or differently shaped. The apparatus includes a base and a blade. The blade is equipped with a mount structure t

The invention provides an apparatus that attaches to a hull of a boat to disrupt water flow around the hull such that a wake created behind the boat is larger, differently positioned, and/or differently shaped. The apparatus includes a base and a blade. The blade is equipped with a mount structure that attaches the base to the blade. The blade can be reversibly mountable to the base such that either face of the blade faces a desired direction. The apparatus provides tool-free adjustment between a first configuration in which the base is mounted to the blade and a second configuration in which the base and the blade are separated. In some embodiments, the apparatus is removably attached to the hull by one or more suction cups. Additionally, the apparatus can be inflatable. The invention further provides a deployable lanyard assembly and a splash deflector for use with the apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus configured to attach removably to a hull of a boat, the apparatus comprising a base and a blade, the base having opposed first and second end regions, the first end region including a front end of the base, the second end region including a rear end of the base, the first end region

1. An apparatus configured to attach removably to a hull of a boat, the apparatus comprising a base and a blade, the base having opposed first and second end regions, the first end region including a front end of the base, the second end region including a rear end of the base, the first end region having a greater height than the second end region and defining a shoulder, the apparatus having first and second configurations, the first configuration characterized by the blade being mounted to the base, the second configuration characterized by the blade being separated from the base, the blade being carried against the shoulder when the apparatus is in the first configuration, and when the apparatus is in the first configuration the blade is crosswise to a longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends of the base, the apparatus configured to provide tool-free adjustment between the first and second configurations, the apparatus further comprising a detent having at least first and second positions, the detent when in the first position being configured to lock the blade on the base, the detent when in the second position being configured to release the blade from the base. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detent is rotatable between the first and second positions. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lanyard eyelet that is movable relative to the base. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the base has first and second side regions each extending between the first and second end regions, the lanyard eyelet is movable between at least first and second positions, such that the lanyard eyelet when in the first position is located at the first side region, and the lanyard eyelet when in the second position is located at the second side region. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to attach removably to the hull of the boat such that once it is attached to the hull the apparatus is configured to disrupt water flow around the hull of the boat such that a wake created behind the boat during operation of the boat is larger, differently positioned, and/or differently shaped than when the boat is operated without the apparatus attached to the hull. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is attached removably to the hull of the boat such that the apparatus is configured to disrupt water flow around the hull of the boat such that a wake created behind the boat during operation of the boat is larger, differently positioned, and/or differently shaped than when the boat is operated without the apparatus attached to the hull. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the blade has opposed first and second faces, one of the first and second faces being convex while the other of the first and second faces is concave. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base has an aperture configured to receive four fingers of a person's hand. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the base has two ribs that extend between the front and rear ends of the base, and the aperture is located between the two ribs. 10. The apparatus of claim 8 comprising a suction cup assembly that includes two levers each associated with a respective suction cup of the suction cup assembly, the base having a recessed area in which the two levers are disposed. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the recessed area defines a channel that extends between two ribs of the base and that is open to the aperture. 12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising two suction cups disposed in a confronting angle configuration characterized by a tilt angle of greater than zero degrees and up to three degrees. 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the blade has at least first and second orientations, such that the blade when in the first orientation projects away from the base at a first angle, and the blade when in the second orientation projects away from the base at a second angle. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first and second angles are different, and the blade is pivotable between the first and second orientations via a hinge on the blade. 15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the blade has a plurality of channels. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the blade further includes a mount region that is devoid of channels. 17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus when in the second configuration is configured to have the blade and the base nested alongside each other so as to fit within a rectangular volume having dimensions of 14 inches by 5 inches by 8 inches. 18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to be adjusted: (i) from the first configuration to the second configuration without removing any fastener from the base, and (ii) from the second configuration to the first configuration without inserting any fastener into the base. 19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the blade has opposed first and second faces, wherein when the apparatus is in the first configuration the blade is in a first orientation or a second orientation, wherein the first face of the blade faces a desired direction relative to the base when the apparatus is in the first orientation, and the second face of the blade faces the desired direction relative to the base when the apparatus is in the second orientation, the blade being equipped with a mount structure that projects outwardly from both the first and second faces of the blade, the mount structure comprising a first detent that projects from the first face of the blade and a second detent that projects from the second face of the blade, the first detent of the mount structure being configured to attach to the base of the apparatus such that the blade is retained in the first orientation, the second detent of the mount structure being configured to attach to the base of the apparatus such that the blade is retained in the second orientation, the first and second detents of the mount structure being part of an adapter component that is moveable between first and second positions, the adapter component when in the first position being configured to attach to the base of the apparatus such that the blade is retained in the first orientation, the adapter component when in the second position being configured to attach to the base of the apparatus such that the blade is retained in the second orientation, the first detent of the adapter component comprising a first plate having a first mounting flange, and the second detent of the adapter component comprising a second plate having a second mounting flange. 