PERSONAL WATERCRAFT WITH MULTIPLE HULLS

Abstract

Personal watercraft with three hulls arranged in a substantially triangular configuration that offers better efficiency compared to existing kayaks or paddleboards, with the stability of a multiple-hull watercraft in a form that is useable as a kayak or paddleboard. In some examples, the personal watercraft includes a propulsion means such as an engine-powered water jet drive.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to personal watercraft. In particular, personal watercraft that have a multiple hull design for improved stability are described.

[0002] Known personal watercraft are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing watercraft, such as canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, are single-hulled and thus prone to instability if the user is not attentive to balance. Canoes, which are long, tall, and narrow with a knife-like shape, tend to have a comparatively deep draft that helps make efficient use of a user's stroke, resisting lateral movement and effectively translating the paddle stroke into predominantly forward movement. However, the tall narrow shape makes canoes more prone to tip-overs compared to other hull configurations, and canoes cannot be practically used as a paddleboard. Kayaks and paddleboards, in comparison, have a relatively broad and flat hull profile, which modestly improves stability. However, the relatively flat hull profile can be inefficient to row as it allows a greater portion of the user's paddle stroke to translate into sideways motion as opposed to being directed to forward thrust. Multiple-hulled watercraft, such as double-hulled catamarans and tri-hulled trimarans, greatly improve upon stability and allow for a narrower, more knife-like hull configuration. However, the additional hulls substantially increase the width of the craft compared to its single-hulled counterparts, which make using it in a paddleboard or kayak configuration, where the user is paddling off either side for propulsion, nearly impossible.

[0003] Thus, there exists a need for personal watercraft that improve upon and advance the design of known personal watercraft. Examples of new and useful personal watercraft relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.

[0004] The present disclosure is directed to a personal watercraft with three hulls arranged in a substantially triangular configuration that offers better efficiency compared to existing kayaks or paddleboards, with the stability of a multiple-hull watercraft in a form that is useable as a kayak or paddleboard. In some examples, the personal watercraft includes a propulsion means such as an engine-powered water jet drive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first example of a personal watercraft with multiple hulls.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in FIG. 1 depicting the hull profile.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in FIG. 1 depicting the arrangement of the multiple hulls.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a bottom underwater view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in FIG. 1 depicting the portions of the hulls that are immersed in normal usage, and the flow of water around and between the hulls as the watercraft moves forward.

[0009] FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in FIG. 1 depicting the optional rear platform and seat recesses.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a top view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in FIG. 1 depicting the location of various optional storage compartments.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a side view of a second example of a personal watercraft with multiple hulls including the location of an engine-drive propulsion system and steering controls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The disclosed personal watercraft will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.

[0013] Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various personal watercraft are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.

[0014] The disclosed personal watercraft have three hulls, with two placed at the front of the craft side-by-side in a catamaran configuration, and the third hull placed behind the first two hulls, centered between them. This configuration provides a personal watercraft that has improved stability that meets or exceeds that of a kayak or paddleboard, but with the greater resistance to translation of paddle strokes into lateral movement similar to a canoe. Thus, the disclosed personal watercraft combines the stability advantages of a broader kayak or paddleboard with the efficiency advantages of a canoe, while offering a profile suitable for a single user to paddle similar to a kayak or canoe, improving upon traditional multi-hull designs. Furthermore, the configuration includes recesses that allow a user to stand, and use the watercraft as a stand-up paddleboard.

[0015] With reference to FIGS. 1-6, a first example of a personal watercraft with multiple hulls, personal watercraft 100, will now be described. Personal watercraft 100 is comprised of a body 102, which in turn is further comprised of an upper surface 104, a lower surface 106, a first pontoon 108, a second pontoon 110, and a third pontoon 112. Each of first pontoon 108, second pontoon 110, and third pontoon 112 include a hull 114 that has a hydrodynamic shape and is attached to upper surface 104, with preferably a symmetrical cross section 116 and a keel 118 that runs longitudinally. First pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110 are disposed adjacent to each other, and third pontoon 112 is disposed behind first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110, and is positioned so that at least a portion of keel 120 of third pontoon 112 is centered between first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110. A seat 122 is disposed upon upper surface 104 of body 102, located approximately in front of third pontoon 112 and centered between and behind first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110.

[0016] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, body 102 is comprised of upper surface 104 and lower surface 106. Upper surface 104 forms the top of personal watercraft 100 and accommodates seat 122 and a plurality of recesses 124. Lower surface 106 forms the shapes of hulls 114. Upper surface 104 and lower surface 106 can be separately molded and subsequently joined together by any method suitable to the materials used and now known or later developed in the relevant art, including screws, latches, adhesives, snap fit, etc., can be fabricated each from multiple components that are subsequently joined together, or can be molded as a single piece, depending on the manufacturing method employed. Upper surface 104 and lower surface 106 are preferably manufactured using thermoplastic polyolefin or high density polyethylene, but can also be fabricated from wood, metal, fiberglass, carbon fiber, plastic, or any other material or combination of materials suitable for water exposure now known or later devised. Upper surface 104 and lower surface 106 can be manufactured from the same or from different materials, depending on usage requirements.

