Malibu Surf Band?

[91Terminator]

Someone posted this over on malibucrew:

Claims of the 8,578,873 patent:

1. A boat configured to generate a starboard side surf wake for at least right-foot-forward wake surfing and a port side surf wake for at least left-foot-forward wake surfing, said port side surf wake different from said starboard side surf wake, the boat comprising:
a port side upright water diverter movable between a first and second position, wherein one of said first and second positions produces said starboard side surf wake;
a starboard side upright water diverter movable between a first and second position, wherein one of said first and second positions produces said port side surf wake;
a controller responsive to user input into an input device; and
one or more actuators responsive to said controller to move said port side water diverter from one of said first and second positions to the other of said first and second positions, and move said starboard side water diverter from one of said first and second positions to the other of said first and second positions, wherein when said port side water diverter produces said starboard side surf wake for right-foot-forward wake surfing, a port side wake is substantially unsuitable for left-foot-forward wake surfing and when said starboard side water diverter produces said port side surf wake for left-foot-forward wake surfing, a starboard side wake is substantially unsuitable for right-foot-forward wake surfing.

11. The boat of claim 1, wherein said controller is responsive to rider input.

12. The boat of claim 11, wherein said rider input is wirelessly transmitted to said boat.

13. The boat of claim 12, wherein said wireless transmission originates from one of a rider wrist worn device or fob.

The Taps3 is not an upright water diverter therefore they will not win if the choose to sue. But I'm no lawyer so who knows.

[Dandy]

It appears that the patent file, which they may have included revisions, was filed March of 2013. If this is actual Malibu may very well have claim against Tige and the likes that have a wireless remote to control the wave due to the included claims. I am not an attorney either, but the claims lay vague enough that they could be included. The claims to the remote are not specific to any movement or diverter. ...Just responsive to RIDER input..., ...input is WIRELESSLY transmitted...,... from rider wrist worn device... Maybe the only one that would hold if it is relative to a specific thing controlled would be the "wrist worn device". This may become very interesting in the courts with the rumors of other companies having rider input as well. It is rumored that Nautiques system will also be able to adjust the speed of the boat...we shall find out tomorrow evening!

[StevenM]

I posted this on wakeworld but here is another part of the Malibu Patent.

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Reading through the Malibu SurfGate Patent I came across this section.

https://www.google.com/patents/US857...IVhRmSCh2ZkwT8

Control system 32 may also include a memory that is configured to store information regarding watercraft configuration including static parameters such as hull shape, hull length, weight, etc., as well as dynamic parameters passenger weight, ballast, wedge, speed, fuel, depth, wind, etc. The memory may also include “Rider” information regarding the surfer (or boarder or skier), including goofy/regular footed, weight, board length, board type, skill level, etc. Moreover, the memory may be configured to store “presets” that include the information regarding a specific “Rider” including the Rider information as well as the Rider's preferences such as left or right wave, a preferred watercraft speed, a preferred wake height, etc. One will appreciate that the presets could be for the surf wake system as well as other parameters including POWER WEDGE setting, watercraft speed, goofy/regular footed, steep wave face, amount of weight, wave size, etc. One will appreciate that such presets would allow the watercraft operator to quickly reconfigure the surf wake system to accommodate various “Riders”, for example very experienced professional wake surfers, beginner wake surfers, and anyone in between.

Control system 32 may also include a remote which may allow a rider to actuate the surf wake system. For example, a remote may allow a rider to further deploy or retract flap 33, to an interim position to vary the size of the wake.

One will appreciate that control system 32 may be integrated into the watercraft, for example, fully integrated with a CAN bus of the watercraft. Alternatively, the control system may be an aftermarket solution which may be installed on a watercraft, either connecting into the CAN bus, or operating completely independently of the CAN bus.

I can see where they mention the remote and being able to control the surf wake system so I'm curious if Tige did patent their design and if not will it violate this patent. If it violates, will Malibu being going after them?

The part that makes me wonder more is the paragraph above the remote though that mentions rider presets and savings that remember all of the different settings including ballast levels, speed and other variables.

Does this make every company with a head unit that saves rider presets a violation of this patent?

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