20. An apparatus configured to attach removably to a hull of a boat, the apparatus comprising a base and a blade, the apparatus having first and second configurations, the first configuration characterized by the blade being mounted to the base, the second configuration characterized by the blade being separated from the base, the apparatus configured to provide tool-free adjustment between the first and second configurations, the apparatus further comprising a detent having at least first and second positions, the detent when in the first position being configured to lock the blade on the base, the detent when in the second position being configured to release the blade from the base, the apparatus further comprising a suction cup assembly, and the detent is part of the suction cup assembly. 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the suction cup assembly includes a suction cup, and the detent is located between the suction cup and the base. 22. An apparatus configured to attach removably to a hull of a boat, the apparatus comprising a base and a blade, the apparatus having first and second configurations, the first configuration characterized by the blade being mounted to the base, the second configuration characterized by the blade being separated from the base, the apparatus configured to provide tool-free adjustment between the first and second configurations, the apparatus further comprising a detent having at least first and second positions, the detent when in the first position being configured to lock the blade on the base, the detent when in the second position being configured to release the blade from the base, wherein the base has a channel, and the blade comprises a plate configured to be received removably in the channel, the detent comprising a body that is moveable between first and second positions, the body when in the first position at least partially closes the channel, and the body when in the second position is spaced from the channel, the body being rotatable between the first and second positions, the body comprising a rotatable flange and a generally circular disc from which the rotatable flange projects. 23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a suction cup assembly, and the body is part of the suction cup assembly, the suction cup assembly including a suction cup, and the circular disc being located between the suction cup and the base. 24. An apparatus configured to attach removably to a hull of a boat, the apparatus comprising a base and a blade, the apparatus having first and second configurations, the first configuration characterized by the blade being mounted to the base, the second configuration characterized by the blade being separated from the base, the blade has opposed first and second faces, wherein when the apparatus is in the first configuration the blade is in a first orientation or a second orientation, wherein the first face of the blade faces a desired direction relative to the base when the apparatus is in the first orientation, and the second face of the blade faces the desired direction relative to the base when the apparatus is in the second orientation, the blade being equipped with a mount structure that projects outwardly from both the first and second faces of the blade, the mount structure comprising a first detent that projects from the first face of the blade and a second detent that projects from the second face of the blade, the first detent configured to attach to the base of the apparatus such that the blade is retained in the first orientation, the second detent configured to attach to the base of the apparatus such that the blade is retained in the second orientation, the first and second detents being part of an adapter component that is moveable between first and second positions, the adapter component when in the first position being configured to attach to the base of the apparatus such that the blade is retained in the first orientation, the adapter component when in the second position being configured to attach to the base of the apparatus such that the blade is retained in the second orientation, the first detent of the adapter component comprising a first plate having a first mounting flange, and the second detent of the adapter component comprising a second plate having a second mounting flange. 25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the blade is configured to lie at least generally in a plane, and the adapter component is configured to move at least generally perpendicular to such plane when the adapter component moves between the first and second positions. 26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first detent projects further from the first face of the blade when the adapter component is in the first position than when the adapter component is in the second position, and the second detent projects further from the second face of the blade when the adapter component is in the second position than when the adapter component is in the first position. 27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first and second plates are moveable conjointly relative to the first and second faces of the blade. 28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the base has a channel, the first mounting flange is received in the channel when the blade is in the first orientation, and the second mounting flange is received in the channel when the blade is in the second orientation. 29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the apparatus is configured to attach removably to the hull of the boat such that once it is attached to the hull the apparatus is configured to disrupt water flow around the hull of the boat such that a wake created behind the boat during operation of the boat is larger, differently positioned, and/or differently shaped than when the boat is operated without the apparatus attached to the hull. 30. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the apparatus is attached removably to the hull of the boat such that the apparatus is configured to disrupt water flow around the hull of the boat such that a wake created behind the boat during operation of the boat is larger, differently positioned, and/or differently shaped than when the boat is operated without the apparatus attached to the hull.