[0017] In FIG. 1, it is seen that body 102 forms a roughly hourglass shape, with seat 122 placed near the rear of the narrow center section between the front first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110, and the rear third pontoon 112. This narrow center section allows personal watercraft 100 to be used in a similar fashion to a canoe or a kayak, with the user paddling from opposite sides. Seat 122 is preferably placed on the front of third pontoon 112, which places the user in close to the center of support of personal watercraft 100, and also gives the user an ideal position to easily paddle without meeting interference from body 102. Seat 122 can be molded into upper surface 104 as part of body 102, or can be made a separate component, optionally removably affixed to allow seats 122 to be swapped depending on a user's tastes, or as seat 122 wears out. Seat 122 can be manufactured from any suitable materials now known or later devised, including wood, metal, plastic, rubber, neoprene, vinyl, foam, or a combination of materials.

[0018] In the example shown in FIGS. 2-3, hulls 114 of first pontoon 108, second pontoon 110, and third pontoon 112 can be seen in greater detail. FIG. 2 provides a front view, where the symmetrical shape of each hull 114 is seen. Each hull in the depicted embodiment is shaped roughly the same, with hull 114 profile falling somewhere between a canoe's deep knife-like profile and the comparatively shallow profile of a kayak. The profile can be varied to change the handling of the personal watercraft 100 without departing from the claimed invention; a deeper hull profile (more canoe-like) will result in potentially greater efficiency but at the expense of maneuverability, while a shallower hull profile will result in better maneuverability, but will likewise allow greater lateral movement, which diminishes efficiency.

[0019] In FIGS. 3-4 the hulls 114 are seen from the underside of personal watercraft 100, which provides detail for how the three hulls 114 are arranged. As can be seen, hulls 114 for first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110 are substantially parallel, with hull 114 of third pontoon 112 positioned between and starting approximately half-way down the length of first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110. FIG. 3 depicts keel 118, which is the longitudinal centerline of each hull 114. Approximately one third to one half of keel 118 of third pontoon 112 is positioned between first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110, which is depicted as the portion of keel 120.

[0020] Turning specifically to FIG. 4, the effects of the unique arrangement of first pontoon 108, second pontoon 110 and third pontoon 112 on the flow of water as personal watercraft 100 is propelled forward can be seen. By placing third pontoon 112 centrally but displacing it back behind first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110, water flowing off and around the front inside surfaces of first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110 are directed onto the front area 115 of third pontoon 112. This funneling of high velocity water onto third pontoon 112 allows third pontoon 112 to slip more efficiently through the water, resulting in more efficient translation of a user's paddle stroke into forward movement.

[0021] FIGS. 5 and 6 depict various features on upper surface 104 of body 102, including a plurality of recesses 124, platform 126, and hollow interior cavities 128. Plurality of recesses 124 are preferably shaped and positioned on first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110 so as to receive the user's feet when the user is seated on seat 122, enhancing the user's stability while atop personal watercraft 100, and providing an ideal platform from which to make effective paddle strokes. Plurality of recesses 124 also preferably enable the user to stand atop personal watercraft 100, allowing personal watercraft 100 to be operated as a standing-position paddleboard. Platform 126 can be optionally added to the rear of third pontoon 112, and may be equipped with a railing to allow tying down and securing of loads. Platform 126 could also be positioned at the front of personal watercraft 100, between and on top of a portion of first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110. Each of first pontoon 108, second pontoon 110 and third pontoon 112 may be equipped with a hollow interior cavity 128, which is accessed by access hatch 129. Hollow interior cavities 128 can be used for cargo storage, or for adjusting trim and balance of personal watercraft 100 to facilitate optimal performance. Access hatches 129 can optionally be made watertight to protect any contents placed with the associated hollow interior cavity 128 and/or be made lockable for secure storage.

[0022] Turning attention to FIG. 7, a second example of a personal watercraft 200 will now be described. Personal watercraft 200 includes many similar or identical features to personal watercraft 100. Thus, for the sake of brevity, each feature of personal watercraft 200 will not be redundantly explained. Rather, key distinctions between personal watercraft 200 and personal watercraft 100 will be described in detail and the reader should reference the discussion above for features substantially similar between the two personal watercraft.

[0023] As can be seen in FIG. 7, personal watercraft 200 includes the same components depicted in FIGS. 1-6, including a body 102 with a first pontoon 108, a second pontoon 110 placed parallel to first pontoon 108, and a third pontoon 112 placed centrally and behind first pontoon 108 and second pontoon 110. A seat 122 is placed just forward of third pontoon 112 atop body 102. However, personal watercraft is shown equipped with a propulsion means 130, allowing personal watercraft 200 to be used similar to a Wave Runner.RTM. or other rideable powered personal watercraft.

[0024] In FIG. 7, propulsion means 130 is shown as an engine located in the hollow interior cavity 128 of third pontoon 112. The engine can be an internal combustion engine, a battery-powered electric motor, or any other power source suitable for marine use now known or alter devised. The engine is preferably connected to an impeller driven water jet drive unit 132 to provide propulsion, which is steered by equipping personal watercraft 200 with a steering control as depicted in FIG. 7. The steering control and water jet drive unit 132 can be any system that is well-known in the art, such as is used on a Wave Runner.RTM. or Jet Ski.RTM. model of personal watercraft. However, other suitable means of propulsion known in the marine industry can be utilized, such as an outboard motor, or inboard/outboard propeller drive (also known as a stern drive), or any other means of personal watercraft propulsion now known or later devised.

[0025] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the relevant art that the disclosed three-hulled personal watercraft configuration can be scaled up in size to accommodate multiple passengers and heavier cargo without departing from the claimed invention.

[0026] The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite "a" element, "a first" element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

[0027] Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.

Claims

1. A personal watercraft, comprising: a body comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface, a first pontoon, a second pontoon, and a third pontoon, wherein: each of the first pontoon, the second pontoon, and the third pontoon are comprised of a hull that is shaped hydrodynamically and attached to the upper surface, with a keel that runs longitudinally; the first pontoon and the second pontoon are disposed adjacent to each other; and the third pontoon is disposed behind the first pontoon and the second pontoon, and is positioned so that at least a portion of the keel of the third pontoon is centered between the first pontoon and the second pontoon; and a seat disposed upon the upper surface of the body, located approximately in front of the third pontoon and centered between and behind the first pontoon and the second pontoon.

2. The personal watercraft of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of recesses disposed on the upper surface of the body opposite the seat, so as to receive a user's feet.

3. The personal watercraft of claim 1, further comprising a platform disposed upon the upper surface of the body above the rear of the third pontoon.

4. The personal watercraft of claim 1, wherein the first pontoon and the second pontoon each possess a hollow interior cavity that can be accessed from the upper surface.

5. The personal watercraft of claim 4, wherein the third pontoon possesses a hollow interior cavity that can be accessed from the upper surface.

6. The personal watercraft of claim 1, wherein the body is constructed from either thermoplastic polyolefin or high density polyethylene.

7. The personal watercraft of claim 1, wherein the hull of the third pontoon is narrower in width and has a longer keel than the hull of the first pontoon and the hull of the second pontoon.

8. The personal watercraft of claim 1, wherein the seat is removably affixed to the upper surface of the body.

9. The personal watercraft of claim 1, wherein the seat is molded into the upper surface of the body.

10. A personal watercraft, comprising: a body comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface, a first pontoon, a second pontoon, and a third pontoon, wherein: each of the first pontoon, the second pontoon, and the third pontoon are comprised of a hull that is shaped hydrodynamically and attached to the upper surface; and the first pontoon, the second pontoon and the third pontoon are arranged so that water flowing around the hull of the first pontoon and the hull of the second pontoon is at least partially directed onto the hull of the third pontoon so as to improve the stability of the personal watercraft; and a seat disposed upon the upper surface of the body.

11. The personal watercraft of claim 10, further comprising a propulsion means.

12. The personal watercraft of claim 11, wherein the propulsion means is comprised of an engine affixed to the third pontoon.

13. The personal watercraft of claim 12, wherein the first pontoon and the second pontoon have a hollow cavity inside that can be accessed for storage.

14. The personal watercraft of claim 12, wherein the propulsion means further comprises an impeller-driven water jet drive unit that is operably connected to the engine.

15. The personal watercraft of claim 12, wherein the propulsion means further comprises a propeller that is operably connected to the engine.

16. The personal watercraft of claim 10, wherein the first pontoon is disposed adjacent to the second pontoon, and the third pontoon is disposed behind and centered between the first pontoon and the second pontoon.

17. The personal watercraft of claim 16, wherein the seat is disposed behind and centered between the first pontoon and the second pontoon, and in front of the third pontoon.

18. A personal watercraft, comprising: a body comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface, a first pontoon, a second pontoon, and a third pontoon, wherein: each of the first pontoon, the second pontoon, and the third pontoon are comprised of a hull that is shaped hydrodynamically and attached to the upper surface, with a symmetrical cross section and a keel that runs longitudinally; the first pontoon and the second pontoon each have an interior watertight cavity that can be accessed from the upper surface; the first pontoon and the second pontoon are disposed adjacent to each other; and the third pontoon is disposed behind the first pontoon and the second pontoon such that at least a part of the keel of the third pontoon is located between the hull of the first pontoon and the hull of the second pontoon, and is positioned so that the keel of the third pontoon is centered between the first pontoon and the second pontoon; a seat disposed upon the upper surface of the body, located approximately in front of the third pontoon and centered between and behind the first pontoon and the second pontoon; a plurality of recesses, with one recess disposed on top of the first pontoon and one recess disposed on top of the second pontoon, the plurality of recesses positioned so as to receive the feet of a user sitting in the seat; and a platform disposed on top of the third pontoon.

19. The personal watercraft of claim 18, wherein the hull of the first pontoon and the hull of the second pontoon are each shaped so as to direct at least a part of water flowing around the hull onto the hull of the third pontoon.

20. The personal watercraft of claim 19, wherein the body is constructed from either thermoplastic polyolefin, high density polyethylene, or both.

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